Just So Society: Publicity Officer

The Just So Society is the University of St Andrews’ musical theatre society, known for producing high-quality, student-led performances. As the Publicity Officer for the 2019-2020 academic year, I led all promotional efforts for the society, managing marketing campaigns, designing visual assets, and fostering engagement with the university community. My role focused on building the society’s brand while ensuring that every production received the visibility it deserved.

Additionally, I played a pivotal role in navigating through the challenges posed by COVID-19 lockdowns and performance cancellations. This included pivoting promotional strategies, maintaining audience engagement during uncertain times, and keeping the society’s presence strong through virtual initiatives. 

Key Responsibilities

Marketing Campaigns for Productions and Society Events

  • Supported the creation of tailored promotional strategies for each production and society event, ensuring alignment with the themes and tone of the shows.
  • Assisted in multi-channel marketing efforts, including:
    • Social Media: Provided support for production-specific accounts by sharing behind-the-scenes content, cast features, and event reminders.
    • Print Materials: Assisted with the design and distribution of posters, flyers, and banners to be displayed around campus and town

Visual Branding and Design

  • Designed cohesive promotional materials that reflected each production’s unique themes and style.
  • Created digital assets, including banners and graphics for online campaigns.
  • Maintained consistent branding across all promotional materials to enhance society recognition.

Event Coordination and Publicity

  • Organized and promoted society events such as cabarets and workshops.
  • Planned and executed tabling during busy campus periods (e.g., Freshers’ Week) to maximize visibility.
  • Coordinated publicity efforts during COVID-19 lockdowns, adapting promotional strategies to maintain audience engagement and foster community connection during periods of uncertainty.

Radio Show Host

  • Hosted the weekly musical theatre radio show, Vigorous Jazz Hands, on the student radio station.
  • Invited and connected with engaging guests to discuss musical theatre topics and productions.
  • Curated themed song lists for each episode to reflect the show’s discussions and spotlight various musicals.
  • Promoted the show on its Facebook page, driving community engagement and listener participation.

Collaboration and Team Leadership

  • Attended weekly committee meetings to discuss society events and provide updates on promotional efforts.
  • Partnered with directors, producers, and cast members to ensure seamless integration of publicity efforts.
  • Guided society members on promoting events through their personal networks.

Society Event Promotion

Vigorous Jazz Hands

Virtual Cabaret

Skills Utilized

  • Social Media Marketing: Crafted engaging campaigns that drove awareness and ticket sales.

  • Graphic Design: Designed cohesive visual assets for both print and digital platforms.

  • Content Creation: Produced high-quality videos, photos, and written materials tailored to each production.

  • Event Publicity: Coordinated and executed teaser events that captured the attention of the university community.

  • Collaboration: Worked closely with teams to align promotional efforts with creative visions.

Results

  • Increased Social Media Engagement: Boosted follower interactions across platforms.

  • Sold-Out Performances: Contributed to sold-out shows through effective marketing strategies.

  • Enhanced Society Visibility: Strengthened the Just So Society’s presence on campus and in the local community.

 

My role as Publicity Officer for the Just So Society allowed me to merge creativity with strategy to drive the success of student-led musical theatre productions. From designing bold campaigns to fostering community engagement, I demonstrated my ability to deliver impactful promotional work that captures attention and inspires action. This experience solidified my passion for using marketing to promote the performing arts and connect audiences with unforgettable stories.