One Producer in the City

Awesome Person Thursday: Surprise Industries

This week's A.P.T. goes out to the team at Surprise Industries. You can hire them to surprise someone you know and love. Really! This is one of the coolest businesses I've run into, so I encourage you all to take a look. You can check out more of what they do below and like them on Facebook HERE. 

Excelsior!

We (Kat and Tania – sisters and business partners) had the idea for Surprise Industries in our mother’s kitchen in 2008. We immediately bought an array of website domain names and stayed up all night crafting a business plan.

Most people thought we were crazy. We often suspected they may be right. Then we met one of our first clients, Kavita. She requested a surprise for her husband, Hamel, to help him face his slight fear of heights.

Two weeks later, Kavita and Hamel showed up at an unmarked building with no idea what to expect. The experience we arranged for them was stunt training, complete with a final challenge of leaping 40 feet off a ledge into a huge inflated mat. (Only the mat doesn’t look so huge when you’re gazing down at it from four stories up. It looks like a rice cracker.)

To everyone’s amazement, Hamel dove right in and loved it. Kavita’s reaction was equally unexpected. She was terrified. Actually, she was so terrified that she is still the only person in the history of Surprise Industries to throw up at a surprise. It took almost an hour before—at last—Kavita stepped to the ledge and let herself fall.

We were hesitant to ask for feedback. After all, we thought, she puked. Nobody likes to puke. But Kavita surprised us again. She said it was one of the best experiences of her life.

Alright, we thought, there’s more to this surprise thing than people realize. We’ve got to give it a shot.

And so, we decided to practice what we preach, take a risk, and step into the unknown. Not long after, we met Dr. LeeAnn Renninger – one of the few scientists who has studied surprise. We immediately joined forces and began conducting research together with the goal of helping companies harness the little-known power of surprise.

 

 

 

Retro Wednesday: Get someone to unrack

This week's retro wednesday post is about one of the many lessons I learned as a dishwasher. Check it out below. 

September 21, 2011

Lessons from dish washing: Get someone to unrack

When I started to get really good at dishes, I made a few mistakes that got me in a lot of trouble and recently I found that one of those main mistakes reared its ugly head in my existing business. 

When it would get really busy, I would dig my heels in and start racking as fast as I could. Then I would unrack as fast as I could, then rack again etc. I was a machine! I didn't need anyone! I- 

Was backed up. 

Not wanting to believe this, I would unrack even faster and try and re rack, then trash would need to go out, silverware would need to be done, the waitresses needed glasses now, mugs now, etc. 

So how did I get through it? 

I asked someone to unrack. 

Recently, I got overwhelmed with projects so I dug my heels in and tried to push even harder to put more out into the world and just like that, before I knew it, I was backed up. 

So I asked for help and a few friends jumped to my aid and helped me and you know what? 

I'm much more caught up now. 

It's a hard lesson to learn, but an important one: 

Before you get backed up, ask someone to unrack. They don't need to do it for very long, just long enough to get things back to normal. 

Do you have a story about being backed up? 

Feel free to share it here in the comments. 

Excelsior! 

 

The energy cost of indecision

Throughout your career you will be faced with many choices. 

Often, these choices will not be easy ones, but something to consider is the energy it takes to worry about the choice you make.

Hear me out.

When presented with a choice you have to expend mental energy to go back and forth between your options. You may also go to others and ask their opinion, but ultimately the choice will be your own. The interesting thing is that the more time you spend on the choice, the longer you are using up that energy. If you think of your energy as the wax of a candle, then everytime you spend energy going back and forth in a state of indecision, you are lighting that candle.

And you only have so much wax. 

Here's my process for making decisions. It's pretty simple. I ask myself three questions:

1. What is the best thing that can happen?

2. What is the worst thing that can happen?

3. Could I live with both outcomes?

If the answer to number 3 is yes, then I move forward. 

Every moment that you spend worrying about the outcome is a moment you could be spending moving in a direction that matters. 

So now you know the cost of that indecisive behavior, the question is what will you do now?

Go get em.

Excelsior! 

The journey from Jack to Master

Many of us have heard of the jack of all trades who is the master of none. The idea is that this is a person who seems as if they can do anything, yet they really just dabble in the work. The main reason for this is that being a jack is much easier than being a master. The problem is that jacks rarely get paid well and that they also end up really distracted. 

I do many things.

I write, speak, blog, consult, direct, produce, manage, develop, teach, and the list goes on and on. There are some things though that I have a much higher level of expertise in and some things that I have a mastery of. So I wanted to talk a little bit today about that journey from Jack to Master. Here are three things to remember.

1. If you decide that you want to specialize, the most important thing is being able to go all in. If you want to be the expert in a certain field, Malcom Gladwell has pointed out that you need to spend 10,000 hours in that particular field doing that particular skill. Many of us would prefer to try out one thing and then hop right to the next, but that is one of the things that keeps us from mastery. If your goal is mastery, there is a firm commitment that you need to make to the craft. This doesn't mean you can't do anything else, it just means that something needs to get 85% of your time and attention.

2. If you want to really become a master at something, a great way to increase your focus and develop your craft is to mentor and teach. If you take some time to show others how you do the work you do, you'll often find that you become even stronger in that work. Take the time to find others who can learn from you and listen to the questions they ask. This will make you even stronger in your craft. 

3. You will most likely have moments where you will fail miserably at the work you are doing and the easiest choice will be to abandon your mastery quest. This is the difference between those who truly become masters and those who remain jacks. You have to be willing to accept failure and move on. If you do, you are well on your way to mastery. 

So take some time today to look at the many things you do and ask yourself where you can be a master. Dig in. Make it happen.

The world needs you.

Excelsior! 

No guest blog this week, but a great substitute!

So there was no one to guest blog this week, but the message below comes to my inbox periodically and I found it incredibly helpful. If you enjoy it as much as I did, I encourage you to subscribe to the Fear.less blog.

Excelsior!

Are you wasting the biggest opportunity of your life?   

Morning Michael,

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by multiple projects? Trapped by your own ideas? That you've taken on too much, working on ten different things without finishing any? Is your computer riddled with half-written cards, books and posts?

I know. I get anxious just thinking about it. 

But I had to think about it when Ross, an astute Fear.less reader sent me this question last month. I've included it here so you could see if you resonated with his question, and if you do, you're not alone. I work with almost all of my clients on this issue, no matter who they are or what they do. 

It's universal: When faced with too many opportunities, we rarely pursue any at all.

From Ross: 

"I'm sure tons of people go through this, but I always get myself into too many projects at once, and find myself quitting a bunch and finding new ones without finishing. When it feels like something's not moving along because I'm spread too thin over many things, I end up quitting. I think I'm scared to stick to one project and thus miss out on other opportunities, but I'm not sure how to prioritize things and stick to one project to actually complete it. How do you decide what to work on at any point and keep focus to finish that project?"

I love this question. I also love Ross because I AM Ross. I wake up with this question every day and it's scary to think about when running your own business. Figuring out your own map and picking between opportunities can cause enormous emotional and mental stress. But there are things I do that help me that helped Ross, and if you're struggling, can help you too. 

Step 1: Have gratitude. 
Recognize that drawing your own map is a blessing in and of itself. It is. Take ownership, don't run from the responsibility, because you CAN make this decision. Ownership is everything + feeling grateful will help you quell the emotional madness that comes with this task. Don't skip it. 

Step 2: Realize that you're wasting all your opportunities by not working on any of them. 
Isn't it true? By freaking out and half-writing, half-pursuing multiple things, you're not actually producing anything. It wastes more energy because the longer you stay suspended in confusion and fear, the less you do, and the less you magnetize the right opportunities to you because you're nervous. I intentionally titled this post as I did because the greatest opportunity of your life is in front of you this very minute. I know it doesn't feel like it because your mind is clouded, but the moment is now. It's not the one you're dreaming of in the future, not the one you're lamenting about from the past. It's right now and even if it definitely doesn't look like it's worth it, seize it. 

Step 3: Next, narrow down your options. 
I understand it's scary to commit to one project. What if it fails? What if I look like a loser? What if they think I'm not good enough? These are real fears and I know they can be intense. But without committing to one project, you'll feel anxious and helpless. If you're in a rut now, you know it feels highly uncomfortable. It's this moment where Facebook and Hulu and ice cream look so appealing. But you must commit and do it swiftly if you want to break the cycle. Less than an hour. You'll feel like distracting yourself, but don't. 

S o how do you actually decide? 

Think about the top 5 projects that take up most of your brain space, and write them down in a simple, concise way. On paper.

Ex:  1. Write blog post on decision-making for Fear.less
       2. Write my digital manifesto on marketing
       3. Interview five experts for a digital product launching in May. 

Look at your options and ask yourself what you're most excited about. 

What project makes you feel strong, has a clear direction? Which one makes you feel enthused? What could you actually finish if you put your mind to it and did the work for a week? That's your winner. 

I know this isn't easy. You'll hear all these thoughts in your head about the "right" option you should pick, other issues you should think about. But now's not the time. It's hard to pick the positive option because it feels easy, but it's not, you're not taking the easy way out. This is the right option because good emotions need to drive your decision, not your obligations or beliefs of what should happen. That just sends you in circles. 

While it feels strange to pick the feel-good option, don't be reluctant to do so. It will get you out of your rut.

Do this with little angst and emotion. Both will arise, but focus only on the positive emotions. Use whatever you know about the project in the moment - knowledge, insight - and then ask yourself what will make you feel good. Now pick. This is the best way I've found to decide between projects that spill from my head to my computer documents but rarely get finished. 

From your options, there IS one that you can pursue. 

And if you try to pursue more at this moment in time when you're confused, you'll stay stuck. So pick one. Don't worry about the outcome, just worry about the work.

Step 4: Next write down three action steps for your idea you can take right now with a time limit 
Ex: Write article on "Why NYC Squirrels Don't Read Fear.less" - 1 hr. Do the tasks quickly and soon after you've picked your project. Work on the tasks until you're ready to ship and don't get distracted. Decide right now that you won't touch a new, amaaazing project until you're done. The clarity and focus you'll get from this is powerful and you'll get your tasks done much faster than you thought. 

Step 5: Pick one project a week to work on. 
Work only on that project until you make serious progress. Stop the urge to work on something else the moment you get bored, restless, confused, annoyed. It is precisely this discomfort that we avoid going through when we run to another project, and it is precisely what we need to go through to make progress. So go through it and know you can handle it. Also, pick only 3 most important tasks a day 
to work on and work only on those until you get them done. 

It's not about knowing what to do, it's doing what we already know.

This is how we keep momentum, by exercising discipline after we pick. This is how we don't feel spent, by focusing on one goal and doing it fast. This is how we don't quit halfway - we pick only what makes us feel good. You'll have to confront your fear to do all this, but you have a lot of good ideas that we need to know about. And we can't if they always remains inside of you. So do things differently than you've done before, and see that this is only the beginning. You'll produce great work. Start now.

Re-read this post is you feel like you're losing momentum, because Ross is right; tons of people do go through this.

But we can stop waking up heavy with this problem if we know we have control. Check your emotions, don't stress out, own the fact that you're going to choose, choose, and then work like hell to produce. I want you to be able to say a month from now "I built that" or "I wrote that." 

This could just be the biggest opportunity of your life and it's up to you to seize it. 

Like Eminem says, "If you had one shot to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment, would you capture it or just let it slip?"

I know what I'd do. It's how I wrote this post. 

xx Ishita

PS: If you're struggling with the opportunities on your plate and want specific help, just hit reply to this email or email me at ishita@ [email protected]. Let me know what's on your mind and if I can help.

What do you think? We love to hear from you, so share your thoughts with us at [email protected] and [email protected]. 


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Awesome Person Thursday: The Human Variations

This week's A.P.T. goes out to the Blueprint Theater Project and The Human Variations. If you are a producer who loves experiential work or is fascinated by language, you will have a really great time. Set in a gallery, the audience is treated to all of the awkward and exciting moments when people meet for the first time with numerous elemnts of thearticality thrown in. So grab some wine, sit back, and watch what it's like to be human. More info is below and you can grab your tickets HERE.

Excelsior!

Red Roots Gallery at 25CPW is set to host Blueprint Theater Project's newest production,The Human Variations.

The Human Variations, a theatrical symphony, examines those moments when human beings are right next to each other and still deeply alone. In The Human Variations’ four movements (Allegro, Largo, Scherzo andRondo), characters collide and share intimacy and closeness, while their small, seemingly innocuous everyday interactions become more and more exposed, shaping who they are and what they obsess about.  The Human Variations employs a theatrical style all its own, “theality,” a new brand of theater that juxtaposes expressive movement with hyper-realistic, docu-theater techniques. Like a mixed-media canvas, theality blends the deeply personal, psychological and emotional lives of real characters (similar to those on any network reality program) with theatrical moments of scripted subtext (a reality show’s voiceovers, confessionals or video diaries). In theality, dramatically speaking, the line between naturalism and expressionism is blurred, providing an extraordinary potential for catharsis.

Performance dates and times: 
February 7 – March 3
All performances begin at 7:00 pm, except Sunday performances, which begin at 5:00 pm.

Ticket information:  http://www.smarttix.com or call SmartTix at 212-868-4444 
Pre-sale online: $15 (students and general admission)
At the door (cash only): $15 (students); $20 (general admission)
For complimentary press tickets, please contact Kevin Connell (Co-Founder/Artistic Director) at 917-689-8268.

The backdrop for this production is a photography exhibit featuring the work of Abby Verbosky. Audience members are encouraged to view the artist's installation before or after the production. Free wine will be served.

Allegro, Largo and Scherzo were originally produced as individual workshops in three separate site-specific locations in New York City. The full Symphony, The Human Variation, includes the premier of Rondo (the fourth and final movement).

The cast includes Kyla Deichl, Molly Groome, Nick Hepsoe, Cole Johnston, Sarah King, Jillian Mason, Melissa McNerney and Zac Walker.

The production team includes Ellen Orenstein (Director), David Alex Andrejko (Playwright), Anna DeMers (Choreography), Toby Jaguar Algya (Sound), Devon Brown (Lighting), Jamie Billings (Assistant Director), Jasmine Mahboob (Company Manager) and Blueprint Theater Projects Co-Founders/Artistic Directors Kevin Connell and Ellen Orenstein.

Blueprint Theater Project examines adaptation in all its forms – genre, style and content – with source materials that range from the classical to the hyper-contemporary. Our goal is to create theater that rethinks, reorganizes and reconstructs to explore the process of change from one form to another. Significant in this exploration are the many perspectives and means for communication that accompany each specific art form and the ways in which various mediums elucidate storytelling. Further, our work investigates why stories get retold, sometimes decades or centuries later, in vastly different ways while still being produced for public consumption.

About 25CPW Gallery:  Since opening in November of 2009 in a temporary vacant retail space, 25CPW Gallery has had a strong history of interaction with community organizations, as part of its mission and identity as a community-wide forum for the exchange of art, ideas and culture. Past collaborators include:  Creative Capital, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, the International Center of Photography, the Museum of Russian Art, Conveyor Arts, Nuru Project and the Copenhagen Photography Festival (www.25CPW.org).

 

 

 

Retro Wednesday: The Email Tennis Match

This week's retro post comes from 2010. This is a trick I use to stay on top of email and it still works and helps me all the time. Enjoy.

Excelsior!

June 30, 2010

The email tennis match and one tip to give you a little extra time

As a producer, I get ALOT of email and after using some of the tips from Friday's post and books like The Hamster Revolution, I have certainly solved some of the problems of email overload, but one thing remains prominent and that is what I like to call the email tennis match. Here's how it goes:

Someone sends me an email and wants to meet up. I propose a date and hit send.

I move on to the next email. It's someone asking a question, I answer and hit send.

Back to my inbox.

Email 1 has just replied that the date and time doesn't work for them and email 2 has just replied with more questions. I answer both quickly and try to get to email three...

In comes emails from email 1 and 2. They are both responding to the previous email making it almost impossible to even get to read email three.

It's like I was playing tennis. If I hit the ball over the net, the other person has to hit back. Now I'm playing tennis with two people and then when email three comes in, three people and so it goes until the other side of the court is completely filled and there I am swinging at everything that comes my way. I'm missing some, I'm getting frustrated and it feels near impossible.

Here's what I do and it may or may not work for you. Everyone has different systems.

I wait to swing.

Basically, I answer up to 10 emails at one time, but I save each as a draft. Once I'm at a good place where I feel I am significantly caught up, I send the emails out. Then, if new replies come in I send quick answers, but for the most part I have kept myself from being bombarded.

Books like Hamster Revolution help me with teaching people email etiquette, so I can mark things with "No need to reply if this is all fine" etc. and that keeps people from sending too many emails.

So next time your inbox is 40 and you're love, try this method out. You never know, you may just come back and win the match.

Excelsior!

 

 

 

The initial push

When we commit to doing something that is often just the beginning. The real work comes when we actually start doing that task. 

The initial push is the toughest because it is the easiest to put off. You can find tons of excuses for not starting. You can say you don't have enough money, you're not skilled enough, there isn't enough time and there'll be more time next month, etc. but ultimately, you have to start the activity in order to get it done. 

So how do you get the initial push out of the way?

Take a moment and see yourself doing whatever it is that you want to start. I know it sounds cheesy, but just try it. Many leaders have discussed the power of visualization and it can be a great tool for getting through the initial push.

Hold yourself accountable. Is there a friend who will check in with you to see if you've started yet? Reach out to them and set up a time to call and discuss what has been working or not working. No excuses. The dog can't eat your homework, you either did it or you didn't.

Do something right now. It's ok. This blog and the rest of the internet will still be there. Stop reading and take one action right now that is considered an initial push. Did you?

Good.

Objects at rest tend to stay at rest and objects in motion tend to stay in motion.

Which are you?

Excelsior! 

But I don't know anyone who....

In many of my consulting sessions recently I have met with people who are trying to build their business, find investors, and find partners. Many times they will tell me that the main thing holding them back is that they do not know the type of people who would be investors or partners in the project. If you are currently raising money for something, you may feel the same way. 

I'm here to tell you YOU DO. 

One very important thing to remember is that we have plenty of people in our network who we just know casually. Maybe we met them a few times at a sporting event or a picnic, maybe we take a class with them, maybe we went to highschool or college with them. These casual acquaintances are people who we know very little about. Get to know them better and let them know what you're working on.

You never know who might be interested in your project or know someone who may be. Don't pitch them on it, just tell them about it and tell them about what you're looking for. They may be able to help. 

I'm willing to bet that right now at this very moment, there are people on your facebook or LinkedIn that you don't know that well or at all. 

Take them out for coffee or lunch and get to know them. Let them know about what you are working on and listen to what they are working on. You may know someone who can help them and they may know someone who can help you.

The truth is that we know more people than we think, the reality is that we often don't take the time to get to know those people as well as we should. 

So get out there, dig in and tell people about your work.

Things will happen. 

Do it today and feel free to comment on this blog post with the results or let me know via twitter with the #didntknowwhoiknew

Go get em.

Excelsior! 

Guest Blog #80: Metrics of the arts

This week's guest blog comes from David Homan who has been an advisor on ConnectorCon. In this post he makes some interesting observations about the dynamic of profitability vs. impact. Check out what he has to say below and if you get a chance check out his project too. Take it away David!

Excelsior! 

Metrics of the Arts: Dance and Music

Profitability broken down

 First of all my show!

 Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre

March 7-9, 2013 at 7:30pm

Ariel Rivka Dance and Riedel Dance Theatre, with Live Music

Tickets $25/15 at: http://rivkariedel.brownpapertickets.com/

 

www.arielrivkadance.com for more information

 

"Vashti" a collaboration between composer David Homan and choreographer Ariel Grossman/Ariel Rivka Dance interprets the Biblical story of Purim through the lens of feminism and women's empowerment. Set in Persia, before the rise of Queen Esther who helped save the Jews from the wrath of Haman, Vashti reigned as Queen of Shushan. Who was she? How did she come to have such power? Was it only because of her beauty? A myriad of interpretations exist--Vashti as a complex, strong and brave woman, or a vain, wicked and disobedient wife. Requested to dance naked for the King and his drunk friends, Vashti must make a choice; to lose everything, possibly her life or to shed her dignity. Exploring her origins and the women surrounding her, "Vashti" shows us all how to best preserve our sense of self when presented with the ultimate choice. With modern choreography that springs from a strong balletic core this work involves five dancers and live music featuring violin, cello, guitar and piano.

 

Sample rehearsal clips:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA4EBekYh94&feature=youtu.be

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsdlslGeqFk&feature=youtu.be

 

Now about the Metrics of this show and the arts in general:

 

Success is all relative in the Arts.  You want to continue your work and find a healthy balance, but a healthy balance is an endless search.

 

I am the “composer-in-residence” for my wife’s company, Ariel Rivka Dance.  Everyone finds this endearing, but I can tell you first-hand balancing a relationship where you create together, eat together, and relax (or try to) there’s often not enough time in the day.  But, as an artistic couple, this is what we do.  My older brother, and friends who don’t know what it means to have a dance company or write classical music ask about how profitable it is.  It can’t be.

 

Here’s the basic math for a project like this.  First what sounds good.

 

Alvin Ailey Theatre (one of the top 4 in NYC) for 3 nights, between 500-600 people seeing your show total, great press, and another sold-out season 6 years into our company’s existence (www.arielrivkadance.com) --and more opportunities on the horizon.

 

Here are the basic costs:

 

The cost for our part of the production (rental, PR, dancers, musicians, video, designers—costumes + lighting and stage management) are over $32,000.

 

We split the tickets 50/50 with our partner group, Riedel Dance Theatre, which means that even if we sell out 600 tickets total, that would be tickets priced at $105 each to break even on costs--with the split.

 

But who’d pay that much for dance and music in NYC?  If we charge that much most of our friends can’t afford it.  So with tickets at $25/15, and an average cost of $20 a ticket, with a 50/50 split, that’s $6,000 back to us max, which gives us the ability to gain back 18.75% of our investment.  With a $50 price, we could get back more than double that but lose a lot of our exposure, shedding almost half our audience.

 

So if you aim for profitability, you fail. If you aim for exposure and creating a meaningful project that resonates with each individual, you enrich their lives in a way that, though it can be measured, can’t be paid for by conventional means.

 

So you don’t do it to pay everyone enough. You don’t do it to make money. You do it because it adds value to you and ideally others that--though it hasn’t been measured--obviously still plays a major role in enriching our society.

 

Think of it this way.

 

My work of music as an album would sell on Naxos for $7.99.  A previous work, 9 years ago, was bought by an individual who told me recently they listen to it every day.  If you monetize that as a value spent per every day, that’s an emotional investment of $26,000 in that person’s state of mind.

 

So when we fundraise for this project, with a goal of $25,000-$30,000 (private, indiegogo, foundation, etc) you don’t talk about profitability, you talk about the investment and the impact, as the dancers and musicians DO NOT get even close to their investment of time.  And you hope to have an impact that lasts beyond the performance.

 

The metrics of this might seem unsolvable without winning the lottery.

Speaking of that, I’m off to buy my Powerball tickets.

 

David Homan
Composer and Producer

www.homanmusic.com

www.evaband.com