Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: another group

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second stage
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Joined: 1/20/09
Location: United States
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Topic: another group
Posted: 4/18/09 at 4:56pm

we as most of you, are a very small CT. we do however have two theatres in our end of the county. We obviously pull from some of the same patrons. We usually try not to schedule shows on top of one another, maybe a weeked overlap but not on top. This summer however the other group added a summer musical to their schedule (after ours went out) and it is the exact same weekends as ours. How do I compete with the musical they have chosen (Music Man)?

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gaftpres
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Star

Joined: 11/14/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 80

Posted: 4/19/09 at 9:06am

I would contact them directly, in person,and explain your concerns. I am sure they can alter their contract for the following weekend or perhaps you could at least come to a compromise. In the end, at least the effort to resolve the situation was done by you and you were able to voice your concerns. If you have a good relationship with them, it will work out.

Old volunteers never die, they just get recycled!

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Doc Theatre
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Joined: 4/10/09
Location: United States
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Posts: 0

Posted: 4/20/09 at 1:13pm

If you cannot change anything... you mentioned "compete". Hopefully your show is very diffferent in nature. Comedy could somewhat compete with it. You will probably have to do far more PR, more ticket giveaways via radio, more posters etc. I agree with the other poster = try to work out something with the other group - or agree to work togther in the future and time things out better.

Good Luck!

40+ years up on the boards and still at it!

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KEB54
Celebrity

Joined: 7/24/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 227

Posted: 4/20/09 at 5:50pm

Yeah, it might be that you won't be able to do much. One thing for certain is to talk to them. Keep those lines of communication open and cetainly don't view it as competeing. Maybe you can exchange ad space in your programs or mention the other production in your curtain speech (if you do them). We do that type of thing.

We have many CTs in my area along with a couple of University Theatres. We all get along pretty well and try to help each other out (lending props and costumes, etc.). We also try to meet once a year to discuss our seasons. Often you come away slightly disappointed because you've learned that someone is doing a show you wanted to do next year, but, hey, they were going to do it whether you knew about it or not. At least now you know early.

Some groups have more flexibility than others, so may be able to change a date, or arrange to not have big musicals going on at the same time. Also, someone may have a prop or costume they can offer once they hear what you're doing. Our programs oftem have "Special Thanks" to 3 or 4 other area theatres for help they have given us or items lent to us and vice versa.

KEB

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KEB54
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Joined: 7/24/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 227

Posted: 4/20/09 at 5:53pm

BTW - What show are you doing?

KEB

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Nanette
Celebrity

Joined: 8/01/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 399

Posted: 4/21/09 at 11:19am

I intentionally selected someone from our "competing" theatre to be on our board. That way we're aware of what's going on with each theatre and help each other where we can. We also agreed to not do the same type show within the same season (EG: Seussical vs The Seussificaton of Romeo and Juliet).

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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John Luzaich
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Joined: 2/24/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 174

Posted: 4/29/09 at 3:07pm

We've overlapped some weekends with other arts organizations too. Use it to your advantage. Work out a trade deal for an ad in each others playbills/programs. Post flyers or posters at each others venue. The other theatre will have a whole audience of people that should be coming to your show too. Just because they are the same weeks doesn't preclude someone going to both shows. A theatre patron goes to the other venue the first weekend and sees your info at that venue. That same patron can come to your theatre the second weekend. For those of us that do multiple performances of each play, there are many opportunites for people to see our shows. And then like the other posts here say, meet with them in advance for next season and talk schedules.

John
cfct@cfu.net
http://www.osterregent.org
http://www.facebook.com/osterregent

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second stage
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 1/20/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 5/06/09 at 5:21pm

thanks to all who responded. sorry it has taken so long to get back I was preparing for hell week and our last production so haven't been back in awhile. I have talked with the group and at least I will be doing 3 week ends and they only 2 so that offers some flexability to patrons. They are not able to change their dates( because of their venue) but we will try and talk next year before schedules are set. We have decided to go along with our orignal plan and do Once on this Island. It may not draw as much as music man but a least we will enjoy doing it.

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musikman1
Lead
Lead

Joined: 4/06/08
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 35

Posted: 8/04/09 at 4:42pm

Well, if they are doing Music Man with the cast of thousands, and a favorite of the little kiddies, you could turn around and hit the adult circuit:

Personals (A musical revue of people that put personal ads in the paper)

Cast: 6 Pit: 3/4 Sets: 0 (you use three rear project screens to project either the current set, OR if it's currrently not in a scene, you project very funny and very bad personal ads.)

No dirty words, LOTS of sexual innuendo:

-Husband advertises for a bisexual transvestite dwarf for his wife..

The dwarf shows up (we never see him, but they talk about him and how he slowly becomes "one of the family")

-High School Senior advertises for a "teacher"

-Guys sing about the first "sexy" teacher they all fell in love with in "Second Grade."

-Girls sing about the horrible guys they dated JUST because their mother HATED him.. Song: "The Guys My Mother Made Me Love"

-Video dating service from hell

-The date from hell. Song: "I'd Rather Dance Alone!"

Lyrics:

Girl:

I'm intellectual, he's into leather.

I woke up this morning with my hands tied together.

And there's this "thing" that he does with the cord to the phone.

I'D RATHER DANCE ALONE!

Inexpensive, audiences love it (at least when I've done it), and a perfect "counter program" to a kid's show.

And if you do it, call me, I'll piano-conduct for you, LOVE that show!

Rick
http://www.bway2.com/tracks

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Play Suggestions
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Play Suggestions

Author	Message
second stage Walk-On Joined: 1/20/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: another group Posted: 4/18/09 at 4:56pm
	we as most of you, are a very small CT. we do however have two theatres in our end of the county. We obviously pull from some of the same patrons. We usually try not to schedule shows on top of one another, maybe a weeked overlap but not on top. This summer however the other group added a summer musical to their schedule (after ours went out) and it is the exact same weekends as ours. How do I compete with the musical they have chosen (Music Man)?

	IP Logged

gaftpres Star Joined: 11/14/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 80	Posted: 4/19/09 at 9:06am
	I would contact them directly, in person,and explain your concerns. I am sure they can alter their contract for the following weekend or perhaps you could at least come to a compromise. In the end, at least the effort to resolve the situation was done by you and you were able to voice your concerns. If you have a good relationship with them, it will work out.
	Old volunteers never die, they just get recycled!
	IP Logged

Doc Theatre Walk-On Joined: 4/10/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/20/09 at 1:13pm
	If you cannot change anything... you mentioned "compete". Hopefully your show is very diffferent in nature. Comedy could somewhat compete with it. You will probably have to do far more PR, more ticket giveaways via radio, more posters etc. I agree with the other poster = try to work out something with the other group - or agree to work togther in the future and time things out better. Good Luck!
	40+ years up on the boards and still at it!
	IP Logged

KEB54 Celebrity Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227	Posted: 4/20/09 at 5:50pm
	Yeah, it might be that you won't be able to do much. One thing for certain is to talk to them. Keep those lines of communication open and cetainly don't view it as competeing. Maybe you can exchange ad space in your programs or mention the other production in your curtain speech (if you do them). We do that type of thing. We have many CTs in my area along with a couple of University Theatres. We all get along pretty well and try to help each other out (lending props and costumes, etc.). We also try to meet once a year to discuss our seasons. Often you come away slightly disappointed because you've learned that someone is doing a show you wanted to do next year, but, hey, they were going to do it whether you knew about it or not. At least now you know early. Some groups have more flexibility than others, so may be able to change a date, or arrange to not have big musicals going on at the same time. Also, someone may have a prop or costume they can offer once they hear what you're doing. Our programs oftem have "Special Thanks" to 3 or 4 other area theatres for help they have given us or items lent to us and vice versa.
	KEB
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KEB54 Celebrity Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227	Posted: 4/20/09 at 5:53pm
	BTW - What show are you doing?
	KEB
	IP Logged

Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 4/21/09 at 11:19am
	I intentionally selected someone from our "competing" theatre to be on our board. That way we're aware of what's going on with each theatre and help each other where we can. We also agreed to not do the same type show within the same season (EG: Seussical vs The Seussificaton of Romeo and Juliet).
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

John Luzaich Celebrity Joined: 2/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 174	Posted: 4/29/09 at 3:07pm
	We've overlapped some weekends with other arts organizations too. Use it to your advantage. Work out a trade deal for an ad in each others playbills/programs. Post flyers or posters at each others venue. The other theatre will have a whole audience of people that should be coming to your show too. Just because they are the same weeks doesn't preclude someone going to both shows. A theatre patron goes to the other venue the first weekend and sees your info at that venue. That same patron can come to your theatre the second weekend. For those of us that do multiple performances of each play, there are many opportunites for people to see our shows. And then like the other posts here say, meet with them in advance for next season and talk schedules.
	John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent
	IP Logged

second stage Walk-On Joined: 1/20/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/06/09 at 5:21pm
	thanks to all who responded. sorry it has taken so long to get back I was preparing for hell week and our last production so haven't been back in awhile. I have talked with the group and at least I will be doing 3 week ends and they only 2 so that offers some flexability to patrons. They are not able to change their dates( because of their venue) but we will try and talk next year before schedules are set. We have decided to go along with our orignal plan and do Once on this Island. It may not draw as much as music man but a least we will enjoy doing it.
	IP Logged

musikman1 Lead Joined: 4/06/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Posted: 8/04/09 at 4:42pm
	Well, if they are doing Music Man with the cast of thousands, and a favorite of the little kiddies, you could turn around and hit the adult circuit: Personals (A musical revue of people that put personal ads in the paper) Cast: 6 Pit: 3/4 Sets: 0 (you use three rear project screens to project either the current set, OR if it's currrently not in a scene, you project very funny and very bad personal ads.) No dirty words, LOTS of sexual innuendo: -Husband advertises for a bisexual transvestite dwarf for his wife.. The dwarf shows up (we never see him, but they talk about him and how he slowly becomes "one of the family") -High School Senior advertises for a "teacher" -Guys sing about the first "sexy" teacher they all fell in love with in "Second Grade." -Girls sing about the horrible guys they dated JUST because their mother HATED him.. Song: "The Guys My Mother Made Me Love" -Video dating service from hell -The date from hell. Song: "I'd Rather Dance Alone!" Lyrics: Girl: I'm intellectual, he's into leather. I woke up this morning with my hands tied together. And there's this "thing" that he does with the cord to the phone. I'D RATHER DANCE ALONE! Inexpensive, audiences love it (at least when I've done it), and a perfect "counter program" to a kid's show. And if you do it, call me, I'll piano-conduct for you, LOVE that show!
	Rick http://www.bway2.com/tracks
	IP Logged

Topic: another group( Topic Closed)