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Producing a Show

Producing a culture night show takes a lot of time and dedication from the organization's members. In order to create an excellent show that showcases talent, culture and exposes the audience to terrific performances, there are many steps that must be taken. These steps may be done simultaneously be different members of your committee.

 

 

 

1. Become a Student Organization

In order to produce a cultural show through the University of Michigan, the producer must be part of a recognized UofM Student Organization. Please check out the list of currently recognized Michigan organizations here. Click here to become a registered student organization. The University of Michigan requires an organization to have 10 members in order to be an officially recognized organization. Be sure to gather enough people with the same interests and goals.

 

If the producer does not find any organization relevant to the producer's needs, then the producer can apply to initiate and create a student organization. 

 

It is recommended that the producer tries to produce a culture show on behalf of a current Michigan organization due to the time and resources required to start a brand new organization. 

2. Gather a Core Team/Committee

Assemble a core team or committee within the organization to move forward with the production process. This team usually requires the following positions, but are not limited to: 

 

1. President (Leader to manage the committee and delegate tasks as well as liaison with the rest of the organization)

2. Treasurer (Manage Show Funds)

3. Internal Affairs (Logistics)

4. Acts (Determines Show Acts)

5. Design (Design all advertisement material)

6. Public Relations (Reach out to organizations and businesses)

7. Cultural (Ensures the show maintains cultural authenticity)

 

You may create positions tailored to your show. Determine which members of the committee will take on the following positions. 

The core team should meet consistently throughout the year in order to plan out the show in detail and execute the final production. If the show is in the fall semester, the committee should be determined at the end of the previous winter/spring semester or at the very beginning of the fall semester. If the committee is formed in the winter/spring semester, the commitee should be delegated tasks to be completed in the summer. 

Define what you hope the show will accomplish, whether it is to spread awareness, entertain, break stereotypes or more. Remember however, the show should always have roots to promote or present CULTURE. Also determine if the show will be donating to a charity or philanthropy.

3. Define the Show's Purpose 
4. What type of show?

Determine what kind of show your organization is putting on. Some things to think about:

  • Will the show be casual or semi-casual (IASA) or formal (FASA)?

  • Will there be food? (cultural food or a dinner or snacks)

  • Will the show require guest speakers, dancers, members of your own organization performing?

Essentiallly, you want to determine what the main focus of your show will be and which parts will be complimenting your show. For example you can have the show's main focus be cultural dance performances and cultural foods be a compliment to the main show.

5. Determine your audience

Determine what is your show's target audience.

  • Will the show be family friendly or for college students only?

  • Determine the scale of your show and intended number of attendees

    • this will help you decide on how large of a venue you will need for seat capacity

6. Determine the show's theme

Determine if your show will be centered around a theme. Some previous themes to help generate ideas:

  • celebrating various cultural festivals from one ethnic group

  • traveling from the past to the present

  • how the current  generation fits in the Asian American sphere today

  • learning from past generations to build a better tomorrow

 

Having a show theme helps unify the show and also creates dynamic. It is highly recommended that your show have a theme or central concept.

7. Select a date/time for the show

Select a few show dates and times around your ideal show date. Some things to keep in mind:

  • do not conflict with another organization's cultural show or event

  • venues may be booked way ahead of time and your time slot may not be available

Determine what materials you want to use to publicize when creating your design such as:

  • flyers, different sizes

  • digital designs on social media

  • digital designs on campus TVs

  • posting wall poster

  • diag boards

  • diag banners

 

8. Start designing publicity materials and tickets
9. Start fundraising and apply for funding

Begin fundraising to help fund your show. Some ideas:

  • Restaurant fundraisers on campus

  • Bake/food sales at the posting wall

  • Selling appealing items to public

  • Hosting events that appeal to public

You can also apply for funding from various Univeristy of Michigan departments 

  • Central Student Government https://csg.umich.edu/funding

  • MESA/Trotter

  • OAMI

  • Black Student Union

  • Multicultural Committees in the dorms

  • LSA

  • Certain ethnic studies departments

 

10. Look for sponsors and donations

Reach out and contact restaurants and businesses on campus to sponsor or donate to your show and charity. 

11. Contact participating acts

Contact necessary participants and acts that will be in the show. Begin contacting emcees and guest speakers too if you plan for outside people to come to participate in your show. Contact any other necessary people that will be involved in your show.

 

 

Remember to always choose acts that are aligned with the purpose. While creativity is praised in culture shows, it is very important that culture is preserved at the root of every act. 

 

It is also very important to get an ouside perspective while deciding acts rather than judging solely internally. Choose judges from a variety of backgrounds, who understand the culture, and are knowledgeable on the judging process. 

12. Book Venue

Due to high demands and limited venues on campus, it is very important to book a venue at least a year in advance. To determine which venue is appropriate for your show, consider the capacity and costs for each venue. The following four locations are know to be popular venues for cultural night shows. 

Rackham Auditorium 

Capacity: 1,125

Rackham Auditorium, which has played host to lecturers as well as musical performers, is located on the first floor of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies

Power Center

Capacity: 1,381

The Power Center makes the right fit between the larger Hill Auditorium and the smaller Mendelssohn Theater, to offer a spacious, yet intimate setting for student and professional performing art events 

Hill Auditorium 

Capacity: 3, 561

With its superb acousitcs, Hill Auditorium has served as the premier location to host many outstanding events. 

Mendelssohn Theater

Capacity: 642

Located within the Michigan League building, the Lydia Mendelssohn is an intimate, shoe-box theater for a smaller audience.  

13. Finalize Design, begin publicizing

Finalize a design for publicizing your show online and on campus. Places you can publicize:

  • flyers, different sizes

  • digital designs on social media

  • digital designs on campus TVs

  • posting wall poster

  • diag boards

  • diag banners

It is also important to contact other organizations via email about your show. Also publicize your show in person at events your organization hosts as well as other community events. It is essential to start promoting the show at least a month prior to the show's date. Promotions are traditionally handled through flyers, social media invitations, postings on walls throughout campus, word-ofmouth and a well-onformed website. 

14. Ticketing

You can sell tickets for your show in a couple different ways:

  • Sell and print your own tickets through tabling at the Posting Wall or Chem Atrium

  • Have MUTO print and sell your tickets

Ticket sales take place before the show's date in order to estimate interest and attendance. You can decide whether you want a lower presale price and an at door price. This may not apply depending on the venue you book.

15. Create a Detailed Timeline

Create a detailed timeline for the day of the show. This entials minute-to-minute timeline of where each member of the core committee will be and what they are in charge of. This timeline will also include what the members are in charge of before, during, and after the show. Be as specific as you can, things will be hectic the day of and communicating with your core will be difficult because everyone will be running around.

16. Contact and Finalize Acts

Once have acts have confirmed they will be perfomring, be sure to tell the mthe logistics of the day of the show, where they should be, what time they should arrive, and if they need to come early for dress rehearsal. Be sure to encourage the acts to invite their friends and publicize the show through social media and any other means your committee sees fit.

17. Solidify Technical Aspects

Time to talk logistics. It is very important to run through the show at least once before the actual performance takes place. Doing so will help participants, phases of transition, and all the operations crew perfect their process. 

 

This is the time to alter lighting, adjust sound quality, and create the ultimate atmosphere for the show. Students outside of the performers oftentimes volunteer to manage lights and sound; however, some organizations will pay for professionals to handle these components as well. 

18. Facilitate the Show

In order to produce a successful show, it is important to create some sort of standard for transition between acts. Usually shows feautre an emcee to include the audience in the performances. Other shows feature videos between the acts to introduce the upcoming performance and highlight their members. A smooth transition is essential for a sucessful and enjoyable culture show. 

19. Feedback Surveys 

Congratulations on producing a successful show! After presenting the final performance, it is important to request feedback from your audience members and participants in order to learn what elements went well and what changes can be made to future shows.

 

One effective method of receiving feedback in requesting surveys. Below you can access several feedback documents: 

Audience Survey
Participant Survey
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