So You Want to Put on a Show- Putting the Programme Together
The whole preparation for the show is well under way now and everything seems to be going swimmingly.
There are just a few details now to attend to and that thing will be perfect.
One such task is the preparation of a show programme, which lets your audience know about everyone who has contributed to the whole process.
This does not just include the performers and the parts they are playing, though they will expect that to be a large part of the document.
As anyone knows who has just put a show together, there are dozens of people who must be mentioned, and not one of them must be omitted if you ever want their help again.
An important element int he programme is some kind of precis about the writers.
The information for this is usually available in the scripts that you have hired, so is usually quite an easy task.
It is then useful to include some kind of introduction to the play/musical itself, with its history and some context.
It might be interesting to print just when it was first produced, and its relative success as a professional production.
But then comes the important part.
All those who are performing will expect that their photographs will appear in the programme, unless you are really going for the simplest programme possible.
These photos must be done, if at all possible, by one person who knows what he or she is doing and can produce photos that make people look like performers and not convicts - unless you are doing, say, 'Bugsy Malone', when mugshots might be a very good way to present the cast! And then you must persuade your cast, or at least the stars if you have them, to write a little biographical piece about themselves to go with their photo.
People who are playing tiny, chorus parts, might not expect to have a 'biog' but the stars certainly will.
And whatever you do, let them know a word-count limit, otherwise they will go on forever! Performers are, essentially, egotists, and feel that every tiny thing about them is important! Give them a cut-off date too, by which if you have not received copy for the programme, you will make it up yourself.
Otherwise they will not be at the printers' shop until too late.
Printers will tell you how long they need to get a programme ready - and time must be left for the cast and crew to check their own entry for accuracy before the final printing is done.
Some programmes like to feature the backstage crew too.
Certainly you must include information about the Director and Musical Director.
And it would be churlish not to mention, in some detail, the Stage Manager, Lighting Technician, Sound Technician, Costume Designer and Props Manager.
They might like to have their photos in too - though many I have met have refused point-blank to have a picture included, preferring the wonderful anonymity that being back stage give.
It is also really wise to acknowledge all the work done by the Producer (unless of course you are the Producer, preparing the programme, in which case, well, you'll have to decide what to do!) Programmes cost a lot to have printed and you cannot charge too much for them, so it is a good idea to try to get local companies to take advertisements in the programme, for which they will pay.
It is probably not possible to cover all your costs this way, but it does help.
Other local groups may want to advertise their next production in your programme - and, of course, you can charge them for that.
Don't forget to publicise your group's next production, if you have any idea what it will be and have not sworn that there will never, NEVER, be another production.
Or at least - if there is, you are not going to do all this again.
And when you swear that, try to remember that you have later.
Though I think it's a bit like childbirth.
No-one would have more than one baby if they really remembered what the process was like.
I think putting on a show is a bit like that.
I forget every time.
But then, as well as being exhausting, frustrating, infuriating, expensive, time-consuming and desperately difficult, it is also life-enhancing, delightful, satisfying and downright wonderful.
There are just a few details now to attend to and that thing will be perfect.
One such task is the preparation of a show programme, which lets your audience know about everyone who has contributed to the whole process.
This does not just include the performers and the parts they are playing, though they will expect that to be a large part of the document.
As anyone knows who has just put a show together, there are dozens of people who must be mentioned, and not one of them must be omitted if you ever want their help again.
An important element int he programme is some kind of precis about the writers.
The information for this is usually available in the scripts that you have hired, so is usually quite an easy task.
It is then useful to include some kind of introduction to the play/musical itself, with its history and some context.
It might be interesting to print just when it was first produced, and its relative success as a professional production.
But then comes the important part.
All those who are performing will expect that their photographs will appear in the programme, unless you are really going for the simplest programme possible.
These photos must be done, if at all possible, by one person who knows what he or she is doing and can produce photos that make people look like performers and not convicts - unless you are doing, say, 'Bugsy Malone', when mugshots might be a very good way to present the cast! And then you must persuade your cast, or at least the stars if you have them, to write a little biographical piece about themselves to go with their photo.
People who are playing tiny, chorus parts, might not expect to have a 'biog' but the stars certainly will.
And whatever you do, let them know a word-count limit, otherwise they will go on forever! Performers are, essentially, egotists, and feel that every tiny thing about them is important! Give them a cut-off date too, by which if you have not received copy for the programme, you will make it up yourself.
Otherwise they will not be at the printers' shop until too late.
Printers will tell you how long they need to get a programme ready - and time must be left for the cast and crew to check their own entry for accuracy before the final printing is done.
Some programmes like to feature the backstage crew too.
Certainly you must include information about the Director and Musical Director.
And it would be churlish not to mention, in some detail, the Stage Manager, Lighting Technician, Sound Technician, Costume Designer and Props Manager.
They might like to have their photos in too - though many I have met have refused point-blank to have a picture included, preferring the wonderful anonymity that being back stage give.
It is also really wise to acknowledge all the work done by the Producer (unless of course you are the Producer, preparing the programme, in which case, well, you'll have to decide what to do!) Programmes cost a lot to have printed and you cannot charge too much for them, so it is a good idea to try to get local companies to take advertisements in the programme, for which they will pay.
It is probably not possible to cover all your costs this way, but it does help.
Other local groups may want to advertise their next production in your programme - and, of course, you can charge them for that.
Don't forget to publicise your group's next production, if you have any idea what it will be and have not sworn that there will never, NEVER, be another production.
Or at least - if there is, you are not going to do all this again.
And when you swear that, try to remember that you have later.
Though I think it's a bit like childbirth.
No-one would have more than one baby if they really remembered what the process was like.
I think putting on a show is a bit like that.
I forget every time.
But then, as well as being exhausting, frustrating, infuriating, expensive, time-consuming and desperately difficult, it is also life-enhancing, delightful, satisfying and downright wonderful.
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