Creative solutions to zero-budget problems...

So for anyone who's been following our adventure, you'll know that we have decided to purposefully NOT SPEND ONE PENNY on this production (for a 16-show run!) as a creative response to the recession...

Here is the update on a few production problems.

1. The program. We had been offered free photocopies, but many audience members wanted us to be a little more inventive. So I have decided that we will post the program online! Instead of a physical program, we will have an electronic program - available both at this blog and at our Facebook group (named after our show). It will have the added benefit of being available to people who don't get a chance to see the show. The main benefit of a program for the creative team is the chance to promote bios - so it'll be a nice way to get some extra publicity.

2. The venue. The main way we circumvented all costs on this show was Jason Morneau's excellent idea to produce the play in his apartment. He's got a very cool space 1 block East of Ossington/Queen - and that saves us several thousand dollars. It's a very creative space, and works really well for these particular plays. The seating is going to be very chill and casual - almost like hanging out at a house party to see a play - but admittedly it does limit the number of seats we can make available. We originally thought we could squeeze 40 people in, but the latest report is 25 comfortably. I liken the show to when Radiohead will play a 200-seat club to promote their future tour. I'm writing/directing a sample of what could be a larger run... If we sell out every show, we're the hot ticket in town. If audience response is tepid, we're not scrambling to fill too many seats. It's pretty much a win-win for us, and the price is certainly right...

3. Flyers. Now many audience members wanted us to come up with something different - like writing ads in chalk at restaurants or doing the whole thing electronically. Well, we tried and tried and decided that we're going to take some donated flyers from a local print shop. Julie Tesolin has some friends who are willing to make us some flyers for free, and with no better alternative presenting itself, we opted to go with them. Better to have donated flyers than no flyers at all. We are still trying to sell tickets after all...

In summation, I feel we've done a pretty sweet job at producing a high-quality product for literally no money. Eye Weekly has even called us a "Best Bet" for the show, so momentum is certainly building. Hopefully, we can prove that you don't need piles of money to make good art, you just need creativity...

Bobman