In my first year of University, I stepped on stage for the first time in my life, and that night changed my life forever. I was only 18, but I knew, at a gut level, that the theatre was where I belonged. Since then, I’ve done it all: acted in everything from farces to dramas to musicals to dinner theatre, done lights, sound, costumes, props, stage management, directing, writing and producing.
Since 2001, I’ve been a freelance theatre publicist here in Vancouver, BC, Canada, under my company, Rebecca Coleman, Marketing and Media Relations. My client list includes companies like Touchstone, Ruby Slippers Theatre, Capilano University’s Theatre Department, Itsazoo, Touchstone, Presentation House, Radix and Leaky Heaven Circus. Before launching my company, I was Lead Facilitator at a self-employment program for Artists at The Alliance for Arts and Culture. It was there that I became very passionate about helping artists to become better businesspeople. And that is what this blog is all about. You’ll find me posting here on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Over the past couple of years, I have become increasingly interested in using social media networking to market the arts, and have written an e-book on the subject called Getting Started in Social Media for Artists and Arts Organizations, which helps newbies to create a marketing plan using social networking as a tool. I also do workshops on the topic, locally and internationally (I recently returned from a three-city tour of Australia).
I am addicted to coffee, sushi and my MacBook. I have a seven-year-old son, Michael, and two cats, and am in a constant search for that elusive work-life balance.
Street Cred:
Member of the Independent Theatre Bloggers Association.
Rebecca Coleman: Marketing Maven (The Biz Blog)
Wednesday “Bump” Day: Art of the Biz Blog (UQ Events Blog)
A Social Media Conversation with Rebecca Coleman (by Rebecca Krause-Hardie)
The Big Orange Slide: Interview with Ian MacKenzie
Social Media Books for the Beginner
The Art of the Business 
Rebecca, I am really enjoying your blog. Your insights are great. I am working in similar stylings on the East Coast.
Good luck with the arts funding battle – I participated in the Dept. Of Culture during last year’s “election”. I hoped that artists would use their skills to bring media attention to the field, but instead they tried a typical door-to-door campaign.
I encourage you to explore using ART to raise awareness and bring the media. Your recent post spoke of social media used to connect the community. Now use your art to present your message in a spectacular and clear way!
All the best with support and encouragement from Ontario.
zoe
Funny you should say that, we are actually taking the exact opposite approach. The plan is to have an “art strike” where we will demonstrate what the world would look like without art.
We’ll see how it goes!
[…] About […]
Cool. Really like ur blog Rebecca.
I enjoyed visiting your site and particularly the post “5 Ways To Use Google Analytics to Measure Marketing Effectiveness”. Thanks