amdram.co.uk

AS:  What prompted you to set up amdram.co.uk?

Jane: The original amdram.co.uk web site was launched in June, 1997. At the start it had only 4 online pages, and was funded by Curtain Call, the amateur theatre newsletter for Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.  The intention behind the site was to bring part of the large volume of Curtain Call information online, and to help publicise amateur theatre to the world in general. Since then the site has gone from strength to strength and now provides information to visitors all over the world.

amdram.co.uk was never intended to be a business, it was launched as a “hobby site”.  It is still run by one person (me) and the advertisers on the site cover the costs involved.  It certainly doesn’t make a fortune and I shan’t be retiring any time soon

As a sign of the times, December 2008 saw the publication of the last edition of Curtain Call.  All my efforts are now directed online.

AS: How many people use the site?

Professional webstats tell me that we have about 23,000 visitors in a month.  These are unique visitors, we serve about 150,000 page views per month.

AS: How do you think the World Wide Web has affected amateur theatre in the UK?  Do you think that groups are actively embracing the web or is there still some hesitancy out there?

Jane: Unfortunately I don’t think that groups and individuals are using the internet as much as they could.  There are several sites, like mine, which offer free advertising, but it seems that people can’t be bothered.  Either that or they think someone else has done it.  If groups used the internet more they would save themselves so much time and effort.  Props and sets are a classic example of this.  There are certain productions that are popular which require specialist props (‘Allo ‘Allo springs to mind) why not sell yours after the production is done, or search the internet before making?

I think people think that advertising their group and production on the internet won’t achieve anything as it’s not local.  They’d be surprised.  More and more people are turning to sites such as amdram.co.uk to find out what they can do at the weekend.  January is always our busiest month as people decide to join amateur theatre as their New Year’s Resolution.

Facebook has made a great difference to people using the internet and I’m pleased that I recognised this and have utilised it to promote amdram.co.uk.  I notice that AS have done the same thing.  It takes a little time, but worth integrating the two.  Facebook has certainly grabbed the imagination of the younger people especially.

AS: What sort of things can people utilise on amdram.co.uk and what are you planning to add to the site in future?

Jane: As you know, amdram.co.uk has gone through a major redesign at the end of the year.  I am still sorting out hicups, but on the whole it seems to be working well.  Keith who runs www.drakard.com is my technical expert and designer of the new site, and he has plenty in the pipeline, including an online calendar of events.  Personally I want to see more reviews and information articles on the site and would encourage people to submit information to me.  I’m also working on getting more play and book reviews online, but there’s only so much I can do.  Again I would encourage anyone to submit information to the site.  We don’t pay, but it’s a great way to get your name in “type”.  Keith and I are also hoping to be able to offer reasonably priced web design services to groups and suppliers.

AS: What’s the age range of your users?

Jane: The majority of amdram.co.uk’s users are adults and can range from teenages to pensioners.  We do have youngsters visiting, but they are discouraged from advertising.  I used to accept actor available notices as long as the parent emails confirming that they are happy for the child to do it.  However, stopped completely when it turned out that a very mature 13 year old had “forged” an email from his parents!

AS: When you aren’t am-dramming where can we find you?

Jane: I’m self-employed which works well with running amdram.co.uk.  I’m really a Jack of all trades and master of none   I’m a writer and book-keeper, but concentrating on dress and costume designing.  I’m off to York in June for a four month costume making course which is aimed at people wanting to work within wardrobe departments of theatre.  My home is in Norwich so it will involved moving temporarily to York.