Pro Tips from a Producer
As a producer, I am always paying extra attention and taking mental notes. Here is a list of things that can impact my decision making when considering who I want to book in my shows.
Backstage etiquette. I’ve scouted people and they lost an opportunity because I was watching their behavior backstage and I didn’t like what I saw. Backstage is super fun and often times silly, it’s a great place to be and you shouldn’t feel like you have to behave in a corporate way. But it is a work environment and you do need to be respectful of the space and your cast mates. Here’s my blog post with more info on the topic https://www.thestellaluna.com/blog/backstage-etiquette
Promotional efforts. Promoting the show you’re in is part of the job of being in that show. The producer invests a lot of time, energy, and money into promotional material. That material is there to help everyone promote, to get more butts in seats, and more dollars in our pockets. The producer and venue can’t do it alone. I like to see my cast promoting online at least a few times (post, story, whatever) in the weeks leading up to the show. I make mental note of those who don’t do any, or do very little, and only at the last minute.
Administrative Responsibility. This is a fancy way of saying, READ THE EMAIL AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. Yes, the emails are long and have a lot of information sometimes, but that’s the point. All the information that you could possibly need is in that email. You best believe that I take note when instructions are not followed and questions are asked that have already been answered in the pre-existing email.
Administrative Responsibility PT.2. Get your stuff (photos, music, tech notes, etc.) in on time and don’t make the producer have to chase you around for it. I am not a babysitter and I do not appreciate being forced into that role.
Drama. Keep that shit on stage or in private with your trusted confidants where it belongs. There are some folks I dead ass will not work with and avoid when we’re cast together because of the amount of drama they bring. In the words of Shirley Delta Blow “I don’t do drama for free”.
Entitlement. We all have our moments of having very human feelings about something not going a way we hoped or wanted, but it’s a thin and easily crossed line into entitlement. No one owes anyone anything unless it’s money for a job well done.
Online Presence/Content. I don’t give a shit how many followers you have. I care about what I can SEE of you on a my screen. Social media is a FREE portfolio for you to showcase your work, use that! I’ve tried scouting a couple people through their Instagram and they only had photos and minimal super short clips of their acts. I want to see what you can do and how you move. Longer clips, a link to a youtube page with full acts, costume and choreo wips, etc. I recommend having a specified page for your performance work.
