Besides being a top performing arts business coach, I’m also a performer known for my renditions of playing Fanny Brice. One is my critically acclaimed solo show “Fabulous Fanny Brice” which had been touring the county for over eight years until COVID-19 hit and the world came to a screeching stop. What did I do? I combined my business and performing prowess and made what I like to call a Broadway pandemic pivot. I transitioned my touring solo show to a livestream in July and it’s become one of the “Best To Stream” picks by numerous outlets.
Lesson learned, not only has it been a great way to keep my show alive as well as continue to put my performing talents into the universe, but it also subsequently created a residual income stream and I’ve become armed with a bevy of new talents on the computer tech side and marketing end. So are you considering making a similar pivot? Here are six things I’ve learned in my streaming journey that can help you!
1. Find the right platform.
There are a ton of streaming platforms now available, in addition to social media platforms or via YouTube or Vimeo. Make sure to look at the costs associated with any platform as well as how much control you have of when and how your show streams, and the time it takes to learn how to use the streaming platform. You may also need to upgrade your internet or even your technical devices depending on which platform you choose. Get all the information and really weigh all pros and cons before you commit so that you find what will work best for you.
2. Get the proper licenses.
If you’re using songs or works of others make sure you obtain the necessary rights, permissions, or licenses to perform your material. A plus is that some streaming platforms come with general licenses that may cover your needs.
The Pros + Cons of a Virtual Solo Show3. Decide if it will be a livestream or on-demand.
Make sure to weigh the pros and cons of being a livestream (an event that airs in real-time on a specific time and date) or allowing a viewer to access your content on-demand (at anytime once the viewer has made the purchase). My show “Fabulous Fanny Brice” is a livestream for several reasons. I want my show to feel like a real theater-going experience where you must get a ticket for a specific time and date and join a group of people watching with you. But I also do this to cover the song license requirements for my show. So it really just depends on your preferences and circumstances.
4. Create marketing materials.
Get your marketing materials (social media posts, video and promos, etc.) and website ready before you start to stream so that you have ample material to advertise your show to the buying public. It’s a very saturated market with lots of content to choose from and you’ll need that material to help you stand out and to allow viewers to find your show.
5. Set a competitive price point.
Make sure to set a competitive price point. Do a deep dive into streaming shows similar to yours and find out what they’re changing for a ticket. A well-priced ticket can mean the difference between someone purchasing a ticket to view versus not.
6. Prepare for a learning curve.
With taking my show to streaming, I had to master a whole new tech program, upgrade my computer and internet, and I still have to spend many hours doing massive amounts of marketing. Just be prepared for a learning curve. Great pivots like this take time to master.
Now go get streaming!
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