Part two of Amanda Grimm's blog about working as an intern with Scottish Ballet.
A new week, a new project. After gaining experience last week of writing a press release, compiling a press contact list and nagging journalists and editors in order to publicise our summer workshops, I carried out a similar procedure this week for Scottish Ballet’s Up Close tour. This October, the Up Close tour will bring an exciting mixed bill to various locations across the country. The majority of Scottish Ballet’s performances are held in their four home theatres, in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen, so this tour will reach out to a wider audience, allowing those who don’t live near one of those four cities to see Scotland’s national ballet company closer to their home, and in a more intimate venue: in other words, ‘Up Close’.
In order to write the press release, I first had to learn a bit about each of the five pieces that will be performed on the tour. My supervisor Ann gave me some old programmes to look through, beautiful publications with really interesting information about the pieces, including interviews with the dancers and choreographers, and filled with gorgeous pictures. I also looked for information in the old press files. These big black binders contain every interview, review, story and mere mention of Scottish Ballet from any newspaper or website. They’re great resources for writing a press release, and also just really fun to look through.
After finishing the press release and compiling a list of local press contacts for each of the seven destination cities of the Up Close tour, it was time to start calling editors and radio stations about becoming media partners, which means we work together to let people know about Up Close through articles, radio shows, ticket competitions and advertising. You may come across the logos of our media partners on our website, on the Up Close page.
I’m about to go into a department meeting. I enjoy those, as I get to hear what everyone in the press and marketing team is up to. There’s so much going on at all times here, even now when the dancers are away. I’ve just learned that they’ll be back on the 12th of July, and I’ve been told to expect things to get even busier then! I think that this coming season is going to be packed especially full of press activity, as the Company will be performing not one but two productions: the Up Close Tour at the end of October, and Geometry and Grace just before that. That’s great news for ballet fans, and means that even more people can experience a high quality dance performance. I feel like I’m playing a small part, here in the press department, in helping the Company spread awareness of ballet, and the joys that it brings, to as many people as possible.