1. What do you see as your biggest challenge in producing your show?
I am so fortunate having dedicated people around me who help me with the financial stuff and promoting the show. But even with them it’s a hard world out there for creative people. So my biggest challenge is to get money without loosing my integrity. Besides that, when you have people around you all facing the same direction, you can achieve a lot!
2. How do you go about marketing your show (using both traditional marketing and internet marketing strategies)?
For traditional marketing I like to think about nice pictures for the flyers and posters etc. A good design is vital, you need to grab people’s attention.
With regards to internet marketing we spend a lot of time on our website getting the right colours and text and making it search friendly. We also look at all the other internet marketing opportunities out there to help promote our show. It’s part of the flow making the performance.
Only recently I started to like networking; in the past I hated it! Kim Terbrack is my right-hand here and she Googles wonderfully on the internet. I feel blessed with her.
3. How do you time frame this for all the fringes/festivals you plan to attend each year?
Going with the flow is my thing. I have a kind of inner clock which reminds me of just in time deadlines etc. Sometimes I neglect that clock and then I really suffer.
From the Fringe Office we have learned many organising skills. Also by participating at the Holland Dance Festival and other festivals you take on board gathered knowledge and experience to help you. There is a lot of knowledge out there and they share it with grace, especially the British people in my experience. Also the Festival Previews Team are very generous to us with their knowledge and skills!
4. How do you see the internet as assisting you in your profession?
I love the internet! I’m really fitting in with this century because it opens up a whole world of opportunity for every one who can use this technology. I love to travel and to look at different societies and the internet makes this so much more easier to do. Deep down we recognise archetypes all over the world.
5. You are extremely organised in seeking out promotion for your show. With your new show ‘Driven’ how do you approach this task?
This is easy for me, I am familiar with language and words, I like to play with them and put them on paper. It is in a way a refection of myself.
6. How do you go about creating your video preview?
Every time I work in the studio preparing a new performance, Marja van Draanen is there to film my work.
From my mothers inheritance I bought a beautiful professional camcorder (and I daily feel blessed with that.) The quality is great and we can edit our own material. Kim Terbrack did an editing course and we have a professional AVID programme on our computer. All this material is the most expensive equipment I have ever had in my life and it’s worth all the pennies!
7. What would you say is your top marketing tip?
Follow your own feelings and instinct of beauty and check with people (you know) who have good taste around you. Don’t think too much about the audience, because in the end you don’t know anymore about who you are yourself and you can lose your artistic direction here. That’s the danger of this profession.
I conquer that monster every day.
8. Being a performer draws on many learned skills aside from your natural talent to perform. What are the most important skills you feel performers should acquire to produce and market a successful show?
Persistence is one of the most important skill in succeeding. Also being able to bear a lot of frustration. How do you deal with failure? Can you handle the dark side of life with grace? That’s my daily aim! Living with this process instead of looking for success. Of course, I am very happy when success happens, but it may not be an aim on its own.
9. Have you taken any educational courses that have helped you in your professional performing career?
I have followed the Theatre School in Maastricht; The Dancing School in London; classical singing; and African dance for many years with lots of spiritual work and several therapists to help me with my artistic struggles. I have worked my guts out to achieve where I am now.
10. What is your top motivational tip?
Live your own nature!
11. Where do you stand on a work/life balance? And, how would you express this as a percentage?
Creating is for me like eating and drinking, it gives meaning to what I do and what I am. Without that I feel a little bit lost in this world. Making beauty is my solution to almost everything. I am an individualist and I need to create if there is an audience or not.
12. What do you believe are your 3 career milestones to-date?
Seeing myself on video gave me a freedom to view and analyze my skills and talents. Going to the Edinburgh Fringe and being recognised in reviews by The Herald and by a preview in the List Magazine. And overcoming my fear for other people.
13. Of all the things you have done in your career, what are you most proud of?
I am very proud of the fact that I stick to the core beliefs of my soul. That’s not easy in this profession, not even in life – I think!
14. Where do you want to be professionally in 5 years time?
Travelling around the world performing with people I trust and like.
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Do check out Neel’s website for more information about her.
