ADVICE REQUESTED
Wed, 11 Dec 2002, 09:30 amWalter Plinge2 posts in thread
ADVICE REQUESTED
Wed, 11 Dec 2002, 09:30 amDear friends in Theatre "down under",
Some months ago, I found myself having to admit that I had finally retired from directing plays (had a mighty stroke - aaaaahhhhh....). Since I'd directed about eighty productions of all sorts and sizes in various circumstances, it seemed an awful waste to simply shut up and disappear, leaving no trace of all the lessons I had learned, mostly from mistakes. So.... some years ago, I put together some ideas for a posh publisher who approached me via a friend, but the project came to nothing. I dug out all the bumph and had a good look at it, added more recent experience to it, revised it and edited it down to paperback size. Then I had my book printed under the title "PLAYMAKER", which is a job-title I made up for myself years ago.
When all the copies came back from the printers I had little idea about how to get rid of them, except that I had been recruited by the local university to coach, advise and teach in their drama productions. You see, the thing is that I had created a handbook that I would have given my eye teeth to own when I was a young director feeling my way very nervously indeed. That's why it has a detailed index at the front, so that the user can "dip into" whatever is giving trouble at the time. I sent a couple of copies to theatre magazines and was amazed by their complimentary responses; they praised my little book to high heaven! Attached is a flyer I prepared for people who enquired.
As you can see, I put a price of £10 (ten pounds UK Sterling) on it, to cover my printing costs, admin and postage, plus a bit of reward for me. Then again, I'm having so much pleasure now from answering the queries of my lovely readers, who use the e-mail address I put in for them to use - this correspondence is reward indeed, especially since the whole thing was really a labour of love.
Well... now I'm wondering whether theatrepeople in Australia would be interested in PLAYMAKER. I would be extremely grateful for your advice on how to market it. Already, I've sent a copy to a pal over there; I'll ask him to let you know what he thinks. In the meantime, please get back to me on the above e-mail address or jonah@amdram.co.uk
Some months ago, I found myself having to admit that I had finally retired from directing plays (had a mighty stroke - aaaaahhhhh....). Since I'd directed about eighty productions of all sorts and sizes in various circumstances, it seemed an awful waste to simply shut up and disappear, leaving no trace of all the lessons I had learned, mostly from mistakes. So.... some years ago, I put together some ideas for a posh publisher who approached me via a friend, but the project came to nothing. I dug out all the bumph and had a good look at it, added more recent experience to it, revised it and edited it down to paperback size. Then I had my book printed under the title "PLAYMAKER", which is a job-title I made up for myself years ago.
When all the copies came back from the printers I had little idea about how to get rid of them, except that I had been recruited by the local university to coach, advise and teach in their drama productions. You see, the thing is that I had created a handbook that I would have given my eye teeth to own when I was a young director feeling my way very nervously indeed. That's why it has a detailed index at the front, so that the user can "dip into" whatever is giving trouble at the time. I sent a couple of copies to theatre magazines and was amazed by their complimentary responses; they praised my little book to high heaven! Attached is a flyer I prepared for people who enquired.
As you can see, I put a price of £10 (ten pounds UK Sterling) on it, to cover my printing costs, admin and postage, plus a bit of reward for me. Then again, I'm having so much pleasure now from answering the queries of my lovely readers, who use the e-mail address I put in for them to use - this correspondence is reward indeed, especially since the whole thing was really a labour of love.
Well... now I'm wondering whether theatrepeople in Australia would be interested in PLAYMAKER. I would be extremely grateful for your advice on how to market it. Already, I've sent a copy to a pal over there; I'll ask him to let you know what he thinks. In the meantime, please get back to me on the above e-mail address or jonah@amdram.co.uk
Walter PlingeWed, 11 Dec 2002, 09:30 am
Dear friends in Theatre "down under",
Some months ago, I found myself having to admit that I had finally retired from directing plays (had a mighty stroke - aaaaahhhhh....). Since I'd directed about eighty productions of all sorts and sizes in various circumstances, it seemed an awful waste to simply shut up and disappear, leaving no trace of all the lessons I had learned, mostly from mistakes. So.... some years ago, I put together some ideas for a posh publisher who approached me via a friend, but the project came to nothing. I dug out all the bumph and had a good look at it, added more recent experience to it, revised it and edited it down to paperback size. Then I had my book printed under the title "PLAYMAKER", which is a job-title I made up for myself years ago.
When all the copies came back from the printers I had little idea about how to get rid of them, except that I had been recruited by the local university to coach, advise and teach in their drama productions. You see, the thing is that I had created a handbook that I would have given my eye teeth to own when I was a young director feeling my way very nervously indeed. That's why it has a detailed index at the front, so that the user can "dip into" whatever is giving trouble at the time. I sent a couple of copies to theatre magazines and was amazed by their complimentary responses; they praised my little book to high heaven! Attached is a flyer I prepared for people who enquired.
As you can see, I put a price of £10 (ten pounds UK Sterling) on it, to cover my printing costs, admin and postage, plus a bit of reward for me. Then again, I'm having so much pleasure now from answering the queries of my lovely readers, who use the e-mail address I put in for them to use - this correspondence is reward indeed, especially since the whole thing was really a labour of love.
Well... now I'm wondering whether theatrepeople in Australia would be interested in PLAYMAKER. I would be extremely grateful for your advice on how to market it. Already, I've sent a copy to a pal over there; I'll ask him to let you know what he thinks. In the meantime, please get back to me on the above e-mail address or jonah@amdram.co.uk
Some months ago, I found myself having to admit that I had finally retired from directing plays (had a mighty stroke - aaaaahhhhh....). Since I'd directed about eighty productions of all sorts and sizes in various circumstances, it seemed an awful waste to simply shut up and disappear, leaving no trace of all the lessons I had learned, mostly from mistakes. So.... some years ago, I put together some ideas for a posh publisher who approached me via a friend, but the project came to nothing. I dug out all the bumph and had a good look at it, added more recent experience to it, revised it and edited it down to paperback size. Then I had my book printed under the title "PLAYMAKER", which is a job-title I made up for myself years ago.
When all the copies came back from the printers I had little idea about how to get rid of them, except that I had been recruited by the local university to coach, advise and teach in their drama productions. You see, the thing is that I had created a handbook that I would have given my eye teeth to own when I was a young director feeling my way very nervously indeed. That's why it has a detailed index at the front, so that the user can "dip into" whatever is giving trouble at the time. I sent a couple of copies to theatre magazines and was amazed by their complimentary responses; they praised my little book to high heaven! Attached is a flyer I prepared for people who enquired.
As you can see, I put a price of £10 (ten pounds UK Sterling) on it, to cover my printing costs, admin and postage, plus a bit of reward for me. Then again, I'm having so much pleasure now from answering the queries of my lovely readers, who use the e-mail address I put in for them to use - this correspondence is reward indeed, especially since the whole thing was really a labour of love.
Well... now I'm wondering whether theatrepeople in Australia would be interested in PLAYMAKER. I would be extremely grateful for your advice on how to market it. Already, I've sent a copy to a pal over there; I'll ask him to let you know what he thinks. In the meantime, please get back to me on the above e-mail address or jonah@amdram.co.uk
LaurenFri, 27 Dec 2002, 11:06 am
Re: ADVICE REQUESTED
This is fairly obvious so it's likely you've tried it already, but try sending excerpts from the book to all the major theatre companies in Australia. I can't name many but influential members of those companies would increase sales. I know that many members of my own theatre company have bought items recommended by our peers, teachers and directors.