Subject: Marketing ideas for theatre group
Hi, I am looking for any marketing ideas that you can suggest! I am secretary for a small non profit community theatre group based in Brixham, Devon, and am investigating methods of fundraising, both one offs and longer term ideas. We are very small, although last Sept we won an award for "creativity in the community" and have been going since 2005. Our main foci are
- to promote history, especially local history.
- to bring theatre to all kinds of venues - we perform anywhere from the street through to standard theatres when possible.
- to help people aged 16+ develop thier communication and interpersonal skills through working on a theatre show.
- to support other community festivals and events by putting on shows for them.
- To enourage people to experience theatre through low ticket prices
(or free/ donation buckets, if street theatre with relevant permissions,
obviously )
use
* social networking: Facebook, twitter, myspace etc
* have a regularly updated website
* put posters and flyers around town for shows and events
* have cast in costume handing out flyers in town before each show
* have a newsletter mailing listbimonthly
* use "whats-on" websites to list events
* send press releases regularly to local media (newspapers/ radio)
I am also creating a huge banner for use when we take part in local parades and stands in the summer.
I have picked up some *huuuuge* textbooks on marketing from the charity shop the other day to go through for ideas, but with working, being secretary for this group and doing a Masters degree in educational research, I dont know when I will get a chance to read through them (they are ready though when I get a clear couple of days!) and I dont know how relevant they will be to non-profit marketing on-a-budget! Hence posting here as well, to see if anyone has any ideas/ tips/ suggestions on marketing and advertising.
Wow - sounds like you are doing a lot!
Could you let us know exactly what you want your marketing to achieve that it's not already? Are you looking for bigger / more diverse audiences or people to get involved in the activity of the group?
Also, it might be useful if you could let us see your Twitter / mySpace etc as we could advise about how to use more effectively if these efforts aren't translating into supporters.
We'll do what we can to help.
Looking to get more audiences and awareness of the group - which hopefully will link into more ticket sales hnce more funds for the group 
New members are also always needed...
twitter: sdevonplayers
myspace: 541641322
southdevonplayers.weebly.com
I didnt know links were allowed - I got booted off another fundraising forum for posting any link to the group. 
This is helpful - thanks for responding so quickly!
Just looking at your Twitter posts - they're quite noticeboard-y (made up word). I don't see much community conversation or personality. It is time consuming but do you have conversations with people on twitter? Do you retweet other devon news? Do you use hashtags to try and get more followers and show that you are part of a wider conversation (eg #devon #devonarts)?
Who writes the tweets? It might be good to say who you are so people know (eg on KnowHow we list our names in our profile). Also it would be nice to get an insight into how a show gets put on from your tweets. Everyone loves stats and gossip eg 'did you know XX number of people were involved in putting on our last show' or 'tonight is our last rehearsal for XX, at the dress rehearsale last night XX lost her shoes, hope it'll be alright on the night' (or something similar to show us the fun and work that goes on).
Take a look at the How to use Twitter guide for some other tips.
Hope this helps.
Does anyone else have MySpace / web or general arts community advice?
I am Laura the secretary/ co-founder. I tend to keep personal profiles different from the group as on a lot of theatre/ arts/ local sites I have to have separate accounts for the theatre group, and for me as a performer in my own right especially as my work in supply teaching is mainly theatre/ I do some paid acting work for myself, and am one half of a dance act which is also paid. So the Players needs to be kept totally separate in online user-accounts on websites. Otherwise I, and a couple of others in a similar "boat" have found that people in general get chronically confused.
Its usually me in breaks between Uni work and in 10 min breaks at work, or when I have rushed in at 1am from rehearsals and on my way to bed! Sadly if I ask someone else who may have a bit more time to do it, it doesnt get done. (tried this a couple of years ago with having someone on the committee especially in charge of PR.) We have tried to converse with people on Twitter, but they dont reply so its a bit one sided, and also tweets have to be so short, it isnt my favourite way of communicating, as you cannot say what you need to, but its free networking so we have it.
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