For the past ten weeks, I’ve been telling you what you should do on your weekends. For my final post, I thought I’d let you tell me what to do this weekend. Check out this video for an inside look on what it takes to put on arts and entertainment in San Luis Obispo.
Time Out SLO started as a part of a journalism class assignment. Over the past ten weeks, it has become a hobby that I’ve learned to enjoy. I have experienced what it’s like to be responsible for an audience and write on a schedule.
Time Out SLO has attracted about 500 visitors which is more than I ever expected to get, especially seeing how niche my subject is. I’ve learned that the blogging community is one of the most supportive social media communities out there. Bloggers are eager to follow other bloggers, so it’s easy to attract an audience.
I would like to continue this blog because I definitely believe it has potential. However, to truly succeed in making this blog all it could be, it would have to become a full-time effort. I will be retiring this blog after this week, but I won’t forget what I’ve learned from it. Maybe once I’m done with schooling, I will pick up blogging in pursuit of a side income. Until then, I look forward to posting my final project on Thursday.
Until next time,
Cheers!
Hey all!
The reason why this week hasn’t included many media-heavy posts is because I’m prepping for a video project. My video is going to answer the question: Why is San Luis Obispo a hub for entertainment? I plan on interviewing a students, locals and performers about their experience of the entertainment in SLO. I want to include live footage from shows and feature some of the best venues.
Located between Los Angeles and San Francisco, San Luis Obispo is often overlooked as a entertainment destination. However, many people forget the fact that SLO is home to people in all stages of life. If you have an act, there is bound to be someone in SLO who will appreciate it.
Yes, San Luis Obispo lacks the glamor of a big city with giant arenas, but it makes up for it with intimacy and love for the arts . Where else in California can you be inches away from a band without having to wait hours in line squished up against other eager fans? Where else can you watch a show then possibly share a drink with the performer afterwards?
Stay tuned for more! I’m really looking forward to it.
Until next time,
Cheers!
While trying to figure out a way to both promote my blog and fit the parameters of my assignment to post a vine, I found something they both shared in common. My blog answers the question, “What to do I do tonight?” Usually, homework is never the answer people what to hear.
(No offense, Prof. Howe. I really do enjoy your class.)
This week, I go backstage to interview some of the cast and director of Cal Poly’s current main stage production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Check it out to find out about the rehearsal process, some cast anecdotes and the importance of theatre as a method for storytelling.
This week I’ve decided to feature an app by Eventbrite.com. Eventbrite allows event organizers to manage their ticket sales and share them across various social media platforms. It is especially popular for San Luis Obispo event organizers who work on a much smaller scale than most stadiums or arenas. Their app makes planning your weekend that much more brighter. Here’s why:
Upon opening the Eventbrite app, there are a list of upcoming events in your area. There are two quick links to popular search filters. As seen above “Around Me” and “This Weekend” It’s all self explanatory.
If you want to refine your search options even further, the Eventbrite app makes it easy. You can search by relevance, a specific distance if your travel is limited or, my favorite, by cost. Eventbrite hosts many free events that can save you some money if you want to have fun on a budget.
For the savvy weekender, Eventbrite offers a place to organize. If you have many tickets to shows over the weekend, the Eventbrite app offers a place for all of your tickets. All you need is the email used while purchasing the tickets.
If you see something that sparks your interest, but can’t research or buy tickets right at that moment, you can save them in the Eventbrite app. This way, you’re guaranteed to never miss an event.
Push notifications are pretty standard for apps nowadays. However, Eventbrite has incorporated a social aspect. If one of your Facebook friends is using the Eventbrite app and has purchased tickets to a show, you can opt-in to receive a notification so you can go with them.
Happy app-ing!
I don’t usually post about my time out on weekends, so I thought it’d be nice to share with my readers what I’ve been doing.
My boyfriend surprised me last Friday with tickets to The Great American Melodrama in Oceano, CA. The quirky cabaret style theater offered the perfect setting for Valentine’s dinner and date.
When we arrived at the melodrama, the line was out the door despite us arriving 10 minutes before the start of the show. We were immediately greeted by an actor at the front of the line who introduced us to the theater and showed us to our seats. As we sat front row, sharing our table with another couple in the intimate space, the lights dimmed and the show began.
The Melodrama is currently featuring the play “The Bachelors” for the main show. Each performance features one main show with select actors, then a broadway revue parody with the entire melodrama company. With three acts of entertainment and two intermissions, the Melodrama offers a full night of hilarious camp theater.
The unique part of the Melodrama is the actors also run the food and drink bar. Right after we saw them performing on stage, they were serving us our beer and soft pretzels. As the lights dimmed for the second act, an actor was also the emcee.
The audience was filled with couples, families and groups of friends. So whether you’re looking for a place for date night or just a somewhere to kick off the weekend, the Melodrama the place to be. It’s definitely a group experience. Even if you’re going solo, you’ll find the crowd becomes your friend/family/significant other. Everyone is in on the jokes at the melodrama.
As for the rest of my night, well, I won’t bore you with the mushy details. However, the Pismo Pier is a great place for a cup of hot chocolate with your boothang.
Until next time,
Cheers!
Here is a collection of all of the locations mentioned in Time Out SLO. All of these places are great venues for entertainment. I encourage you to check out their calendars for upcoming events. (Check out the street view feature to preview the inside of some of the venues!)
Street View Shots:
Time Out SLO has been live for just over five weeks now. These past weeks have been a sort of an experimental phase of what works for the blog. After receiving feedback from my peers, I put together this list of suggested improvements. Here are some changes you should expect to see within the next couple weeks. Hope you like it!
1. More Photos
One of Time Out SLO’s most popular posts was the photo slideshow of a trip to architecture graveyard. Readers responded well to the photos and brought the most traffic to my blog for that post. Photos help visualize my ideas for the readers, while also attracting an eclectic audience.
2. New Theme/Formatting
I enjoy the layout of the theme I chose, but some of the formatting needs work. I try to keep the formatting similar for each of my posts so the readers know what to expect. One of my peers suggested to space the sections of my posts more clearly. I also plan on playing with the customization options for this theme to set it apart from other blogs.
3. Polls/Reader Feedback
I want to hear more from YOU. As a reader, I want to know what works and what doesn’t work. It was suggested by one of my peers to add the poll option to more of my posts. Please feel free to leave feedback in the comment section of what I can do to improve your experience on Time Out SLO!
Until next time,
Ben King
– Featured – What to watch: Orchesis Vitality
Cal Poly Dance Department’s company, Orchesis, performs its final run of their annual dance show this weekend in Spanos Theatre. This year’s show, titled Vitality, features 28 Cal Poly students dancing in 13 pieces.
Professor Christy McNeil returned to associate direct for her second year with the company.
“This year we have a whole new technical staff,” McNeil said, “It has worked great so far.”
The pieces exhibit a wide variety of dance styles including ballet, contemporary jazz, and modern. A majority of pieces were choreographed by Cal Poly dance teachers.
McNeil along with Professor Diane Stanton and Michelle Walter direct the company each year. This means they are in charge of auditions as well. The audition process is the toughest part, McNeil said.
Auditions are held the first week of fall quarter. Once the final decisions are made, the company begins rehearsing.
The company is made of a mix of both new and returning dancers, McNeil said.
Third year Cal Poly student William Bassett returned to Orchesis for his second time.
“I love orchesis because its a wonderful positive growing environment that encourages us to be the best dancers possible,” Bassett said, “Every year is very different and every year is a new dance family.”
This year, there are five pieces in Vitality that are choreographed by students and guest artists. The guest performers include: Doug Nielsen from University of Arizona, Daniel Cruz from Seattle, Nancy Cranbourne from Boulder, CO, Damon Rago from Loyola Marymount U and Ryan Lawrence from San Luis Obispo.
Members of Orchesis will be presenting at the American College Dance Festival at ASU from March 13-16. McNeil’s piece “Crash” and student Ella Richards’ piece “On Making Decisions” will be representing Cal Poly.
So far, Vitality has seen good audience turnout.
“Get tickets sooner rather than later,” McNeil said.
Seating is general admission.
What to hear: Frozen Sing-A-Long
Regal Arroyo Grande Stadium 10 is hosting a Frozen Sing-A-Long for the second weekend in a row. Sing-A-Longs for the newest Disney animated musical have been popping up at movie theaters around the country since the film’s growing popularity.
Third year Cal Poly student Chad Eckman, went to the sing-a-long last weekend.
“It was really fun to sing with everyone in the theatre,” Eckman said, “Some people came up to us afterwards to take our picture because we got really into singing.”
The Sing-A-Longs will be showing daily at 12:20 PM until Tuesday, February 12.
What to do: Oscar Nominated Animated Short Film Screening
San Luis Obispo’s Palm Theater is showing this year’s Oscar nominated short films in preparation for the Academy Awards. The screening includes five films:
“Feral” (Directors Daniel Sousa and Dan Golden, USA/Non-dialogue).
“Get a Horse!” (Directors: Lauren MacMullan and Dorothy McKim, USA/English).
“Mr. Hublot” (Directors: Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares, Luxembourg/France/Non-dialogue).
“Possessions” (Director: Shuhei Morita, Japan/Non-dialogue).
“Room on the Broom” (Directors: Max Lang and Jan Lachauer, voices by Simon Pegg, Gillian Anderson, Rob Brydon in UK/English).
Tickets at the door
Time Out: San Luis Obispo 