If creative artists sit with an idea bubbling inside them waiting for someone else to realise it, then they may have to wait some time. In New York a SPA is not just a glorious place to release your tensions and unwind, it is also an acronym for Self Producing Artists. A growing array of creative practitioners who know they need to embrace the business of show, as well as the joy of writing/performing or creating. They need to be self-motivated, determined, and confident of having enough ’how to’ information, so they can Make Stuff Happen.
Alongside these SPAs across the world there are a growing array of Producers and General Managers who relish the determination of SPAs and can offer support in many ways to help co-create, co-realise, and co-present the work of small companies and single artists.
A Happy New Year to all those SPAs and Producers of other people’s work who have not yet met each other, or have met but have yet to realise an amazing project. I hope 2025 is a very special year for you all.
No-one says it is easy, and many ideas will never get in front of an audience. Where the Producer or GM can help is in being a dispassionate observer of the idea. They can help to identify the best performance opportunities and the audience demographic which will best resonate with the work. They can also help work with the SPA to find financial support to bring a show to life.
My most repeated phrase at the moment is that the World Needs More Producers. We need people who get a kick out of helping make other people’s work fly. We need folk who love spreadsheets and/or marketing and/or getting under the skin of the industry to find the perfect way to bring a show to life.
If you are a SPA who also wants to produce, curate, and support other people’s work then you are going to be very popular. You bring an understanding of making a piece of work which you will have gestated. You can help others to reach their goal of production more smoothly. You will have built up more contacts and knowledge than you realise. It is definitely time for a SPA.
I started CGO Institute on April 1st 2020 from my blank-canvas world of lockdown, and over 4 years we have given opportunities, training and mentorship to Creative Producers, Festival Programmers, General Managers, and SPAs intent on working with others. Here are two current opportunities:
Intensive Creative Producing Short Course – London 7th-10th March. A chance for 6-10 inspiring and aspiring producers of new work for the live performance industry to come together to explore Budgetting, Marketing, Fundraising, the Business of showbusiness, the UK and international opportunities, Plus each producer will meet fellow travellers, and experienced practitioners, who will be part of their ongoing life in the producing world.
For more information and how to apply https://www.chrisgrady.org/intensive-london-producing-course/
Producers’ Persona is new database and communication tool for UK and International producers of other people’s work. An app to allow producers to connect with each other, share opportunities on the noticeboard, and learn from others with the widest array of experience. This is not a site for self producing artists who only focus on their own work. It is not for directors or actors or writers to find producers. It is the first network established online for producers to connect across artform and country. 125 producers from 15 countries have signed up so far.
For more information about this new application which is in active development and sign up https://www.producerspersona.com/join It is currently FREE to join.
If you are reading this blog, thank you for following CGO Institute and my progress. If you are a producer then do think how these opportunities might be useful to you or others. If you are a mentor or in the business in some form, do share this blog with those who might find it useful.
I was asked my Three words for the New Year – quicy two came up for me OPEN and JOYFUL. I want to be open to new things, new creative and personal opportunities. I want to experience and share Joy as a way to help give good energy back into the earth. And my third word is INSPIRE – which may be a word i play with a bit – but this emai/blog does I hope show hw I lke to try and inspire and support the next generation of creatives. What are your three words for the year ?
May I wish all SPAs a joyful time immersing yourselves in the hot-tub of your creativity. I hope there are producers who will be massaging great ideas into the best possible shape. Everyone gets into hot water sometimes, but it is useful seeing the view through the steam. Have a joyful, open and inspiring year.