We are moving into a time of the year which, for many many friends of mine and artists/theatregoers, is the time we/they have to be most open to self-promotion. In London it is the vital Camden Fringe. In Edinburgh it is the extraordinary array of 7 festivals in August which make up the general term Edinburgh Festival. And for 12 producers arriving from Korea tomorrow to spend 2 weeks in London with me, it is their time to listen, learn and self-promote.
I had a birth astrology reading this week from a wonderful American with 50 years of exploring the stars and the people that come to seek his understanding. Ellias had done readings for my wife and her sister and this time, rather than observing and listening to their revelations, I decided to jump in myself. He told me much that I know about myself, without himself knowing anything but my time and place of birth. My provocation to myself was seeking to understand how best to use myself going forward from my fortunate position of pension and free/reduced transport age.
I am a Highly Inquisitive person and it is clear I need to continue to gather my gifts (and my contacts and acquired theatre knowledge) and use them for good. I do not have my hand on the levers of power in the arts, society, or global politics. But I can help, from a place of deep belief, artists and creatives make connections and make necessary theatre which can heal, enlighten, entertain, and do some good in the world. I can also continue to rattle a few cages sometimes to encourage those with the hand on the tiller to realise the power and the purpose of the arts in and for society.
So I’m not important BUT I have skills I can use wisely and widely. Not least in encouraging the next generation (and the current generation) of producers and theatremakers.
Over many years my blogs at this time have talked about ways to enter the arena of the Fringe. They have talked about tricks of the trade which every aspiring theatremaker can harness for themselves. Your Life In Theatre brought a lot of that into one book, and I am talking with a colleague about updating that 10 years on.
But for those Korean producers coming to the UK to make connections, and those student producers and theatremakers taking their first shows to Camden or Edinburgh, and even to the old grey beards and world weary festival regulars, I repeat a few of my recommendations here today:
Everyone who comes into contact with you as a performer or producer, especially if they have accepted an invitation to a showcase or bought/acquired a ticket to your show, is there because they want to be excited. They want you to be good. They want to meet you and understand more of your vision for the future. At that moment you are important, and so are they important to you. Treasure the connected moment between you and your audience after the show, or you and your guests at a showcase. Get to know each other. You have given your gifts on stage and they will want to talk with you and share in your journey. [If they didn’t want to engage they would either not have come, or they would have slipped away quietly without a word after]
Every encounter is a first connection, what I think of as ‘the first cup of tea’. Don’t try to oversell, just enter in conversation. As they praise you take time to ask them about themselves. Why did they choose to come to this show or this showcase ? What in their life or work offers connection with your own life and work ? Would they like to be on your mailing list ? How did they hear about your show ?
But I’m not important….yes you are. Whether you are the writer, the stage manager, the producer, the actor, you have been part of theatremaking. If you are holding a nice glass of white wine at a reception where you bump into a stranger, you have no idea what sparks and magic might come out of saying hello and sharing your passion and inquiry about the event you have been at.
I’m organising an event next week where around 18 Korean producers/managers will be at a workshop with 45 UK based producers and theatremakers. My task is to encourage the shy UK folk to stop talking to each other and talk to a Korean guest. And for the Korean small group in a corner to go and introduce themselves to a UK person they don’t know.
But I’m Not Important. Yes you are. Each of the UK producers have taken the afternoon out of their lives to be with me watching 6 new Korean pitchdeck presentations and learning about Korean theatre business. They are there through choice. They want to engage.
In Edinburgh and in Comden Fringe, and across the business, I am an old fashioned believer in two things – business cards and programmes. If I’ve been to a show I want to leave the theatre with a small piece of paper which gives me the creative personnel and contact details for that show. No need to leave hundreds of bits of paper on a seat, just offer it to me as I leave. My phone is switched off and I don’t want to gather QR codes I will never find time to sit and open. I want to walk away and be able to write a Blog or a Facebook post praising the show and the writer and the producer.
And in the same way, if I encounter someone on my travels around London or Edinburgh I will have my business cards and I would like to have yours. In that way very quickly I can connect by email or learn a little bit more about you from your website.
At the end of my 5 weeks of Korean meetings, London and Edinburgh delights I will have a small pile of business cards and a small gathering of programmes (A6 is fine). I can then reflect on what I’ve seen and who I’ve met. And then I can be at my most useful.
Ellias told me my Saturn comes into its own when I’m older and my spiritual quest as this time of my life is about giving and spreading the wealth, Now I don’t have Treasure, but I do have a Talent for making connections and some Time to respond to your programme and business card. So help me to use my encounter with you, or your show, for good – give me the information I need so it is easy for me to share my enjoyment of seeing your work or meeting you with others.
We are all important to each other, and together we can do good things for our community, society and the world.
If you want to explore more then do explore www.chrisgrady.org I am always delighted to visit by zoom or in person creative networks with a themed discussion “Producing Proper Job Honest” or “Your Life in Theatre” and the next CGO Institute intensive course in London is 7th-10th November for up to 8 inspiring/aspiring future producers.