For everyone starting a theater company... Courtesy of The Mission Paradox.
One thing that theater companies also fail to discuss is when they will stop producing work. If you remain a small ensemble, focused on doing work that showcases your ensemble members, eventually you will reach a point where that is no longer possible.
April 14, 2009
April 13, 2009
A difference of scale
In my past life as a theater marketer and fundraiser I worked really hard to get two nickels to rub together. A good day at my last place of employment was $500 in ticket sales. An amazing day was $1,000. We had a capacity problem when we brought in over $1,500 - our staff of 1 couldn't support that many calls!
Today, a rainy and unseasonably cold Monday, my new job brought in over $2,000. That translates into 4 new clients. To achieve that same sales goal, without ticketing fees, you need 100 new clients for most small theaters.
I sent out a team of 3 to the Addison el stop today, handing out brochures to people on their way to work in the morning and on their way to the Cubs game in the middle of the day. Cost = $125 (brochures were printed last year)
If I get 2 new customers out of that effort, I've made a huge return. And the beauty with sailing is that once people are taught the basics, they can handle our small boats. We keep making money off of them because they keep wanting to go out.
Often theater people talk about how small an audience there is for your work. It is rare for me to go see a show and not run into someone I know, they are usually in the industry. I'd guess this is true for other industries as well.
More theaters should think about ways to create their own industry audience. How do you give patrons a participatory element in your programming, that will keep them coming back for more?
There isn't really a thorough line to this post, I'm talking about a couple of different ideas.
1. how much effort it takes to get patrons in the door of theaters
2. ways to create an 'industry' member mentality within your audience
Run with these ideas where you want!
Today, a rainy and unseasonably cold Monday, my new job brought in over $2,000. That translates into 4 new clients. To achieve that same sales goal, without ticketing fees, you need 100 new clients for most small theaters.
I sent out a team of 3 to the Addison el stop today, handing out brochures to people on their way to work in the morning and on their way to the Cubs game in the middle of the day. Cost = $125 (brochures were printed last year)
If I get 2 new customers out of that effort, I've made a huge return. And the beauty with sailing is that once people are taught the basics, they can handle our small boats. We keep making money off of them because they keep wanting to go out.
Often theater people talk about how small an audience there is for your work. It is rare for me to go see a show and not run into someone I know, they are usually in the industry. I'd guess this is true for other industries as well.
More theaters should think about ways to create their own industry audience. How do you give patrons a participatory element in your programming, that will keep them coming back for more?
There isn't really a thorough line to this post, I'm talking about a couple of different ideas.
1. how much effort it takes to get patrons in the door of theaters
2. ways to create an 'industry' member mentality within your audience
Run with these ideas where you want!
Where I have been blogging...
So I've been a little slow on the blog updating recently. That's because my day job has been quite exciting recently. The sailing season officially opened this past Saturday in Belmont Harbor. My office is a house boat. Yup! I look out my window and see ducks a lot of the time. It's a very different setting from the number of window-less theater offices I have worked out of.
My job as the Marketing and Events Manager takes many different forms. I've been twittering away since I joined the company and am proud to have 130 followers in just under 2 months! Another of my job duties is maintaining the company's blog. Now that the season has gotten going, I expect that I will have a lot more posts over there!
My job as the Marketing and Events Manager takes many different forms. I've been twittering away since I joined the company and am proud to have 130 followers in just under 2 months! Another of my job duties is maintaining the company's blog. Now that the season has gotten going, I expect that I will have a lot more posts over there!
April 6, 2009
12th Night
Yesterday I went to see 12th Night at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. It was actually quite enjoyable. Could have moved a little bit quicker and used the full stage better, but the director interpreted the text very well. And what's not to like in a Shakespeare mistaken identity love story?
It has been a few weeks since I've made it to the theater. On my current list of must-see's is The Tempest at Steppenwolf and God's Ear at the Viaduct. The House's Rose and the Rime has been extended, using the slot they had originally planned for Alan Infinitum.
Apparently the Chopin just got its liquor license. Fantastic news for this Chicago mainstay.
It has been a few weeks since I've made it to the theater. On my current list of must-see's is The Tempest at Steppenwolf and God's Ear at the Viaduct. The House's Rose and the Rime has been extended, using the slot they had originally planned for Alan Infinitum.
Apparently the Chopin just got its liquor license. Fantastic news for this Chicago mainstay.
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