happy new year

Things to remember while making work....

Number twelve: Be concise.

I was speaking to a blogger in another field and his first comment, when asked what made a good blog - be concise.

I think this is especially true in the process of making theatre collaboratively. When there are several people in the room, all with a point they're dying to make, it is darn-near imperative that everyone make that point as succinctly as possible.

There are two reasons for this: First everyone will have time to speak, and second, everyone will have time to reflect on the ideas that have been shared.

I understand that often there is the impulse, conscious or unconscious, to persuade the others in our groups to support our ideas. However, it is often detrimental to that end to speak longer than is needed on a given subject because after a certain amount of time people begin to stop listening.

I once heard a radio talk show host say that the length of time anyone can deal with one thought is 45 seconds. Whether or not that's true is probably indeterminable but it sounds good to me.

You now have my permission to cut me off after 45 seconds.