A Look at our successes in 2022, and what we have now deliberate for 2023
And so we arrive at January 2023, on a excessive and raring to go! At the beginning of final yr, we set ourselves some good easy targets for the following twelve months. We weren’t positive on how properly the yr would go – in any case, we had been nonetheless struggling the consequences of lockdowns and numerous our workforce had drifted away for quite a lot of causes, together with a number of turning into new mother and father!
And but abruptly 2022 began to form into one thing particular as new individuals approached us about turning into reviewers. Our goal of 350 evaluations rapidly felt too conservative. So conservative that we reached it in August. Perhaps much more extremely, by the tip of the yr, 50 completely different individuals had written for us; some solely a couple of times, however many extra had been finishing up common evaluations, serving to us cowl extra reveals than ever earlier than. In the tip we reached 542 evaluations, principally in London, however we additionally had plenty of Edinburgh Fringe protection, some books and movies, and some regional evaluations.
Another goal was to attain 66,000 web site guests. We realised it wasn’t an enormous quantity, however we felt six thousand in most months was an inexpensive goal. We didn’t simply cross this, we smashed it out of the park! Since we began the location in 2011, we’d solely surpassed 10,000 month-to-month guests on 4 events. In 2022, we handed it 5 occasions! In truth, August, September, October and November had been the very best 4 months for guests ever.
So, this received us considering. What might we do in 2023 to construct on this success? And extra importantly, how might we flip these nice numbers into higher methods to attain what we’ve all the time mentioned our core goal must be: selling fringe theatre and inspiring extra individuals alongside to see among the unimaginable reveals happening week in week out all throughout not simply London however the nation? On went the considering caps.
Firstly, evaluations are all the time going to be on the coronary heart of every thing we do. So for 2023, we’re focusing on 600 evaluations, with at the very least 500 at London theatres. It’s not an enormous improve on 2022, however we don’t need to be grasping. It means if every of our 50 reviewers did simply 10 reveals every, we’d already attain our goal.
Our customer goal for the web site clearly must be a lot greater than 2022’s 66,000. We actually hope we are able to make 10,000 a daily month-to-month prevalence now, so we thought we’d set a brand new goal of 136,000. That’s made up of 12,000 for February to November, then 8,000 for January and December, that are all the time a little bit quieter.
Then one space we actually need to construct upon are our interviews, that are actually useful for rising artists particularly to platform their work. We revealed 71 written interviews and 46 podcast interviews in 2022, however we reckon we are able to do extra. So in 2023 we need to do 100 written interviews and 50 podcasts (one every week actually is our restrict on these for now, they’re barely time consuming!).
We additionally need to publish plenty of characteristic articles; in truth, that is the primary of 26 particular person options we have now deliberate. They will come out each different Tuesday (hopefully) overlaying an entire host of matters, corresponding to asking what fringe theatre truly is as to if ‘plus one’s are an vital factor to supply reviewers or not. Then we’re engaged on a few characteristic collection which we’ll inform you all about quickly.
And as if that wasn’t already a lot, we need to open up our website for creatives to get extra concerned, with one-off visitor posts and even some extra common articles about what goes into bringing a play to the stage. We reckon this might actually give individuals a greater perception into the lifetime of a few of our fantastic theatre makers.
2023 goes to be a fair greater yr than 2022. Which is nice, however to make it occur, we actually want extra assist. So, if you wish to get entangled, whether or not that’s by reviewing, serving to with social media or among the options, turning into an editor, and even engaged on our web site, then get in contact. We love that we’re a spot for individuals of all skills and expertise, the place writers can develop their expertise while seeing some nice theatre. And it seems nice in your CV, which is usually a beautiful assist if you happen to’re job looking!
We hope this can be a good little style of what’s to come back within the subsequent 12 months. And if it has whetted your urge for food, we might love to listen to from you.
If you have an interest in getting concerned in any method, simply drop us a line through the shape under and we’ll get again to you as quickly as we are able to.