Next Link Project Guide & FAQ

 

 

“How did NYMF help ALTAR BOYZ? Let’s see, I could tell you about the press machine that helped generate interest from companies like VH1. Or about the money they saved us by providing us with a legitimate off-Broadway theatre. Or maybe you want to hear about how everyone on the staff, from the venue director to the executive director, seemed so determined to do whatever they could to make our show a success. But let me put it this simply. We had hoped that our production at the NYMF would be a springboard to an off-Broadway production…and…well, that turned out alright.” — Ken Davenport, Producer of ALTAR BOYZ

 

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Want to apply to the Next Link Project? Just read through the guidelines and FAQ below and then click on the big red "Submit" button to get started!

 

SUBMITTING A SHOW FOR 2010 NEXT LINK:

What sort of musicals are you looking for?
NYMF isn’t looking for any particular aesthetic. We want to represent the breadth of contemporary musical theatre in all of its forms, running the gamut from romantic comedies inspired by the Golden Age of Musicals to rock opera epics to edgy hip hop satires to children’s shows and everything in between.

Am I eligible for the Next Link Project?
We’re dedicated to supporting new, distinct voices.  To this end, we maintain an open submissions policy and a blind evaluation process to ensure that writers from every level of the theatre community, from working professionals to those whose work has not yet been produced, are given the opportunity to participate.

Any work that has not received a commercial production in New York City may be submitted, by authors with or without industry representation. As long as your script is ready for a developmental production and the widespread public exposure the festival provides, you’re welcome to submit it!

 

What materials do I need to submit for consideration?
The following application materials are required for the 2010 Next Link Project submission process:

 

• A complete script
• A demo recording, containing at least 50% of the songs in the show
• A 2-3 page synopsis, noting the placement of songs included on the demo recording
• A script sample consisting of a 15 (consecutive) page excerpt representing the heart of the show and including lyrics for at least one song from the demo
• Author bios (please note this is for administrative purposes only and will not be seen by any Next Link evaluators)
• If applicable: Proof of rights to adapt the underlying material or to include material by other authors, if any such material is not in the public domain

 

Video recordings and printed scores will not be considered.

 

How do I submit my application materials?
After you create a NYMF application account online and pay a $65 submission fee, you will need to upload all of your materials to the NYMF website. A link to detailed instructions can be found here.

Please note that once you’ve submitted your materials and received an acknowledgment of receipt from NYMF, you may not revise any of it. The Next Link evaluators begin reviewing applications within hours of upload completion so any last minute edits you make may throw a monkey wrench in the adjudication process.

Does my demo need to be professionally recorded?
No, your demo doesn't need to be professionally produced, but we do request that it contains sung vocal line (rather than just Finale files), that the sound be relatively clear and that ut accurately conveys the style of the score. If it's just you singing and accompanying yourself on piano, that's fine -- however, if you can't carry a tune, we would suggest that you find someone else who can vocally represent your work for you. Along the same lines, if your show consists entirely of heavy metal guitar, it would be helpful to record it with those instruments instead of a harpsichord.

If you're considering submitting an amateur recording of a past reading (i.e., not made off the sound board), please be sure the quality isn't muddy or distorted by ambient noise.

In the end, the important thing is that your demo is a decent representation of your score because it's one of the elements that we rely on to evaluate your writing. If we can't hear what's happening, then it makes it harder for us to uncover your genius!

BTW, please be advised that we can only accept music files in the following formats: aac, mp3, m4a.

 

Help! My music files are too large and I can't upload them. What do I do?

You can compress your music tracks via iTunes, which shouldn't cause any discernable difference in audio quality. For instructions, click here and scroll down to the Media upload info.

 

I can’t figure out how to upload my materials to your website. What do I do?
We know that technology can be a pain, so we’re happy to help you through your online application process! Please send an email to literary@nymf.org describing your problem and someone will be in touch within 1 business day to assist you. If you are truly hapless when it comes to computers or don’t have time to deal with all the music uploads, the NYMF literary staff is available to do it for an additional (but tiny) processing fee. Please email literary@nymf.org for more details.

When I was uploading my materials, I received the following error message: “Sorry, you are not authorized to access this module.” What’s going on?
It’s possible that it’s taken too long for you to upload your materials and so the website has timed out on you. To avoid this problem, please be sure to click on the Submit button immediately after uploading each application item.

Does the Next Link Project accept shows from outside the United States?
Of course! Past Next Link Project participants have hailed from Kenya, Scotland, England, and Canada.

Please note that international companies performing in the festival are subject to U.S. artist visa requirements. While NYMF can offer some assistance with the petition process, you will ultimately be responsible for the visas. If you are planning to include non-U.S. citizens in your cast, please email literary@nymf.org for more information.

Please also be advised that if you use a non-North American credit card to pay your submission fee, you may need to arrange processing directly with the NYMF office. If you receive an AVS mismatch error message when you submit your credit card information on the NYMF website, DO NOT try to repeatedly resubmit your credit info. Instead, please contact literary@nymf.org for assistance.

 

I sent you my show last year but have revised it since then. Can I resubmit it?

YES! We know that a show can go through many incarnations during its development process, so we’re always happy to accept new drafts of previously submitted projects.

You should already have a NYMF application account from your previous submission, so you can register your revised materials through it. Please note that if the show’s title has not changed, please be sure to add “(2010)” to it so our system recognizes that this is a new submission.

I’m resubmitting a show and found that my script and music files are still on my account from last year. What’s going on?
Although those 2009 files remained in your account for NYMF administrative purposes, you should replace them with any updated material. To do this, just click “Delete” next to the file and hit “Submit.” Then after it clears from the page, you can submit any updated material by following the normal procedure for uploads.

BTW, just to be on the safe side, be sure to double-check the new file after you’ve uploaded it to make sure it’s the updated one. To do that, just click on the file name, which should cause it to automatically download. NYMF bears no responsibility in checking that your submitted materials are properly updated for 2010.

A few other things to note if you’re resubmitting a show from 2009:

• Synopsis – Please remember that we now require a more detailed synopsis than in previous years, so don’t forget to swap this out!
• Music files – If you don’t have any new songs to submit, congrats on saving yourself a little uploading time! Just delete the songs that you've cut from your 2010 draft and upload any new ones that you've added. However, please be sure all of your 2009 tracks are properly labeled as “Track # - [song title]” so that they follow our new formatting system.

 

I’ve got a few different shows that I’d like to submit. Is that okay?
YES! All applications are put through blind evaluations, so it makes no difference whether you send us one musical or five. So if you can’t decide between your edgy rock epic or your family-friendly comedy, feel free to submit both! However, please note that each show will require a separate submission fee.

 

My show is already getting a production this year. Is that okay?
NYMF requires that shows refrain from mounting competing productions anywhere within a 100-mile radius of the New York City area within six months prior to the festival start date and one month after the end of the festival.

 

What is the Early Bird Deadline?
All shows registered and submitted to NYMF by February 1 will receive $15 off the $65 Next Link Project application fee. You must have uploaded all of your script materials by February 1 to qualify for the Early Bird Deadline - merely creating an application account is not sufficient.

 

I heard a rumor that you've extended the submission deadline. Is that true?
YES! If you pay the $65 submission by March 1, we'll give you until Friday, March 5, 6pm EST to finish uploading all of your application materials.

 

When will I find out about my submission status?
Notification of 2010 Next Link Finalists:  April 5
Notification of 2010 Next Link Selections: May 7
Notification of All 2010 Festival Shows: June 25

 

 

IF YOU ARE ACCEPTED:

The New York Musical Theatre Festival delivers a range of resources to the shows accepted into the festival. We will provide support to help you produce your show as easily, effectively, and affordably as possible, but we do NOT produce the individual shows. We are, in effect, your co-producers.

What are my responsibilities if my show is selected?
You and your producing partners will be responsible for all the aspects of producing your show – such as casting, rehearsals, show-specific staffing, design, physical production, and the many details and decisions required to successfully present your project.  (We provide a technical framework, professional support, and a marketing platform designed to help you maximize the impact of your work -- but there's no way we could possibly manage the day-to-day of each project in the festival.)

You are responsible for producing a fully-staged production (no scripts, no music stands!) of your show that meets professional standards, given the practicalities of producing within NYMF (such as Equity-imposed limitations on rehearsal time, the demands of playing in repertory, the need to easily load in and out of the venue, etc.). This means having staff members responsible for such things as direction, set design and costume design.

We expect all shows to be audience-ready by their first scheduled performance within the Festival.  NYMF will offer whatever support and guidance we can, but it is your responsibility to make sure that the show is in shape to be seen by an audience.

You will be responsible for providing certain information regarding your show on a timely basis, staying in close contact with the festival and providing a certain number of qualified technical staff for shared load-in and load-out of your venue.  Most importantly, you (or a producer or investor with whom you have a relationship) are responsible for covering the costs of producing your show within the festival.

 

What will it cost me to be involved in the Festival?
We founded NYMF with the goal of delivering the resources all shows need so that, if need be, writers could afford to produce their own shows.  We provide a framework to allow the shows to be produced much less expensively, and we take care of the big ticket items – the performance venue and venue staff, the major marketing, a generous lighting package and major overall technical support.

You will still have to cover some other things, though.  Generally speaking, the Festival covers the items that are shared by the productions but you will need to pay for the unique expenses of your particular show.   Depending on the size of your cast, your production values, and your show's specific needs, this may range from as little as $10,000 to as much as $35,000. These costs may include:

 

• Actors - under the 2009 AEA-NYMF Code, actors received a minimum stipend of $500 for up to four weeks of rehearsal and up to two weeks of performances; please note though that you are not required to use Equity actors in your production)
• Production Staff  - Director, Designers, Musical Director, Musicians, Stage Manager, Board Operators, Run Crew, Casting Director, etc.
• Set Materials and Construction Costs - remember: simple but effective – you’ll be sharing the venue with several other shows, and will have to strike your set after each show
• Publicity Costs - in addition to the festival-wide publicity, you should do your own; we can help you with cut-rate deals on postcards and PR services
• Costumes - though we can assist you in securing not-for-profit rental rates
• Rehearsal Space - we will help by securing discounts for festival participants, but rehearsals are entirely your responsibility
• Additional/Special Technical Needs - anything out of the ordinary that isn't provided by NYMF as part of the standard package shared by all shows in a venue -- in some cases, such as musical instruments or sound engineers, NYMF will provide access to discounted packages
• Volunteer Accident Insurance - all shows pay a fee of $575 to be included under NYMF's general liability and volunteer accident insurance from the start of auditions through the close of your production; this coverage meets the requirements of Actor's Equity Association.

NYMF shows pay a production guarantee of $5000 upon acceptance, which is recoupable from the box office.  This deposit is waived for the 12 Next Link Project shows, which pay a $500 Next Link participation fee (if accepted to the festival, $50 of your submission application fee is credited toward this amount).

 

Box office proceeds (collected via a third-party system and professional box office staff) are split between NYMF and the individual shows, so you may make back a portion of your expenses – particularly if your show sells well.  Bear in mind, however, that you will not receive your box office proceeds until five to six weeks after the festival.

How else can NYMF help me produce my show?
While you (or your producers) bear the responsibility for producing your own show at a professional level, we will do as much as we can to help you do so as effectively and inexpensively as possible. Some of the additional resources we provide include:

 

• Basic guidance on producing within NYMF including a step-by-step guide for producers, a New York City resource guide and a Festival staff member who will directly assist you with questions and queries.
• A Festival Industry Liaison who will promote the festival and your show within it to producers and companies both within New York and regionally.
• Assistance in finding designers and other production staff upon request.  We can also assist with trying to matchmake you with possible producers.
• Access to discounted rehearsal space and costume rentals.
• Assistance with casting: for a small fee, you can attend the open auditions hosted by NYMF and obtain a one-time casting consultation.
• Help in raising money for your production: we will provide fiscal sponsorship enabling donors to make fully tax-deductible donations to support your production. This requires an additional agreement between NYMF and your producing company. NYMF also has relationships with private funders who may offer grant opportunities dedicated to festival participants.

Additional resources provided for Next Link Project shows include:

• Subsidies covering your production deposit (a savings of as much as 20% of your overall budget). 
• One-on-one access to a professional New York dramaturg, who can act as a creative sounding board for your show as you continue to develop your script for production.
  
• Special industry networking and "matchmaking" events with potential producers, investors and collaborators.  

 

Where and when will my show be performed?
Your show will be scheduled into one midtown Manhattan venue for the duration of NYMF. You will share your venue with several other musicals that will play in repertory with yours.  In the past, NYMF venues have had between 85 and 199 seats.

In general, Next Link shows will have no fewer than 6 performances over the course of the festival. Depending on ticket sales, NYMF may offer some shows the opportunity to extend for several extra performances, but we make no guarantees regarding the availability of such extensions.


How long will I have to load in and load out?
There will be shared load-in and load-out days at the beginning and end of the Festival for all shared lighting and sound elements; each show will have individual load-in and tech time on the day of their opening performance (usually from 9:30 or 10am until the 8:00pm curtain).

In planning your show’s technical and production aspects, bear in mind that you will have a single day in your theatre to tech and prepare the show, will be performing in repertory with other shows and will have to strike your show completely within 30 minutes following each performance and remount it within 60 minutes just before your next performance.  Additional technical/production information will be discussed in the participation packet you will receive if your show is accepted.

 

Can you give me an idea of the festival production schedule?
Late June – Venue assignments and performance schedules announced
Early July - Venue site visit #1
Mid-July – Shows complete their staffing, shows begin casting
August 1 -  NYMF Members begin booking festival tickets
Early August – Shows finish submitting their technical production info to NYMF, venue site visit #2
September 1 – Festival tickets go on public sale
Early September – Final venue site visit, venue production meetings occur, rehearsals begin
Late September – Festival press conference

September 27 – October 17 – Festival happens!

What’s a venue site visit and why are there so many?
Due to the large number of participants in the festival, we are not able to set up individual venue visits for each show. Instead, there will be three scheduled visits in the months leading up to the festival, which are the only times the shows will be able to see their venues. The production teams for all the shows are required to attend all three venue site visits, which also serve as meetings to address each show’s technical needs and other festival logistics.

 

 

For more on NYMF shows that have gone on to further development in New York and around the world, visit NYMF SUCCESS STORIES. 

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