Category Archives: Uncategorized

“Ask for things. Ask for things that feel unreasonable, to make sure your intuitions about what’s reasonable are accurate (of course, try not to be a jerk in the process). If you’re only asking for things you get, you’re not aiming high enough.” -Cate Hall (former lawyer and professional poker player) Similar to making art,Continue reading “The Art Of Asking”

For the producer… if you’re renting an outside space for your production, here are two good rules of thumb to follow: One…Treat the space as if you were the owner. Two…Leave the space cleaner and better than you found it. P.S. – This article.

For the actor… There’s nothing like the feeling and magic of opening night. Once it’s over, it’s on to the run of the show. But keep in mind every single night during the run is the audience’s opening night. That’s the beauty and ephemerality of live theatre.  A new audience every time. Embrace that.  Don’tContinue reading “Every Night Is Their Opening Night”

“…And the sun’s coming up. It makes me feel like anything’s possible. Ya’ know? Like a beginning. I love beginnings.” –Sam Shepard, True West I’m very excited to announce our two Vs. Studio Producing Workshop Live Presentation Nights! They are Tuesday, June 3rd, and Wednesday, June 4th, at 8pm at Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice.Continue reading “WHAT’S NEXT?…Volume 2”

A recent lesson from our Vs. Studio Producing Workshop… Don’t wait for the reviews and audience feedback to see if your show is a hit. That’s too late. Assume it’s a hit from the very beginning. Waaaay before the show opens. And let all your marketing efforts reflect this confidence. “How can I have thisContinue reading “Assume It’s A Hit”

“Data becomes information when at least one of two related things are true: (1) We learn something for next time. (2) We make different decisions or take new actions. If you’re not getting one of these things, then the data is simply noise. A distraction that wastes our time and confuses us. Breaking news isContinue reading “Data Or Distraction?”

“How you do anything is how you do everything.” -Zen Buddhist proverb “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It isContinue reading “Buzzer Beater”

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald “You need all kinds of influences, including negative ones, to challenge what you believe in.” -Bill Murray “Art is subjective, which is part of whatContinue reading “Ambivalence”

“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism andContinue reading “The Highest Sacrifice”

If you ever wonder why they didn’t choose you, especially after you felt great about how it went (e.g. the audition, the job interview, etc.), then think about all the times you, yourself, got excited about something (e.g. an idea for a business, a story, a new project, a goal, etc.), and didn’t follow throughContinue reading “Choosing Yourself”