"Create, Working Backwards"

A lot of times, I try to think from the end point when I work on my show.

I am human so I can give advice and a lot of times, I don't listen to my own advice. This is one of the most useful techniques I've found, yet, I tend to fight it still.

I'm in the very early stages of writing an entirely new concept show. I'm creating a newer character, this will be stage only. It's a big step for me and I'm only in the creation process right now. But I'm trying to think backwards.

Thinking backwards works like this. We'll use my show as an example, you can and should use this technique for any big project, including a wedding, landscaping your lawn or having a happy child get to college.

Here is a leap. Working backward you have to know you have already accomplished what you've set out to do. You have a picnic in your new backyard with 20 people in attendance. I have 10 bookings for my stage show. Each show has been sold for $1500 and the theatres hold 400 plus audience.

I'm already there. OK, I have performed my show and it is on a large performing arts stage. How did I get here?

I'm now going to work backward. My stage show is being performed July 1, 2012. What happened to get that booking...hmmm. March 1, 2012, I signed a contract. That means December 1, 2011 I sent out promotional pieces. That means all printing was done and in my hands November 25, 2011...work went to the printer November 15...Final designs were approved Novermeber 10th...

I'm sort of brainstorming here. so I can see with my project I need a couple of time lines. I've got the promotional aspect. That tends to be easier for me, it's more black and white, it's either printed or not, I have 10 addresses and names or not.

Harder is the writing of the show. So...

July 1, 2012, I have performed my new show in a performing arts center that holds 400 plus people. That means, June 1, 2012, I have performed the show 25 times on stages for audiences of 50 plus. April 1, 2012, contacted 20 places that will have me perform the show (I have connections). March 1, 2011, first full rehearsal with tech. Feb 1, 1011, set back from builder, secured location for rehearsal.

so you can see the workings here. As I work on this, I see I need to do a timeline for the set design. My show will also have a lot of video production within it, so that means, I have to do a timeline for the videos, including editing. the idea is to interact live with the videos, so I may have to re shoot, after I see how it's working on stage...

Just writing this gets me thinking and working. It's creative. This project has been on my mind for weeks, I go back and forth on ideas but this makes it concrete. Pretty nifty. give it a try.