Open Forum

HI ETA Community

If you are looking for ways to increase revenues and bring in new sponsors?

Don't ask them for money just to be on a page of a program. No put them on the stage and in the script too! Let them be a star of a show, not just an ad! And who knows what kind of new audience or relationship you can build?

It can educate students on other aspects of theater that may not normally get much or any attention. By dealing with the business side of things, authors, contracts, script revisions, sponsors and advertising. It may pique the interest of students who may not have been interested in the past?

The idea is simple, put out a request for One Act or Short play and musical script submissions for whatever genre, length or theme that you want, with the stipulation that businesses, products and whatever else in the script that you find will be changed to meet local sponsorship needs. Of course as long as it does not affect the story line. Authors of most of these types of scripts will happily make changes, especially if they agreed to your stipulation and sent in a submission. Small licensing fees can be stated or negotiated, contracts signed, could be a valuable lesson for all.

Say a scene is set in a machine shop, restaurant or even at an event, naming rights, right on stage and mentioned in the script. Same goes for various products, say like a beverage that you pay to have in your concession area. Maybe a little like NASCAR on stage! Having the actors wardrobe emblazoned with sponsor patches might be a bit tacky, unless the script calls for? It's no different then what is happening subconsciously with the marketing on Broadway. And you get to keep your fees.

The shows can be a weekend or two, possibly a spring and fall to give them a good value? Make it easy sets with a small cast, a few small groups working as a team, not quite improv but something that can be learned and staged quickly? The new sponsors will help advertise in markets that aren't the norm. And possibly open up the eyes of those who never saw and students who did not want to. And the cost's can be very minimal for production and ticket buyers. It may also help sell an ad for the big budget shows down the road.

Just a thought to add more sponsors and attendance?