To my colleagues in Chris & Don-Scott’s Class,
Hi, everyone. I’m a little self-conscious about how often I shoot off my big mouth in class, but I humbly suggest that since I’m learning a lot as I go along with plans for Purple Rep, I have some ideas about networking that some of you might find useful. I hope that this note begins a dialogue with and for everyone in the class, and I have no doubt that I can learn a lot from all of you, as well, so I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of this.
Firstly, I just want to say, as the guy who introduced himself as the Networking Whore on the first day of class, that a deeper truth about my journey in networking is that I love the theatre and I particularly love independent theatre, and so it’s been one of the joys of my life to interact with the talented and intrepid community that makes up Off-Off-Broadway theatre. If I were just some soulless shill hawking my wares, I might still be getting comps, I might still be getting invitations to parties, but I wouldn’t be making real and long-lasting personal and professional connections. But I have been. Seriously, when I first started writing plays, all my friends were non-theatre-goers, who only went to the theatre to see my plays. I thought that this was righteous, since I was introducing the uninitiated to theatre, but now, along with my non-theatre-peeps, I have a really good group of theatre friends, and we all support each other’s work. End even if it sounds like a cliché, this really is a sustainable community.
I think that the two reasons why I feel comfortable going to a party thrown by fancy(-ish) theatre people where everyone in the room is much, MUCH cooler than I am, and shaking everyone’s hand, looking everyone in the eye, and walking home only after having made real connections, is 1) because the people in this community are really, really cool; they are very generous with their resources and information, and want you to succeed along with them, and are EXTREMELY grateful for your interest in their work, and 2) you can’t fake sincerity, integrity, and enthusiasm, and if you possess a modicum of these traits (and everyone in the room does, of course), others will see it in you.
Taking classes at ESPA is a great step towards connecting with a larger community. I met Mariah in a Playwriting Workshop taught by Lucy Thurber. That was just an amazing experience in all kinds of way. I took a TV writing workshop taught by Blair Singer that not only got me on the path of writing pilots, partnering up with a fellow classmate to go to LA and pitch for a while, but also kind of shamed me into getting on Facebook and stop being a misanthrope. And ESPA always has comps to lots of shows.
But a number of people in our class have asked how to get invited to the events where the theatrefolk are hobnobbing, and I’d like to state yet again how vital the independent theatre community is in NYC. The Amoralists, who were referenced a number of times in class, are buddies of mine. I’m also in with companies such as Packawallop, Flux Theatre Ensemble, Nosedive, and Rising Phoenix Rep. If you’re interested in becoming more connected to theatre events and their participants, Facebook all these companies, go to their websites, check out their shows, get on their mailing lists, and contact them directly, introduce yourselves to them (if you’d like, feel free to use my name), and, if you can, volunteer for them – hand out programs or take tickets at their shows. Indy companies need cheap labor and if you provide that for them, you are officially their friends. Also, if you see work that truly means something to you, tell everyone you know about it and be very vocal about doing so (so that you help spread the word, and that the people whose word you’re spreading know that it’s you who’s spreading it), and, if possible, throw an indie company a tax-deductible donation. I promise you that this goes a long way in helping the future of theatre in America, and in establishing good faith between yourself and a larger community.
Perhaps this all sounds obvious, but I went from someone who worked in the theatre but whose life was elsewhere, to having a genuine life in the theatre. It seems that most of my fellow classmates have made quite an impact in their careers as playwrights, but if you’re finding all of this a bit daunting, I can assure you: if someone as socially awkward as I am can talk to intelligent, attractive people and get them interested in my work, so can anyone. Talent, the quality of one's work, and goodwill rise above everything else, but if one is talented and genuine about all of this, that's even a further imperative for self-promotion.
I hope that we can all check in with each other about more direct and specific ways to expand our communities and to ultimately combine them. I also look forward to helping all of you move the next time you find a better apartment.
Best,
Larry Kunofsky
Co-Artistic Director
PURPLE REP
My response (edited somewhat for online):
Thanks to my brilliant (and handsome) co-artistic director for starting and continuing this great conversation. I just want to throw a few more tidbits/ ideas/ tips into the pot:
My experience is that the best networking is just as simple as making friends. You often don't know how a relationship will pan out when you initiate it, but people will remember that they had fun with you or that you were kind to them.
My experience is that the best networking is just as simple as making friends. You often don't know how a relationship will pan out when you initiate it, but people will remember that they had fun with you or that you were kind to them.
So if you like someone's work, TELL THEM. No matter how fancy/unapproachable you think they are. They'll be flattered and, quite often (in my experience), will want to know about you: how'd you hear about their work, what are you working on, etc. And stick around after shows--often, the cast/creatives will all be going to the same bar together, and want friendly, like-minded people to join them. So join them.
Example: Larry mentioned that we are friends with the Amoralists. How did we get that way? Facebook. It just took a "Happy Birthday, your work is awesome" message to break the ice (and to discover that they were fans of Larry's, as well). Soon we had a discount code to their show and were drinking with them afterward. They love meeting new people, and they have a show up right now, called BRING US THE HEAD OF YOUR DAUGHTER. See it and hang out with them after. You can say we sent you.
And when you do favors for people, they usually know that they owe you one. So help people out, unsolicited. Tell people about opportunities that you think they could take advantage of. Connect people that you think should be working together. Spread the word about a good show. It WILL pay off.
Larry also mentioned Rising Phoenix Rep, who you should DEFINITELY reach out to. Their Cino nights (more info on them is here) are some of the most gorgeous, energized evenings of theater you'll attend--and are completely FREE. And people are there to hang out and have fun. We've made lots of friends at those. Not to mention that Daniel Talbott is one of the most generous people in the theater business I've ever met, and is also an ESPA instructor. He loves people and loves helping a brother/sister out in his (admittedly skimpy) spare time. Facebook him.
Also, anecdotally: facebook is super important, but twitter is no slouch, if you use it well. Artistic directors in Austin, San Francisco, Chicago, and Florida have all read my script because of twitter, and one of them is planning to produce it. None of these people would have read my script had I sent it unsolicited--they read it because we were already having engaging conversations about the current state of theater (and, sometimes about things TOTALLY unrelated to theater--as frivolous as it may seem, posting a funny YouTube video online can endear you to total strangers). Introduce yourself, get in on the conversation, make a few jokes, and this will be more valuable (and more fun) than the best-written cover letter you could have sent cold.
There's a subculture/ongoing conversation on twitter that is mainly responsible for the social and professional connections I've made there: #2amt (or, "2am theatre"). It would take up too much space to explain what exactly it is, so here's an explanation of what it is and how it came to be. The conversation has continued for over a year now, and has spawned a blog (to which I contribute sometime) and, now, a meetup with the American Theatre Wing and the Public. Here is the info about the meetup. It's tomorrow at 11am. People will be there specifically to mingle. Don't be scurred. (ETA: The meetup has passed, but it was awesome and you should reach out to the #2amt community to express your regret at missing it and connect with the people who were there.)
And if you haven't seen it, Adam Szymkowicz's blog is full of great advice from fellow playwrights--and, you should contact Adam and ask him to interview you on the blog. I know asking someone to interview you may seem like an imposition, but trust me, he wants to hear from you. It's got a huge readership (my interview on there is the first hit when you google "Mariah MacCarthy"), and he's always looking for new people to interview (especially women).
Also, do you know about The 15th Floor yet, which was started by the last group of people who took this class? If not, you should. Go to the website, read up more about them, and go to Judith's reading of THE COOKIE FIGHT on Tuesday.
Larry also mentioned Flux. They have all kinds of readings/programs that are free and to which you can invite yourself. Gus, the artistic director, is warm and lovely. Facebook him too.
The Tank has a program called SLAM, where playwrights bring in 5 minutes of a new play to workshop and compete (in a fun, good-natured kinda way). Bring an excerpt of your play or just show up to watch. It's fun and it's cheap and low-key, and people are there to network and drink.
This should give you a start.
Most of all, remember that you are not alone! Everyone else is trying to network, just like you, and most of us secretly feel awkward about it. But networking needn't be corporate, or insincere, or icky. Often, it's just partygoing and friend-making--both of which are, actually, usually quite nice.
Love,
Mariah MacCarthy
Co-Artistic Director
PURPLE REP
www.purplerep.com
PURPLE REP
www.purplerep.com
Posts
I'd like to add something else, which you peripherally touch on: if someone says something nice about your work in print: whether it be in a review, a blog or on facebook - say "thank you". This is an excellent contact as they already like your work. Particularly if they do something like post their positive review to your facebook page. Networking is about developing relationships and discovering someone already likes you and is on your side is a delightful first step.
ReplyDeleteThis might sound obvious, but as a sometimes theater blogger, it sadly isn't.
Mariah,
ReplyDeleteI can't stress enough how great a tool Facebook can be. Last year, when I wanted to put together a reading of a play of mine and I needed to find actors, I asked a playwright Facebook friend if he could recommend any. He gave me a bunch of names of actors who I contacted (mainly through their Facebook "walls"), and that's basically how I got my cast. The reading went well, and in fact, one of the actors who was suggested for a role but was unfortunately out of town at the time, was RPR artistic director Daniel Talbott, who apologized profusely for not being available for the reading, and suggested we meet when he got back into town. We ended up having a great conversation over coffee, I gave him a couple of plays to read, and he invited me to one of the Cino nights, where I met you and Larry.
I have a confession: I've never been entirely comfortable with networking - at least when I walk into a situation thinking of it as networking. Meeting new people is usually quite stressful for me, and it can come off as hostility if people don't know me. However, once something clicked in my brain that made it switch from networking to advocating for a cause I'm passionate about, it became a lot easier. I think it has a lot to do with a discomfort with self-promotion that many women are trained to acquire, but that's a discussion for another day.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, volunteering is excellent not only for getting to see shows for free, but to make connections with people and to contribute to their work. Even the smallest thing - passing out programs, arranging seats - is an amazing way to build relationships.
Carolyn - absolutely. Ignoring a public cheerleader is shooting yourself in the foot. Of course, Google Alerts are not flawless and we may not be on facebook every hour, and I have missed some online love this way, so making sure you e-connect with the people whose work you love in some trackable way (tag them on facebook/twitter, post a link to your positive review on THEIR facebook, whatever) can't hurt.
ReplyDeleteKen,
ReplyDeleteAmen to the power of facebook! The past month I've been seeking performers of all stripes - actors for our plays, burlesque performers for the benefit - and facebook has been an invaluable tool in that search. And it inadvertently led us to you! :-D
M
Shawn - You're not alone. I wouldn't be writing this post if it didn't seem like a large portion, even a majority, of playwrights feel the same way. And it's true that a lot of women are taught to feel that they'll be seen as self-absorbed or aggressive if they self-promote (see here for example). But, as you say, that is a separate conversation.
ReplyDeleteAll of which is to say, if you can find a way in "networking" situations to just talk about whatever you're passionate about, that's unfakeable and unmissable and the best networking tool you've got. And amen to volunteering - free labor is a precious commodity and we love those who give it to us.
Shawn - You're not alone. I wouldn't be writing this post if it didn't seem like a large portion, even a majority, of playwrights feel the same way. And it's true that a lot of women are taught to feel that they'll be seen as self-absorbed or aggressive if they self-promote. But, as you say, that is a separate conversation.
ReplyDeleteI respond at my blog about it.
Also, I remember that article, and I had . . . issues with some of what was said about another blogger.