June 2010

Wild grass

floor-joist-removal.jpg

When a part of Bedlam Theatre's floor collapsed, word spread through the community so fast that, within 48 hours, volunteers had contributed more than 300 hours (and eventually over $7500) to help the company fix it. Photo credit: Telsche Thiessen

Performers have been practicing the magical art of grassroots marketing since the days of heralds and itinerant acting companies. In honor of spring, and the oncoming rush of the Fringe Festival, we look at what it means to water the roots.

Articles

Northside

by Jeff Redman • Jun. 6

Audience

Workhouse Theatre Company makes its way in North Minneapolis through old-fashioned, one-on-one, grassroots marketing. We reprint this story from Dec. 2008.

Humans with pulses

by Joseph Scrimshaw • Jun. 14

Audience

Grassroots political movements effect the policies of mainstream politics; perhaps the work you put onstage could also be effected by grassroots groups.

Mown

by John Middleton • Jun. 29

Audience

Regular MinnesotaPlaylist contributor John Middleton returns with his thoughts on the grassroots.

Blogs

BLOG: Fighting the good fight

by Scot Covey • Jun. 3

In depth |

Part 1: After his experience with Theatre de la Jeune Lune, their former marketing director dedicates himself to getting more people to see great art.

BLOG: Fans ignite the engine

by Scot Covey • Jun. 7

In depth |

NEW #2. Stop chasing patrons and start cultivating fans. Scot shares lessons he's learned from Indie rock bands and political campaigns.

BLOG: The real stuff

by Scot Covey • Jun. 10

In depth |

UPDATE #3. Your best bet for inspiring viral campaign is to use your skills as artists to provide art in your marketing.

BLOG: Be good

by Scot Covey • Jun. 14

In depth |

NEW #4 The fact that Scot works in marketing doesn't mean he's able to lie convincingly about your show. Your best marketing may be to simply be good.

BLOG: What is "theater" anyway?

by Scot Covey • Jun. 20

In depth |

UPDATE #5. Selling to "theatergoers" is like sell to "music listeners." The category is accurate but so broad that it's useless.

BLOG: Finding the artifact

by Scot Covey • Jun. 24

In depth |

#6 NEW! A radical suggestion for redefining theater in a way that might actually make it profitable.

BLOG: Sustainability

by Scot Covey • Jun. 29

In depth |

#7 THE END. "And I believe that being popular does not mean compromising artistic quality."

Companies

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Businesses

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Twitter feed

BloomingtonTAC: Don't miss My Fair Lady at BCT. The show runs through May 27. 952-563-8575 for tickets. #mnpl #artslegacy

minnesotaplays: Did you know Open Eye Figure theater is funding their wildly popular Driveway tour program via Kickstarter? #mnpl http://t.co/dkSW0Sce

minnesotaplays: Kudos to Sarah Agnew & Jim Lichtscheidl for being named best comic stage performers in the Strib #mnpl http://t.co/aXoZAZEd

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