Eco-PAID reducing the carbon imprint on Entertainment venues

[Vernon L. Cox]

Eco-PAID
Entertainers collaborating on Performing Audience initiated Displays
Here is the idea. If an audience member of a particular talent genre such as Storytelling wants to help the environment and reduce their entertainment carbon imprint Eco-Paid would be the answer.

A volunteer host would arrange to have 10-40 guests visit their home to be entertained by a performer that visits from a distance. If only 10 friends visit Portland from rural Maine lets say from 20 miles or more (not uncommon) the carbon impact of fuel is that of one person going 400 miles however if the friends are close to the hosts home than the tellers 20 miles saves on emissions caused by the group and saves the groups wear and tare on vehicle use.

Yes I am aware folks host home concerts but not on the level that I would like to promote. If we could brainstorm how to promote this idea across the nation we could make a difference. If story lovers are encouraged on a local level to produce a show that is initiated by the hosts by visiting a web site and logging on for participating Eco Tellers it could be a positive impact on our environment and on our industry.

Any one who has any comments, suggestions, and experiences on how to start a new trend or how we think about entertainment venues?

Thanks for your time and suggestions
Vernon

[Vernon L. Cox]

After Laura's show we talked Laura, Katy, Debb and I.
Laura mentioned how Tony Toledo was creating communities of listeners by using an established coffee house that is central in the community.

The concern of getting the word out to audiences to mobilize for their benefit was voiced. We all have seen how hard it is to get new people to shows. Not just us but all Entertainers are experiencing a live performance audience deficit.

It was suggested to bring our art into the homes and communities of perspective audiences so they could learn to appreciate the art enough to venture away from their digital cells and risk a live show. This site The Professional Storyteller allows video and story clips so we all should put out our best stuff! We should also have our next events listed on our page so audiences can plan to see us while they are still in the glow of the tale.

How do we make the turn from promoting to ourselves (most of my audiences have more storytellers than the general public) to promoting to the general public!

Many times a patron will come after a show and say it was their first storytelling event and how their paradigm for storytelling has changed. This is the time to suggest a guild or group they can check for local shows. This is the time to suggest the next event for them to see even if it is another person’s event. To build audiences I think we need to get them excited and then keep them in the loop. What often happens though is the teller thanks the patron, remarks how privileged they were to be a part of the paradigm shift and that patron may not see another show for months or years.

The Maine Organization Of Storytelling Enthusiasts (MOOSE) has a website to help audiences plan their next event. It has monthly events, Venues, and Members listed alphabetically and by photo as tools for the audience. Launched last October it still has less the 2000 hits. How can we excite the general public to take action and research events, plan events and show up? So far The Point looks like the only option and again driving traffic to a site is easier said then done.

What marketing tips work for others?

[Norah Dooley]

It is tricky, the idea transfering this discussion to our LANES listserv- huh? We want to build our org and not take energy away from it, but...feeling like ya' can't take what ain't there.
Still, I do not know how to get people to think about audiences in a new way ( I do not know how to get people to think about audiences, period!) and this discussion is a good and exciting one. Just a part of what storytellers need to think about. Getting connected digitally is only a part of the work that needs to be done. This discussion of how to get live people together is in the end, one major goal of what the new media stuff is about. Oh well, work beckons. Gotta go tell stories...http://norahdooley.blogspot.com/