Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Word on the Street!

Message

   Greetings.  We have come here and shared information and asked advise many, many times. I need help again, and I thought that many of you might have found yourselves in this situation and might have usefull suggestions to share.

I'm from a very small theater in Findlay Ohio. We do 5 main stage shows and 2 second stage shows a year.  We have a fledgling education program that we are trying to keep going (started with a kid camp two years ago). We do 12 performances for a musical and 8 for a straight show.  We seat about 125.  Our budgets run from about $17000 for a high end musical to $3000 for one of our "second stage" shows.

We have a web page (fairly static) a newsletter (sporadic) and a standing "active" membership of about 30 with another 30 or so "regulars".  

Our big problem of late is (and I'm sure it is for many theaters) Patronship and ticket sales are down.  On top of that our "nest egg" has been greatly diminished due to a 100 year flood that ruined a good part of the theater and warehouse.  We have since recovered "Physically" from the flood, but unfortunately not "fiscally"

On Wednesday I had the honor of being elected president of our group and I strongly feel our main thrust for the year needs to be getting the butts back in the seat, build our patron base beyond our blue haired regulars and to do our best to get our name on the street.  There is a huge percent of the polulation of our community that do not even realize we exist or that live theater is still done.

Please, if you have some suggestions on marketing plans, advertising techniques, tips on acquiring sponsorships (something we have not done much of) encouraging new membership/participation and generally promoting the theater, please pass them along.. At the moment I am desperately seeking suggestions.

With the wealth of experince we have on this board, I'm sure there are many great ideas to be had. 

Thanks

Marty Williams
The Fort Findlay Playhouse
Findlay, Ohio
mwilliams@bettsville.k12.oh.us

Author	Message
MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Topic: Word on the Street! Posted: 5/30/08 at 10:34am
	Greetings. We have come here and shared information and asked advise many, many times. I need help again, and I thought that many of you might have found yourselves in this situation and might have usefull suggestions to share. I'm from a very small theater in Findlay Ohio. We do 5 main stage shows and 2 second stage shows a year. We have a fledgling education program that we are trying to keep going (started with a kid camp two years ago). We do 12 performances for a musical and 8 for a straight show. We seat about 125. Our budgets run from about $17000 for a high end musical to $3000 for one of our "second stage" shows. We have a web page (fairly static) a newsletter (sporadic) and a standing "active" membership of about 30 with another 30 or so "regulars". Our big problem of late is (and I'm sure it is for many theaters) Patronship and ticket sales are down. On top of that our "nest egg" has been greatly diminished due to a 100 year flood that ruined a good part of the theater and warehouse. We have since recovered "Physically" from the flood, but unfortunately not "fiscally" On Wednesday I had the honor of being elected president of our group and I strongly feel our main thrust for the year needs to be getting the butts back in the seat, build our patron base beyond our blue haired regulars and to do our best to get our name on the street. There is a huge percent of the polulation of our community that do not even realize we exist or that live theater is still done. Please, if you have some suggestions on marketing plans, advertising techniques, tips on acquiring sponsorships (something we have not done much of) encouraging new membership/participation and generally promoting the theater, please pass them along.. At the moment I am desperately seeking suggestions. With the wealth of experince we have on this board, I'm sure there are many great ideas to be had. Thanks Marty Williams The Fort Findlay Playhouse Findlay, Ohio mwilliams@bettsville.k12.oh.us
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."

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biggertigger Celebrity Joined: 4/16/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 188	Posted: 5/30/08 at 11:44am
	There are many various ways to advertise your theater and performances/shows. And you are doing a good job, but like any business will tell you its getting them in to try your wares and if you give them the best, they are willing to come back again. After years of fighting with the board trying to allow them to turn one of our dinner theater performance into a regular ticket performance, they relentless gave in. We had so many people that we had to turn people away. And like other businesses they offer coupons to get people to try what they are selling in hopes that they will continue to use their product. Now that I am done rambeling, my suggestions would be offer discount tickets, buy one get on free, bring a friend. Compare this to other entertainment venues (Movie tickets, amusement park, rentals, putt-putt golf, etc.) See that they can get a better deal with seeing your production. Then give them the best production out there. Let them be entertained and want to come back for more. There are others that will have some wonderful ideas too and I can't wait to read. Good luck and congratulatons on your election.
	The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.
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sdiehl Walk-On Joined: 1/21/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/30/08 at 2:39pm
	I am not sure how big Findlay is, but having a float/marching in a local parade is a cheap way to spread your name. Have actors/members in costumes, include kids and just have fun. I know it is cheezy and not really very professional, but for a community theater it is a great way to be involved in the community.
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sconjott Lead Joined: 5/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Posted: 5/30/08 at 11:49pm
	The next time your doing a musical, take 1-3 of your better musical numbers around to area group functions (talk to them first of course, don't just show up). Churches, Lions club, Fire dept cookout, whatever you can find. Groups love free entertainment and you'll get good returns for live advertising. Maybe even take and pass out some of those coupons or something.
	There are NO small roles, only small actors...
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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 5/31/08 at 5:25am
	We are in a similar situation, in as much as we started just over three years ago. After building up an audience following, we have been in moth balls, for the last 18 months. While our 100 seat theatre is being refurbished. Now hopefully we will get access to it by at lest July? For our first production we are not charging a ticket price for a performance. Instead we are going to do either charge admission by donation or 'Pay what you like'. I did this in the beginning when there were few if any bums on seats. It worked great! At that time the normal ticket prices around were $15 & $10 in most compares. However for the next production, the committee went back to charging a ticket price. They ended up with in the original situation of, small houses & an average price per available seat of $5 - so the proof is there. So no more ticket prices & only event seating. With admission by donation we averaged $17/seat & had almost full houses. which in turn built up a following. Also we have here a free promotional website to promote ameatre each week, along with a weekly television programme 'Greenroom', that goes to Perth viewers twice a week. http://www.tazentertainment.com.au:80/
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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Running Your Theater
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Theater Administration :Running Your Theater

Topic: Word on the Street!( Topic Closed)