Sorry State

[Lee Gough and Amber Burke]

A friend of mine recently arranged his own backers audition for a musical
he's been working on for ages. He hired the theatre, arranged director,
actor, rehearsals, etc, invited all potential backers. The result? A
great musical for which no potential backers turned up!Lots of friends
there, all of whom enjoyed a great night (it was on for two).
Question: How the hell is someone supposed to get people interested if
those whose business it is to promote new Australian talent (and many are
government funded to do exactly that) don't bother investigating what's
out there?

[DMA]

Know what you mean! Having tried to develop new Australian musicals its
a hard slog - even if you do manage to get a producer to present the
show - the battle to get media, audiences and financiers to acknowledge
your production is enormous and often results in huge losses.

Holding a backers audition is by no means the best way to get your show
produced. The subsidised companies are usually tied up with committments
to a number of writers. The best way to get your show produced is to
find an upcoming producer who is prepared to give it a go - this is a
difficult process but beieve me there are enough independent producers
out there who would be prepared to put in the effort and take the risk.
There are also a number of venues out there now who are prepared to look
at this type of proposition. I suppose what I am saying is don't always
rely on the larger producers and the subsidised companies.

The Australian industry is a small one and even now the number of shows
which are going to the wall is high as small productions fight to
compete against the financial might of shows such as Beauty & the Beast
and Crazy For You whose advertising budgets (usually in excess of $1
million) are higher than what it would cost most small musicals.

Just don't give up!!

[John L Simpson]

If they don't come to you , you have to go to them esp. if you want
their money.

Everyone is busy and to give up a whole night can be a big ask, a 4 min
video promo can bait the hook.

Happy to help with advice.
and as DMA says don't give up.

John L. Simpson
Producer / Director