Checklist: 12 Best Networking Practices for 2025

New Year’s resolutions are so positive and uplifting!

But maintaining, implementing  and sustaining them throughout the year is a challenge!

This third installment for networking yourself as a theatre professional post is a practical checklist to put into your notes, online task list, or wherever you keep your list of yearly goals.

Building a reputation and networking go hand in hand—focus on being authentic, supportive, and passionate, and opportunities will follow!

Here’s to a productive 2025, my friend!

Your 2025 Networking Checklist

1. Show Up Consistently

    

   • Attend theater festivals, performances, and workshops regularly to make yourself a familiar face in the community. Consistency counts.

2.  Join Local and National Theater Communities

• • Participate in groups like the Dramatists Guild, local theater collectives, or online platforms like New Play Exchange or CreateTheater.
  • The more you participate, the more you’ll get out of it.

3. Introduce Yourself Confidently

• • Prepare a short, compelling pitch about who you are and what you do as a playwright.
  • Remember, theaters need playwrights to continue to survive. Share who are you and what you do with a smile.

4. Be Active on Social Media 

• • Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram or YouTube to share your work, comment on theater trends, and engage with industry professionals.
  • Love it or hate it, promoting your ideas and your work is necessary for every artist today, so schedule time for it.

5. Attend Talkbacks and Panels

• • Participate in post-show discussions or panel talks and ask insightful questions.
  • Not only will the writer appreciate your smart feedback, others in the room who could be influential will notice too.

6. Host a Reading or Workshop

• • Invite others to a casual or staged reading of your work to showcase your script.
    
  • A Zoom reading is still helpful, especially if you are able to bring together artists and audiences from various regions.

7. Volunteer at Theaters or Festivals 

• • Offer your time to assist with productions or events, which can lead to organic networking.
  • Theater everywhere are impacted by the post-pandemic economy, and will be grateful for experienced supporters who would like to volunteer.

8. Collaborate Across Disciplines

• • Work with directors, actors, or designers on small projects or readings to form deeper connections.
  • Theater people know other theater people, so you will not only advance your general knowledge of theater but will come into contact with more industry professionals.

9. Follow Up

• • After meeting someone, send a thank-you note or email to keep the conversation going.
  • Only a relatively small percentage of people actually follow up after events, so your doing so will be noticed and appreciated.

10. Seek Out Mentors

• • Build relationships with more experienced playwrights or industry professionals for guidance and connections.
  • Relationships with possible mentors takes time, so realize this and seek to make it a two-way friendship.

11. Ask for Recommendations

• • If someone enjoys your work, ask them to introduce you to others who might appreciate it.
  • An even easier request is to ask someone who has complimented your work to put their comments in writing to post on your website or social media channels.

12. Celebrate Others’ Successes

• • Congratulate peers on their achievements publicly and privately, fostering goodwill.
    
  • Positive energy and encouragement of others is sure to reflect back on you.

Here’s to Making Your Theater Dreams Come True 

Happy New Year!

What are your dreams for 2025? If you’re thinking of really taking action on your script this year, sign up for a free consultation with me here to see if I can help.

I hope 2025 becomes the year of your dreams. Take action NOW to make sure it happens!