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3 Reasons Theatre Class Makes the Perfect Holiday Gift

11/11/2019

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By Cathlyn Melvin          ||          Holidays, Arts Scene
Did I say perfect?

 Yes. Yes, I did. And here are just three (of many more**) reasons I believe that's true.

1) The gift of experience doesn’t clutter your kids’ bedrooms.

You won't have to Marie Kondo this gift later on!
Compass Creative Dramatics Theatre Camp Christmas Hannukah Holiday GiftImpairs creative thinking?! Oh, no! Get that kid to theatre camp, stat!
Clutter messes with our brains, man. Too many things makes it hard for your kids (and you) to keep things tidy—and that stresses everybody out! Clutter causes sensory overload. We stress about it because we can't think clearly when we're dealing with it. It can even affect our ability to think and be creative. That's bad news for kids' developing brains. 

Also, apparently you'd almost cut your housework in half just by getting rid of household clutter. Whaaaaaat.


So, yeah. Let's all request our friends and families to give the gift of experience instead of toys and gadgets this year.

​
In her article “18 Excellent Gifts for Kids That Aren't Even Toys,” Rachel Jones, mother of 6, ranks “Classes” as her number one non-toy gift.

We at Compass Creative Dramatics have to agree.

Check out this post on becomingminimalist.com for even more reasons that trading in a toy for an experience can benefit your kids.


2) Giving your children the gift of experience shows you pay attention to what your kids like.

Compass Creative Dramatics Theatre Camp Teamwork Christmas Hanukkah Holiday GiftTeamwork makes the dream work, y'all.
Does your preschooler run around the house pretending to be Buzz Lightyear? Let them explore outer space playing "Magic Elevator" at theatre class.

Does your fourth grader shut her door so she can belt “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow!” at the top of her lungs without eye rolls from her brother? (I was that kid. That was me.) At summer theatre camp, she'll be rewarded for singing loudly.

Is your teen aching to perform? Give her the opportunity to find the kids who share that passion at summer camp.

Everyone loves for their interests to be noticed.

Your student might also be super into Minecraft, or coding, or other digital activities. Their are so many cool hobbies for kids in Gen Alpha.


But there's a lot to be said for face-to-face, guided social activities like theatre that make kids feel like they're part of something bigger. ​

3) The experiences gained, and memories made, can literally last kids the rest of their lives.

Way back in 2012, when we were just starting Compass Creative Dramatics, we collected stories of folks from all different industries, of all ages, who could say "I did a play once!" And what we learned is that those experiences mattered. They shifted focuses, grew hearts, and altered life paths.

Theatre sticks with you. And the stories we collected are proof of that.

When a kid does theatre, it doesn't just stretch their bravery and their creativity. They exercise teamwork and expand their capacity for empathy, they learn to respect peers and non-peers, and through all that, they build their ability to trust and engage with adults and students alike.

If your child has attended one of our theatre camps or classes, you’ve probably seen that first-hand. And if your child hasn’t yet joined us—this is the year! Give your student the gift of art, of creativity, of collaboration, of experience.

It’s a gift they’ll remember all their life.

- Cathlyn
Register for Winter Theatre Classes
Register for Summer Theatre Camp
**Oh, you want more? Here are a few: physical activity, intellectual stimulation, arts exposure, critical thinking, teamwork and collaboration outside of their ordinary peer group, delayed gratification/an experience to look forward to, making new friends, reuniting with old friends, enjoying shared interests, expanding interests, encouraging healthy habits, increased confidence, unplugging for the week. Phew. Sure sounds like the perfect gift to me.

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5 ways to support small businesses that don’t cost a nickel (and you can do right from your phone)!

11/24/2017

1 Comment

 
By Cathlyn Melvin          ||           Community, Small Business, Holidays
updated 5/8/2019
On Monday we received an email from Emmaline Vu and LinkedIn letting us know that it's National Small Business Week. What? Who knew?

Now that we know (and you do, too) we challenge you to honor the more than 28 million small businesses in the United States (and so, so many more across the globe) by signal-boosting their products and services. It won't cost a thing, and it can mean so much to the individuals who are working hard to deliver those services and products!

Here are 5 ways to support small businesses that don’t cost a nickel (and you can do right from your phone)!


Follow your favorite small business on social media. 5 Ways to Support Small Businesses That Don't Cost a Nickel (and you can do right from your phone!)

Follow your favorite small businesses.

​Think of your top three favorite small businesses. Do you follow them on facebook? Instagram? Twitter? Snapchat? Pinterest? 
​What about your top five?

No?

Let's start there, then.

(No, no, go ahead. I can wait.)
What? You're not following us online?! (Lost Boy in
What? You're not following us online?
If you like it, comment and share! 5 Ways to Support Small Business That Don't Cost a Nickel (and you can do right from your phone)!

If you like it, comment and share!

​Okay. So now that you're connected, you're probably going to see some articles, photos, memes, or other stuff that you think is fun / inspirational / interesting / enlightening / et cetera.

​In other words, you like it. So here's what to do:
First: Like.

Next: Comment.

Then: Share.

This is the trifecta.


​Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms assess user interaction in order to choose which posts are worthy of being shown to wide audiences. When you like, comment, and share a post, your network is more likely to see it, increasing the post's reach across the entire platform. [source] Simply, put, if you like a post, other followers should get to see it, too! But if a post is met with crickets, no one will see it, even if you’re staring at your phone going, “O.M.Goodness. That is so, so true. lolz.”

So like it, comment on it, and then share it to your own page!​

A couple of pointers for when you click:

​When you share a post, add your own ideas. Voicing your opinion on a post is going to make it much more effective for your own followers than if you “blindly” share (by using the “share now” option or something similar).

If you’re a member of a group on facebook, share relevant posts to your groups as well as your personal page.

Is your favorite play cafe hosting an event? Share the post - with a note - to your parent meet-up facebook group.
​
If your gym is offering a membership special, share the post (yes, with a note) to your health-conscious or fitness facebook group.
When you share a post, include your own ideas | 5 Ways to Support Small Business That Don't Cost You a Nickel
Post to your favorite businesses' pages whenever you experience something good. 5 Ways to Support Small Businesses That Don't Cost a Nickel (and you can do right from your phone!)

Post to your favorite businesses' pages whenever you experience something good.

It doesn’t even have to be an experience using their products or services!
​If you:

- Saw an ad for their company that spoke to you,

- Observed a positive interaction with another customer, or

- Noticed an interesting new product, then:

Write them a note on their page (and share it back to your own page)!
When you have a positive experience with the business's staff or product, write them a review on their official review page (facebook, google, their own website review section). Include a photo (of you with the cupcake you enjoyed at their bakery, or paperback you bought at their bookstore, or just you wearing their branded gear)! People love pictures, and yours can tell a thousand words about your experience.
​
And then (I bet you can guess . . .) Share your review to your own social media pages!
Send a shout-out! 5 Ways to Support Small Businesses That Don't Cost a Nickel (and you can do right from your phone!)

Send a shout-out!

Choose a social media platform that your favorite business uses regularly.

Tag the business in a post encouraging your friends to follow them!

Be specific about what you love about the organization and what is great about following them on that platform. What kind of information do you get? Behind-the-scenes looks? Sneak peaks? Discounts?
Tag it! 5 Ways to Support Small Businesses That Don't Cost a Nickel (and you can do right from your phone!)

Tag it!

Tag your favorite businesses' "handles" in your posts about them. When our customers use "@ccdramatics" on a public post on instagram, facebook, or twitter, we receive a notification that we've been mentioned in a post, just like you would if you were personally tagged. Post with "@" tags are 56% more likely to receive likes, comments, and shares! Tagging us also helps keep us in the know about the conversations around our business, and just as importantly, allows other potential customers to easily click through that post to find our profile!

And while you're tagging . . .

Geo-tag your posts. Simply adding your favorite business’s location tag can increase engagement with you post by up to 79%. [source] Crazy, right? And the more folks that engage with your posts about your favorite businesses, the more folks with know about your favorite businesses, and the happier the world will be!

Also, hey, include businesses’ personalized hashtags! At Compass Creative Dramatics, we search #oneplayoneweek to follow along with our customers’ experience - and potential customers do, too. If you’re not sure if your favorite business has a personalized hashtag, just ask. They’ll be glad to let you in on it. I promise.

This National Small Business Week, set aside 15 minutes to engage with your favorite small businesses online. With your positive interactions, you'll help boost their visibility, their network, and, let's be real, you'll also boost their warm-and-fuzzy level every. single. time.

And, hey. It won't cost you a nickel.

Cathlyn
Student actors in a production of
Student actors in
Student actors in
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5 Ways to Support CCD this #GivingTuesday

12/1/2014

1 Comment

 
By Cassandra Quinn​          ||          Community, Holidays
#GivingTuesday is not all about dollar bills or giving in the traditional sense. It's about finding ways to get with the #UNselfie movement and give back. Missed our blog about rebooting this from a season of spending to one of giving and why #GivingTuesday is important? Check it out here!

Here are 5 ways that you can commit to supporting CCD today (and only one of them involves cold-hard-cash, er, PayPal).

1. Donate stuff. Take a look at our Wish List Page. See anything you could donate? See anything someone else you know might be able to donate? Networking makes all the difference - even if you don't personally have an item, you may know someone who does! Have something that you think may be beneficial to Compass Creative Dramatics, but its not on the list? Let us know!

2. Donate time. Compass Creative Dramatics functions with two full time staff and an amazing team of freelance artists and teachers, some who donate their time. There is always something that CCD could use a hand with whether that might be doing a bit of data entry, hanging posters in your favorite kid-friendly hang-out, teaching a class, standing at a convention booth, or a plethora of other amazing ways you can pitch-in.

3. Donate your network. Compass Creative Dramatics is seeking to grow its residency and camp programs. Know of a school, park, or other organization that might be interested in a week-long theatre experience? Tell us about them! Share with us how you know them, who they are, and, if you know, who the best person to contact would be. Word-of-mouth and referrals are our strongest marketing tools. Be a part of it by sharing with us your old elementary school, a girl scout troop you lead, or a community youth program that you know of.

4. Donate your talent. Are you an actor? Commit to auditioning for our fundraiser event that will be taking place May 4th! Are you a photographer? Donate to shoot at one of our events! Are you a seamstress? Donate a few hours of building costumes!Are you an accountant? Donate financial advice. Are you part of an artistic team at another company? Let's chat about cross-support! Are you a marketing Guru?Donate a few a bit of marketing advice! 

5. Donate money. CCD has committed to serving its community and offers dozens of free workshops to hundreds of students each year. We also offer financial aid to their numerous camps that is not financially backed by a grant or corporate monies. Your dollars go to help support these commitments as well as helping us with show responsibilities such as building sets, costumes, and props!

Consideration is a great step in the giving process. Commitment takes it to the next level. Are you ready to commit? 

Click here to commit to donate to Compass Creative Dramatics one or more of the ways above. Show your support to Compass Creative Dramatics this coming season! 

Thanks for your support this #GivingTuesday!



2014 Quick Facts for Compass Creative Dramatics
  • CCD served over 169 kids in 9 camps and residencies across 3 states in their 2nd year of business. This compares to the 52 students they served in 4 camps across 3 states in their first year
  • Over 15% of those students received financial aid or scholarship, several whom attended camp with $0 family contribution
  • 0% of families who applied for financial aid were denied
  • CCD's financial aid application implements a "pay what you can" method, so that families never are asked to contribute beyond their means
  • CCD served over 750 students across 6 cities in our free workshops -- a significant increase from the 300+ students they served in 2013
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Reboot with Us: An Advocacy for #GivingTuesday

11/24/2014

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By Cassandra Quinn          ||          Community, Holidays, Small Business
#Giving Tuesday - Support arts education with Compass Creative Dramatics
Two little letters can mean so much.

Re.

Redistribute, repurpose, reshape. Re-envision, renew, restore.

The third annual #GivingTuesday will take place on December 2, 2014, an opportunity to set aside a few dollars that would normally be spent on a Venti Latte or [insert your favorite splurge here] and instead redistribute those funds to your favorite organizations. The money that you repurpose can be reshaped and re-envisioned into something that renews – and restores – your community.

Consider this:

Thanksgiving Day kicks off a weekend of personal spending: Black Friday. Small Business Saturday. Cyber Monday. After an entire weekend devoted to holiday shopping and penny-pinching sales, #GivingTuesday motivates us to re-center, reconsider, refocus, and reboot.
Picture
#GivingTuesday inspires personal giving and encourages focused, thoughtful giving throughout the holidays. If Black Friday is the kick-off for holiday shopping and the biggest spending day of the year, then we should aim to make #GivingTuesday the kick-off of a beautiful season of charitable giving.

And we get it.  Bills are tight. Holiday shopping is calling. That paycheck just doesn't stretch as far as we'd like.

That's why #GivingTuesday isn't just about monetary giving. This year its campaign is focused on the #UNselfie. GivingTuesday.org is encouraging people like you to take an #UNselfie showing how and why they are going to give back.

Give time.
Give insight
Give energy.
Give expertise.
Give connections.

Give because you can.
Give because you care.
Give because you believe.
#Unselfie: A show of support for Giving Tuesday
Compass Creative Dramatics gives free workshops and financial aid without any grant funding, or corporate sponsorship.

We give because Compass Creative Dramatics believes in offering dynamic, challenging theatrical enrichment programming and we strive to make our programming affordable and accessible.

There are so many ways and reasons to contribute this #GivingTuesday. How will you help reboot this season of spending into a season of giving?

Keep an eye out on December 2nd to learn 5 ways to support Compass Creative Dramatics on #GivingTuesday.
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