From Concept to Creation: Notes On Self Producing
The current global pandemic has ushered us into a time of endless possibility and opportunity. Gone are the days where we wait for someone to call us to be a part of a gig, a concert or a production. In fact, many theatres, companies, and studios are closed or operating with limited staff. Now more than ever, artists and performers have the unique opportunity to create our own.
Tyler Perry is best known for his beloved character Madea, a franchise that turned him into a household name. Perry’s career began as a playwright and performer who developed his own audience through his chitlin circuit stage plays. His Madea plays grew his following from a couple of hundred people to over 30,000 people a week. That audience has followed him into record-breaking forays in film, television, and more. According to Forbes Magazine, Tyler Perry is now worth over a billion dollars.
Perry, a performer, knew early on what most performers don’t know. He knew that there was power, possibility, and real opportunity in ownership. He incubated his ideas, created his own audience and sold those ideas to his audience. Self-producing at its best.
Even prestigious institutions like Julliard and Berklee College of Music recognize the importance of teaching their students about self-producing. Curriculums are being updated to include entrepreneurship and self producing coursework. Advancements in technology have leveled the playing field, allowing artists to use their phones and computers to create in-home multi media studios.
When I first started self-producing shows, concerts, and content some artists frowned at my efforts. But, I knew the importance of ownership and creating a core audience. When the global pandemic shut down the entire live arts industry I was concerned, but not hopeless. While other actors, musicians, dancers and gig workers scrambled for support from their respective employers, shows, organizations and unions, I had five years of experience and savings as a self-producer to fall back on.
Self-producing is the ability to take your ideas and bring them to life. For me, this work looks like creating my own content, directing, producing, writing, consulting and building my own audience. Below are a few tips to think about as you create and share your work.
Identify your inspirations
Find what inspires you. Inspiration is everywhere. I find inspiration at my local library peeling through magazines, books and articles. Are you inspired by family, or nature, or other artists? A trip to the local museum may inspire you to focus on children’s programming. A visit to the local park may spark an idea for a play, a film or a conversation series. A quick skim through the newspaper or a magazine could be the spark note for a new poem or dance piece. Ideas are all around us. Find the people, places and things that inspire you.
Align with intention
What are you adding to the landscape that doesn’t already exist? What are you bringing to the field that doesn’t already exist? Identify the why. This will help you decide what projects you should focus on. Look for areas that lack representation and consider filling that need.
Use your network
I had an old boss who lived by the mantra, “Your network is your net worth”. Very rarely do we think about all the different people we are connected to. You never know who knows who and who could help you. There’s only one way to find out. Ask! Have you tapped into your network’s full potential? Send an email and ask for help. Use your social media network to search for potential opportunities. Closed mouths don’t get fed.
Stop asking for permission
I am a huge Billy Porter fan. I love how unapologetic and fearless he is. While Billy Porter is most famous for his unforgettable portrayal of Pray Tell in FX’s hit series “POSE”, he is also a celebrated director, playwright, and educator. Billy Porter did not wait for the world to take notice. In fact, he helped the world take notice by creating opportunities to share his unique gifts and talents.
Fail forward
Perfection is the enemy of progress. There is so much value in trying and failing forward. Use strategy, planning, and preparation to put your best foot forward. You will learn what works, what doesn’t and hone in on your own process. Take a chance on yourself. Fail forward and learn to trust the process. This is how great things begin.
