Getting Creative with COVID

Noir at the Bar is a global experience. Starting in Philadelphia in 2008 it has spread around the world. The idea is simple enough- a group of crime writers present their work in a pub/ bar to an audience. There are chapters across the US, UK and as far afield as Australia, South Africa...anywhere where someone is prepared and able to get authors involved.

The Newcastle-Upon-Tyne chapter (no pun intended) has been running very successfully for four years now - organised and hosted by local writer and copywriter Vic Watson and is a mainstay in the local literature scene. Over the years it has featured authors ranging from national best-sellers to first timers trying out their work-in-progress. As an aspiring crime/ mystery writer myself (hey, check me out on Amazon :)) I attended an evening two months ago and was amazed at the talent from the authors and the enthusiasm the audience had for the event.

So when Vic decided to try and bring the event online during these strange times we find ourselves in: to try and bring a little bit of relief to that audience who now find themselves confined to their home, I volunteered to help out.

I've been working with Vic for three weeks now and we've held two 'Virtual Noir at the Bar' sessions already, with weekly sessions planned for every Wednesday until the time comes when the event can return to its' physical format.

When I started out in my marketing career some 29 years ago I was responsible for a lot of creative: Direct Mail, Seminar advertising, flyers, promo materials and all the other things we did before the advent of Digital. In latter years, and as I moved into more senior positions, I was lucky enough to have a very talented team who did the work - increasingly online, under my strategic guidance. And they were so good at it I stopped having to input on a micro level because a) they didn't need it and b) frankly, they were a lot better at the design and production than I was. As a Head of Digital, that was exactly how I thought it should be: hire people better than you at what they do.

But Newcastle's Noir at the Bar doesn't have a marketing department and although they had well established networks on Social through the tireless work Vic has done over the years, they don't have digital expertise.

So I've spent the last week 'getting my hands dirty' (but washing for 20 seconds every time I did immediately afterwards). It's been busy- creating, designing and publishing sign up forms, an email communication programme, social support, and the actual webinar process (creation, support for speakers, physical hosting and broadcasting of the event).

In the big scheme of things we know it's not life saving. But the response and attendance already (audience growing 200% week-on-week) shows it is appreciated and helping in a tiny way: offering something familiar in unfamiliar times, and the response from authors willing to get involved and make their work available - either in the session or as prizes/ free downloads has been great: even when some of them have been initially nervous about embracing the new technology (all have been very positive about the experience afterwards).

Since I stared my career as an independent consultant I've offered 10% of my time free to charity, education and non-profits. I've volunteered as an ambulance driver with my local NHS (I'm still waiting to hear back from them). This project seemed to be something I could help with and while it may be peripheral, audience feedback suggests people appreciate it.

If you've got practical marketing skills and find yourself with a bit of unexpected time on your hands, it might be worth looking at some of those local groups around you who are having to readjust during this time and who would benefit from support. It may not seem like much, it might even seem frivolous, but there may be some people out there who need a bit of familiarity during these very unfamiliar times.

I'll leave this here - and while I am not, and never have been a designer - relying for years on a talented team of subject matter experts to do this sort of thing, I think the video I've created for Virtual Noir at the Bar at least gives an idea of what it's all about. It may never win awards but it also shows how I've had to 'get creative' in the time of Coronavirus.

And if you want to join us on a Wednesday night, the details are in the video: you'll get some of the best authors writing today - in your own home, and at a safe distance.