I) Executive Summary
1) One-Man Shows
- Old show "
The Chronic Single's Handbook" on hiatus. (Too offensive, weak ticket sales, bad reviews, and I'm afraid of a #MeToo lawsuit.)
- New show "
Tales of a Reluctant World Traveler" doing well, booked in seven libraries (They pay!) Link to
video trailer and the
entire show.
2) Books
- Old novel "
God Bless Cambodia" selling again -- people buying after my new show, libraries buying (thanks to you folks who requested it from you library!)
- New novel with working title "The Squid and the Spaceman" plugging along. On second draft, hope to send it out in early 2021. (synopsis/query letter at end of this newsletter)
II) More than you want to know
1) Shows
Old Show "The Chronic Single's Handbook"
-
Last year, I performed it mainly in the Ross Center for the Performing Arts (my living room) for Airbnb visitors in Boston. It was a nice little gig: people didn't stay with me. They paid $35 a ticket, came to my apartment, saw the show, sometimes bought books, and left. I got good reviews (11 reviews, 4.7 out of 5)
But for some reason, a lot of women were signing up to see the show alone. I performed it about five times for just one woman at 8:30 at night in my apartment. A friend who runs a small business, said I was nuts -- with my racy content (massage parlors, happy endings, a domination date that goes wrong, etc) I was a lawsuit waiting to happen. If accused of something, it would my word against the woman accusing me. Upshot: My show is still listed on Airbnb, but the ticket price is $75 and I won't perform the show for fewer than four people. If you've never seen the show,
here it is on Youtube:
New Show "Tales of a Reluctant World Traveler"
This show is rated PG and I've been performing it for local libraries, which pay $150 to $300, sometimes buy a book from the publisher, and often allow me to sell books to attendees after the show. To pitch to libraries, I
redid my website and pulled down all edgy material.
My sales approach:
- I call the libraries to identify the person who books events.
- Then I mail -- via snail mail -- a description of the show and my bio, both packed with color photos.
- Then I follow up with phone calls.
- My hit rate: I've pitched about 50 libraries and book seven gigs.
Next:
- The show is
listed on Airbnb for $50 a ticket, minimum of four people, performed live at The Ross Center for the Performing Arts. No takers yet.
- I've applied to a small fringe theater festival in Providence. If I get in, I'll do three shows.
- I have a hundred more libraries to pitch in the New England area.
New England Indie Authors Collective
Three friends and I formed this group and we're pitching a lecture/reading event we call "a modern literary salon" (no, I'm not sure what it means, either.) We've booked three gigs so far:
- A creative center/art gallery in Marblehead, MA: Each of us read/performed 15 minutes of our work, then we lead a discussion about our writing processes. The center charged $20 a ticket, which we split. About 25 attendees
- Book Ends bookstore in Winchester, MA: We each read/performed pieces with a love theme for a Valentine's Day Event. No charge and no payment for us. About 13 people, mostly our friends, attended -- they'd all already bought books. Kind of a bust.
- The Plaistow Public Library in New Hampshire is having us come in to discuss our experiences in book publishing. (we all have published books, some sold to small presses, others self-published.)
2) Books
Old Book "God Bless Cambodia"
Libraries have purchased nine books from the publisher since July -- some of those purchases are because you folks contacted your local libraries and requested the book. Thanks!
If anyone else wants to help me feed my starving family, please request the book from your local library.
Here's all the info you'll need:
Title: God Bless Cambodia
Author: Randy Ross
Publisher: The Permanent Press
ISBN:
9781579624903
And if you insist on buying one yourself, here's
the link on Amazon for the hardcover and my site to
buy from me (cheaper paperback)
Total book sales: about 400 copies plus a few ebooks. (I have 87 copies in my apartment and I'm guessing the publisher has about 15 in their warehouse.
New Book "The Squid and the Spaceman"
I finished a first draft last year, had my writing coach go through it, and I'm about halfway through a rewrite. I will finish this rewrite, send it out to some beta readers, and rewrite it again.
The publisher of my first book has first right of refusal but based on my sales, they may refuse. In which case, I'll have to start over looking for an agent, etc.
So, I've written a query letter (a one-page pitch you send to agents and publishers to get them interested)
Here my first crack at a query for "The Squid and the Spaceman"
Dear Agent:
I am writing to you because of x, y, and z.
THE SQUID AND THE SPACEMAN is a comedic novel that combines the romantic dysfunction of Jonathan Tropper with the gross-out humor of Sam Lipsyte. SQUID explores the fluid nature of intimacy, independence, and bodily functions. It also addresses the question: How much can – and should you -- change for someone you love?
Randall is chronically single. Jackie doesn't date men, she marries them. He's Jewish and she's Chinese-American, not that it matters.
Soon after they fall in love, Randall develops insomnia and Jackie develops an ulcer. Because Randall has never been married, they both agree he's the problem. He locates a therapist, Dr. Byrnes, who has a plan for turning him into marriage material. Dr. Byrnes happens to be gay, not that it matters.
As part of the treatment, the couple attends a fetish expo to resuscitate their sex life.
Can a gay shrink, a lactation lounge, and a sphincter harness save their love?
THE SQUID AND THE SPACEMAN is about 80,000 words in length and ready for review.
I am a writer, performer, and web marketing consultant. My comedic novel, GOD BLESS CAMBODIA, was published in 2017 by The Permanent Press. My one-man show, based on the novel, has been featured at fringe theater festivals in the U.S., Canada, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Previously, I was an executive editor for PC WORLD magazine.
Thank you for your consideration,
Randy Ross
