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vouchers

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4892
Printed Date: 10/31/25 at 5:22pm
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Topic: vouchers

Posted By: SamD
Subject: vouchers
Date Posted: 12/06/10 at 9:33pm

Our theatre group added Thursday shows to our line-up with mixed results. It seems to have thinned down our Friday crowds rather than add to our audience as a whole. A Board member suggested printing vouchers for our dress rehearsals so that we could give tickets out to the areas of our community that wouldn't normally come to see a show, just to try to spread the interest. We were also considering using this night to allow our volunteers (ushers, concessions) to see the show. Of course, we will have to pay an extra night of royalties (which hurts), but nothing is for free. I was wondering if any other theatre groups have some kind of voucher policy and how it has worked for you. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and for any advice you may have!

Replies:

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 12/06/10 at 10:40pm

If you are paying for an extra performance, why not just call it a 'preview' to hand out your comps.

Leave the 'dress rehearsal' in place as a rehearsal, which can be stoped & started as needed.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: Spectrum
Date Posted: 12/08/10 at 9:24am

Yeah, I agree with JoeMc. Why not make your final dress rehearsal a preview performance for "invited guests" only (at no charge)? People from retirement homes, government officials, veterans' hospitals, underprivileged schools, "ethnic enclaves" of your city, etc. People you don't normally see at performances. It may spark interest in a few to attend future shows, with the added benefit of possibly bringing a few people in to either perform on stage or work on the technical side of future shows.

Although it would technically be a rehearsal, I would think that final one would (should) be run through WITHOUT stopping.

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Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

Posted By: gelcat
Date Posted: 12/08/10 at 1:26pm

What Spectrum describes is exactly what our theatre does. We have some stalwart attendees from the retirement home up the street that come for every show they can get out for, and the local high school drama classes have taken advantage of the opportunity for kids to come see it for free, then there is no 'I didn't have money for tickets' issues for the teacher while discussing the show with the classes. Final dress attendance is by invitation only - your name needs to be on the list to get in the door.

We also have feedback sheets for each attendee to complete, so the director gets feedback on the different aspects of the show, besides just observing the audience reactions during the actual show. Some of the feedback sheets are very brief 'Great!' - to very detailed criticisms on acting and tech - they can be very interesting to read.

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www.actorsguildonline.org
Actors Guild of Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV

Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 12/08/10 at 2:20pm

Originally posted by SamD

Our theatre group added Thursday shows to our line-up with mixed results.

How many productions have you done with the new schedule? It takes a while to establish new audience habits.

Posted By: SamD
Date Posted: 12/18/10 at 10:46pm

We've been doing Thursday shows for the last 6 shows. We are thinking of keeping them for the musicals, which always bring in more people. I would love to fill the seats, even with comps. I think a preview show is a great idea. Thanks!

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 12/19/10 at 8:54am

A number of theatre groups will have at least 4 Charity performance during their normal 4 week 12 show [+Previews & 2 matinee] season. Which is worth them paying the fees for extra performances.

One particular ameatre group have 'harity shows' booked 12 months in advance, with a heap of charity groups knocking on their door to gain a charity night show. So much so they have even contemplated running one or two 'Charity' only seasons each year.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}