Final thoughts...

It's 6:30 in the morning, and I'm up for some reason.

Old friend and colleague David Yee came to our final show yesterday. He wished me congratulations, and wrote, "I hope you got a lot out of doing it".

That made me think: What did I get out of it?

I was disappointed, frankly, that we didn't get more press out. Journalists will always write what they feel - regardless of your relationship with them - but a theatre critic in the room is always the chance of success. While most of them slam you (it's easier to criticize than to celebrate in this country), it would've been nice to have the chance at mainstream success from the big papers...

But alas, we SOLD OUT our last 4 shows anyway!

5 minutes before the show started on our final Sunday PWYC, we had about 5 people sitting. By the time the clock hit 2:31, our small house of 25 had ONE seat available! Word of mouth saved our show. While we milked what little indy press we got for everything we had, we sold out almost every show the last 2 weeks based on word of mouth... People came to the show, really enjoyed it, then told their friends to come. If your houses continue to build as the run evolves, people like your show. The opposite is also true.

But back to the idea of 'what did I get out of it?'.

Well, let's see.

a) Found out that you can put up a GREAT indy show that people enjoy for ZERO dollars! That's not an easy feat - despite how casually I may discuss it. Taking money COMPLETELY out of the equation FORCES you to think creatively - about EVERYTHING. I felt like we were golfing with a handicap - so to even be mentioned amongst all those shows whose budgets were in the $30,000 - $100,000 range is quite an accomplishment when you think about it...

b) Directed a show in an apartment, and had people LOVE the staging. Going for an unconventional venue can get you serious props if you pull it off, but it can also go the other way. My lighting design was light switches and the light from the refrigerator. It could've gone seriously seriously wrong. What I hoped for was that we could put up a show that I told cast member Bahia Watson yesterday was "decidedly unpretentious". Our audience generally agreed. Despite a couple rumblings I heard about being a tad inconvenienced, the audience in theatre basically just wants a unique experience. For an art form that is so transient and fleeting (with nothing but documentation to prove that the play even happened!), experience is key.

c) We all made a bit of money! In the indy world, it's not uncommon to make absolutely nothing for your work. A conventional co-op has expenses to recoup, so the zero budget thing meant that we could split all the box office proceeds equally amongst our team. It was a nice little bonus to cash a cheque last night...

d) I personally got a chance to solidify relationships with friends, industry and media. Rightly or wrongly, being a playwright changes the relationships you have with people in your life. Attending (or NOT attending) your newest play usually indicates where you stand with them. Friendships are lost (or created) based on whether or not a friend supports you. Friends turn into competitors, competitors turn into friends, and there's something calming about seeing your mother attend every single time...

e) Introduced a new audience to my work. Our audience generally consisted of 20 somethings beginning to work in theatre. This was by design. While friends/family is always the #1 way to build audience for these types of shows, you've got to have a hook. I knew going into it that most of my cast's friends would also be 20 somethings starting out in the industry. By writing a show specifically ABOUT those people, I was able to create a bit of verisimilitude for people who'd never heard of me. I think in general that very little theatre is written for/about the next generation (even shows written BY 20 somethings!), so I've always been able to carve out a niche by essentially catering to an untapped market. Plus, my plays will only live forever if the next generation grows up watching (and liking) them...

f) Worked with some great people. People always say this, but it was especially true in this case: I worked with some people I really like. That doesn't happen all the time, so I truly cherish when it does. Although our production had its share of dramas (as they all do), we kept it all together the entire run - and, most importantly, stayed together. When I look back on this experience, some of my favourite parts will be the things I learned from the people involved. Artistic things yes, but mostly just life things. And like I told cast member Jess Salgueiro yesterday afternoon, "life comes first". And it does.

In summation, to answer Dave's question (publicly no less), I did get a lot out of it. Fame and fortune has still not found its way to me in the 10+ years I've been acting/writing professionally - but I feel at the top of my game both personally and professionally. What more can you realistically ask for?

Bobman