Home > Work > The Guerrilla Guide To Being A Theatrical Producer
1 " I am interested in helping people to understand how to sell what it is they need to sell in a way that makes sense for both them and the investor. Over the years what I have been astounded that many artists and business people who produce theatre works consistently do not know how to go about funding their projects and moving them from one point to the other. There are many money sources around, but in many cases people who make theatre are not business minded to the point of developing the skills to mine money sources consistently. Ask yourself what is the motivation of this potential investor. Is it for financial return, is it for tax credit, is it just to help? or do they want to become a part of the entertainment business? OK once you have discovered this then you need to think in terms of how do you present your case. This is what has come to be known in the world of investment as your “pitch deck. "
― , The Guerrilla Guide To Being A Theatrical Producer
2 " Passion needs to be at the heart of the project. Passion is infectious, so the more people who are enthusiastic about the project the better. Where and when a solution or answer does not easily present itself, there needs to be enough belief and energy for the project that still drives the production forward. Without the passion to go through whatever it is that will be thrown your way, you will not make it to opening night. "
3 " What many producers don’t understand is that lawyers by definition are not trained in solving business problems. They are trained in interpreting and propagating the law based on a set of precedents that have been laid down before. And as each branch of law is an entity unto itself, an entertainment lawyer that normally works in music may not necessarily be useful when dealing with theatre. If you want to do a deal that might involve some creative thinking, you would do better to talk with someone that makes deals for a living, for example maybe a salesperson who has developed “outside of the box” thinking in order to make their business rise above that of the competition. In my experience lawyers are not by definition the most creative business thinkers. "
4 " Can-Do Attitude: Essential to develop because all along the way people will hit you with questions like: Is it worth it? Why is it taking so long? This is a very hard business isn’t it? Are you sure you’re doing the right thing? and other questions that might make you doubt yourself. Just keep doing what you are doing and decide that whatever you need to do you will find a way to do and that you can do it, even though at the moment, you might not know how. "
5 " I saw myself as a person that wanted to build their own house and was aware that I needed to have all the skills and know-how of house building. I knew I needed to learn everything from design to bricklaying to painting to electrics if I wanted to have the house that I envisioned. I am a very much a hands-on person and I learn from doing. Hopefully I can now pass on some of what I have learned on to you. "