I
met John and Paige today. They’re the interns Sara (my go-to) insisted I should
meet. She introduced us and I pulled a chair to her cubicle to join the
congregation at her door.
Becky Jarczynski, Program Director at the Downtown Schenectady Improvement
Corporation (DSIC), had been looking for a chance to bring her
intern, Katie, and the three here at Proctors together for a meeting of the
minds.
DSIC and Proctors are seeking ways to work together to promote the
upcoming theater season. They want to elicit participation from the shops
downtown: ideas like themed drinks and foods to tie in with incumbent shows.
Perhaps bringing the color of Oz to State Street during the run of Wicked.
Inventing ideas is one challenge, but with the way the discussion went
today, it isn’t the big one. The biggest challenge is implementation.
Showcasing Paige’s ingenuity, she suggested we metaphorically paint downtown
green for Wicked. It’s a great idea, but it would mean every shop and building
has to be willing. Not that it’s a complicated request, but its potency depends
upon the involvement. Businesses want to know what’s in it for them; they need
incentive to get involved. Without blatantly apparent perks, they might not be
interested. I think it’s an idea worth pursuing.
The trick is to find inlets for co-promotion, where Proctors and the
businesses in question stand to benefit. That tends to appear more often with
smaller shops. Therefore places like the Open Door Book Store or The Happy Cappuccino would be
interested in building the downtown community.
Another idea I liked was an umbrella scavenger hunt to promote Mary Poppins. The musical opens in early
October, so for a couple weeks before hand, we could sequester umbrellas in
various stores around town. Kids could try to find them, and have a card
stamped after each discovery. A full set of stamps might lead to a raffle for a
backstage tour or a t-shirt. Maybe a running-up prize could be spoonful of
sugar!
The problem I found myself most interested in was the issue of signs:
How can we put up banners and billboards around the city? With an unlimited
budget, the answer is simple, but monetary constraints make the question more
interesting. I haven’t found the solution yet. Looking out the big window by my
desk, I can visualize what the banners would look like. I like it a lot. They’d
add some color to all the brick!
Brainstorming, thought-mongering, the creative exchange of ideas, call
it what you like: It’s a fascinating process. Before this, the only time I had spent
in an office was waiting for my mom. A fair amount of office lingo sailed above
my head at this meeting, but I’m learning the ropes! I watched the creative
exchange of ideas in action. I’m learning how to be a part of it. I love that!
