Early in the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C., launched a virtual video series that connects the community with music and theater professionals.
“No Intermission” was a virtual stage meant to substitute for the city’s regular stages, which have been shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. The series launched March 23 and features jazz, classical and popular music performed by professional players, as well as scenes from plays performed by local actors. It is meant to draw attention to the challenges faced by professional artists, who depend on audiences and live performance, during a time when those stages are closed to the public.
Adam Parker, producer of the “No Intermission” series, shares about the success and strategy behind the initiative that published 60 unique episodes from March to mid-June, featuring performances from people of various ages, talents, and backgrounds.
Tell us about the idea behind “No Intermission.”
The “No Intermission” series was conceived as an online-only COVID-19 pandemic feature. The idea was to create a virtual stage for performing artists who otherwise had no outlet, to showcase some of the many talented performers in the Charleston area, and to encourage audiences to support them financially by buying their merchandise or making a donation.
How did you get started?
I reached out to four local “curators” and asked them to partner with me to identify and invite performers who could contribute to the series. They operated in four general categories: popular music, jazz, classical, and theater. (We also recorded a couple of comedians and one poet.)
We created a stage set in our library and recorded video using two cameras, one on a tripod, one handheld. Most performers offered two songs or scenes or poems or sketches. That’s how we secured 60 individual videos in just three recording sessions, all in March.
How did you distribute the videos?
We posted one video each weekday at 2 p.m. The videos were featured prominently on The Post and Courier’s homepage, and they accrued on a “No Intermission” landing page. They were also posted to our YouTube channel.
Was this project successful?
Overall, the project was a success, in that we achieved our stated goals. Several of the videos received between 1,000 and 2,000 views. Others in the high hundreds (which is very good for a video feature).
The series was meant to add value to our digital product, driving traffic to the website and engaging both subscribers and casual viewers. It certainly worked!
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