After much deliberation, I have decided to make a big change to the focus of my blogging.
As you know, Small Pond recently launched our new website and part of that includes a blog. I will be posting all of my content there - starting today. The new blog is called "Investing in People" and will focus specifically on relationship building, developing partnerships, and growing business. I will not stop writing about producing entirely, but as my business has changed so must the blog.
I hope you'll check out the new blog and update your email subscriptions. There are already a few blog posts up from, both myself and other contributors. For the rest of this week, I'll be posting links to the new blog here but, after that, while this blog will remain live, there will be no new posts here.
I know that this is a big change for me and I hope you'll join me as I enter a new chapter in my business and my blogging.
Excelsior!
Last November, I had an idea.
Last December that idea turned into THIS.
After the first ConnectorCon there was a significant amount of excitement from the participants so back in June we hosted the second one.
Now I am proud to announce that we are hosting the third ConnectorCon on October 26th, 2013. You can read all of the info below.
If you're interested, I would encourage you to apply early as seating is limited.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Excelsior!
What makes someone a Connector? The first–and most obvious–criterion is that Connectors know lots of people. They are the kinds of people who know everyone. All of us know someone like this. But I don’t think that we spend a lot of time thinking about the importance of these kinds of people. I’m not even sure that most of us really believe that the kind of person who knows everyone really knows everyone. But they do.
– Malcom Gladwell’s The Tipping Point
Presented by Small Pond Enterprises, ConnectorCon is short for The Connecting Connectors Conference, which is a conference designed to help create a safe space for the sharing of ideas and resources through workshops and panels. Participants learn to be more in tune with the needs of others and to make thoughtful introductions. ConnectorCon focuses on the idea that there is no competition, only specialization. Through these conferences we hope to build a powerful community of thoughtful connectors who recognize the power of living in a world of abundance rather than scarcity.
At ConnectorCon, participants from various industries gather to learn about relationship building from expert connectors through panels and workshops as well as from one another. Participants spend the day discovering the cross-sections of their relationships and exploring how their networks can support each other.
If you are interested in attending the next ConnectorCon on October 26, 2013 please fill out an application.
This week's A.P.T. is Pavan Bahl. I met Pavan a few years back and he has spoken at ConnectorCon, made some great introductions for me, and is always working on some great stuff. His latest venture is the Freestyle Fashion Conference, which you can read all about below. If you have friends in the fashion world, I highly suggest checking this out and connecting with him. Have a look and grab your ticket, before they run out.
Excelsior!
*This conference is open to professionals and business owners within Fashion, Retail, or Related Technologies and Services. You will be asked for details confirming your professional experience upon registering. This information will be used to create a valuable event experience for you!
Conference Site: http://freestyleconference.com
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This week's retro Wednesday post is a little rant I had all about permission. Funny how it was written in 2011, yet still holds up today. Enjoy!
Excelsior!
It's been very interesting to see how the internet and social networking have affected the idea of permission amongst individuals. I was made aware of this most recently when I inquired about a certain organization and received no answer to my question, yet was on their mailing list the next day. This prompted me to consider what is happening with permission in the age of social networking. Below are my findings:
1. You do not need permission to "follow" someone- This is probably the most interesting. When I sign in to twitter, I need not ask anyone if it's ok to "follow" them, I just click follow and they either accept or they do not. Unlike Facebook though, I do not accept or reject the request, I get a notification that someone is following me and if I very much dislike this, then I can opt out. So it's kind of like going out to eat and sitting across from someone who decides to start eating off of your plate until you tell them to stop. This creates a culture of not asking for permission which then bleeds into other mediums.
2. Most online platforms have changed from "opt in" to "opt out"- When you sign up for anything these days, you'll find that the system has already checked off that you would like to be added to the mailing list, or you would like to receive special offers and you have to physically unclick each item. In the hurried nature of our online web lives, we most often skip through this and then the emails pile up. Most of the time we have no idea we signed up.
3. Small commitments make it easier to break rules- You would never go into a room and just start following someone around. You'd be labeled a stalker and probably be asked to leave, but each of these platforms make the commitment so tiny and so tacit that most people just allow it as a matter of course. If I add you as a friend on Facebook, I'm not saying let's hang out every night for the rest of our lives, I'm saying I'd like to stay in touch with you. It's easier and therefore more tenable. The same goes for following. So if I no longer need to ask permission in each of those scenarios, what's my next step up? The mailing list.
Here's where the problem lies.
My inbox is more private than my facebook account or Twitter feed and demands more of my time and attention. It is the online version of my house. I don't just leave the doors of my house open and yet, people come climbing through the window, in through the door, or the ceiling all the time! Why? because they think they are allowed.
I didn't give them permission, but like Kramer in Senfield, they will keep coming in until I opt out.
So the major lessons for those of you who manage email lists:
1. If you don't respond to me and then put me on your email list, I'm off your email list.
2. If you get me on your list because I forgot to opt out, I'll be sure to opt out the second the email comes in.
3. Ask permission before you send, do not just rely on your server's opt out option.
Lastly, I am happy to have you over at my house, but please knock first.
I get introduced to a lot of people.
I also make a lot of introductions. There is one rule I always follow when I am considering connecting two people:
I ask myself, "Am I wasting anyone's time?"
It may sound harsh but this is a question that needs to be asked and honestly answered. Many times we are out there "networking" for networking's sake and taking meetings that don't make sense. The main question that should always be asked is:
Does this person actually want the introduction you are offering?
I always ask if the person already knows the person I am about to introduce. If not, then I reach out and ask if they feel that an introduction would be a good fit. If they tell me that it will be then I know to make the intro. I will also check in with the person I want to introduce and make sure it is an introduction that makes sense for them as well. It takes a little more time, but usually works out much better than just haphazardly connecting people.
So the next time you are about to send an email or make an introduction, stop and ask if it makes sense and find out if both parties are interested.
This leads to less time wasted and more time for win/win meetings.
Excelsior!
Last week I was not posting on this blog, I rarely posted on social media, and didn't spend much time online at all. The Reason?
I needed to go dark.
In the theatre world, shows have dark nights where they do not perform in order to give the team a chance to rest and recuperate. It also allows for time to plan for the week ahead. In the business world, and especially in the world of entrepreneurship, we often never go dark. The idea is that if we slow down or stop that someone else will beat us to the punch. We believe that we can sleep when we're dead, etc.
Last week I realized that rest was needed.
So I took it.
Now I have a clear idea of where my company is heading over the next few months, I have a few new projects planned, and you'll all be seeing some announcements in the next few days about growth. This can't happen without going dark. I needed to take some time to look at the work I was doing in order to plan my next steps.
I'm still here. There was no major tragedy and I'm ready for what's next.
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed, I highly suggest choosing some time for yourself to go dark. We'll all still be here when you get back and look forward to what you come up with.
Excelsior!
Given that Friday the blog was dark, I moved the guest blog post to today. Below is Allison Bressi's story of how she became a producer and the awesome collaborative project she is currently working on. Take it away Allison!
Excelsior!
Producing (not just) 3 New Plays actually started out as a “water cooler” conversation for me. I work at Signature Theatre with Kevin Armento (one of the playwrights on the project), and while I was making tea in the kitchen he popped his head out of the refrigerator and asked if I knew any producers who might be interested in working on something with him. To be honest, I was only half listening to what he was saying and much more focused on drinking my tea, but I asked him to send me some information about whatever this was so I could send to some friends. About twenty minutes later I received a proposal for a project that felt so important and interesting to me that I told him I wanted to be his producer and to please sign me up.
(not just) 3 New Plays is a month-long theatrical pop-up event that was formed to combat the individualistic, competitive structure of self-production. We will present three world-premiere plays by early-career playwrights in a shared space, on a shared set, with a shared budget. In addition, we’ve invited a bevy of young artists and companies we admire – artists who would not normally have the space to create their work – to use our rented home for free rehearsals, workshops, and readings. We’re not just renting a venue, we’re not just producing three plays, rather our aim is to build an artistic ecosystem.
I believe in our event for many reasons, first and foremost being that it’s not just about presenting new and exciting work (which is important!), but more so finding a new and more realistic model for artists to self-produce in New York City. I think my peers and I are in a place where we need that. Due to finances, time, and limited space it’s becoming more and more difficult for artists to simply work on and develop their work. I see and work with seasoned artists at Signature on a daily basis, and find it so exciting to think about our emerging playwrights, directors, designers, and actors eventually having similar resources, opportunities, and support available to them. My hope is that this experiment in self-producing helps pave the way in getting them there and also inspires others to consider this model of coming together as a community to produce and put work out there. I know so many people who are working incredibly hard and creating work that is extraordinary with very little resources. It’s amazing to think about what individuals like that could accomplish if they worked together. I feel cliché saying it, but strength in numbers!
Working on a project of this scope in a city like New York brings its share of challenges: time and money being our largest obstacles. I work full-time as the company manager at Signature Theatre so most days I feel like I’m working with negative time, a challenge that I’m sure most arts professionals in New York can identify with daily. I definitely knew going in that this would be the case, but the framework of the project is the most original idea I’ve heard in a long time and there was no way I could pass it up. The playwrights, Kevin Armento, Jaclyn Backhaus, and Jerry Lieblich, who are also working with me as producers of the event, are so passionate, talented, and supportive of one another that it is impossible not to get swept up in their vision and give them every minute and dollar to support it. They have taken on raising all of the funds for the event and continue to amaze me with what they are able to achieve. I’ve never met artists who care as much about each other’s work as they do their own. This is not only demonstrated by their support for one another, but also because a huge part of producing their plays is presenting forty-five new works by other companies at no cost to the artists.
It’s because of this passion and support that we’ve been able to assemble such a great team to bring this idea to life. Our production staff for all of the plays includes Andy Yanni (scenic design) Meghan Gaber (costume design), Joe Cantalupo (lighting design), Sam Kusnetz (sound design), Brian R. Sekinger (stage manager), Amanda Phelan (stage manager), Dionna' Fletcher (stage manager), Barrett Law (stage manager), Julia Borowski (production coordinator), Eric Emch (graphic design), Karina Martins (line producer), Distilled Theatre Company (associate producer), and Fresh Ground Pepper (associate producer). In addition, Tom Noonan’s Paradise Factory has been incredibly supportive and their wonderful, newly renovated space really shaped our vision and made it possible for us to produce a project with so many different avenues.
Performances begin on September 8th. Please see information for the individual
plays below. We’ll be announcing all of
the additional programming soon. Come
check it out!
EUDAEMONIA
By Jerry Lieblich
Directed by Marshall Pailet
Featuring Brennan Caldwell, Brandon Espinoza, Emma Meltzer, A.J. Shively
In a walkup somewhere in Brooklyn, Ned is hopelessly in love with Natalie, the cute girl downstairs. But when a tiny Demon emerges in Ned's apartment, the promise of a cooler, more attractive self threatens to dissolve his very personhood. Amidst strange doppelgangers, ominous portents, and an unending search for some meaningful transformation, these three twentysomethings watch their identities disintegrate before their very eyes. Part magical-realist romp, part meditation on the line between appearance and identity, Eudaemonia is a wild and imaginative ride through the insecurities and isolations of urban life.
Eudaemonia was developed in part at Bookshop Workshops, Filling the Well Writer's Retreat, and Cockpit Writer's Retreat.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
KILLERS
By Kevin Armento
Directed by Stefanie Abel Horowitz
Featuring John Gasper, Emma Ramos, Rania Salem Manganaro, Chris Thorn, Katy Wright-Mead
Miranda has had the urge to kill since she was a little girl, but when she befriends schoolmate Bobby Barrett, they start making booby traps and movies together, outlets that seem to quell her desire - at least for now. Decades later, a nameless woman in a cubicle tries to suppress her grim fantasies of dying, while negotiating an interoffice romance with a man we soon learn is Bobby Barrett all grown up. Though a generation apart, these two stories unfold in tandem, revealing an intricate link between two of our basest urges.
killers was developed at Judson Memorial Church, the Abingdon Theatre, and the Last Frontier Theater Conference.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
SHOOT THE FREAK
By Jaclyn Backhaus
Directed by Andrew Neisler
Featuring Maxwell Eddy, Jamie Effros, Ben Otto, Claire Rothrock, Sarah Todes, Ryann Weir
When Franny and her Bushwick friends set out to Coney Island to relive the magic birthday exploits of 2006, they expect a few Nathan’s hot dogs, a few spins on the Cyclone, a few nostalgic look-backs on How Things Used to Be. Franny even crosses her fingers for a whimsical make-out session with Grant. But no one—not even the maniacal local weatherman—seems to forecast the Level Five Hurricane headed straight for Luna Park. As the boards on the walk start to creak and split in the wind, as hunks of amusement park metal are exposed to the elements, as the rain falls and the waves crest, the layers of old Coney (and Old Coney, and Ole Olde Coney) bubble to the surface. And it’s only a matter of time before the Freaks seek shelter from the storm.
Shoot The Freak was developed in part at Fresh Ground Pepper and Cockpit Writer's Retreat.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets
This week's A.P.T. is Josh Rivedal who has been part of the A.P.T. team before. He's now about to release a new book and has some great stuff to share. Enjoy.
Excelsior!
Hey all of you Mike-Rod lovers. Yes, today is Awesome Person Thursday but we’re gonna flip the script here. I want to talk about how awesome Michael is and about a fertilizer called PLAE that helped water the seeds of my artistic projects starting back in 2010.
Rolling back the calendar three years and I was a mostly out of work actor, and a theatre producer of small projects that could only seem to ever break even.
Enter Mike and enter PLAE. I had known Michael for a few years. He first consulted on a two projects I produced, Hot Cripple and then the inaugural New York City run of The Gospel According to Josh (“GATJ”). Both went well and led to some wonderful things: Hot Cripple was turned into a book and published by Penguin and that year GATJ was invited for a one night performance at The Media Theatre outside Philadelphia, and was subsequently added to the theatre’s 11’-12’ season.
By I wanted more. I was barely scraping by on these projects and was dirt po’. I was so po’ I couldn’t even afford the last “o” and “r” (whomp, whomp). Michael had mentioned he was re-launching PLAE that Fall to help people like me figure out how to make a living off of their artistic projects. I had everything to gain and nothing to lose.
In my PLAE class, I met tech startup owners, casting directors, insurance brokers, and marketing gurus—all people who were willing to reveal their secrets to their success and people knew how to take a project and bring it to the end zone, so to speak. I had been living in Oz and had never paid attention to the “man” behind the curtain—till PLAE. My classmates were also hardworking artists and arts entrepreneurs—a director, a music director, the owner of a small indie film company, and myself. We bonded as a group and grew together and found our success individually and collectively. Now, one classmate is the assistant director on a Broadway show, another an in-demand music director currently on an international tour, the other brought successful film concepts to market. Me? We’ll get to that in a sec.
The brilliance of PLAE is two-fold
1) You are the company you keep. You hang out with scrappers, hustlers, and those who are working to get things accomplished; you become one of those people yourself. Alternatively, you hang out with slackers, flakes, and whiners; you become one of those people as well. PLAE is cultivated for the scrappers.
2) Experiential learning. You’re not just sitting around listening to people speak. You work as a class to brainstorm and work together to solve problems of individual class members together. You get your hands dirty and out of the textbooks.
Mike and PLAE provided me with a good place to get my bearings. Now? I make a full time living as a writer/actor/producer. The Gospel According to Josh is in its third year of international touring. I’ve booked myself in 27 U.S. states and 2 Canadian Provinces. We’re opening Off-Broadway in May ’14. And I just got my book published by Skookum Hill The Gospel According to Josh: A 28-Year Gentile Bar Mitzvah. Available for pre-release: http://www.joshuarivedal.com/book/ 15% of proceeds go to The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Oh yeah, and PLAE? Everybody got time fo’ that.
Joshua Rivedal is an author, actor, playwright, and international public speaker. He has spoken professionally about suicide prevention and mental health awareness in more than twenty-five U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. He serves on the board of directors for the New York City chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
He wrote and developed the play, The Gospel According to Josh, which has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada, and is set to open Off-Broadway in New York City in May 2014. He wrote the libretto and is associate producing a Spanish language Christmas musical Rescatando la Navidad, playing in seven cities during Christmas 2013. He writes for the blogs The Arts Entrepreneur and The BLOGospel According to Josh. His short story Chasing Waterfalls will be published in Little Book of Big Epiphanies in early 2014. As a voiceover actor, Josh has lent his voice to the role of Hippo in Scholastic’s Rabbit and Hippo In Three Short Tales, the narrator of Julianne Moore’s Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully, the narrator of Cinderella Penguin, and numerous other audiobooks and animated projects.
