‘Any interest in a murderous, alcoholic Irish tennis champion?’ - Donal Gallagher of Irish company Cheery Wild offers some flyering tips

Published on 22/08/2012 12:49

THE most valuable lesson in flyering during this festival came from a shy, pimply teenager on Bristo Square. “Can I interest you in a flyer?” he asked with commendable politeness, as we waded through a sea of ankle-deep, multi-coloured playbills.

We looked around at the army of corseted, lederhosen-ed, kangaroo-suited, body-painted pamphleteers, furiously flogging their artistic wares.

“Umm, a flyer? Why yes! I’ve been looking for a flyer all day. It’s just what we need for that annoyingly wobbly table leg. So lucky to have met you, my pimply friend.”

Another young soul promoting a show, when questioned, confessed to having absolutely no idea what the show was about, and to caring even less. Admirable honesty, but unlikely to excite the average punter.

At this stage our Love All flyering battle plan is almost perfected. We have three distinct approaches:

Tadhg’s approach – “Any interest in a murderous, alcoholic, Irish tennis champion?” delivered with a charming smile and an irresistible lilting Cork accent.

Aideen is the special forces branch of the Cheery Wild army. Cunningly camouflaged behind lamp-posts and street furnishings, she leaps forth with a blood curling cry of “LOVE ALL” – thrusting a flyer into the terrified victim’s hand, before they have a chance to escape. There’s been a negligible number of coronaries, and it’s well worth it – they’ll certainly remember the show.

I’ve resorted to the 11-second synopsis “Come-see-Love-All-the-true-story-of-Ireland’s-first-Wimbledon-finalist-1879-lost-to-a-vicar-due-to-a-hangover-and-arrested-ten-years-later-with-the-remains-of-a-Swedish-heiress-in-his-trunk-and-the-best-part-is-it’s-all-true (almost).”

Unfortunately there’s only three of us, and thanks to an over-optimistic producer, we’ve still got a small warehouse full of flyers.

• Love All is Assembly Roxy, 2:20pm, until 26 August.