I believe that playwrights SHOULD BE some of the highest paid people in the arts world. The problem is, we haven’t found ways to be useful enough to enough different people. I just want to remind you talented playwrights out there, that you can use your visualization and creative writing skills in other venues BESIDES live theater. For example: Ride Like a Pro.

Ride Like a Pro is a motorcycle video by a former motor officer (motorcycle cop) named Jerry “Motorman” Palladino. He found a way to simplify and teach basic motorcycle handling skills using a video and a matching live seminar. So, he makes money from video sales, from teaching seminars and from franchises in other states. I recently took the Ride Like a Pro class with J. D. Redmon who operates a franchise here in North Carolina. I learned a lot and had a great time. In one sense, Jerry “Motorman” Palladino has performed his “play” (his class) hundreds of times for thousands of people all over the English speaking world. Have you had that much success with your shows? Would you like to?

What do you already know that other people could benefit from? It may or may not be theater related.

Maybe you can find a simple way to teach song writing, or auditioning skills. Maybe you have a day job in fire safety or really enjoy creating beaded jewelry. SOMEbody wants to get started with the skills YOU take for granted. You could write a play (lecture/video/seminar) about it. If you can write a stage play, with all the limitation proscribed by that live performance space, you can certainly learn to write a video script or a talk,  and create a matching seminar. I’m not saying to give up your dreams of having your new musical on Broadway, I am suggesting that having a couple of hundred bucks a month to throw at marketing your plays couldn’t hurt.

Besides, it is always nice to perform before a screaming crowd of adoring fans. It keeps the creative juices flowing.