Giving back
We’ve all got our causes – the really meaningful bits that we really sink our efforts into because we believe… not just because we’re paid to. For me, it’s the arts. It’s a hard sell, admittedly… as the saying goes, it’s easier to sell soap flakes than brotherhood, but to me, it’s a very important one.
If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you’ll know that my involvement in theatre has had a major influence on my career, and I think it’s still something that can influence the world for the better. Children involved in the arts learn more easily, are more confident, and are less afraid to try new things. Fostering a strong arts community is imperative to a strong community overall.
This is why I sit on the board of the Ottawa Fringe Festival. For those of you who don’t know, the Fringe Festivals are a North American association of theatre festivals which range across Canada and the United States, and operate on the principle that performers have 100% control over their product and take 100% of the box office proceeds. They just pay a small fee to pay for space, tech and admin, and they promote their show within the scope of the festival. This allows artists a way to showcase new works, to gain country-wide exposure and interaction with other artists, and allows the festivals to expose their local audiences to the kinds of works that they would not necessarily see in a traditional theatre company. Think of it as the Long Tail of theatre.
Given their “all the money goes to the performers” business model, these festivals rely heavily on corporate sponsorship and advertising revenue. They produce a 40-page colour program of all the plays that will be showcased in the festival, and right now, the Ottawa Fringe is putting together their advertising for that program, and I’m hoping that some of my local – or even national readers who want to help support a cause like this can help out – either by buying an ad yourself, or passing this on to someone who would benefit from it.
A full page ranges from $800 – $1400 depending on placement, but you can buy a smaller ad for as little as $275. If you’re intrested, the contact information is on the rate card above, or just ask me.
