Sometimes a community arts organisation plans events months in advance, allowing plenty of time to get all the ducks in a row, volunteers similarly lined up, grant applications done, media, posters, the whole box and dice. That’s a great way to get the job done; no-one has to get stressed, everyone knows about the event and it’s all good.
Other times an opportunity comes along with little time to plan, advertise, or think. An opportunity too sweet to pass up.
HotHouse Theatre approached us through channels (RAV’s Marilyn Gourley) some weeks back. The chance was there for us to bring Australia! The Show! to Yea for one night only. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of details to work out, and the negotiations took some time. We needed to be sure that we weren’t exposed to too much risk; not being a commercial organisation we don’t have money to burn, and there really wasn’t time to organise grants or any other sort of safety net. In time we managed to reach a very satisfactory agreement with HotHouse (thanks, Bernadette!) and it was all systems go.
Posters and handbills were customised and supplied by HotHouse Theatre, but we needed to organise our ticketing outlets first. We chose a couple of shops in the main street of Yea. Our idea is to drive some traffic to shops that people may not have entered before. We decided on unallocated seating – buy a ticket and grab the best seat you can find on the night – because it simplified our ticket sales. We designed our tickets to be as informative and unmissable as possible, printed and cut them by hand. Wrote the article for the newspapers. Sent emails to all our contacts asking them to pass on the good word. Phew.
Well, all that’s done now. We’re playing a waiting and hoping game. Will people come? We certainly hope so. If you’re reading this, and it’s not yet Friday 23rd July 2010 … book yourself a ticket or just come along. The night should be a hoot! It’s at the Yea Shire Hall. Doors open at 7:30pm for an 8 o’clock start. Adults pay $25, childen under 16 just $15. Tickets can be purchased from Frost Bite Cafe, or Sole Train Shoes, both in High St Yea. Alternatively, call Adam Dennis on 03 5796 9200 to book. Tell a friend, bring your auntie, get ready for a laugh.