BadAss Actor Blog

What do Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg, John Leguizamo, Daniel Beaty, April Yvette Thompson, Sarah Jones and Colman Domingo have in common?

2/16/2015

Click Here for the FREE Solo Show 3 Step Formula

They all wrote solo shows that catapulted their careers into Film, TV & Broadway. You can do it too! I used to teach this as a weekend long class, but I've figured out a new & improved

FREE 3 Step Formula to Get Your Solo Show Written & Produced.

Here's what a solo show can do for your career:

Get you a new manager, a new agent

Get you auditions for primetime, Broadway & Feature Films that never would have happened before your solo show

Teach you how to write material for yourself, so you'll never be an unemployed actor

DOUBLE YOUR INCOME (Keep reading to find out how this happens like magic)

8 Comments

Tiffany Michelle

1/25/2015 08:10:26 am

Hi April:

I purchased your solo performer webinar the other day because one of my goals is to produce and star in a solo show upon graduating from Graduate school (1st year MFA student). I wrote it already and now am in the rewriting phase. I am interested in hiring someone to co-write it with me like you did for Liberty City.

I purchased the solo performer webinar, but I am very interested in one on one coaching with you as well. I watched excerpts of your show liberty City and it sparked something in me. I would like to see it in person one day. Of course I am willing to pay for the your services.

1.) Do you still coach clients on writing solo shows one on one?

2.) If not, could you please offer other reputable references that are co-write for hire?

3.) What's the best way to go about hiring a potential writer to co-write the solo show?

I purchased your webinar and I am on my third day of the writing assignment "three pages" a day. By May I should have a wealth of content because I plan to write consistently.

2. I have a draft of the script that I could email it to you but to be totally honest with you April, if your schedule permits, one of my goals is to hire you to co-write it with me? As stated before I saw excerpts from your solo performance Liberty City and it really spoke to me. Also, is hiring for co-writing with me even an option for you?

April Yvette Thompson link

1/25/2015 08:21:20 am

Hi Tiffany:

Thanks for touching base. Let me see if I can answer all of your questions. I'm glad you dig my show, it was a labor of love. Generally, if you want someone who is an established writer to write your story, you're going to have to give them at the very least a outline. An established writer will want to fall in love with a story in order to write it. The writer will also want to know what kind of performer you are and who's directing. Although, the quickest way to get produced is to hire an established writer, but when they write for you, they put their reputation on the line for a artist they know nothing about, so you must demonstrate your seriousness.

Before you approach a writer, you should make sure you have a really solid draft to present to sell them on it. I do indeed write for other folks for hire, but I need to see a really strong first draft or outline before I can make that sort of committment. I'd say focus on getting that in order first. You may find, once I review your script and give you notes, you may have the tools to finish it yourself.

I'd say the place to start would be for us to either meet for a Strategy Session so you can tell me your goals and we can map out a plan to get there with you writing the script. Or you can send me a draft of a script and I can give you notes on the direction the story's moving in and structure. At that time you can either take a stab ant another re-write with my notes and if we find we're a good fit, we can certainly work together on a coaching package.

In terms of coaching, I do it, but only for serious clients who plan on finishing and producing a show within a year or two of our working together. I don't mind clients being new writers, that's the most fun, but what is required is that you let me handle your fear and not give up on yourself. I certainly won't leave you hanging and will be with you every step of the way. All of my clients who finished and had their shows produced worked with me in a combination of classes like the "How to Write a Solo show" and then coaching when they were ready to finish it. One-to-one coaching is the fastest way to get a solo show done. And if you want to learn the right way and have someone to ask questions during the process, I think it's great idea to begin with this class and then slowly move into some one-to-one coaching sessions.

After you've finished the free videos I sent out as well as this class which you just purchased, you can also schedule a 15 min hotseat phone call with me to ask questions.

Yeauxlanda Kay

1/25/2015 10:12:42 am

This is amazing synchronicity.
I am in the process of writing my second one woman show.
The first did extremely well and opened many doors for me.
I want to do more and push the envelope with this new show.
I know how to write a one woman play however,
I'm looking to add more tools to my toolbox for writing this show.

What's your fee for a quick consultation?

April Yvette Thompson link

1/25/2015 10:19:04 am

Hi Yolanda:

Good to hear from you. Actually this class, How to Write Your Solo Show & Get It Produced w/the 3 additional classes in tandem with the 3 FREE videos I released are a wonderful compedium of strategies for an incredible bargain of $24.99.

Click here to buy the 10 Step How to Write a Solo Show Class: Click here: http://www.thedreamunlocked.com/>

Click here for the FREE videos series:
Part I: http://www.thedreamunlocked.com/solo-show-secret-formula---part-i.html

Part II: http://www.thedreamunlocked.com/solo-show-secret-formula---part-ii.html

Part III: http://www.thedreamunlocked.com/solo-show-secret-formula-part-iii.html

If you're still interested in a consult, here's the link to book a session: http://www.thedreamunlocked.com/strategy-session.html

Thanks for touching base and tons of luck with your new project!

April xoxxoo

Sonora Chase Snyder

1/25/2015 05:08:52 pm

I loved writing my solo show in a class but was unable to find a director. Your class sounds awesome, but I can't do it again until there are inroads to production. I think it's a common road block to the solo scene.

April Yvette Thompson

1/25/2015 05:22:36 pm

What do you mean inroads to production? If a solo script has strong writing and not just dependent on the performance of the actor, its submitted to Sundance, Eugene ONeill, The Lark, and regionals all over the country...its submitted like any other play...if the script is a well-made play...if its another form, I, Heather Raffo, Daniel Beatty, Sarah Jones produced our solo shows in theatres but also have alternate versions for schools, museums, storytelling slams. Both Heather & I have versions of our show with live music, no set. The solo form is the place where the artist has the most power if ur willing think outside the box...that's what I teach...i've done both and they work...

All of the solo artists I know and coaching produced one night only readings of their plays in NYC, Edinborough, United Solo and got folks interested in producing it that way. It costs nothing to rent a space and do a reading of solo show. And treat it like a showcase and invite theatres and casting folks you want to woo. Putting up a staged reading of a play you love for one night is self-producing whether that play is a solo show or just a role you want to play. If you don't believe your work is good enough to produce yourself, then why should anybody else want to produce it? At least that's what folks at Hartford Stage, NYTW, NYSF said to me. And they were right. I got produced by doing countless readings for folks all over the country...

Sonora

1/25/2015 05:23:37 pm

That's awesome. Maybe that info can be fleshed out on a tele-call as part of appointment based marketing. I think that is the missing piece for a lot of artists that I've spoken to who love solo shows.

April link

1/25/2015 05:25:39 pm

I feel like that has been fleshed out in the 3 part video sequence I sent out and have been advertising:

Click here for video III
Part III: http://www.thedreamunlocked.com/solo-show-secret-formula... (this goes into detail about getting produced)

What I'm learning is that fear of writing and fear of self-producing are the major hold backs. You have to be your own agent with a solo show. I can help with the fear, but I can't help folks who are afraid of the self-producing side...I've learned that those who have successful solo shows that make them money forever, swallow fear, ask for help and tell their stories by any means necessary.

Fear and hardwork are a bitch. But the alternative is 12 hours days temping at Citibank. When Heather Raffo and I got tired of that then we asked people to teach us what they knew about writing and producing our own solo shows.

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