Dramafest top secret

Hi guys, a number of friends have contacted me querying the seeming lack of promotion for this weekends dramafest. Most, say they wouldn't know the festival was on, having seen little in the way of advertising. Feedback suggests that members of the ITA know all about this event, but the general public may be unaware of this important event on the community theatre calendar. If this is the case, are we, as a community, doing ourselves a disservice? Johnny Grim A lad in sane productions

John, It gets advertised in a lot of places, most of which are through unpaid sources, which is pretty much luck of the draw. Taz Publicity which has been promoting this event also has an email mailing list which goes to a substantial number of relevant people. The ITA an local theatres have been promoting events ad nauseum for years, but some people in the general community have no idea we even exist still. Those that have been responsible for promotion and advertising of community theatre over many years will tell you what a frustrating exercise it is. Also comments like "some people" or a "number of friends" do not give us much information as to; 1.Where they are looking or what media they source when looking for information. 2.How many people it actually is, what their demographic is etc. etc. Maybe you could be asking where they looked, and also maybe asking them (mindful that most publicity has a dollar figure of zero attached to it) what means of communicating the event would be more effective. I hope this clarifies things for you.

I agree with John Grim,there has been very litle information anywhere regarding this event.It is not even mentioned in the "whats on" section of this website.

There's nothing to stop John Grim doing publicity and promotion for his own plays, highlighting they will be appearing at DramaFest.

http://www.theatre.asn.au/production/2009/2009_youthfest_and_dramafest It is mentioned on this website!

If you can't read a detailed posting...its no wonder.

Well I must agree with John on this, I have found it hard to find information on this event, apart from what Norma posts on the ITA website (LUV YOU NORMA, DOING A GOOD JOB!), but I do not visit here much these days... you talk about the use of free advertising, well how come there is no event been created On facebook that’s where a large demographic of the theatre population hang out these days.. And it’s free... and reminds forgetful people like me that an event is coming up??

They have one of those too.

Thanks for the link Walter Bookworm, but um... I wonder what time I should turn up? 7.30 sounds like a good time to me, but what if I miss one of the plays... and geeze, I'm even in one of them. It would be nice to see a time table of plays so I could choose which approximate times I should show up for the afternoon sessions, midday..? 1.30...? 3.30....? Who knows? WTime

Thats on here too. http://www.theatre.asn.au/billboard_bulletins/dramafest_schedule

Forgive me if im wrong, but it really should be the director of the plays resposibility to notify their actors when they will be performing, not the ITA.

Exactly, seems like the complaints are from people that havent got basic research skilla and expect to be spoonfed.

If you're promoting an event from any point of view OTHER than your audience lack basic research skills and expect to be spoonfed, you're probably not promoting the event enough. : )

we could always use extra help in the promotion department. are you able to help?

On reading the various responses to my posting, I thought I should clarify my posting before it develops into another one of those, 'pistols at dawn' threads. Firstly, anyone using this website should know that the DRAMAFEST is on this weekend. That's a given. When I refererred to 'we the community' I'm referring to the various theatre groups taking part, not just the ITA itself. God knows, those poor buggers running the ITA, do enough in getting the DRAMAFEST up and running, not to mention the hours they spend prior to, during, and post the event itself. By disservice to ourselves, my thoughts are, that second to The Finlay's (I hope I've spelt it right, otherwise I'm a dead man) the DRAMAFEST is (or at least should be) the next biggest event on the ITA calendar. This brings me back to my question. Are we the peoples taking part, doing enough to reward those people providing us with the opportunity to display our wares? Ask yourself that very question. Has your club told it's members about the festival, have you sold tickets? It is with head bowed, that I confess I personally haven't done enough to date to promote an event I'm involved with, yet, I'll be the first one to ponder my involvement, should audiences be poor. It's not hard to figure where the ITA need my (and your)help. Note: I recently attended the Saturday night session at Bunbury, and saw wonderful plays, performed by a bunch of talented individuals, performing in front of what must be seen as disappointing audiences (size wise). WA community theatre has talent in abundance.. writers...performers...lighting designers....set builders and so on.... anyone going along to the DRAMAFEST, will see that for themselves. To that end, let us strut our stuff in front of as many people as we can....how wonderful it would be if every member of our local community shows their support for the event by attending at least one of the plays. Press coverage is fine (costly, but fine), personal recommendation and word of mouth much more effective. I believe we have material that we can all stand behind,and proudly say is ours! A living, thriving theatre community. Who knows, we may attract others to share the pleasure live theatre can bring. On behalf of the theatre community (not that I consider myself a spokesperson for said community) may I thank the DRAMAFEST organisers for their efforts in staging this event. I'm sure, everyone involved will do their best to reward those efforts. PS: To the ITA people behind the scenes at this website, dare I suggest we place the DRAMAFEST centre stage as in on the cover! Let's have people complaing they're tired of reading about the bloody DRAMAFEST, rather than, I haven't seen much advertising. cheers Johnny Grim

Maybe clubs taking part should advertise DramaFest on their websites? Put up information around their theatres as well, let people know one of their one-act shows can be seen again...