Jazz Hands?

Will they make me do Jazz hands?

This is not a question I would normally ask myself on the way to work, but a few weeks ago, hours before any of our libraries would be open to the public, I found myself on the verge of a panic attack due to my limited ability as a dancer.  You see, I’m not a dancer, I’ve never been a dancer, nor do I dance recreationally, but as an employee of the Harris County Public Library sometimes I need to do what they call - “Other duties as assigned.”    And on this day, a few co-workers and I were going to be dancing alongside some very skilled professionals from Houston’s prestigious Theatre Under the Stars. 

Places Everyone! 

The reason for our meeting was to film a quick music video for our social media accounts featuring both library staff and TUTS (Theatre Under the Stars) actors dancing to a parody song from the Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  

The truth is I was looking forward to having some fun, promoting the library, and highlighting one of our community partners.  So, I swallowed my pride, set aside my dignity, and prayed I wouldn’t ruin someone’s career by stepping on a foot other than my own. 

Take it from the top 

Whenever I tell people I work in Marketing and Communications for the Harris County Public Library, the response is often -- coming from a tilted head, “Why do libraries need a marketing department?”   Fair question. 

The truth is, we live in a world where countless organizations and individuals are competing for your attention every second of the day – and that competition is fierce.  Strategic marketing helps the library stand out, build partnerships, and ensures that our community knows about valuable programs like ESL classes, passport services, and many others.  

Five, Six, Seven, Eight... 

Ultimately, it’s about connecting resources to the people who need them most, and the marketing team’s job is to let the public know about the unbelievable diverse and helpful services the library has to offer.  At its core, our job isn’t that different from private sector marketing teams —except we’re working with a much smaller budget - okay, no budget. 

And how valuable is your attention?  Well, it’s not just about views or clicks; it’s about getting out the message and enhancing an already stellar reputation.  In addition to letting Harris County know what we have to offer, the attention we’ve received has led to donations to our foundation, grants, and even national recognition. That kind of prestige opens doors for us and allows us to do even more for the community.  

Triple threat 

Of the many types of social media campaigns we do, one of our most popular styles has been music parody videos based on songs from musicals or pop culture.  This started over a year ago when one member of the HCPL team (Laurel Roseborrough) approached us with a parody idea about a song by the comedian, Bo Burnam.  And it was a great idea!  A short time later we filmed “Welcome to the Library.”  This video and many others caught the attention of Elizabeth Gentry in the social media department of TUTS.  And when she proposed an idea for a collaboration for their upcoming production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, we jumped at the chance to work together. 

For a full playlist of our musical parodies -  CLICK HERE

Like the Harris County Public Library, Theatre Under the Stars is a beloved institution in Harris County.   TUTS is Houston’s home for musical theatre, and since 1968 it has brought artistry, education, and community together through Broadway-caliber productions and inspiring training programs.  From the world premiere of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to recent hits like Frozen and Sweeney Todd, TUTS continues to create unforgettable theatrical experiences for Houston. 

Big Finish! 

And this brings us to TUTS latest production and the reason for our social media collaboration - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  This fast-paced musical comedy follows six quirky kids (played by adults) as they compete for glory in a cutthroat spelling showdown. Packed with improv, audience participation, and heartfelt surprises, the Bee is both laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly touching. 

Each night, four audience members join the cast live onstage. Will it be you? Don’t miss the show that proves winning isn’t everything—and growing up is its own kind of spelling test. Get tickets at TUTS.org. 

If you would like to get tickets follow this link and  Use promo code MAGICBOOK to save 25% on tickets to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee  

And the Tony Award goes to... 

We hope you enjoy videos and social media posts — but more than that, we hope they remind you what libraries are all about, and what we have to offer.  Whether through our core services, or our community partnerships, everything we do is about enriching lives and strengthening our community. 

And if jazz hands are required… well, I’m ready.