Theatre promotion by James Gordon

Posted by Phil Andrews

Here's an email I just sent to James Gordon. Below it is the email sent to a variety of local residents that spurred my message. (I have deleted the recipient list from this post. But I included the recipients on my email to Gordon.)

 

James,

 

This appears to be an interesting production.

I’m puzzled as to your assertion in this email that “the Guelph Press… is ignoring press releases, not doing advance stories and generally behaving as if acknowledging the play would be bad for business.“

At least as relates to the Guelph Mercury, I find that inaccurate and unfair.

No one in our newsroom is aware of having receiving any word of this production until our receipt of this email.

Perhaps your email, fax or other distribution lists overlooked our newsroom.

Certainly, you’re abundantly aware of our efforts to lead the local news media on the operations of Nestle. I’m puzzled that you would conclude the newspaper was loathe to cover something else connected to that story – and that you would communicate that belief widely without doing more to confirm that notion.

 

 

Yours truly,

 

Phil Andrews

Managing Editor

Guelph Mercury

519-823-6050

 

 

 

 

From: James Gordon
Date: 20 June 2011 08:55
Subject: a note from James


Hello my Guelph and area friends...

I'm writing to you to ask a favour regarding my new play, Nasteé Business.

It's opening in a little over a week, and A funny thing has happened on the way to the theatre.

I guess I should have foreseen this, but it seems that a play that is based on a community's relationship with a real live giant multi-national corporation is just too controversial for some.

The Guelph Press has always been very generous in promoting my work over the years.

This time around, they are ignoring press releases, not doing advance stories and generally behaving as if acknowledging the play would be bad for business. 

Merchants are reluctant to put up posters, especially those who sell Nestlé products, ( and it's hard NOT to sell them, they are so omnipresent).

 

As a result, advance ticket sales are very slow, and word is just not getting out there other than through social networking. 

I've got a remarkable, dedicated hard-working young cast who are doing an amazing job for too little money. ( I have ZERO funding for this project other than ticket sales.) The Guelph Little Theatre is being really supportive with their space. And yet, It's a big investment to make on what seems like a risky venture.

Why am I whining like this?

Two reasons. 

 

1. I think it's my best work. I'd love you to see it. My most ambitious musical play. It's not just about bottled water. That's just the excuse for a plotline that asks questions about how we navigate through these rapidly shifting and confusing times. It's not just about Nestle so in that sense I suppose I named it poorly!

It's got 17 Original songs. Giant puppets, Broadway-esque dance numbers, spoken word and hip-hop even! A video component and audience involvement. Laughs and tears and a love story. This is a really big production. 

 

2. Since promotion has been tough because of the subject material, I'm hoping you'll pass the word around to YOUR networks. 

It's a tough time of year to be putting on something this ambitious too. You know me. I was too derned busy to put it on earlier this year after it was written!

 

Thanks in advance for considering attending or spreading the word. Hope to see you there!

Here's the official, and unused, press release with all the details.

 

yours

James

 

Nasteé Business is James Gordon’s new musical play debuting June 28, 29 and 30th in Guelph at the Guelph Little Theatre. 

An innovative multi-media full-length production, Nasteé Business examines the growing tensions between disparate elements in our modern society: corporations and activists, consumers and environmentalists, those who put the money first and those who cherish and nurture our most sacred resource- water. An entertaining work of fiction loosely based on the campaign to stop the water-taking permit of a certain multi-national corporation, the play asks the question “How can we all get on the same side? It features actors, singers, giant puppets, contemporary dance sequences, video, karaoke, 15 original songs, spoken-word and hip hop pieces and audience participation! 

This is Gordon’s 3rd major musical, eagerly anticipated after the success of his earlier folk opera “Hardscrabble Road” and his Hillbilly musical version of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ “Tryst and Snout”.

The songwriter/playwright/producer/activist and aspiring politician is joined onstage by an exciting young cast including Gabriella Sundar Singh, Jenikz, Kevin Sutton, Jewels Krauss, Tanya Williams, puppeteer Deb Murray and special guests. Designed by Barb Bryce.

 

TIckets for the three performances at the lovely Guelph Little Theatre, 176 Morris Street, are 25 dollars or 15 if you are a starving artist or you are hard up, and are available online at www.jamesgordon.ca <http://www.jamesgordon.ca/>  or at Ground Floor Music on Quebec Street. 

 

For information contact James Gordon at [email protected]
 

 

James Gordon

[email protected]

www.jamesgordon.ca <http://www.jamesgordon.ca/>

Electronic Press Kit: 

http://www.sonicbids.com/JamesGordon2

Youtube Channel: ( A new video up every month!)

http://www.youtube.com/user/JamesSGordon?feature=mhum

 
------ End of Forwarded Message

 

Comments

[Phil Andrews]

James Gordon has connected with me via email. He says communication of the musical was delegated to another individual. He said he never heard back from local print media after assigning this duty and " jumped to conclusions."

"Thanks for clearing that up for me...I also think I reacted when my posterers told me that they were getting turned down in stores because of the presumed Nestle reference.. so I developed a conspiracy theory!

I'm attaching the press release myself here...
maybe the story now is "Anxious Playwright fears the worst about lack of publicity,-- Humbled by his own error " :)"

[Kevin Ames]

Jumping to conclusions and hatching conspiracy theories. These are not good traits for a prospective MPP.

[David Williams]

Owning up to an honest mistake is an excellent trait for a prospective MPP. My goodness, we need this type of honesty in our elected representatives!

[Kevin Ames]

I have some doubts about his abilities since I overheard him recruiting puppeteers at the Market Fresh checkout just last week. Sounds a wee bit disorganized too me.