Ways to publicise a mummers play locally

Subject: good ways to publicise a mumming play?
From: AlexB
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 10:23 AM

My morris side decided to do a mumming play for the first time this year, partly to see if we can add a little extra money to the bag, and partly because we just wanted to do one.

We are starting small, two or three pubs a night on the two Fridays before Christmas.

The bagman would like us to have posters in the pubs in advance and to advertise as much as possible. Personally, I'm against it for a number of reasons, one of which being a vague feeling of "this doesn't seem like the right treatment for mumming pub to pub", rather than anything tangible. Another thing being what do you actually put on the posters (I've been asked to design the things). We can't really use a photo of us performing as a base, as we haven't done it out yet.

Is my vague feeling off base? What other ways might we try? Given that it will be pub to pub of a couple evenings, I'm assuming that community publications would be out.

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: GUEST,The Shambles
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 10:42 AM

First prority before antyhing is advertised, is to ensure that your venues have the additional entertainment licensing that is required.

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: Peter C
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 10:47 AM

'The Shambles' has a very good point. Several Mummer's groups in Gloucestershire will only advertise events that take place in venues with the necessary licence - if there is trouble with the authorities it is the licensee who is at risk! However this all may change fairly soon - although I am not holding my breath!

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: GUEST,The Shambles
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 10:50 AM

thread.cfm?threadid=54781

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: Bainbo
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 11:13 AM

If it's definitely going ahead, photocall for the local newspaper. In costume. Doesn't have to be all of you, just as many as can make it. And have an articulate team member, who understands what mummers' plays are all about, phone the paper to tell them. They'll probably want to interview you over the phone, rather than send a reporter out with the photographer. It's not that journalists are lazy - well, not just that - but local papers don't have the resources these days to cbe as in-depth as is idea.

If you can't get them to come out, send them a press release with a photo. It would have to be high resolution, and imaginitive - not just standing in a line grinning. Maybe a re-enacting of the sword fight, or the doctor resurrecting Jack/George/ whoever it is.

For the text of the press release, go for an attention-grabbing opening - off the top of my head, something like "Drinkers are being warned to watch out for a pub fight with a difference around Xxxxx this Christmas - St George will be squaring up to a Turkish knight" (or whichever version you're doing). Remember to include essential details like the name of your team, dates and times of performances, and a contact name and phone number for the paper to get in touch with you. If you want, you can PM me your details and I'll knock one out for you.

As someone who's been part of a morris team which staged a mummers' play, I don't really understand your objection to publicty, or your assumption that community publications would be out. Surely, anyone who would be interested in seeing it will be annoyed if it passes and they hadn't known it was on?

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: johnadams
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 11:27 AM

When the Long Company mummers started some years ago, it took several years to build up the play to be the popular event it is now.

Long Company web site


It was slightly different for us as the play is an outdoor one and we were trying at first to gather people to the play site from wherever they were including enticing them from a warm pub to a cold yard. The first year saw audiences of 'a man and his dog'. You have to go where people are, and you have to work hard to convince people that the whole thing is 'something for them'.


It sounds as though you are planning to invade pubs that have a ready audience in situ and that's probably a better starting point. I would say that advance warning is not a great idea and that a 'guerilla' raid is a good strategy, even in the style of a 'flash mob', something which people relate to because they've seen it on YouTube. It's possible that people will see the posters and think that they'll go to the pub later to avoid all the fuss as this folk stuff is not really for them. There again, there might be a lot of people with natural curiosity around where you live. It's difficult to gauge.

Our play is after New Year (2nd/3rd/5th/6th) so all the Christmas and New Year fuss is over and people haven't necessarily got a lot to do so they come and see the play. You're hitting town just when they're up their ears in shopping and office parties etc. etc. and probably wouldn't choose to disrupt their routine to see the play but will be sufficiently in the Christmas spirit to engage with it when it parachutes in. Poster probably won't make a difference either way. Might be worth leafleting the local folk clubs though.

With regard to printed material, you don't need to use images of your own play. Just go to Google and search for 'mummers play', clicking in images rather than web, and you'll get lots of historical images you can nick and adapt.

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: Bainbo
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 11:45 AM

Mmm. I take your point, John. It would be quite good fun to just turn up and perform, and then clear off, leaving people wondering: "what th hell was that?", rather than have to live up to advance expectations. Still, if Alex's team wants to go ahead with publicity, the offer stands.

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: AlexB
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 11:48 AM

The Shambles and Peter - we made sure of that before we committed to anything, so that is fine.

Bainbo, it isn't that I'm against publicity. If I was I wouldn't be asking for ideas. I think my brain was working more along the line of what John was saying about guerilla raids, so thought posters in pubs might be the wrong way to go.

I'm happy to hear different takes on the subject. The more ideas we have the better we can review our options and decide which way we want to play it.

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: Mysha
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 01:51 PM

Hi Alex,

I'd say it's a bit like Morrising. You might dance for the seasons, and accept that some people find that entertaining, or you might dance for the audience, and therefore address them around the actual dancing. Likewise, you might go Mumming, with part of that being that the first announcement of your presence is the opening of the door, or you could go performing a mummers' play for an audience, in which case you might advertise.

Above, others gave some reasons to forego advertising anyway, but I would add that going Mumming would seem to me a much more exciting option than merely going somewhere and perform a mummers' play.

Just my cent's worth, of course.
Bye
                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: Bernard
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 02:10 PM

Please also be aware that you need to check your intended venues out to ensure you're not treading on the toes of other sides that visit those venues every year.

It may seem a minor point, but I've seen such things get very acrimonious...

Most mummers, soulers and pace-eggers do it primarily to raise money for charity, and there's little enough spare change around at the moment without someone coming along and 'stealing your turf'.

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: G-Force
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 06:11 AM

And remember that tall headgear and low ceilings don't mix (nor do swords and low-slung Xmas decorations).

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: doc.tom
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 08:34 AM

Oh yes, they do mix - just not necessarily the way the landord might like! St. George always got a laugh when he raised his sword and left it sticking in the ceiling - until we got banned from that pub -but even that was good publicity!

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: doc.tom
Date: 05 Dec 11 - 08:34 AM

Sorry - that was drift!

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: GUEST,JudithProctor
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 03:32 AM

Bainbo, would much appreciate your advice re press releases.

Here's a link to the photos I took at practice - https://plus.google.com/u/0/106166224635586159957/posts

I think the group shot was actually the one that came out best. My photos of the fight didn't work too well.

I'm aiming to put posters in the pubs - not least because this is the first time most of them have had a mumming play, and I want to make sure the bar staff are aware that the landlord has okayed our appearance.

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 04:02 AM

These guys have a few ideas

L in C#

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 04:06 AM

Or better still

L in C#

Subject: RE: Ways to publicise a mummers play locally
From: GUEST,JudithProctor
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 09:10 AM

Just to avoid any confusion, I should say that I'm the bagman of the side AlexB is talking about.