CONVERSATION a performance piece & dialogue

So the run came and went. We overcame obstacles, tons of paperwork, a lot of rejections from wineries and vineyards, bumps on the road in terms of designers and consultants, and general anxiety and nervousness. There weren’t actually “so many mistakes.” There were just natural theatrical obstacles standing in our way. The Fringe obstacles. The travel obstacles. All in all, Philly was rather easy compared to other shows that deal with actual dilemmas, turmoil and drama. But this couldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Alexis’ great producing work that made the path ahead of us easier. The constant communication, the budget organization, the little things that were taken cared of before we got to Philly. So therefore:

Note to self:

1. Cover all your bases before taking the show on the road. Think of every single mistake that could happen, think of every worst case scenario you can think of and fix it/prepare for it before heading out. It’ll make life on the road easier.

2. If you have people you know who live in the city where your performance takes place, USE THEM. We were fortunate enough to be aided by Beth and Carol who helped out immensely with box office/merchandise sales and travel arrangements. Use all the help you can get.

3. Have an amazing stage manager. Chelsea Sanz helped us greatly with the show. When you have to take control of so many things (box office, merchandise, ticket pick up, Fringe work, venue arrangements, transportation, blah, blah, blah) it’s always helpful to have someone whose sole purpose is to concentrate on the show itself. You need someone to overlook the quality of the show itself. When you’re on the road, you need to treat the show like an organ transporter would treat a heart being delivered to a dying man ready for transplant. If you don’t look after it, the show could suffer greatly and not work in the end. Thank you Chelsea.

4. Have the usual suspects: Have a great director (Rosalie), producer, performer, and writer (Alexis for the last three). They make the heart of the show. Without any of those key components, you have a heart that has an irregular heartbeat.

5. Thank the people who provide the blood to keep the heart pumping (Thank you Kickstarter people).

So many mistakes. Yes. Make them all before you head out. That way you won’t have to make them at the crucial moment. We had a great run, great attendance, great reaction, great post-Conversation conversation. Fun nights in Philly. A great experience overall.

Until the next Conversation,

Norberto Briceno
Production Manager