Each year the festival runs into the same problems, we never expect to but according to previous years and tutors, we do. It is only natural that people should run into these issues; the festival planning process is such a long one that it is hard to keep momentum and moral up throughout.
At the moment I fear the team has hit a bit of a wall. We’re all busy on our Creative Apprenticeships so we are spread out across London, across England and across the Globe. All of this is exciting of course, but it also means it is extremely hard to keep in touch. I think we are all struggling at the moment, and it feels like the weight of the festival is being carried by very few at the moment. What is most important in any process is someone who actions the ideas of the group, and as I see it at the moment, the floor is littered with ideas but very few people are picking them up and turning them into rockets. We will never be remembered for the ideas we didn’t try.
Sian and I were talking last night and she said her best advice to anyone going into the festival is to be good to one another. Don’t stop helping each other out, get stuck in, even if it’s just smiling encouragement during a pitch or a meeting.
There is nothing more upsetting or dissapointing in any creative process as 17 blank faces staring back at you as you try to brainstorm. I would much rather have five million good ideas that fail, than no enthusiasm. Team moral needs to be upped!
Letty’s Lack-Lutster Litany is not Likely to Last Long. Let’s all Laugh and Light-up our once Lame and Lorn expressions, so her next Litany will be Light, Lovely and (giving up alliteration) full of excited anticipation for all the things coming our way!
Sorry but do y ou realise that this is a public website that potential customers can view and lookin to book tickets if any of them see this artical no one will want to buy any tickets as it comes across bitchy and that the festival will not be a show/shows not worth paying money to see.
If you feel that you need to say this to the team a good old fashion PRIVATE e-mail is the way to do this.
Ben, I completely agree with you there. This is inappropriate and not at all the case. We originally set out to write ‘exec logs’ not as a marketing tool but as a sort of outreach tool, so we could make the process as visible and traceable as possible, documenting the ups and lows. Still, even when things got this bad I would never write this alone. The original blog finishes with:
I’ve got some plans. We’ve been working with the wonderful Lindsey Bowden who is one of the best listeners and advice givers I’ve ever met. She’s got a good blend of sympathy and blunt-ness needed and so I propose to give each member of the festival team a chance to discuss how they think the festival is going with her in one on ones.
Also, the launch of Accidental TV will pep-up everyone’s spririts…as will the fact that we can ANNOUNCE THE DATES OF OUR FESTIVAL!!! (28th, 29th and 30th of May…which is the last weekend of the month, put it in your diaries now.) This news will undoubtably put a smile on everyone’s faces. I’ll take some photos and show you…hopefully in my nex exec log I’ll be a little less stressed and a little more supported.
To be honest I have no idea why this bit was left out of the blog. James, can you explain?
Your right, it was left off. I’m really sorry, I have no idea how it happened.
All contributions to our blog are sent to me, and then I upload them to the site. I’ve been getting more and more familiar with wordpress and blogging in general since December. I think our blog here at af2010 is doing pretty well but I’m still making mistakes every now and then.
Thanks for that comment Ben! You’ll be happy to know that we have regular festival meetings and aren’t using this site as our main source of communication!
Happy Blogging!
James