This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Details
Date:

May 11

Time:

02:00 pm

Website:
Event Website

To find out more, read our privacy policy

Skip to navigation Skip to content Become A Member
NRTF
  • About
    • About
    • FAQs
    • The Team
    • History of NRTF
  • Our Members
    • About Our Members
    • Become a Member
    • Scheme Directory
    • Member Directory
  • Rural Touring
    • What is rural touring?
    • The Benefits & Impact
    • Scheme Directory
  • Events
    • Integrate – NRTF Conference 2023
    • Upcoming Member Meetings
  • Latest News
    • The Latest Rural Touring News
    • Case Studies & Blog
    • Artist Call Outs & Commissions
    • Rural Touring Jobs
  • Our Projects
    • Environmental Action
    • Library Touring Project
    • Rural Touring Dance Initiative
    • CONCERTA
  • Member Area
    • All Resources
    • Members Discussion Boards
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • Return to
    your basket
    £0.00 0
  • Support
    Login
You are:Home/Facebook Event/May Artist Support Call – NRTF What Next?

May Artist Support Call – NRTF What Next?

Details
Date:

May 11

Time:

02:00 pm

Website:
Event Website

Join us for our monthly Artist support call on zoom.

All NRTF members will automatically receive the zoom details in the Friday Bulletin the week before. However, these meetings are open to all involved with rural touring.

If you are not currently an NRTF member but would like to join these meetings please leave your details here: https://forms.gle/9wx7CrKonavTShdP7

Share May Artist Support Call – NRTF What Next? social media
Archives
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021

    • Join NRTF for full access

    Looking for Artists, Performers, Promoters and Venues to give the rural arts movement a stronger voice.

    Join Now Members login

    What is Rural Touring?

    Read More

    Upcoming Events

    Read More

    Good Life Hub, Orchard Barn, Manor Farm Barns, Newbury Hill, Hampstead Norreys, RG18 0TR
    E: admin@nrtf.org.uk

    • Members
    • About
    • Events
    FAQs Login
    • Rural Touring
    • Latest News
    • Our Projects
    • Resources
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy, T&C’s
    • Sitemap

    © 2023. National Rural Touring Forum.
    Registerd with the charity commision as 1062366.
    Website by Affinity

    Become A Member Support Login
    • About
      • About
      • FAQs
      • The Team
      • History of NRTF
    • Our Members
      • About Our Members
      • Become a Member
      • Scheme Directory
      • Member Directory
    • Rural Touring
      • What is rural touring?
      • The Benefits & Impact
      • Scheme Directory
    • Events
      • Integrate – NRTF Conference 2023
      • Upcoming Member Meetings
    • Latest News
      • The Latest Rural Touring News
      • Case Studies & Blog
      • Artist Call Outs & Commissions
      • Rural Touring Jobs
    • Our Projects
      • Environmental Action
      • Library Touring Project
      • Rural Touring Dance Initiative
      • CONCERTA
    • Member Area
      • All Resources
      • Members Discussion Boards
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Twitter

    Resources

    This content is restrictied to members only, please login or get an account to access it.

    Return to Homepage

    Members Login

    Forgotten Password

    Not A Member?

    Join NRTF for full access

    Looking for Artists, Performers, Promoters and Venues to give the rural arts movement a stronger voice.

    Join Now

    Artists Suitability

    This short form is designed to help you asses whether or not your show is Rural Touring ready. We take you through the very basic needs of rural touring and give you a list of things to consider. We also point you to other helpful resources and pages along the way. Please note this form is NOT a way of submitting your show to be considered for touring but should be used as a tool to equip yourself with the knowledge you need to approach schemes.

    1 / Step1- Have you ever performed in Rural Touring?

    Great! Use this form to remind yourself of some of the ins and outs of planning a Rural Tour

     

    Our biggest piece of advice is to do your homework. You can read this blog post here for more advice on the type of research you should be doing, and, if you’re a member of the NRTF you can download ‘Eyes Wide Open’ for free from our resources page. Continue with this form to find out some more key questions you’ll need to consider when planning a rural tour. 

    2 / Step2- Does your show have an interval?

    That’s great. Intervals are very important to the majority of rural touring venues. This is often their only time to raise any money for the venue (think bar sales and raffles) plus audiences expect a ”full night out”.

    Intervals are very important to the majority of rural touring venues. This is often their only time to raise any money for the venue (think bar sales and raffles) plus audiences expect a ”full night out”. If there isn’t an appropriate place for an interval within your show, consider what else you could offer to fill the evening. An entertaining Q and A with the artists? A related quiz? Whatever it is- make sure you think it out and prepare it fully (does it work in context?). If you don’t have an interval or an after/pre show offer you many find it harder to be programmed by promoters.

    3 / How long is your show?

    This links to having an interval. Rural Touring venues and audiences want a full night out. Shows that are only an hour-long are a lot harder to sell to rural touring venues. Again think about how you can offer a full night out. Can you add a structured Q&A with the artists, or create a themed aftershow quiz? Whatever it is, make sure that any add on is as high quality as your show. If you are selling it to venues as part of the package of the show, it shouldn’t be an after thought.

    4 / Are you technically self sufficient?

    Remember Rural Venues are unlikely to have any technical equipment. So when we say ‘technically self-sufficient’ we mean the works. You will need to bring your own lighting, sound equipment etc. Even plug sockets can be in short supply at our venues! Anything technical that you need to run the show needs to be on the road with you – including technical staff if they are needed!

     

    Most Rural Touring venues are village halls or community spaces. They do not have a lighting rig, sound equipment or a technician. Everything your show needs technically will need to come with you – including the technician! In our venues even plug sockets can be in short supply!

    5 / How many of you are on the road?

    When you’re rural touring cast size is important. A large cast can signify to a rural venue a large show and that might prevent them from booking your show for a number of reasons. Does it make the show expensive? Will they need to find accommodation for everyone? Some of our schemes and venues offer homestays, others might offer a budget for you to book your own accommodation. Will the cast fit in their venue? Some venues can only fit 30 – 50 audience members in and they probably don’t have dedicated changing rooms! If you’re hitting the road with a large show that can be a really great thing for rural touring venues and audiences, but just be aware it makes the number of venues who can take the show smaller.

    6 / Do you have your own transport?

    Great – make sure it’s in good condition, you could be adventuring off the beaten track!

    When we say rural, we mean rural. Lots of our venues are in places where there is no public transport. If you are going on a rural tour you will be responsible for getting yourself, and any equipment you need to and from rural venues.

    7 / How long is your get in?

    A lot of rural touring venues are in high demand. Whether that’s for an afternoon Zumba Class or a Blood Drive. This means the timetabling can be tricky! Not only that but most of our promoters are volunteers, so the longer the get in the bigger ask on the volunteers time. Other venues are hired by the hour by the Promoters – long get ins can be costly. Anything over 4 hours can be difficult for rural venues – not impossible (nothing is impossible) but tricky!

    8 / What is the cost of your show?

    We want you to be realistic, paid fairly and correctly, however, rural touring shows do not charge high ticket prices (rarely over £10), and they aren’t in large venues so the promoter and schemes cannot afford high price shows. If the production is subsidised then this can help a higher costing show be programmed. Speak with the individual schemes directly about levels of subsidy and realistic fees.

    9 / Does your show need a raised stage or raked seating?

    Unfortunately, most venues don’t provide a rake. More often than not they are on the flat so you need to be aware of sight lines. For instance, if there are 80 seats on the flat then seated audience members at the back will unlikely see below chest height on the performers. If you do floor work consider setting seats up in the round to get more visibility.

    That’s great, but it’s worth checking with any venues you might be programmed into, whether or not there are any other obstacles that, might get in the way of sightlines or alter the capacity of your show.

    10 / How BIG is the show? Eg. set, playing space, cast size etc.

    As we’ve already mentioned Rural touring venues come in all shapes and sizes, but the majority of them seat less than a 100 people. Promoters need to take into consideration how well your show fits in their venue and how many tickets they need to sell to cover their costs. Bigger casts often mean more expensive shows, but that also means more people to feed and accommodate on the day – Rural Touring Promoters often cook meals for artists, and some even offer overnight stays. If your show is on the larger size just be aware that it narrows down perspective venues.

    11 / What is the topic/content of your show?

    We never underestimate what our rural audiences want to watch, they love a variety and the NRTF support broadening horizons and exposure to new work and genres. When deciding if you want to rurally tour consider the process of booking and the likelihood of audiences connecting with the piece. You may find the sector slightly more risk-averse than city dwellers. Productions are selected by schemes and then shared in a menu to promoters/programmers of rural spaces, some of these promoters will need to go through a committee to get shows selected. They programme productions for their local community, neighbours and friends so want to be sure that it will be received well. Something to bear in mind when thinking of rural touring and for your marketing materials.

     

    Thank You

    Please enter your email address and submit your responses. You will automatically be added to the newsletter.

    Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Step 10 Step 11 Step 12
    Previous Question Next Question

    Thank You

    Your response has been sent.