Guild of Professional Vaudeville Artists

[Chance Marmalade]

I've been working on a side project for a while now and I finally decided to take the leap and get it started but I need your advice!

There are some absolutely GREAT organizations out there for performers. The various clown alleys of COAI, The Society of American Magicians, The International Brotherhood of Magicians. But there are no professional organizations specifically for professional Vaudeville performers.

I do believe a Vaudeville performer would be welcomed into any of the above organizations but I wanted an organization like these geared specifically towards the vaudevillian. An organization that had things like alleys and rings but that discuss and help one another learn vaudeville itself, volunteer, act as a networking group and do all the great stuff these wonderful organizations listed above do.

Currently I am not interested in charging people to join the GOPVA but I would like to start building a membership, plan an introductory meeting and do all the other things needed to get a group like this off the ground. So here is where I am asking for advice.

• How do these other organizations work?
• How did they begin and what sort of benefits do they offer that entice people into joining them?
• Did they start with a business plan of sorts?
• What could I offer to members that would be of value to them?
• What sort of media if any do these groups offer members? (Magazines, mailing lists membership, forums etc.)

My goals with the group are this:

1. To create a supportive environment for professional vaudeville performers.
2. To offer a networking circle for vaudeville performers to be a part of, make contacts and share information with.
3. To further the public's knowledge and appreciation for the art of vaudeville.
4. To offer like minded individuals a place to gather and watch vaudeville greats like Keaton and Chaplin on film.
5. To create a community.
6. To create a living document written by members which lay down the working conditions and professional ethics the members will involve themselves with as professionals.
7. To offer a regular monthly performance for either the guild itself as entertainment or as an inexpensive public performance to expand the public's awareness of the art.

Any and all advice regarding clubs, rings, alleys or guilds are very welcome! Tell me what you know!

[Scruffy]

Sya, Chance are you familiar with the original GVA? The Guild of Variety Artists was the original union for Vaudeville entertainers, clowns, and magicians. I don't know if it around any more though.
I think it's a great idea.

[Chance Marmalade]

Thanks Scruffy! I did check them out on the Wikipedia but they seem to be more of a union than a networking and socializing group. According to the wiki they don't have a website but their jurisdiction overlaps Actors Equity Association. I have held off from joining AEA for numerous reasons. Mainly because once you join it's not easy to take non-union work anymore!

[tim]

There has been a recent effort here in Chicago to start a Vaudeville Club. It's had mixd results and a little trouble getting off the ground. There is, however, a longstanding group called "3 Sheeters." They, also, have aged, but there are hopes of garnering greater interest from a younger performing artists who can help re-enliven it. Check out their website: Home of the Greatest Vaudevillians Anywhere!

[SuitcaseSam]

Chance, You ROCK! Ya know, Vaudeville is my favorite subject to talk about, along with Silent Comedy(s) + Physical Comedy (although I don't Juggle. At 300lbs., I Jiggle)

I have to admit I saw mention in another one of your posts about the Guild and couldn't find anything online about it, I guess that was before you created the website tho'. Looks good so far.

It's funny how in today's terms, to some folks, Vaudeville means Physical Comedy (Juggling, Plate Spinning, Unicycling, etc.) and to others it's another description for burlesque. Fortunately, the latter is not the version we are talking here.

Good luck with the project, I'm anxious to see how things turn out. I live quite a piece from Seattle so I'm afraid I am of no assistance. Still, I wish you the best of luck with it.

And thanks Tim for the other Vaudeville link, I'm gonna check it out now. I think it was the WCA who held their convention up in Peoria a few years back and it had a Vaudeville theme. I only wish I could have attended that year and I'm surprised no one else has picked up on using that as a theme. I'd definitely make the next one if so.

Keep The Vaudeville Spirit Alive!
~Sam

[Harpoetta]

Hi Chance.

It's so cool that you are doing this.

I think that some of the major magic clubs started out as magicians meeting in people's living rooms and basements. As did some of the other specialty groups like that.

The IBM has a monthly magazine called "Magic" and the SAM (I think) has "Genii". MUM has "Linking Ring".

I don't know much more than that, but I have copy and pasted some of your first post of this thread into an email to a magician friend of mine who may be able to help (Geoff has tons of connections with major magicians all over the world). At the very least, he can get me in touch with someone who will have the answers you're looking for.

I hope to hear from him in the next few days, so I'll get back to you when I find out anything.

[Chance Marmalade]

Thanks so much for doing that Harpoetta!

When I was considering joining IBM last year I was thinking "Man, this is so cool but what I really want to join is a professional vaudeville organization."

It's something I would love to offer the vaudeville community out there and be a part of myself. The Sons of the Desert are another group I should have mentioned as inspiration! I am still hoping to join them when the option becomes available again.

@SuitcaseSam: I know what you mean! I have nothing against modern Burlesque (some of the characters are great) though the meaning has DEFINITELY changed since the greats were doing Burlesques back in the day. When I was looking for a clown partner I posted on Craig's List and I was contacted by so many Burlesque Dancers and it just doesn't fit my style of clowning. But people really do link that stuff in with vaudeville.

[Harpoetta]

Did you get that pm I sent you a while back about the Sons of the Desert in your area? When you said you couldn't get any response from them, I asked our tent's president what he knew about it.

[Harpoetta]

Alright, Geoff finally got back to me today, he didn't go into as much detail as I'd hoped, but he did answer the questions. Here's what he sent me:

> Hi Geoff,
>

Hi, Katie.


> Hope all is going well.
>

Couldn't be better. I just booked the Midwest Magic Jubilee in August and Magic in the Rockies in September.


> I have a friend, on a forum that I joined, who is trying to start a Vaudeville club in Seattle, and he is wondering how the other major clubs for magic and other specialty groups got started and gained members.
>
> These are the questions he posted on the forum (copy and pasted from the forum):
>
>
> Currently I am not interested in charging people to join the GOPVA but I would like to start building a membership, plan an introductory meeting and do all the other things needed to get a group like this off the ground. So here is where I am asking for advice.
>
> * How do these other organizations work?
> * How did they begin and what sort of benefits do they offer that entice people into joining them?

How did they begin? Usually a small group of enthusiasts start meeting together regularly. In the case of nationally-established magic groups, this has pretty much been already done.

> * Did they start with a business plan of sorts?

No, usually just a charter that says who they are and what they're about.

> * What could I offer to members that would be of value to them?

Instruction, historical info, a chance to witness the craft performed by others more skillful than themselves (or sometimes worse than themselves which can also be a learning experience), to perform for peers (and, in the case of public shows, for actual humans), door prizes and giveaways, special discounts to local merchants and events. In some instances, it also leads to networking with others, sharing tips & techniques as well as referrals.

> * What sort of media if any do these groups offer members? (Magazines, mailing lists membership, forums etc.)

Depends. Monthly newsletters/magazines are usually a thing of the national organizations (since they take so much in the way of time & resources). Local newsletters are rather rare with people opting for electronic news.

Hope this helps somewhat. I'm sure it's rather obvious advice and stuff that you already knew but it sometimes helps to see it listed out.


Geoff

[Chance Marmalade]

Thanks Harpoetta! If you can send my thanks to Geoff too I would greatly appreciate it.

I did get your message. Apparently I forgot to respond! I contacted the local Tent again a couple of weeks ago just requesting information at any time in the future on becoming a member though I haven't received a response. There is no rush of course. I may look into some other nearby Tents.