Whether you're in the Not-for-Profit world or in the Commercial world, as a producer you will be making and securing investments. Sometimes it's money, sometimes it's time, sometimes it's relationships, but always you are investing.
And investment is a big deal.
Now we all remember the golden rule about producing from
this show, but the fact of the matter is: if you're expecting someone to trust you and put money into your project, they're going to ask you point blank if you're also putting money in. If you say no, they're most definitely going to want to know why and you'd better have a good answer.
Whatever your interest is in producing, you're going to need to put some of your own money in at some point. The important thing is, just like any good investor, you look at your possible return and your possible loss on the investment. I'll give you a few examples:
1. I've put my own money into
this Off-Broadway show and am currently raising money for it. This investment has allowed me the opportunity to learn more about commercial theatre and the show is amazing and I get to be on that team at the table. It's worth the investment.
2.
Hold for the Laughs- I put down money to rent the venue and buy supplies for this event and I give half of our door to an Indie Theatre Company. This has allowed me the opportunity to meet new companies, connect comedy people with theatre people, and build a brand. It's worth the investment.
3.
Fictive Kinship- I put down money to rent the venue and pay different expenses on the production. In return I get a percentage of ticket sales, a chance to work with a new playwright, and the opportunity to meet more people. It's worth the investment and if we sell out, it's even better.
Now I know what you're thinking...
Mike, that's great. But what about the loss? You talked about loss right?
Yep. So here's the flip side that I have to weigh:
1. The show could have slow ticket sales and not make it past the first few month slump
2. I could have no one show up and then comedians and companies are upset and I'm out of money
3. Again, no one could show or so few people could show that the money and morale ends up really low.
But here's the thing . . .
I KNOW all of these things are possible and I ACCEPT it. That's investment.
So still thinking about investing in your future as a producer?
Below is a great tip:
Excelsior!
TRU PRODUCER BOOT CAMP
Raising Money for Theater:
How, Who and When to Ask
While a disheartening number of shows are closing, Theater Resources
Unlimited opens up the possibilities for tomorrow's productions with an
all-day intensive workshop about many crucial aspects of raising money
for theater.
It's
a tough economy, no doubt about it. All the more reason why people need
support and the skills to go about the business of producing. We
invite you to come acquire some basic tools and information that will
help you to function effectively in these times and the better days
that are surely ahead. From networking techniques to legal requirements
and effective business planning, plus a wealth of first-hand experience
from more than a half dozen producers who are currently active in the
Broadway and off-Broadway worlds, we promise you an informative,
empowering and inspiring day.
Saturday January 24th, 10am to 6pm
The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street
Produced by Theater Resources Unlimited
in association with Small Pond Entertainment
Click here for Curriculum
Click here for Faculty Bios
Click here for Application
Our curriculum and instructors are as follows:
Saturday January 24th
9am - registration and check-in, coffee and cake/bagles
9:45am - introduction of room (registrants)
10:00am to 11:15am - "Networking Your Way to Money: Turning Resistance into Results" with life coach Penelope Brackett
of the Creative Seed. We will look at the nature of effective
networking, how our beliefs affect our ability to present ourselves
well, techniques for engaging others in our ideas, more.
11:15 to 12:00 - "Commercial and Not-for-Profit Asks: Defining the Differences" with attorney Cheryl Davis.
We will define terms, then focus on the not-for-profit side: the legal
paperwork and structure that is necessary in order to ask for
donations, and the responsibilities to your donors, plus the ways in
which not-for-profits and commercial companies can work together.
12:00 to 1:00 - "Commercial Financing: Formalizing Your Ask" with attorney Mark Beigelman.
The required paperwork and structures at every level of development,
from front money agreements to private placement to Federal filings.
And the limitations placed on asking.
LUNCH - 1:00pm to 1:45pm
1:45-2:45 - "Putting it in Writing: Business Plans and Grant Proposals" with producer RK Greene (Room Service, Cougar!) and business consultant Sheila Speller.
How to effectively organize your presentation to potential donors or
investors; writing a persuasive narrative and building a compelling
case for support, whether for a not-for-profit or commercial venture.
2:45-3:30 - "The Care and Feeding of Investors: Identifying, Cultivating, Maintaining Them" with Richard Frankel, president of Frankel Green Theatrical Management and of Richard Frankel Productions (Young Frankenstein, Hairspray, The Producers).
How Richard Frankel Productions built their investor group from the 12
originals to a current group of 1000 or so investors; how they solicit
new participants and maintain good relationships with them; their
specific method of raising money.
3:30-3:45 - BREAK
3:45-4:15 - "Looking Beyond Family & Friends" with producer Tom Smedes (Naked Boys Singing, Ace the Musical). The importance of creative thinking in identifying investors for your project.
4:15-4:45 - "Producing as a Career Choice" with producer Sharon Carr (Glimpses of the Moon, Menopause, American Buffalo, I Love You Because, Dirty Dancing, Idaho!). Approaching producing as a career, gaining experience to back up your ask, building credibility as well as your resume.
4:45-6:00 - "Taking the Leap: Doing What You Didn't Know You Could Do" moderated by producer Cheryl Wiesenfeld (Legally Blonde, Caroline or Change, The Exonerated, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty), with producers Sharon Carr, Sharon Fallon, R.K. Greene, Janet Pailet, Tom Smedes.
RECEPTION - 6:00pm-7:00pm
Cost: $175
Early registration: $150 (you must register by 1/20)
- $25 off for all current paid TRU members
-
CLICK HERE for Application
CLICK HERE for Faculty Bios
You may send a check to:
Theater Resources Unlimited, 309 W. 104th Street 1D, NYC NY 10025.
On-line payment (Paypal or credit card) at www.truonline.org/store.html
You may pre-register and hold your spot by emailing [email protected]
The Players Theatre Mainstage,
115 MacDougal Street (below West 3rd Street)
TRU BOOT CAMP FACULTY
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MARK BEIGELMAN
- President of Beigelman, Feiner & Feldman, P.C. Mark specializes
in entertainment, arts, media, corporate, real estate and bankruptcy
law. Mark earned a master of arts degree from New York University and
is a magna cum laude graduate of Cardozo Law School where he served as
Senior Editor on the Cardozo Law Review.
Since 1996 he has served as an adjunct professor at New York
University.
Mark was formerly associated with the law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb,
Steen & Hamilton and was a founding partner of the law firm of
Warren, Alpert & Beigelman.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Mark served as a producer of the
original off-Broadway production of Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill and the
Broadway productions of the Tony award winning musicals Nine and The
Tap Dance Kid. In 1999, he served as an executive producer of the
motion picture Trick, a film in competition at the 1999 Sundance Film
Festival and released nationally by Fine Line Features in July of 1999,
“Indocumentados” (2002), “A Dios Momo” (2005). As an attorney, Mark has
served as production counsel on numerous films, including “Sling
Blade,” “In the Bedroom,” “Pineiro,” “Kissing Jessica Stein,”
“Junebug,” and "Then She Found Me" and has done work on numerous
theatrical productions both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. He is
admitted to the bars of New York and Connecticut. |
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PENELOPE BRACKETT (The Creative Seed)
is a nationally recognized veteran in the field of career and life
coaching. An excellent speaker, trainer, program designer and author,
Ms. Brackett coaches individuals and companies to create powerful
businesses, vibrant communities and satisfying personal lives. In
working with her diverse clientele including professionals in the arts,
education, business, technology and finance, she brings her passion for
creativity, communication and balance.
Ms Brackett has been featured in The New York Times, The Today Show,
CNN's Glen Beck, Child Magazine, Matters Magazine and the internet
radio show, The Coaching Hour with Lester Thomas Shane. Penelope
received the highest designation of Master Certified Coach from the
International Federation of Coaching. She is the coauthor of "Seven
Keys for Unlocking Success without Struggle" with Lester Thomas Shane.
Her online newsletter, "The Fertile Ground" features articles and
exercises to grow your life and career. Articles include: "Ask and You
Shall Receive", "Emergency Distractions" and "My Gift's better than
your Gift". |
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SHARON CARR
- After a 29-year stint in a Wall Street related business, Sharon began
her producing career in January 2006. Off-Broadway credits include I Love You Because (February 2006) and Masked (July 2007). She joined GFour Productions as an independent Associate Producer, on Respect: A Musical Journey of Women in Cleveland (September 2006), Boston (October 2006) and Atlanta (March 2007); as well as the Minneapolis production of Menopause The Musical (May 2007+). In 2007, she also earned credits as a Producing Associate on Broadway with How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Holiday 2006) and Legally Blonde (April 2007). She participated in a money raise for both the Toronto & US productions of Dirty Dancing and the recent revival of American Buffalo; she is the lead producer of the hit comedy Glimpses of the Moon playing Monday nights in the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel. Future projects include Idaho! The Comedy Musical Love Story in development and the revival of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, opening Feb 2010 at Hartford Stage prior to its US Tour. |
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CHERYL L. DAVIS
is a partner at the firm of Menaker & Herrmann LLC. Her practice
concentrates on intellectual property matters, including particularly
copyright and trademark cases, and she has represented theater clients
in connection with a variety of contract and corporate issues. A
published playwright whose work has been frequently performed, Cheryl
won the 2005 Kleban Award for her works as a musical theater librettist
and her show Barnstormer received one of the 2005 Jonathan
Larson Performing Arts Foundation Awards. She is a graduate of
Princeton (A.B. 1983) and Columbia (M.S.J. 1986 and J.D. 1987)
Universities, and an active member of the New York City Bar
Association, where she has served on the Committees on Copyright and
Literary Property and on Communications and Media Law. For more
information, please visit her firm's website at www.mhjur.com |
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RICHARD FRANKEL
launched Richard Frankel Productions in 1985, as a production and
general management company with the off-Broadway production of Penn & Teller. Together with partners Marc Routh, Tom Viertel and Steve Baruch, they then produced and Richard Frankel Productions general managed Driving Miss Daisy, Sills and Company, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, The Cocktail Hour and Love Letters off
Broadway, on national tour, and in engagements in London, Chicago and
San Francisco. Current and recent productions include Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein on Broadway, Hairspray on Broadway and in London, Gypsy on Broadway, and Stomp in New York, Las Vegas and on tour. Other productions have included The
Fantasticks, Company, Sweeney Todd, Smokey Jose’s Café, Swing! The
Sound of Music, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Nathan Lane; Angels
in America, My Old Lady, Oleanna, Mnemonic, The Mystery of Irma
Vep, Forever Tango, Jeffrey, Song of Singapore, Later Life, Marvin’s
Room, Tap Dogs, The Rocky Horror Show and Death Defying Acts. Broadway musicals in development include Leap of Faith with music by Alan Menken, iSondheim written and directed by James Lapine, The Hudsucker Proxy, directed by Jerry Zaks and A Little Night Music directed by Trevor Nunn. In 2008 he and Laura Green opened Frankel Green Theatrical Management
to provide General Management, Executive Producer, and consulting
services to other producers on and off Broadway as well as general
management for RFP shows. Other companies affiliated with Richard
Frankel Productions include a booking agency for touring productions
(On the Road) , a theatrical marketing company (Broadway Print and
Mail ) and Broadway Asia, which produces shows for the Asia market.
Shows produced by Richard Frankel Productions have been awarded 35 Tony
Awards, 46 Drama Desk Awards, 37 Outer Critics Awards, 4 Grammy Awards,
8 Olivier Awards, 2 Pulitzer Prize.
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R.K. GREENE
is an entrepreneur having started several businesses over the years. A
theatre professional since 1978, he was a founding member of the
Seattle Group Theatre, a multi-cultural ensemble that produced its own
work. As an actor, he appeared in numerous productions Off-off
Broadway, on tour and in regional theater, producing several projects
including a multi-state tour of Mass Appeal. In 2000, he
founded The StoryLine Project LLC, a commercial theater production
company, to develop new plays and musicals. Current projects include Dearest Cousin, The Other Side of Newark, and Cougar! The StoryLine Project made its debut as an above line producer for the Off Broadway hit, Room Service.
In the non-profit world, R.K. is the Business/Marketing Director at The
Directors Company, and is currently assisting to transfer Irena’s Vow to Broadway.
In
parallel to his theatre career, R.K. has clocked seven years in New
York publishing and 10 years as a management consultant with Ernst
& Young, which included three years as an expatriate in Europe. He
wtas the Director of International Projects for ZeTek Power plc, a
start-up developer and manufacturer of fuel cells based in London and
New York and led his team to define and implement the company's
expansion strategy. Most recently, he was an analyst at Citigroup. R.K.
continues to consult with companies on business strategy and with
government agencies on economic development – the most recent project
being Take Me To the River in West Harlem with his consulting company
Creative Cities International. www.storylineproject.com
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TOM SMEDES is a Theatrical Producer and General Manager with experience spanning twenty-five years. He is currently producing Ace the Musical for Broadway. He recently was a producer on the Broadway show [title of show] at the Lyceum Theatre and is one of the producers of the musical revue Naked Boys Singing!
now playing at New World Stages in New York City and is approaching its
tenth anniversary Off-Broadway making it the 6th longest running
musical off-Broadway. NBS! has played in over 35 cities under Tom’s
supervision / license. Tom’s recent productions include the London
Production of Side By Side By Sondheim and The London Production of Musical of Musicals (the Musical!); Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead; Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing; The Black & White Blues, A New Orleans Restaurant Musical; The Women of Lockerbie, with The New Group; the one man show entitled 21 Dog Years: Doing Time @ Amazon.com,
written and starring Mike Daisey at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre
prior to its international tour of London, San Francisco, Seattle,
Chicago and Sydney and People Are Wrong at The Vineyard Theatre.
General Management credits include: Criss Angel: Mindfreak; Altar Boyz; The Musical of Musicals; High Infidelity starring Morgan Fairchild and John Davidson at The Promenade Theatre; Now Hear This, starring Kathy Buckley at the Lamb’s Theatre; Love Janis at the Village Theatre; Captain Louis by Stephen Schwartz; Ann Randolph’s Squeezebox produced by Anne Bancroft. |
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SHEILA L. SPELLER
is president and founder of Orielle Creative Company, a business
consulting company for creative artists, creative professionals, arts
organizations and entertainment companies. She now combines her wealth
of knowledge from both the creative and business arenas, to help
empower artists and creative professionals to assist them with
integrating the business of their artistic discipline into their
creative life.
Sheila is a seasoned
professional with over 20 years experience in front of the camera and
behind-the-scenes in the performing arts and entertainment industry,
and holds an M.B.A. with a specialization in Media Management,
including Theatre, Arts Administration, Film and Television. She is a
2007 graduate of the Commercial Theatre Institute, and was awarded a
partial TRU Scholarship to attend. Sheila recently produced a reading
of the play Another Man's Poison and currently has 4 plays in
development. Her company creates business plans for theatre
productions, and also provides a variety of services such as: writing a
marketable synopsis, script submission packaging, pre-production table
read management, and statistical survey reporting/analysis for
productions, essentials for any playwright working to move their
project forward. Sheila is a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship and
business planning and has presented seminars for creative professionals
at the School of Visual Arts, colleges, and Art Councils.
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CHERYL WIESENFELD - Broadway: Legally Blonde; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Caroline, or Change; ‘night, Mother; Elaine Stritch: At Liberty (Tony). Off-Broadway: In the Continuum; Shockheaded Peter; The Exonerated; Talking Heads; The Waverly Gallery.
Ms. Wiesenfeld was the recipient of Theater Resources Unlimited's 2007
"Spirit of Theater" Award for her ongoing generosity to young producers
in the New York community, as well as her selfless support of the work
that TRU does. She is one of the founding Mentors in the TRU Producer
Mentorship Program, and to date has mentored six aspirants, including
guiding one production to win four Audelco Awards, and helping another
production find success in regional theaters. |
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MICHAEL RODERICK
(Boot Camp Director) started Small Pond Entertainment five years ago
when he found that it was virtually impossible for an artist to be at
their best when they also had to produce. He developed a system for the
advancement of a producing organization to be the umbrella for shows
that lacked producers. Over the years Small Pond has become a major
name in the NYC Theatre Community having presented shows in numerous
venues and with hundreds of different artists. As Artistic Director,
Michael has produced over 30 shows since his arrival in NY in September
2002. He has also been the organizer of networking events that have
included representatives from The New York Musical Theatre Festival,
Fractured Atlas, and RWS casting and Associates. He holds a BA in
Secondary Ed English and Theatre performance from Rhode Island College
and an MA from NYU in Educational Theatre Colleges and Communities.
Michael also teaches English at LaSalle Academy where he is the head of
the drama program. He has written 15 plays and his play "I'll do it
Tomorrow" will be published in the 2004- 2005 Best American Short Plays
published by Applause books. www.smallpondentertainment.com |
Click here to return to Curriculum
Click here for application
