How can we be creatively entrepreneurial and diversify our income streams – without a building?

Convener(s): Caroline Routh & Natalie Querol 

Participants: Andrew McLay, Sarah Brignall, Tim Flood, Iwin McLay, Lian Bell, Iain Lanyon, Charlie Meejrick, Annie Tsang, Avril Hitman, Lisa Marken, Sheridan Humphrey, Daniel Buckroyd, Maggie McKeown

Summary of discussion, conclusions and/or recommendations:

Relying on funding is disempowering.

People trust brands; instead of starting from the premise that creating theatre is the only route to be followed, create any product that is marketable and once a brand for that has been established, create theatre as another string to that brand.

What skills does the theatre industry have that could be marketed?

• Presentation
• Eye contact
• Communication – written/verbal
• Voice work/projection
• Trust
• Problem solving
• Teaching
• Team building
• Movement
• Collaboration
• Thinking on feet/improvisation
• Leadership
• Creative writing
• Confidence building
• Event management/production
• Thinking out of the box
• Awareness of space
• Aesthetics

 What markets are out there?

• Corporate
• Affluent individuals
• Public sector
• Tourism

 How do we get to know our markets?

• Look up company philosophies to see which one link with our own and market to those needs
• Brainstorm list of people to approach in corporate world through our own personal contacts – get personal introductions where possible
• Do background research on companies before speaking to them

 Specific ideas

• Retreats
• Courses giving individuals permission to be creative
• Theatre skills as presentation skills for corporate world
• Better interview techniques