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Day 2: Creating New Work / Marrying Art and Business
Introduction: Mike Finch
This is probably one of the most difficult things that most performers and artists have to tackle. It is hard to find the balance between art and business especially for performers and small companies who are trying to do both and do not have the administrative support that larger companies have.
Margaret Specht - GM, Axis Theatre
The General Manager of the Company is Margaret and her husband is the Artistic Director, a real marriage of art and business. The company is 25 years old and creates original physical theatre from scratch.
When showing, they do two shows a day, ten shows per week. Currently they have two shows on the road. Due to time and money they usually only spend two weeks in the rehearsal process. Margaret points out that the GM assist the artists and supports the work in order to keep the performers healthy and productive.
Geography: Specht talks of the geographical implications of the company. They are very cut off from the rest of Canada and therefore find it hard to work with other artists who are interstate. They are desperately trying to nurture the Canadian voice, as everything that is American seems to drown them out. Its like trying to listen to the radio but having the TV blaring in your face. The rise of Christian fundamentalists in USA is also threatening the possibility of Canadian theatre touring to the States.
Number 14: Specht showed slides of the show they have currently on the road. It is named after the busline that connects the very poor part of town to the very rich. The show was developed nine years ago and began touring four years ago, taking five years to get the show ready for touring.
Thor Blomfield - GM, Rock 'n' Roll Circus
Blomfield believes a company/individual must initially focus on who they are and where they are going before doing any business whatsoever. The company/individual must identify some sort of jigsaw puzzle, which makes up their unique vision. A company/individual has three very scarce resources: TIME, PEOPLE and MONEY. It is very easy to waste these resources or invest them in areas, which are unproductive. Once the company/individual answers it's question of direction and identity it can answer questions regarding the above three topics, allocating time, people and money according to its directional desire. Blomfield recommends that a company should stay focused and stick to their impetus - their origins and initial ideas. It is important not to waste energy on too many different things.
Michelle Vickers - GM, The Flying Fruit Fly Circus
The real job for any show is getting BUMS ON SEATS. This will ensure that financially the show can support itself. Vickers points out the changing nature of audiences. Traditional theatre that has been guaranteed of success in the past is suffering. The audience is going elsewhere, and physical theatre is using this to its advantage.
The performers must be sure that they are reaching their audience and understand why. They should respond positively to critical feedback and adjust the show accordingly. They must create a show that people like. Success of a business stems from: TASTE, CHANGE, DISPOSABLE INCOME.
Sean Goodfellow aka 'Rumpelstiltskin' - Pixie Jester
Sean gave a very colourful talk about how he is trying to marry art and business. His style of street performing is very unique. He performs constantly but has difficulties with the business side. He sees himself as the most professional unprofessional.
Points he made included:
- Festivals provide intimacy.
- Important to learn the ropes of the business.
- Feels like a car salesman sometimes.
- Art isn't always an easy thing to see.
- Experience, passion.
- Clarity of what you want.
- More courses for studying business for artists.
Observation: (Helen Bird) Seedling course for business. Centerlink NEIS course.
Observation: (Steve Smith) Points made on clowning: Celebration of human spirit, delight and astound audiences, co-operation, make a living by what we get, make a life by what we give.
Observation: (Reg Bolton) Business needs to learn from artists, not the other way round.
:: TOP ::
This project has been assisted by the Federal Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.