Crazytown

FUNDING YOUR PROJECT: THE INDIE ARTIST'S STRUGGLE IS REAL

WHY MUST IT COST SO MUCH TO BRING YOUR PROJECT TO LIFE?
By Vanessa Rae Garcia

Funding a production is the biggest struggle for independent artists because you can't do much without money. Sure, you can find places for free and have talent act for free, but you might be sacrificing the quality of your production if you don't pay for some essentials.  Don't get me wrong, there are TONS of things you can get and do for free-I do it quite often for experience or to help people I know. But, there are some things that you MUST pay for when producing projects. The biggest thing to remember is that your reputation is on the line and people will only want to work with you again if you handle things professionally. 

 

FIND SPONSORS!

Nobody likes asking for money, but sometimes, that's your only option. I have contacted many businesses and individuals to get items donated to a project. Most of the time they will say no because you're an independent production, but you will find some generous people along the way who will say YES. 

Local businesses are your best option for indie projects- NOT major corporations (they tend to only help out non-profits, schools, or churches). I like to reach out to local businesses for rentals, monetary donations, food, or alcohol. You have to take care of your creative team, so feed them and make them feel loved! Be sure to also thank the business for their donation and keep them posted on your project. Send them a thank you card, a poster, free tickets, etc. They want to know that they are appreciated, too!

GET CREATIVE ON FUNDRAISING

You could always set up an online campaign with Kickstarter or Indiegogo, but they are so common now that they aren't as successful as they used to be. I've used both online crowdfunding sites and have had success, but some people get tired of you constantly asking for money online. If you are going to use this outlet, MARKET your project with pride, use a real camera, don't ramble (have a script), look professional, and make sure that your video is professionally shot and edited together. Find some talented friends to help you with this. People will only donate to projects that looks like it's going to be worth their money.

You could also find other ways of raising money. Have an event where you can make money by selling donated items. This is a great way to make money without asking for it directly. Have an auction of some sort, a tournament, a relay, a bake sale, ANYTHING! 

ASK THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW!

Sometimes your biggest resources are those people closest to you. If they believe in you, they will find a way to make your production come to life. The people in your life are those who will have resources to hook you up with amazing people they know. My mother always donates to projects I am involved in, even though she likes to be an anonymous donor, so I AM OUTING HER TODAY! Thanks, MOM! When I Co-Produced Squeezebox , a short film by Sam Lerma, my mother fed the entire cast and crew breakfast and even donated other items for craft services for the duration of the shoot. Other friends/family members of the Producing team helped out by lending us equipment, locations, and donated money to help bring this project to life. Squeezebox ended up totaling about $20,000 to produce. Ralph Lopez, producer, Sam Lerma, and I had to ensure that people were paid, fed, and that quality equipment and people were utilized to make a top-notch film. This took about a year to produce financially- it was NOT easy- but they money was raised through various events throughout that time period. 

The job of an indie artist/producer is tough, but we all continue to do it because we are passionate about bringing new pieces of art to life and to share it with others. I just came back from a meeting with two awesome girls to start a new theatre company in San Antonio... the struggle is definitely real, but SO worth it. 

 

 Also... I miss Smash.

 

 

 

VANESSA RAE GARCIA is a San Antonio native who directs and produces theatre. www.vanessaraegarcia.com
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HOW TO BUILD YOUR THEATRE PROGRAM

FOR HIGH SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL THEATRE TEACHERS
BY VANESSA RAE GARCIA

Taking over a theatre program (old or new) is a challenge. It takes a while to build a strong program, so be patient! It took me about two years to see numbers grow and a few more years after that to maintain and continue growth. 

Little Shop of Horrors- 2014

The first and most important rule is to create a safe environment for your students. Most of the students who join theatre are the kids who feel like they don't know where they belong and are tired of people judging them. This new place becomes their new home, where they can wear funky clothes, sing out loud, wear all black, or quote movies/shows without people telling them they are weird. Encourage your group- and yourself- to be welcoming to new students and to be kind to those who are already part of the team.

If you have an opportunity to recruit to your feeder elementary and middle schools. If there's anything kids remember- it's field trips. I've had kids come up to me when they join my class their freshmen year saying that watching a show at my campus was life-changing and made them want to be a part of the program. If you do shows to recruit to a younger audience, you need to make sure that you choose shows that aren't longer than an hour-ish for elementary age. You can get away with a full-length show for a middle school audience and they will love it. I've also had performances where I include an elementary choir. This means more seats sold in the audience for you and more kids interested in theatre when they get older! :)

Pick entertaining shows if you need to build your program. Most kids these days aren't going to want to join the theatre program after seeing "The Importance of Being Ernest" or something of the like. Pick your shows as a way to market your existing program and to recruit new students. It may sound cheesy, but some shows that are sure to make you, your students, and your community look good are: The Wizard of Oz, Grease, High School Musical, The Little Mermaid, Shrek, Willy Wonka, Annie... pretty much any title that they will recognize will make students WANT to audition or be a part of. I've stepped into a program that needed some new life. We did The Little Shop of Horrors last year and we are doing The Addams Family this year- both shows have had great responses from the school and community.

Last, but not least, if you don't have a technical director, you will be in charge of EVERYTHING- that includes your sets! I was the only theatre director at a school for 5 years and I had to figure out how to get my set made and how to recruit students who knew how to build. The first thing I did was include a message over the daily announcements to the entire school saying that the theatre department was looking for students with a construction background to help build the sets for our shows. I had kids show up randomly here and there throughout that first year.

My second year I was lucky to be able to recruit a group of about 5 guys from the wood shop class and they were AMAZING! These kids didn't look like your typical theatre kid- they were all skaters and loved metal! They came to the theatre every single day after school and even came on Saturdays to help build my set for "The Diary of Anne Frank". These are the kind of kids you NEED in your program. They talk, they see the rehearsal process, make friends with the cast, and then Boom, they are in your class the next year. If you can't find students with the construction skill, then do not hesitate to ask the parents of your students to come and help you out. I've had so many parents lend a hand and make beautiful pieces for us at absolutely no cost. 

Stay organized and keep your students and your program structured. There is no quick fix to building a program, but it can be done with persistence. 

 

VANESSA RAE GARCIA is a San Antonio native who directs and produces theatre. www.vanessaraegarcia.com
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ROAD TRIP PT.2: D.C to TEXAS

 HIGHLIGHTS FROM WEEK 2 ON THE ROAD

 

By Vanessa Rae Garcia (Producer / Director)

It's 1:30am and I just got home  from driving across the country. It was fun, adventurous, delicious, and exhausting. Last week I posted highlights from New York City. This week is about every place my bf and I crammed in during the course of a week.

We had a day and a half in D.C. and tried to see as much as we possibly could because it was my boyfriend's first time there. It was exhausting! 

This is the view of the Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial. Gorgeous view. 

The Air and Space Museum is every kid's dream. They had the very first Wright Brothers' airplane, among others, and lots of NASA gear. 

After we left D.C., we went back to Virginia Beach to hang out with family and enjoy some beach time. 

15 hours on the road later we went to where the KING lived.... Elvis' Graceland. This is a picture of the Graceland Mansion. All guests are given an IPAD upon entry with headphones for an interactive tour with John Stamos as the tour guide- well, his voice! If you're an educator, you are granted access to the Platinum Tour for FREE! The mansion was like a time capsule and had a surprisingly small kitchen for Elvis. Graceland was filled with many rooms, lots of carpet, little monkey porcelain decorations, and awesome pops of color.  

ROAD TRIP PART 1: TEXAS TO NEW YORK CITY

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY WEEK-LONG TRIP TO NYC

By Vanessa Rae Garcia (Producer / Director)

My boyfriend and I decided to take a road trip this summer from Texas up to New York City. We stopped in Virginia Beach and stayed with family, then we headed to Washington D.C. and continued our trek to the Big Apple on a bus. This trip has been extremely relaxing so far. I got to see some AMAZING shows (all musicals) and spent most of the trip hanging in Brooklyn. My trips usually revolve around spending time with friends, FOOD, and watching shows. Today, I want to share some of my highlights from this past week. 

Hamilton on Broadway

After missing Hamilton when it was Off-Broadway at the Public Theater earlier this year, I did NOT want to miss the transfer to Broadway. I secured my tickets back in April and watched the show one week after it began previews on Broadway. This show is like nothing you have ever seen or heard before. I was amazed from start to finish. Lin-Manuel Miranda makes history entertaining with an amazingly talented cast. The music for this show is a mix that will leave you speechless. The lighting and choreography captivated me the entire time with its unique designs. Get your tickets now because this show is already sold out through November!!

Fun Home on Broadway

This show is a definite MUST SEE- as it just swept the Tony Awards last month. I waited in line an hour before the box office opened up at 9am and was able to get 2 standing room only tickets for $30 each. Score! This performance is beautiful and tragic. It takes place in a theatre in the round, so it's an extremely intimate show with creative staging. This cast is freaking amazing... and the lungs on Young Alison (played by Sydney Lucas) is so powerful. I can't wait to see what she has in store for her future. Fun Home will definitely pull on your heart strings!

Manuel VS the Statue of Liberty at NYMF

Manuel Vs the statue of Liberty is a show about a young boy fighting to become a U.S. citizen while living in the New York City. Manuel dukes it out- literally- with the Statue of Liberty to combat the current issues we have today with immigration laws. This show has an AMAZING score written by my wonderfully talented friend, David Davila. His songs are entertaining, make you wanna dance, and made me cry! I'm so proud of him and his talented cast and crew!

GIRL POWER IS TAKING OVER... AND IT'S NOT THE SPICE GIRLS

FEMALE VOCALS YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THIS SUMMER

BY VANESSA RAE GARCIA

I've been listening to these artists a whole lot lately and they are Fierce! Some are solo, some are the front liner for their band, but either way, you should check them out!

MISTERWIVES - INDIE POP/ NEW YORK CITY

I first heard about this group during SXSW. I missed my opportunity to see them perform at the Spotify House! I listen to this band when I go for my runs- it keeps me going. I will have my opportunity to see them at Austin City Limits in October. :) 

 

RYN WEAVER- ALT POP- LOS ANGELES

About a year ago Ryn Weaver released her single, "OctaHate." She released a few songs throughout the last year and has just released her first full-length album titled, "The Fool." 

 

 

MERIAN HILL- ELECTRONIC POP- PHILADELPHIA -DUO- Samantha Gongol and Jeremy Lloyd

Merian Hill combines electronic/soul/saxaphone- It's GOOD. I got to see them perform at SXSW this past year at the Spotify House. If you've never been to SXSW for Music, you are missing out. It's a great place to listen to new bands before they blow up. I got to see Hozier perform (For FREE) last year in a tiny performance space where I was standing next to the singer...now they are everywhere! 

'HAMILTON' BROADWAY PREVIEWS BEGIN TODAY!

Hamilton makes the move from Off-Broadway to Broadway

By Vanessa Rae Garcia

Photo by Joan Marcus

Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda: Previews begin TODAY, July 13th and it officially opens on August 6th.  

I missed the chance to see Hamilton during its run at the Public Theatre earlier this year, but I locked down my tickets for the show and will be seeing it on July 23rd. This show has been sold-out since it was on Off-Broadway and is already sold-out through November. I bought my tickets in April to make sure that I was going to be able to see this wonderful piece of theatre.

Miranda tells the story of one of our founding fathers and immigrant, Alexander Hamilton, through music and hip-hop, and his tragic demise.  A few characters in Hamilton include, George Washington, King George, Thomas Jefferson, and Hamilton's assassin and former Vice President of the United States, Aaron Burr, played by Leslie Odom Jr. The characters are brought to life by an extremely diverse cast, which showcases how different Americans look today, as opposed to the days of our Founding Fathers. 

This excerpt from The New Yorker's article about Hamilton, titled, 'Hip-Hop Hamilton' explains how and why this show is so special and unique.

"It does not seem accidental that “Hamilton” was created during the tenure of the first African-American President. The musical presents the birth of the nation in an unfamiliar but necessary light: not solely as the work of élite white men but as the foundational story of all Americans. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington are all played by African-Americans. Miranda also gives prominent roles to women, including Hamilton’s wife, Eliza Schuyler (Phillipa Soo), and sister-in-law, Angelica Schuyler (Renée Elise Goldsberry). When they are joined by a third sister, their zigzagging harmonies sound rather like those of Destiny’s Child. Miranda portrays the Founding Fathers not as exalted statesmen but as orphaned sons, reckless revolutionaries, and sometimes petty rivals, living at a moment of extreme volatility, opportunity, and risk. The achievements and the dangers of America’s current moment—under the Presidency of a fatherless son of an immigrant, born in the country’s island margins—are never far from view."

 

In an interview with CBS, Manuel states that Hamilton is a "Story of America THEN told by America NOW."  

I saw Miranda's "In the Heights" in 2009 and it is my favorite musical to date. He brought a show about average American-Latinos to Broadway and took home numerous awards, including 4 Tonys and a Grammy. He is a role-model,a bad-ass composer/lyricist/actor/etc., and stars in his musicals! Can't get any more bad-ass than that. Oh yeah, and he performed the opening song from Hamilton for the President... check it out below.

 

Today we celebrate you, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and your entire cast and crew of Hamilton. I will see you in a few weeks!!

 BREAK LEGS!!!! XOXO

 Get your tickets here to see Hamilton on Broadway.

 

VANESSA RAE GARCIA is a San Antonio native who directs and produces theatre. www.vanessaraegarcia.com
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Musical Theatre Camp

Costume Design for Theatre Camp

By Vanessa Rae Garcia 

Musical Theatre camp is no joke and not for the weak! I just spent the last 3 1/2 weeks as the Costume Designer for Seussical Jr. I completed the costumes with the help of about 7 students and a budget of $2,000.  My team and I had to have all costumes ready for rehearsals around day 9 of camp. I re-purposed existing costumes and created new ones from scratch.

Here is a quick look into what the final products looked like:

The Whos from Whoville were all fuzzy characters and were defined by family colors. These were wacky and fuzzy to the max.  

The characters pictured below wore 3 different costumes, but this was my fav: CIRCUS costumes!

This is pretty much the entire cast in this photo! LOTS of color. 

Adding feathers and boas to dresses can make for some awesome looking Bird Girls.

Starting Over

Purge your materialistic items and start fresh!

By Vanessa Rae Garcia

Dedicated to H.L.

Starting a new chapter in your life can be scary at any age. Everyone has different reasons for change: a new job, new relationships, children, relocating, etc. Whatever the reasons are, it's never easy. Two years ago I moved across the country and literally got rid of everything I owned. Shortly after that, I moved again and had even LESS to my name. 

Here's how it happened:

Over the last 10  years or so, I accumulated a TON of house-hold items. With the help of my parents and friends, I started to accept new and gently used items to fill my very first apartment with. I had to downsize and get new furniture to fit into the the various apartments/studios I lived in for many years. After I had been teaching for two years, I decided I would purchase my first home as a 23 year old single gal. What the hell was I thinking?!

Within the first 6 months of being a homeowner, it became a set for a feature film titled, Wolf, by Ya'ke Smith. The house became the entire cast and crew’s home for about a month and a half. At the end of the shoot, which I was able to work on, there were many items that the art department didn’t need anymore. They left behind various items of house decor that I left up for a few years. I later had 2 different roommates and somehow inherited more furniture, decorations, etc. It was great to be able to fill a home that I was able to call my own… the only downside was that I had planned to move to New York City from San Antonio, Texas, so why did I buy a home in the first place? I’ll chalk that mistake up to being impulsive and young.

So I now had this big dilemma of downsizing from a 3 bedroom/2 bath house for a ROOM in an apartment that would already be furnished. I planned everything out perfectly and saved about $10,000 for my big move. I found an apartment in beautiful Astoria, Queens. I also found a property manager to handle my home while I was away. I thought that having everything planned out would make this move easy on me. I started to realize that I was going to have part with so many items that were of some type of sentimental value to me.
 

PRODUCING QUALITY SHOWS ON A BUDGET

LESS CASH = BEING MORE CREATIVE

By Vanessa Rae Garcia (director / producer)

 Producing a show with not a lot of dough? No problem! I've been producing shows for years and started with extremely low budgets. How did I do it? I asked for help and learned how to stretch a dollar. If you're  a part of a non-profit organization, then you should be asking for monetary donations throughout the year to help fund your productions. If you're not part of  a non-profit, then you've got to get creative.

The first thing I ALWAYS do is compile a list of my needs. What do you need for this show? Is it modern? Do you need some vintage or period pieces and costumes? What do you already have in stock? You have to stay organized and on top of your game if you want to make this show happen.

The Trojan Women- Set was constructed by using existing pieces. New paint was the only item paid for.

Next, I ask to borrow items from surrounding community theatres, universities, high schools, or other performance groups. It doesn't matter if you know them personally or not. Call them up and ask for what you need. 9 times out of 10, they will tell you to come by and look at what they have in stock. This will give you access to props, set pieces, and costumes. Most of these places won't even charge you to borrow these items...unless you accidentally lose it or destroy it- don't do that. Take advantage of your community and borrow what you need. This also helps build your credibility with unfamiliar faces.

Sweeney Todd- Thrift store and rented costumes.

Re-purpose what you already have. You can make many articles of clothing look like it's from a different time period with a little altering: aka some work. Find a friend, cast, or crew member who is up for the task to transform your costumes. Lace, ruffles, string, padding, and dye can put a vintage spin on just about anything.

Arabian Nights- Borrowed silks, tops, and re-purposed existing set pieces. 

Hit up your local thrift shops. Thrift shops can come in a variety of price ranges. I tend to stay loyal to Goodwill because their prices are set and don't fluctuate based on brand. Be familiar with the daily sales thrift stores promote. You can get discounts daily off of the colored tags on the clothes/ items. Other thrift shops have days where EVERYTHING is on sale. There is a shop in my town that has .50 cent days, .75 cent days, and $1.75 days. You can get an entire outfit for $1-$2!! Learn your city and learn their deals. If you need something really fancy, hit up the "other" thrift shops, but be willing to spend a little more paper (like $20-70).

THINGS I STOPPED PAYING FOR IN MY LATE TWENTIES

By Vanessa Rae Garcia (director)

                 
                                                 (imagebuddy.com)

At some point in your life you begin to realize that you have been wasting money on non-sense and decide to make some changes. For me, I started making the switch around age 27. I was young, unattached, and spent most of my money on food and booze. It was fun for the time, but as I approach 29, I feel like I finally have a good sense of how to spend wisely. 

One of the first things I stopped paying for was flavored and overpriced coffee. I used to order flavored coffee drinks about 5 times a week..or sometimes more. At $4 per drink, that's over $20 a week in just coffee! I now brew a delicious cup of joe in my house, or I go to the corner store and get one there. I also have a rewards program where I get my 7th coffee free. It may not seem like a big difference, but when you spend $6 a week on coffee compared to over $20. You have a  total savings of $800 (just on coffee) in one year! Winning!!

When you work long hours and have short lunches, fast food is the easy choice, but it's a terrible one! I used to eat food on the go for most of my meals. I was 20 plus pounds heavier, my wallet was depleting, and my health wasn't in good shape. Grab some fruit, make your food at home, or make healthier choices.

I used to buy music albums and listen to them on repeat, until I discovered PANDORA and SPOTIFY. I no longer pay for albums, but pay for a huge database of artists via Spotify. If you're a theatre person, then you should know that they have cast albums from your favorite Broadway shows and composers. It's also a great tool to listen to your old favs or you can discover new music regularly. I also have the National Public Radio app on my phone and listen to different shows on my daily commute to work- that's free. 

Is cable service even worth it? Hell no. I stopped paying for cable about 3 years ago. I used to pay around $100 on cable a month. I was never really home and found myself having nothing good to watch, I would just flip through channels. I made the switch to Netflix and Hulu Plus a few years ago. Combined, I pay $20 a month and have access to great television shows and movies. I'll never go back to cable! 

                                
                                                          (NBC)

Cheap clothes seem like a good deal, but there's a reason they are priced so low- the quality is no bueno. Clothes are an investment and and a personal statement. I usually spend around $80 on my jeans and they last me a very long time. If you don't have $80 to spend on pants, go to a consignment shop and buy some fancy pants for a small fraction of the cost. I love to shop at second-hand clothing stores and usually find some amazing deals! Buy the clothes that you will get the most use out of. 

Sunday Brunch... Yes, I know it's fun. Sunday brunch is usually about hanging with friends and drinking all day. Believe me, I still hang with my friends and have some great booze to accompany me. I will still go to brunch every now and then, but it's pretty rare. Brunch used to cost me about $40- 60 every Sunday, EVERY WEEK! To lower my costs, I now cook at home, invite friends over for dinners, where we take turns hosting, and buy our booze by the bottle- not by the glass. Hit up the closest liquor store near you- I guarantee you a bottle of your favorite liquor is cheaper than your drinks at brunch.

Cutting back on some of your expenditures won't make you lame, it means you have money for emergencies or for your savings account! Everyone needs to find ways to splurge, but if you make some of these changes in your daily life, you may find that you have money to buy tickets to shows you need to see this Summer! I already bought my ticket to see Hamilton and will be buying my ticket to Fun Home and Manuel VS the Statue of Liberty at NYMF. 

Cheers!

                          
                                                     (Comedy Central)

VANESSA RAE GARCIA is a San Antonio native who directs and produces theatre. www.vanessaraegarcia.com
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