Image is Everything

A picture is worth 1000 words. Which is good, because no one reads beyond 140 characters these days.

We really recommend you some spend significant time and dedicate some resources to creating an eye-catching, powerful image for your event. While it might be tempting to take a selfie and call it a day, our audiences often select the show they want to see based on the image alone. You could have the best show, but if your image doesn’t reflect the unique vibe of your event, you might not get the right audience. A good image doesn’t have to cost a fortune or involve a professional shoot, but it does need to be creative, eye-catching and reflect the experience of the show. If you can nail communicating the vibe, that’s what’s most important.

Ask yourself (and maybe others):

• What makes your work different?
• What is the tone of your work?
• What colours best represent your work?
• What is the best subject to represent your work?

Think about images that have captured your attention in the past - what is it about that image that made it so compelling? Have a flick through our Program archive for some inspiration. You might also like to bounce ideas around with a ‘test audience’ (friends, family, your local barista…) to make sure your image will really turn heads.

While your poster will end up with text and your image, it is important that you have a primary image that is strong enough on its own, without any text. Any media posting about your show wont use any images with text and, it can look crowded when used on a small scale online and in print.”

Hot Tips:

• Use high contrast, striking imagery that grabs attention and clearly communicates the nature of your event.
• Have a think about the kinds of photos that catch your eye in other festival programs, in newspapers and/or online always
• Consider a combination of images, such as headshots and live production shots.
• Colour photos are best for grabbing the eye and are able to be used in more settings.

Writing Killer Copy

You only have a few words, so make them count. Imagine someone who knows nothing about art, heads to our Festival website or anywhere you may be presenting your event. Even if your event is abstract and experimental, it doesn’t mean the language you use to describe it should be. It’s important to have a think about the kind of language that best communicates your work. This takes time, but you can start by talking about your event with those close to you – how are you describing your work? How are other people interpreting what you are trying to do? It can help to make note of terms and phrases that you like as you go. This way you can start to craft how you – and others – talk about your production.

Hot Tips:

• Keep things succinct and relevant