You might be interested in the media page from Pilot Theatre York in the UK. They’ve taken to social media in a big way. Classy site that ‘tells their story’ through slick design too.

I took part in a discussion a month or so ago with some international theatre colleagues on how business … specifically the theatre … is or is not using digital social media to market their ‘product.’ It’s a conversation that is ongoing, and a process that continues to unfold.

We’re all used to being stymied from time to time by technology. We have the imagination, we have the tools, we see the potential … but stuff goes wrong, people resist … sometimes it can all get too hard. Why bother?

With that in mind, I’ve posted an audio file of part of that conversation I had back in January 2009. I talked about using digital social media to engage with audiences, and I mentioned the challenges we face in Australia with regard to access by customers and the experience of those who are marketing what we do.

This podcast is 6 minutes long.

I’ve just posted my latest prognostication on the theatre’s use of social media at the Utterli Talking Theatre site.

Matt Boothman, Travis Bedard, ‘Big Bear’ and yours truly have been chatting for about a week now on the theatre’s use of social media for reviewing and marketing, as well as the way audiences might continue and even extend that time-honoured and very sociable activity,  the after-show chat. What’s eventuated is a wide-ranging discussion ‘in our own voices’ using Utterli, a kind of mini-podcasting application.

If you would like to check it out, hop on over to the Talking Theatre group and have a listen to what’s going on. Add your thoughts in your own voice or leave a written comment. All up to you.

And what do you think? Is your group using social media at all? In what ways? Can theatre use social media in more creative ways? How? Dream big.

You might like to check out what I said here.