Writing a press release is an excellent way to get your theatre show noticed by others. A well-written, focused press release will be understood by readers who are not familiar with your show or its production team.
Press releases can also help promote your career as a writer. As you gain experience, you can use these tools to create your press material or edit someone else’s.
This article will go into detail about how to write a press release for a theatre show. There is no set length limit either; this tip can be adapted for any kind of show!
Are the same principles applied when writing a press release for a book launch and a theatre show?
When you write book launch press releases and theater show press releases, you follow the same basic principles. Both require a captivating headline, engaging content, and relevant information about the event. However, the focus and tone may vary to suit the specific audience and nature of the event.
General tips
Before you begin writing, make sure your press materials include your contact information and that you are linked back to your website and social media accounts.
This gives people a place to look for more information if they wish to do so.
Your email, phone number, and general message should all be clear and concise. Make them easy to locate and read. Add some pictures or graphics if possible.
Some common types of press releases are used for events such as performing arts shows or product launches. These can be tweaked to fit most anything.
But before you start editing anyone else’s work, take some time to practice your own! You will feel better after doing it at least once.
Create an outline for a blog post based on the following topic
Writing a press release for a theatre show is very different from writing a normal article or essay.
You will need to be careful with how you describe the show, as well as what kind of media would be interested in reading about it.
Press releases are usually one short paragraph that includes a link to the show’s website, along with some information about the production and the writer/creator.
That’s all most journalists want to read! They don’t care about your personal life. They only want to know if what you wrote was written by you and if you can back up your claims with sources. If you can’t, then this article isn’t for you.
But there is more than that! Most people don’t read beyond the first few sentences of a press release. So make sure to add enough detail to intrigue someone.
Narrow your press release topic to one sentence
Now, this doesn’t mean your article can’t be longer than one short paragraph, but make sure it is a quick read.
Your audience will have time to skim over any long pieces that don’t appeal to them, so keep things brief and sweet.
Your one-sentence topic should tell people something about the theatre and/or the production. It should outline what the show is and why someone might want to see it.
A little bit of personal opinion or an interesting fact may also tip off potential readers to add it to their reading list.
The rest of the article can be some fluff to get more details or even a mini-press-release itself, but only if it supports the main idea!
You want to grab their attention with just the right amount of content. Don’t give too much away unless you are certain everyone will enjoy it.
Proofread and edit your press release
After you have written your initial draft, it is time to proofread and edit your press release!
The first step in editing your press release is to make sure that everything makes sense and is clear. Make sure that your paragraphs link with each other, and stay within the allotted length.
After that, check out how well your press release follows the standard writing format. This includes using an appropriate tone, active voice, and spelling and grammar perfection.
When edits are needed, do not try to fix all them at once. Pick one part and then re-edit it so that it flows better.
Distribute your press release through news sites and publications
There are many ways to distribute your press announcement, such as posting it on Facebook or tweeting about it.
By distributing your information, you increase your chances of getting picked up by more media sources!
There are several free online distribution tools out there that can help you do this. You can pick and choose which ones work best for you depending on how much time you have to put into marketing.
Some of the most common websites that use these services include GetPress (for WordPress users) and Snobl Media (for anyone using an HTML website like Blogger or WordPress).
These apps make it very easy to upload and edit your press announcements.
Create your website
After you have selected your theatre group, genre, and timing, it’s time to start writing about your show!
When writing your press release, make sure to include important information such as who the writer is, how many pages the article is, what area of the site you will place the link in, and any links or pictures that relate to the article.
Your link can be to the actor’s personal page, the theatre company’s page, or even the producer’s page!
If there is an already existent link with all these components then great, but if not create one using our creative writing template here and update it to match theirs- remember to use the same wording!
After you have designed your link, edit the length and content of the text to fit. Make sure to test yours out before publishing so people do not get confused when they click open the article.
Purchase advertising
After you have done your research and determined that your show is worthy of media attention. The next step will be to buy advertisements or press releases to promote it.
This can be done through various online sites where you can buy ads or via mailing lists and social media channels where people advertise their services and products.
There are many ways to go about buying an advertisement, so there is no wrong way to do it!
Many companies offer discounts if you are a frequent buyer, which should be considered as this will let them know how much publicity they need to receive from your business.
Some may even pay extra to get more exposure, which is fine! If you ever find a deal that seems too good to pass up, give it a try! There are never any bad experiences when trying new things.
Prepare your show
Now that you have chosen your genre, determined what level of production you want to run with this project, and gathered some initial material or at least ideas, it is time to start preparing your show!
If you already have an idea of where you would like to take your story, then great! You are halfway there! This article will talk about how to write a press release for a theatre show you have already started creating.
But before we get into writing your show, here are two things you need to make sure you have:
Headshot and Bio profile pictures for yourself
Profile pages for all your social media accounts
I mentioned earlier that having a narratively strong hook is important when choosing your topic. So now, let’s discuss how to write a press release for a theatre show that has a strong hook!
Your Hook should contain both plot and theme elements
At the very beginning of your press release, you will want to include a short synopsis or summary containing either a plot or thematic element.
Plot – A storyline
Thematic – An underlying concept related to your product or subject matter
Examples: The Plot- Harry goes grocery shopping while his wife watches TV shows she likes. Then he comes back and finds her dead.
the Theme– Relationship issues
The Plot- After receiving an unexpected gift, Veronica decides she does not want to be in a relationship anymore.
Open a business bank account
Now that you have your writing done, it is time to choose where to send your press release! The first place to do this is to open an online banking or finance-related account.
This can be through a major credit card company, a bank, or even a wealth management firm.
You should also consider creating an extra email address specific to media so you can easily update all contacts as needed.
This will help promote your show and yourself as professional people who are aware of how important publicity is to their careers!
General rules: never use free accounts when you can pay for ones that offer more features. Make sure to research which companies are trustworthy before signing up with them.
Some need you to put in personal information that may not be considered private.
