’Bums in Seats’
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Running Your Theater
Forum Discription: General questions about how to make it work
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2126
Printed Date: 5/02/24 at 3:27pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: ’Bums in Seats’
Posted By: jenniz
Subject: ’Bums in Seats’
Date Posted: 11/15/06 at 10:52am
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kids theatre? *Cringe* ...this is the reaction many people have to the prospect of going to see a bunch of children performing theatre, but our little (and grown, we have an age range from 6-19) actors have the skills and talents of professionals. Many of our students have gone on to university training and/or professional theatre. Our kids win regional and even provincial competitions. They sometimes have to split rehearsal time with us and a local and quite famous professional theatre. But despite the talent, we have a major problem filling seats. The families of our students come to the shows, sometimes a few of their friends will join the audience. But typically we are way under our desired goal in this respect. While this is not the only way we gain an bit of an income for our not-for-profit organization, the lack of an audience is contributing greatly to our slight financial peril. Any ideas, tips or advice on how to fix our 'Bums in Seats' problem? We dont have lots of money and few actullay ACTIVE board members to help us, but any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! --Just found this site and am so relieved to see that other groups struggle as well, we are not alone!-- |
Replies:
Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 11/17/06 at 12:44am
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Without being completely familiar with your problem, the best suggestion I can offer is finding someone on your board who knows MARKETING. If you want to draw a wider demographic, you'll have to appeal to their sensibilities. Family members of participants are practically a given, so you don't need to focus much on attracting them. Bottom line: if you want people to treat your theater seriously (and not as "children's" theater), then you need to present yourself to the community as a serious theater. ------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 11/17/06 at 2:53am
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How do you name the theatre on the marque? As a student or kids theatre, if so drop the age designation & call it the whatever theatre company. Start by changing the attitude of the committee &/or members, by referring to it as the ?What its name? theatre. Don?t pigeon hole IT. As Topper suggests get a marketing person on board. Use all the promotion tricks your think tank can pull out of the box. Even those Button badges that you make up yourself & can stamp out like biscuits for a few coppers, are a good idea. With your production printed up from a home PC & get them out to all the take away foods, other business outlet staff to wear. For a few comps. Along with the cast/crew/friends to wear around town. You don?t have to go to this level, but it might not hurt? http://www.toolsforstagecraft.com/mini-motion.htm  ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |
Posted By: red diva
Date Posted: 11/20/06 at 4:00pm
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Wow! We seem to have the opposite problem: finding enough seats for all the people who want to see their darling daughters, sons, nephews, grandchildren, neighbors, co-workers' kids......strut their stuff on stage. Usually parents come several times, and bring a different group of people with them every time. I have heard it said that parents will pay money to see their kids puke on stage.....I guess it's true. (As a matter of fact, that actually happened in a production of "Sound of Music" last season...the poor youngest Von Trapp lost her lunch on stage, but being a pro at a young age and with the help of a very calm Maria, it was carried off with a minimum of fuss.) ------------- "I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!" |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 11/20/06 at 4:03pm
I've wanted to do that during a production of SoM before . . . . ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: red diva
Date Posted: 11/20/06 at 4:24pm
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Oh, POB.....how I agree with you. As a matter of fact, the play is commonly known around our theatre as "The Sound of Mucus". Are we going to go to hell for saying that? Maybe I'd better go outside, turn around three times, and spit. ------------- "I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!" |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 11/21/06 at 9:34am
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I have heard that Christopher Plummer used "Sound of Mucus" on the set of the movie, so don't worry, you're in good company! (Don't get me wrong, I love the show . . . but sometimes . . . . ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
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