About six months to go...

First thing, first.  How did the last go?

Seems like it went very well.  All posted reviews are five star.  Some exerpts:

"...you put on a great camp..."

"....wonderful summer camp experience..."

"...an original and thoughful idea..."

"...the added bonus was plenty of fresh air and free play time..."

I love positive reviews.  I know that most theatre people say they don't look at them but I do.  And when they are positive, they are fun.  Reviews of a summer camp, however, are a little different than reveiws of play (which are a bit like those many flavoured beans from  Harry Potter -- they might taste like chocolate or they might taste like ear wax but either way they are a light distraction).  The summer camp reviews tell me that the kids had some fun and the parents were happy with the format and execution.  And this is before I have been able to produce the end of camp film (stupid computer).  Nice. 

Looks like I won't be changing the approach much (though I might not opt for smaller more frequent blocks of outdoor time, depending on the weather) for the March Break.

So strangely, I don't have a blank page upon which to write as I did when I first came up with this idea, but more a solid framework upon which to build.  So, so.  In what shall I clad it?

But first, maybe I should do an official announcement that there will, in fact, be a March Break camp.  One step at a time...

Branding. One poster at a time.

Well.  All that postering.  All that walking.  All the times I felt that slight twinge of embarrassment when someone watched me put up a poster.  All those hours.  Was it worth it?

Tentatively, I am going to say yes.  Toronto is a populous city and people like to walk around in it.  People saw the posters, I am sure of it.  I am also sure that I wouldn't have gotten a sale out of it had the one mum not already known me but, heck, last time, I had nothing to sell but potential. And when it comes to your kids, we all want the tried and true.

This time, however, I wil have a track record.  Reviews are coming in and are very positive.  I will have pictures and video and will really be able to beef up the website.  Also, we are going to start a website sign up option to make things easier on parents to enroll their kids.

Next time, when folks see our marketing materials all over the city, I bet you they remember Shakespeare is Boffo! from last year.  And I bet that even folks who DON'T know me will sign up their kids.  Looking forward to it, actually.  Fun.

A month later...

Still working on getting the video edited for view to the parents.  However, the reviews are coming in and it looks like the camp is a hit.

Now trying to decide what my market really is and what the market will bear.  Do I find a lesser space and offer the workshop for a smaller amount?  Or do I keep on with this concept?  Decisions, decisions.

Shakespeare is Boffo! begins...

Mini swords are purchased, with some cool aluminum foil tape to re-enforce them.  We have schedules and plans.  I have assessed the text and made decisions on how to handle it.  I even have an assistant!  I have cameras and vidcams that will allow me to record it all for posterity or, really, my website.  We start tomorrow.