Spotlight in Focus

Hi,

Over a month ago I tweeted that I would be happy for Spotlight not to include me in their printed directory in return for a lower membership fee. It is my opinion and judging by the response to my tweet the opinion of many others, that the printed directory has become an outdated and unnecessary part of our industry as we favour the online services. It would, therefore, have little baring on my career should I be excluded from the book. Yet, I am paying more now than I was when the book was common place and relayed upon.

This tweet received a considerable response from both my followers, the followers of those who ReTweeted it and via Facebook. It was also noticed and commented upon by Spotlight themselves, who asked me to write them an email detailing my point further.

Here is the email that I sent on the 13th September 2012:

Dear Spotlight,

Following on from our exchange via twitter this afternoon, I thought I'd write out my ideas in full. As you (whoever was tweeting) mentioned, it's difficult to have a full discussion when restricted to 140 characters.

My idea is simple and I think would be widely welcomed by your customers. I suggested on twitter that I would be happy to be excluded from the hard copy of Spotlight's directory for a smaller membership fee. This would create a two tier fee structure with members choosing to opt in or out of the book.

The reason I believe this to be a good cost saving solution is that having asked many industry professionals over the past few months agents, casting directors and actors alike all seem to exclusively use your online services. Very few of them still used or even purchased the book. They found it quicker, easier and more manageable to conduct their business online. I have therefore reasoned that my exclusion from the book and exclusivity to the site wouldn't be detrimental to my career prospects.

When posting this idea via social networks, the support and agreement I received was quite overwhelming.

It was pointed out to me by the Spotlight Tweeter that the cost of the book is negligible when compared with the cost of technological investment and innovation made by the company. This is great and I'm glad that steps are being taken to bring Spotlight right up to date and in line with other companies advancements.

For example, a well designed App would be an excellent addition. But I'm certain this is already in development.

It does seem, however that the proofing, printing and distribution of the book represents a cost that is becoming increasingly unnecessary given how your user ship is choosing to partake of your service.

Spotlight is a necessary and unavoidable expense and provides an invaluable service to our industry. I would therefore like it to respond to how Spotlight's users actually use it. The costs of running an online business are never as high as when a physical component is included such as a book, CD or shop premises.

I thank you for your time and would urge you to consider this addition to your service as it would help many thousands of actors and industry professionals who tighten their belts when renewal time arrives.

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you again.

Best Wishes,

Jon Robyns.

Here is their response on the 14th September 2012:

Dear Jon,

Thank you for your email, and for taking the time to send us your feedback.

I will ensure it is passed on to the relevant Spotlight manager for review, and you will then receive a more detailed response.

Kind regards,

Jo MacLeod
SPOTLIGHT

I have heard nothing from them since.

I leave it to you to decide if this is the response of a company who are too busy serving our best interests and have little time to become engaged in an argument with one disgruntled customer, or whether it is a dismissal from a company who are unwilling to listen a genuine concern from it own members.

Thanks for reading.

Jon.

I like this-alot...

Hello faithful blog followers. Having spent the appropriate amount of time mourning the end of Road Show, I can now tell y'all about the next project I'll be taking part in. I will be joining the touring cast of Spamalot playing the role of Sir Galahad. We open in Brighton in early December and will be there for Christmas. After that we're off round the UK! Check out the touring schedule at www.spamalotontour.co.uk. Keeping in the spirit of Python silliness, I would like everyone who comes to see me to bring along a can of Spam for my collection. Deal? Great. See you there and always look on the Bright side of Life. X.

A Fun Gig...

I'll be doing a gig in November with a great friend of mine. But don't worry we may have sung together before...

www.facebook.com/jonrobyns

See you there?

Got some very cool stuff planned for the rest of the year and into next year. Keep you r eyes peeled here for more info.

X.

One for the Road...

AAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

So, I've calmed myself down long enough to tell you about the next project I'll be involved in. Regular readers of this blog will know by now that I get quite excited about most of the work I get to do, what can I say - I love my life.

However, the seemingly alarmed opening to this blog entry should clue you in to just how excited I am about what I'm doing over the summer.

I will be joining what is shaping up to be a Stella cast at the Menier Chocolate Factory this June to be part of the European premier of Steven Sondheim's new Musical "Road Show". New musical theatre is the holy grail as far as I'm concerned and to be in a new Sondheim is a bit like finding the holy grail and then discovering that it's full of Champagne.

I may pass out now. See you all in London Bridge.

Open Up...

In 2008, Curtain Records approached me and asked if I'd be interested in recording an album with them. I said "Of course, lets do it." It is now 2011 and we've finally had time to put together my debut Album entitled "Open Book". We've been working on it for a little while and will be tinkering, polishing and buffing it up until the Summer, you can pre order it right now. Here's the link: http://curtainrecords.co.uk/JR/Jon_Robyns_Pre_Order.html

You can either order it Digitally or Physically and every pre-order will receive an exclusive track I have recorded that won't appear on the album.

"Open Book"'s track list includes numbers from Avenue Q, Spring Awakening, Carousel, Into the Woods, The Hired Man and The Light in the Piazza as well as others. Joining me on the album will be star of "Wicked" - Mark Evans and everyone's favourite "Christine" - Gina Beck. There'll be a launch concert in the Summer at which I'll be performing tracks from the album live in the West End. All the info for "Open Book" is on the site above and should you have any questions please feel free to contact me via my site. Thank you in advance to all of you who buy the album now, or in the summer. I couldn't do this without you.

Turning a new Paige...

Feels like a very long time since we were together on this blog readers. If you have joined us from the small bird site, then welcome to the official blog that gets the new project and gig news first.



So, what exciting exclusives do we have for you this time? Well, I think it's exciting anyway. I have been invited to join The First lady of Musical Theatre, Elaine Paige on her forthcoming 2011 tour. I will be singing some classics by myself and supporting EP as she belts out winners as only she can. The tour dates are on the link below:



www.elainepaige.com/on_tour.html



Hope to see some of you there.



Got some great stuff coming up this year. Can't divulge the details fully just yet but, as always, you will know here first. So don't touch that...er....mouse?

Oh yes I am...

Thought I'd post an update on what's coming up after the Les Miserables Tour.

I will be swashing my buckles in Richmond, Surry as Prince Charming in "Sleeping Beauty". So lets all dust off our cynicism and dive crown first into Pantoland! Hoorah.

This will be the 2ND time I've "he's behind you" -ed over the Christmas period and having loved the last festive adventure, I'm really looking forward to this one. Richmond really is one of my favourite places, it's truly gorgeous and I would recommend lazy Sundays there.

I've already had my photo shoot for the publicity (you're gonna love the costume - Blue and gold with my very own cape!)

So book up now. Here's the link and see you there... oh yes I will! Sorry, just getting in some early practice.

www.ffe-uk.com/season/season.aspx?catID=325