The West Australian

Never mind about reviews - when was the last time you saw a MENTION of community theatre in the West, or the Sunday Times for that matter????????And yes most of us (we) publicity officers ARE tired of banging our heads against a brick wall, it hurts after a while!!Community papers are a bit beter, we (Melville ) have had a good run recently - keeps fingers crossed - but even then it does depend on an interested reporter and how many of the cast come from the paper's 'catchment area'And to think that the Adjudicator for this years SDF is the Sunday Times Arts editor.Suggestion: both Alison Farmer and Ron Banks have e-mail addresses. Why don't we ALL bombard them with complaints/suggestions/ideas?I've done so but being a voice in the wildernes ain't enough, it needs lots of us, and I mean lots (and no I didn't get an answer)SO GET OUT THERE AND START.

Journalists usually have to obey their editors. They're just small fry. Bombarding them would be a fruitless exercise. You're better off going to the managing editors of the newspapers, they make the decisions that count. But, on the whole, they only like big name stuff because that's what they think will interest the most readers.

SO GET OUT THERE AND START.Just a thought - I doubt if it will work anyway?. But just for the sake of IT!We tend to hold seminars, classes and the like on most things;- drama and performance orientated workshops of needs and wants.So why not Publicity, unfortunately it would have to be packaged and parcelled up with different Tinsel and paper.I dont know if a workshop on front of house and other communications has been done? - "to death" probably.Most groups I have been connected with, only tend to worry about what happens on the boards not FOH or even backstage.When it comes to publicity, advertising, promotion and what else it takes to get the punter to buy a ticket, it is either the same soul who is lumbered with the task or someone who eventually or stupidly holds there hand up and says "I'll do it".This is one of the important factors of 'what we are about' surely? - I could be wrong - if so, why don't we stay home and do it in front of the mirror. "Thee can't do without us and we can't do without thee' but if we are together we might be able to get "what we can't do without' - bum on seats!.I have seen resources expended on frivolous things to the detriment of the production and to the point of not having enough left to even advertise, possibly because there is no communications between the Committee, show, FOH and/or those 'who do it in the dark'.Possibly 9 times out of 10, the first thing that happens is to call auditions, then only after it is cast and in rehearsal are any thought given to backstage or front of house - "plenty of time for that - later" - Panic!?!?!?We (Royal WEE) do tend to get things back to front in most cases and are completely four wall syndrome and "don't let anyone know what we are doing" "we are not a secret society - just a society with lots of secrets". We got to project our voice "from the diaphragm and out the parrots beak".Lots of things can be engineered to happen, given time and planning (the 3 P's), by utilising what you have got;- to do the 'street bit' or shopping centres or do something generic with a show say like "travelling north" get in on promoting Queensland (heaven will forgive - I think?) or "Mikado" dar-dar-dum - what ever.But, Im sure the frazzled Publicity Officers battered with scars and dripping real blood everywhere, know this only too well!!!We tend to push for people to fill positions and then leave them on there own, with the only consolation being - if they don't get it right first time - bitch about them or go hunting for faults like buried treasure. No support - no thought!I'll get off my bike - now! As I said IT's just a 'wee' thought.RegardsJoe McCabe

> SO GET OUT THERE AND START.After looking around a bit - I found this on the 'backstage' web. I know it's american and mainly pionted at pro theatre, but if you have time to take a look what Sherry Eaker had to ay on:-"How to Get a Reviewer to Come See Your Show"CenterStage by Sherry EakerAgain, these are Eaker's Rules, and may not apply to other publications. Gettingreviews, writing up press releases, and hiring a press agent will be further discussedas part of a panel discussion, "How to Produce Your Own Showcase," that I'mproducing on Wed., May 5, from 6 to 7:30 pm, at the AEA Audition Center, 165 W.46th St., 2nd floor. (Refer to our ad on p. 20.) This event is free and open to the public,so reservations are strongly suggested. Call (212) 536-1413 and leave your name and phone number. 1999 Back Stage, Back Stage West, and BPI Communications Inc. All rights reserved.BPI Electronic Media includes Billboard, Adweek, Amusement Business, BPIQ, Back Stage,The Hollywood Reporter, MC, and Musician. Sites hosted by Telescan Inc.The only value is it may be worth a read and as we don't seem to have reveiwers as such at our level, except ourselves. She makes valid pionts that can be modified and possibly set a train of thoughts going - unfortunetly it has the razzzz of the bubble gum machine and pro-active-ness of gnawing the big fruit.For what it is worthJMc

EMAILNOTICES>no> Journalists usually have to obey their editors.Then maybe should all write to the Letters to the Editor section.Get enough people doing this and maybe, just maybe, we canget something done about it.Sit down, write on now. It will take you all of five minutes and cost 45cto send it, or find their e-mail address.I'll take some of my own advise and write one myself."Take the bull be the horns. It's the safest place."

The West Australian has a special editor for its letters section, so you might get one or two letters printed on this subject, but he or she has no influence in determining a change in policy. If you are really serious about a letter writing campaigning, you should target the managing editor who can make broad and sweeping changes to the entire newspaper.

EMAILNOTICES>no> The West Australian has a special editor for its letters section,> so you might get one or two letters printed on this subject, but he> or she has no influence in determining a change in policy.Oh well. It would still increase public awareness though, I hope.I might have to send two copies then.

I hope I've started something but rmember that it's only by constant pressure/niggling away/nagging or any phrase you think of that anything can be achieved.Go to everyone out there.PS who is the managing editor of the West?> Oh well. It would still increase public awareness though, I hope.>> I might have to send two copies then.

> I hope I've started something but rmember that it's only by constant> pressure/niggling away/nagging or>What about ITA and/or each production do their own press release or they become the reviewer. Which must be better than what you get from the local 'rag-bag'. Even there, they will use releases as fillers or suffer the 'LOCAL' sending anyone who is the wrong place .. ...! - who has to get directions to find the foyer, never mind the venue. When the only live performance they seen was on video - how fortunate we are!.But I don't suggest just the normal 'show dates at such and such a place...' they will always print one that has an angle or hook, "warm prop bites .....", as long as it gets attention - feed it, press the button and see what bells'n'whistles go off?This is probably under the wrong heading of "Westaustralian" but on the bases of "United we sta.." - have a seminar, get together and invite editors,repoters & reveiwers to sprout (they are performers too - we are all part of the same union Arts Media Alliance), let them know you plight - you would be suprised!?!.At least you get some coverage in the Sunday Times and 'Have A Go'(with Willfred Pickles, Mable at the table and Harry Hudson at the piano..... sorry!!!!). Which the country clubs have not quite dicovered or 'Billy Cotton Band Show-ed' - yet!With "there are diamonds in your own back yard" attitude and if all who spar together become players - you never know what will come out of it, even a lot of coffee stains and a sink full of cups, must be better than running being in the dark with flat batteries.Individually we are a pimple - collectivly we might graduate to a 'b-union' or at least for every 'act' there is an equal and/or 'oppo-site' 're-act-or' - "I know them so - well....".JMc

I couldn't help noticing that yesterday's West featured a prominent article (not a review) about two Midnite Youth productions - that's Christ Church Grammar school for the uninitiated. I wonder how long before MLC and Scotch College productions rate a mention?;)CheersGrant

EMAILNOTICES>noThe managing editor of The West Australian is Paul Murray and the managing editor of the Sunday Times is Brian Crisp. It's amazing what you can find out with just two phone calls.

> Never mind about reviews - when was the last time you saw a MENTION> of community theatre in the West, or the Sunday Times for that matter?Actually, i frequently see community theatre mentioned in The West. It's usually just a brief announcement about a show prior to opening night, but several companies have had photos, items in the magazine and even substantial write-ups. It might be interesting to know why some companies are succeeding where others are not.CheersGrant

EMAILNOTICES>noIt's probably a question of space on any particular day. If there's a hole to fill, they would grab anything that might fill it. But on other days there might far too much to cover, so some theatres might miss out. It's more a case of chance and luck than design.

Chance - my foot!! Luck possibly, but we haven't had ANY notices about community theatre for AGES now. It's bloody depressing to we publicity officers (yes I know, if you don't like the heat etc etc)As I don't know who you are, can I ask if you are connected with the press or community theatre or what?And in answer to an earlier comment of yours, I do know who the Editor of the West is, but does he dictate policy or is it 'someone else up there'> It's probably a question of space on any particular day. If there's> a hole to fill, they would grab anything that might fill it. But on> other days there might far too much to cover, so some theatres might> miss out. It's more a case of chance and luck than design.

EMAILNOTICES>noPublicity offers make the assumption their stuff *has* to be used. It doesn't. It's completely disposable to editors and journalists. Do you read the paper every single day? Mondays have often been good because that's the day The West has the most trouble filling holes in the paper.The managing editor of a newspaper is your best chance - it would be pointless going to the general manager or chief executive because they simply don't deal with deciding what copy goes into the paper.Curtin University recently did a study on publicity and press officers and found that most press releases went to the wrong person, the people receiving them found the material contained within was of little or no value and newsrooms got irritated when multiple copies were sent to different people because eventually they would all end up on one person's desk.The reason community theatre is not covered to any great deal is that The West Australian and Sunday Times probably believe it will not interest the greatest number of people. That misapprehension may be wrong but it's a fair bit. And there's also the question of advertising - as much as the journalistic code of ethics is supposed to prevent those sort of things, if someone advertises, it's a fair bet they're more likely to get some coverage.So have you written your letters to Paul Murray and Brian Crisp yet?

Have we been here before or have I missed the piont?I thought the question was opened in the form of what can we do or at least what some insight on what we are not doing - to help make it happen.I must have got wrong - got to get my vacuum looked at one day!JMc