Community Newpapers Sponsorship
Sun, 28 Dec 2003, 08:54 amGreg Ross1 post in thread
Community Newpapers Sponsorship
Sun, 28 Dec 2003, 08:54 amIn all probability, no one involved with amateur theatre needs reminding of the balancing act required in maintaining a full time career, family commitments and active participation in theatre. The luxuries of large budgets and full time management, including publicity and marketing people are simply not available to most community theatre groups.
Earlier this year, I was coerced into putting my name forward to become elected as a committee member of the ITA – you owe me several drinks Kerri! - with the express intention of organising a publicity vehicle for member theatre groups.
I freely admit to being hopeless in committees and IÂ’m quite sure my fellow committee members will nod in complete agreement. I simply donÂ’t have the patience, or the time to discuss rules and regulations and sub paragraphs. This is a personality fault of mine, not a committee fault, however itÂ’s the nature of the beast and itÂ’s why I get the results I do.
The latest issue of Link features editorial on the proposed Community Newspapers publicity sponsorship and laments that things did not go as planned.
This is incorrect. The sponsorship is up and running, with staff at Community Newspapers quite perplexed at the lack of information and hiatus in communication. I was obviously mistaken in feeling that it was all in hand and I accept responsibility for not guiding things properly, hence this notice, in order to rectify the situation.
The details of the Community Newspaper sponsorship are as follows:
• Each ITA member theatre group with a forthcoming production should contact their local community newspaper, with full details of the production.
• The newspaper concerned will run four free full colour 10 x 2 advertisements in the relevant paper. Please note, the ads should be supplied in finished format.
• The newspaper will attend a rehearsal with a photographer and run editorial on the play.
• The theatre group will provide the newspaper with 20 FOC seats on an agreed date, which the newspaper will give away free to readers – a separate promotion to the ads.
• The newspaper also intends to utilise these tickets to invite local advertisers to attend the performance, which also opens up the possibility of attracting future sponsorship dollars from your local business community.
• If a stage or cast member has an interesting history / story, the newspaper will also run an editorial piece on that particular person.
• There are also plans to have a critic attend and write on each production.
I have just finished a season in Janet Brandwood’s production of “Dear Charles.” The Stirling Times (the relevant Community Newspaper), ran the four full colour ads, gave the show a half page colour photo editorial and ran a give-away competition for the 20 seats. Community Newspapers also ran the ads for free in Western Suburbs Weekly. There were no problems encountered, the system worked perfectly.
In order to ensure things run as simply and as smoothly as this for all participating groups, we would like to set up, probably in the last week of January, a meeting of the relevant publicity person from each theatre group at Community Newspapers head office in Roe Street Northbridge, probably on a Wednesday evening at 6.00pm. This will facilitate a relationship between each groupÂ’s publicity representative and the nominated person from each newspaper.
Please note, itÂ’s not a night for each group to send along ten representatives, rather, the one person (two at the most) who will handle the publicity. Here, some groups may need to be honest with themselves. Your group may have a well intentioned publicity officer who really has no idea of how to do the job properly. You owe it to your front-of-house, back stage staff and actors, all of whom give their time freely, to give them the best support possible. If John Doe has been doing the job for 30 years, to very little effect. Give him a gold watch and free show pass and dump him.
It’s also vital to understand that neither the ITA committee members or myself, have the time to look after your particular groups publicity. You either have the “get-up and go” to run with the scheme, or you don’t. The large professional companies receive the publicity they do, because they work very hard and constantly to achieve it.
For those who would like to take advantage of this sponsorship and it is only available to ITA member groups, please contact me and I will organise the meeting. My contact details are: Greg Ross 5 / 16 Kings Park Road, West Perth WA 6005, Ph/fax: 9321 0262 , Mob: 0418 953 275, Email: gregross@primus.com.au
There are always comments about publicity in the two large newspapers. ItÂ’s important to understand that small local stories do not sell daily newspapers, itÂ’s the very reason community newspapers have become so important. However, there are glimmers of hope in the near future
The West Australian newspaper is believed to be looking at building a major local arts focus into its Friday newspaper and The Sunday Times is believed to be reformatting one of its magazines into a feature driven product, that will give notice of local productions. However, itÂ’s doubtful that either publication will give local theatre the same editorial space as is now being given freely by Community Newspapers.
I hope that clears any confusion up and look froward to hearing from you. Please feel free to contact me, if you have any questions and I will try to help.
Kind regards
Greg Ross
Earlier this year, I was coerced into putting my name forward to become elected as a committee member of the ITA – you owe me several drinks Kerri! - with the express intention of organising a publicity vehicle for member theatre groups.
I freely admit to being hopeless in committees and IÂ’m quite sure my fellow committee members will nod in complete agreement. I simply donÂ’t have the patience, or the time to discuss rules and regulations and sub paragraphs. This is a personality fault of mine, not a committee fault, however itÂ’s the nature of the beast and itÂ’s why I get the results I do.
The latest issue of Link features editorial on the proposed Community Newspapers publicity sponsorship and laments that things did not go as planned.
This is incorrect. The sponsorship is up and running, with staff at Community Newspapers quite perplexed at the lack of information and hiatus in communication. I was obviously mistaken in feeling that it was all in hand and I accept responsibility for not guiding things properly, hence this notice, in order to rectify the situation.
The details of the Community Newspaper sponsorship are as follows:
• Each ITA member theatre group with a forthcoming production should contact their local community newspaper, with full details of the production.
• The newspaper concerned will run four free full colour 10 x 2 advertisements in the relevant paper. Please note, the ads should be supplied in finished format.
• The newspaper will attend a rehearsal with a photographer and run editorial on the play.
• The theatre group will provide the newspaper with 20 FOC seats on an agreed date, which the newspaper will give away free to readers – a separate promotion to the ads.
• The newspaper also intends to utilise these tickets to invite local advertisers to attend the performance, which also opens up the possibility of attracting future sponsorship dollars from your local business community.
• If a stage or cast member has an interesting history / story, the newspaper will also run an editorial piece on that particular person.
• There are also plans to have a critic attend and write on each production.
I have just finished a season in Janet Brandwood’s production of “Dear Charles.” The Stirling Times (the relevant Community Newspaper), ran the four full colour ads, gave the show a half page colour photo editorial and ran a give-away competition for the 20 seats. Community Newspapers also ran the ads for free in Western Suburbs Weekly. There were no problems encountered, the system worked perfectly.
In order to ensure things run as simply and as smoothly as this for all participating groups, we would like to set up, probably in the last week of January, a meeting of the relevant publicity person from each theatre group at Community Newspapers head office in Roe Street Northbridge, probably on a Wednesday evening at 6.00pm. This will facilitate a relationship between each groupÂ’s publicity representative and the nominated person from each newspaper.
Please note, itÂ’s not a night for each group to send along ten representatives, rather, the one person (two at the most) who will handle the publicity. Here, some groups may need to be honest with themselves. Your group may have a well intentioned publicity officer who really has no idea of how to do the job properly. You owe it to your front-of-house, back stage staff and actors, all of whom give their time freely, to give them the best support possible. If John Doe has been doing the job for 30 years, to very little effect. Give him a gold watch and free show pass and dump him.
It’s also vital to understand that neither the ITA committee members or myself, have the time to look after your particular groups publicity. You either have the “get-up and go” to run with the scheme, or you don’t. The large professional companies receive the publicity they do, because they work very hard and constantly to achieve it.
For those who would like to take advantage of this sponsorship and it is only available to ITA member groups, please contact me and I will organise the meeting. My contact details are: Greg Ross 5 / 16 Kings Park Road, West Perth WA 6005, Ph/fax: 9321 0262 , Mob: 0418 953 275, Email: gregross@primus.com.au
There are always comments about publicity in the two large newspapers. ItÂ’s important to understand that small local stories do not sell daily newspapers, itÂ’s the very reason community newspapers have become so important. However, there are glimmers of hope in the near future
The West Australian newspaper is believed to be looking at building a major local arts focus into its Friday newspaper and The Sunday Times is believed to be reformatting one of its magazines into a feature driven product, that will give notice of local productions. However, itÂ’s doubtful that either publication will give local theatre the same editorial space as is now being given freely by Community Newspapers.
I hope that clears any confusion up and look froward to hearing from you. Please feel free to contact me, if you have any questions and I will try to help.
Kind regards
Greg Ross
Greg RossSun, 28 Dec 2003, 08:54 am
In all probability, no one involved with amateur theatre needs reminding of the balancing act required in maintaining a full time career, family commitments and active participation in theatre. The luxuries of large budgets and full time management, including publicity and marketing people are simply not available to most community theatre groups.
Earlier this year, I was coerced into putting my name forward to become elected as a committee member of the ITA – you owe me several drinks Kerri! - with the express intention of organising a publicity vehicle for member theatre groups.
I freely admit to being hopeless in committees and IÂ’m quite sure my fellow committee members will nod in complete agreement. I simply donÂ’t have the patience, or the time to discuss rules and regulations and sub paragraphs. This is a personality fault of mine, not a committee fault, however itÂ’s the nature of the beast and itÂ’s why I get the results I do.
The latest issue of Link features editorial on the proposed Community Newspapers publicity sponsorship and laments that things did not go as planned.
This is incorrect. The sponsorship is up and running, with staff at Community Newspapers quite perplexed at the lack of information and hiatus in communication. I was obviously mistaken in feeling that it was all in hand and I accept responsibility for not guiding things properly, hence this notice, in order to rectify the situation.
The details of the Community Newspaper sponsorship are as follows:
• Each ITA member theatre group with a forthcoming production should contact their local community newspaper, with full details of the production.
• The newspaper concerned will run four free full colour 10 x 2 advertisements in the relevant paper. Please note, the ads should be supplied in finished format.
• The newspaper will attend a rehearsal with a photographer and run editorial on the play.
• The theatre group will provide the newspaper with 20 FOC seats on an agreed date, which the newspaper will give away free to readers – a separate promotion to the ads.
• The newspaper also intends to utilise these tickets to invite local advertisers to attend the performance, which also opens up the possibility of attracting future sponsorship dollars from your local business community.
• If a stage or cast member has an interesting history / story, the newspaper will also run an editorial piece on that particular person.
• There are also plans to have a critic attend and write on each production.
I have just finished a season in Janet Brandwood’s production of “Dear Charles.” The Stirling Times (the relevant Community Newspaper), ran the four full colour ads, gave the show a half page colour photo editorial and ran a give-away competition for the 20 seats. Community Newspapers also ran the ads for free in Western Suburbs Weekly. There were no problems encountered, the system worked perfectly.
In order to ensure things run as simply and as smoothly as this for all participating groups, we would like to set up, probably in the last week of January, a meeting of the relevant publicity person from each theatre group at Community Newspapers head office in Roe Street Northbridge, probably on a Wednesday evening at 6.00pm. This will facilitate a relationship between each groupÂ’s publicity representative and the nominated person from each newspaper.
Please note, itÂ’s not a night for each group to send along ten representatives, rather, the one person (two at the most) who will handle the publicity. Here, some groups may need to be honest with themselves. Your group may have a well intentioned publicity officer who really has no idea of how to do the job properly. You owe it to your front-of-house, back stage staff and actors, all of whom give their time freely, to give them the best support possible. If John Doe has been doing the job for 30 years, to very little effect. Give him a gold watch and free show pass and dump him.
It’s also vital to understand that neither the ITA committee members or myself, have the time to look after your particular groups publicity. You either have the “get-up and go” to run with the scheme, or you don’t. The large professional companies receive the publicity they do, because they work very hard and constantly to achieve it.
For those who would like to take advantage of this sponsorship and it is only available to ITA member groups, please contact me and I will organise the meeting. My contact details are: Greg Ross 5 / 16 Kings Park Road, West Perth WA 6005, Ph/fax: 9321 0262 , Mob: 0418 953 275, Email: gregross@primus.com.au
There are always comments about publicity in the two large newspapers. ItÂ’s important to understand that small local stories do not sell daily newspapers, itÂ’s the very reason community newspapers have become so important. However, there are glimmers of hope in the near future
The West Australian newspaper is believed to be looking at building a major local arts focus into its Friday newspaper and The Sunday Times is believed to be reformatting one of its magazines into a feature driven product, that will give notice of local productions. However, itÂ’s doubtful that either publication will give local theatre the same editorial space as is now being given freely by Community Newspapers.
I hope that clears any confusion up and look froward to hearing from you. Please feel free to contact me, if you have any questions and I will try to help.
Kind regards
Greg Ross
Earlier this year, I was coerced into putting my name forward to become elected as a committee member of the ITA – you owe me several drinks Kerri! - with the express intention of organising a publicity vehicle for member theatre groups.
I freely admit to being hopeless in committees and IÂ’m quite sure my fellow committee members will nod in complete agreement. I simply donÂ’t have the patience, or the time to discuss rules and regulations and sub paragraphs. This is a personality fault of mine, not a committee fault, however itÂ’s the nature of the beast and itÂ’s why I get the results I do.
The latest issue of Link features editorial on the proposed Community Newspapers publicity sponsorship and laments that things did not go as planned.
This is incorrect. The sponsorship is up and running, with staff at Community Newspapers quite perplexed at the lack of information and hiatus in communication. I was obviously mistaken in feeling that it was all in hand and I accept responsibility for not guiding things properly, hence this notice, in order to rectify the situation.
The details of the Community Newspaper sponsorship are as follows:
• Each ITA member theatre group with a forthcoming production should contact their local community newspaper, with full details of the production.
• The newspaper concerned will run four free full colour 10 x 2 advertisements in the relevant paper. Please note, the ads should be supplied in finished format.
• The newspaper will attend a rehearsal with a photographer and run editorial on the play.
• The theatre group will provide the newspaper with 20 FOC seats on an agreed date, which the newspaper will give away free to readers – a separate promotion to the ads.
• The newspaper also intends to utilise these tickets to invite local advertisers to attend the performance, which also opens up the possibility of attracting future sponsorship dollars from your local business community.
• If a stage or cast member has an interesting history / story, the newspaper will also run an editorial piece on that particular person.
• There are also plans to have a critic attend and write on each production.
I have just finished a season in Janet Brandwood’s production of “Dear Charles.” The Stirling Times (the relevant Community Newspaper), ran the four full colour ads, gave the show a half page colour photo editorial and ran a give-away competition for the 20 seats. Community Newspapers also ran the ads for free in Western Suburbs Weekly. There were no problems encountered, the system worked perfectly.
In order to ensure things run as simply and as smoothly as this for all participating groups, we would like to set up, probably in the last week of January, a meeting of the relevant publicity person from each theatre group at Community Newspapers head office in Roe Street Northbridge, probably on a Wednesday evening at 6.00pm. This will facilitate a relationship between each groupÂ’s publicity representative and the nominated person from each newspaper.
Please note, itÂ’s not a night for each group to send along ten representatives, rather, the one person (two at the most) who will handle the publicity. Here, some groups may need to be honest with themselves. Your group may have a well intentioned publicity officer who really has no idea of how to do the job properly. You owe it to your front-of-house, back stage staff and actors, all of whom give their time freely, to give them the best support possible. If John Doe has been doing the job for 30 years, to very little effect. Give him a gold watch and free show pass and dump him.
It’s also vital to understand that neither the ITA committee members or myself, have the time to look after your particular groups publicity. You either have the “get-up and go” to run with the scheme, or you don’t. The large professional companies receive the publicity they do, because they work very hard and constantly to achieve it.
For those who would like to take advantage of this sponsorship and it is only available to ITA member groups, please contact me and I will organise the meeting. My contact details are: Greg Ross 5 / 16 Kings Park Road, West Perth WA 6005, Ph/fax: 9321 0262 , Mob: 0418 953 275, Email: gregross@primus.com.au
There are always comments about publicity in the two large newspapers. ItÂ’s important to understand that small local stories do not sell daily newspapers, itÂ’s the very reason community newspapers have become so important. However, there are glimmers of hope in the near future
The West Australian newspaper is believed to be looking at building a major local arts focus into its Friday newspaper and The Sunday Times is believed to be reformatting one of its magazines into a feature driven product, that will give notice of local productions. However, itÂ’s doubtful that either publication will give local theatre the same editorial space as is now being given freely by Community Newspapers.
I hope that clears any confusion up and look froward to hearing from you. Please feel free to contact me, if you have any questions and I will try to help.
Kind regards
Greg Ross