Here's how you can use feedback from past projects to propel your theatrical production career.

The reality is that theatre is an artform that is defined by collaboration. But in the heat of the moment, it's very easy to get tunnel vision focused on what you thought a moment might be, instead of what it actually is. Always take a moment to step back and ask yourself what the story is that you're trying to tell. Can you tell it better? Can you tell it clearer? Perhaps all of the tricks that you thought you needed to do a specific moment aren't needed after all. Release as much ego as you can in order to receive input and ideas from others in order to find that ideal solution for the moment.

You can’t teach self awareness! But with it you can constantly improve. Listen to all feedback, especially the hard feedback, that’s where you get the most growth. Look for patterns or listen for repeated feedback. These are lessons you need to learn. Even if you don’t agree with the feedback try and understand why they’re giving it. What they’re actually telling you may not be right but it may point to something else you can learn about yourself. Another area you can improve upon. Also if you’re someone who shows that they’re open to feedback you’ll get more. And all feedback is an opportunity to grow. If you take the I’m right and their wrong approach you are greatly inhibiting your ability to grow and improve, not theirs.

Performing arts are characterized by constant feedback on every level, from daily training, to rehearsals and, of course, performances. Practitioners learn from the start to integrate evaluation as an essential part of their development and artistic practice. Self analysis is important as is the perspective of directors, coaches, teachers, and colleagues. The acceptance of this process and the ability to embrace it humbly and constructively is the hallmark of great artists. It is also one of the many skills we hone as performing artists that sets us up for success in other fields.

Consider repeated patterns. Are they forming an artistic signature? Are they habits? Go back to the source material and dig into what is at the heart of important moments. What do you know about THAT? What questions are brought up? Be curious about the ways in which you might open these moments up to your audience. Answering such questions are likely to influence the rest of the work in original ways.

Journaling is an effective way to record feedback, distance the ego from it, and begin to recognize patterns all through one and the same activity. It’s a highly valuable practice.

Mentors are the best thing in theatre, I believe. They lead and also teach which is adorable at times. I had a mentor who passed away a few years ago and I owe a lot to him, really.

The greatest skill any researcher can develop is the ability to ask the right questions. You must ask the questions that lead you through the fire, not around it. This the key to a productive mentoring relationship.

En mi experiencia, luego de cada función intentamos que los espectadores llenen una breve encuesta voluntaria en Google forms. Suelen ser no más de 4 preguntas en las que recogemos datos sobre el cómo se enteraron de la obra, cómo vivieron la experiencia, de qué zona vienen a las funciones, etc. Esos datos nos son importantes porque a partir de ellos podemos enfocar más fuerzas en mejorar nuestro alcance, la experiencia o incluso conocer nuevos mercados a los que podemos aplicar.

This is part of asking the right questions. You need to be accountable for the answers, to test them in action. This can require courage because if you are really testing, you will fail sometimes. If you are not failing, you are not making anything happen.

This what drives the circle into a spiral upwards. If this part is missing you are doomed to continue making the same mistakes over and over again.

Luego de recibir estos comentarios y llevar acabo los ajustes necesarios, nos hemos dado con la grata sorpresa de que las temporadas teatrales han sido un éxito. También se debe a la colaboración de todo el equipo , pero sin duda el haber escuchado los comentarios y haber realizado las encuestas hizo que nuestras ventas subieran considerablemente.

To thine own self be true. William Shakespeare. Hamlet. Truer words never spoken. Ultimately one’s belief and commitment to the greater good, to vision of truth and self knowledge will produce a vibrant yet powerful voice.

Es importante mantener nuestra identidad, nuestras búsquedas y nuestra estética pero no debemos olvidar que el arte también es un negocio. Los artistas vivimos de esto y aunque a veces nos cueste debemos empezar a ver también lo que el público busca. De esa manera vamos a poder mejorar nuestros ingresos y seguir produciendo. Nosotros lo hicimos y hoy tenemos las temporadas casi con sold out. La gran mayoría de las funciones vienen así, claro, son salas pequeñas pero esa acogida del público también la ven y eso nos sirve en la publicidad de boca a boca. Porque comentan que las obras son un éxito, que están llenas las funciones y que todos están yendo a verlas.