Austin Improv

hey everyone.

we are going to have some reviewers at the show this saturday, and would love to have a big friendly audience (especially in light of it being easter weekend).

if you aren't playing maestro, consider coming out!

thanks.
e

OK Erika, I gotta know:

How the hell do you do this? All the press, all the buzz. It's awesome!

Is a show with a concrete concept/theme just that more accessible to outsiders? Or do you have magic PR pixie dust? Coz if it's the latter, I need some of that sweet, sweet dust.

thanks kareem.

i think its a mixture of accessible show concept (news, satire) and working the press angle super hard.

i spent almost a full weeks evenings creating press kits, and sending them out to every contact i have ever collected in austin and following up with those contacts. a few bear fruit (like <10%).

also, it helped that a few of the contacts are familiar with people in the show from other stuff they have seen, so they were receptive to the idea and coverage.

plus, jen marie has been a great partner and totally held up her side with signage, contacts and the like. so it was easier.

i was talking to bob about this, and i would be happy to put together a publicity/marketing your show workshop later in the summer if there is interest.

its always helpful to learn from other's lessons (mistakes and everything), i have found.

e

erika

I would be very interested in that workshop, or failing that, just taking you out for dinner or coffee to pick your brain.

(Bob, put the axe down. I wasn't hitting on her I swear!)

kbadr wrote:(Bob, put the axe down. I wasn't hitting on her I swear!)

Bob doesn't use an axe, he just stares calmly at you as your insides turn to ash.

I worked as an managing editor at an arts and infoptainment rag for five years back in the world. There's definetly a fine line between being persistant and being a major pain in the ass.

It's important that you know what day the media source goes to press so as NOT to bug them on that day, as they will not take your call and it will add to their extremely shitty day. The best day is the day after press day. It's a slow(er) day and they still have to be in the office. They're more likely to take your calls and respond to your email.

It's also good to establish a personal relationship with editors and writers. The best way to do that is to send them a thank you email anytime you get any ink anywhere. The only time people contact editors and writers (who are working their knuckles to the bone) is when they're ANGRY about an error or a bad review. It's real shitty, so when they get a thank you they remember it.

Example: The Chronicle Arts Editor wrote a mixed review for our Frontera Fest performance. I made sure to call and thank him and tell him the review was fair and we appreciated the special attention. Guess what we had for the Fun Razor? A nice write up and our picture on the front page of the arts section.

PS, I'm excited to see Whirled NEws on Saturday.

Yeah my friend is an intern there and her main complaint with their paper is that they only write about their friends. So I think that calling the Chronicle to thank them for write-ups is a wonderful concept. Also, we should give them singing telegrams. And handjobs.

Jill, you're on all of those.