Where are the audiences?
Sat, 3 Oct 2009, 12:47 pmGordon the Optom18 posts in thread
Where are the audiences?
Sat, 3 Oct 2009, 12:47 pm Over the past six months especially, I have noticed that the attendance figures at the local theatres have been much lower than normal.
It seems to make very little difference if the show is the best production of the year, whether it has outstanding acting performances or even if the weather is fine.
A year ago I would turn up, fingers crossed, at the well-established community theatres hoping to get a seat, only to be disappointed when the show was a sell-out. Now they are often only 30-40% full.
The past month I have seen shows with 20 in the audience. The least I have witnessed was 6 for a superb play.
The very interesting survey on this site shows ‘musicals’ as the winner. Yet I have heard of a group that wished to put on a musical, but who had to give up through lack of actors. Could it be that this survey was answered mainly by actors or people closely connected to the profession, and that the real shows that bring the bums-on-seats brigade are the TV comedies – Fawlty Towers, Black Books, Dad’s Army – packed every night. Sold out weeks in advance.
Are the acting groups putting on what they alone want? Are the producers / directors making the wrong choice? Is it the variable and sometimes dodgy venue comfort? Parking – not safe or expensive? Or could it be we don’t really know our audiences’ ages, likes and demands? Would the cost of giving a free sherry be better spent on heating the venue?
It seems to make very little difference if the show is the best production of the year, whether it has outstanding acting performances or even if the weather is fine.
A year ago I would turn up, fingers crossed, at the well-established community theatres hoping to get a seat, only to be disappointed when the show was a sell-out. Now they are often only 30-40% full.
The past month I have seen shows with 20 in the audience. The least I have witnessed was 6 for a superb play.
The very interesting survey on this site shows ‘musicals’ as the winner. Yet I have heard of a group that wished to put on a musical, but who had to give up through lack of actors. Could it be that this survey was answered mainly by actors or people closely connected to the profession, and that the real shows that bring the bums-on-seats brigade are the TV comedies – Fawlty Towers, Black Books, Dad’s Army – packed every night. Sold out weeks in advance.
Are the acting groups putting on what they alone want? Are the producers / directors making the wrong choice? Is it the variable and sometimes dodgy venue comfort? Parking – not safe or expensive? Or could it be we don’t really know our audiences’ ages, likes and demands? Would the cost of giving a free sherry be better spent on heating the venue?
Ask the public not the 'in crowd'
Sun, 4 Oct 2009, 04:55 pmIs theatre really just a ‘family’ business? How often do you hear people say ‘I am only here to see my friend who is in the play’, or ‘Haven’t been for years, but my daughter is in it!’
How many of the audience actually go to a show because they have heard that the play is very good, or have read about it in the paper and decided to have night out – not knowing anyone connected with the production? Look at the audiences you have at present and ask if there is new blood there, or is it the same aging population?
Are Foxtel, Computer Games and apathy winning? The biggest run in Perth this year has been 101 things to do with your boobs – a full house for weeks. The Perth audiences are better than this surely.
I wonder if the ITA Committee might consider making a brief questionnaire with possibly half a dozen questions such as those below. If every member, of every theatre group in the area, ask a cross section of only ten members of the general public at random in the street
(not relatives), then the results of this sample may be a beneficial surprise to us all. It should only take a total of about twenty minutes.
I would be happy to act as a coordinator for the results if required.
How often do you go to the cinema?
1 week 1 month 6 months 1 year longer than 1 year
1 week 1 month 6 months 1 year longer than 1 year
His Maj Playhouse Regal Subiaco Burswood Other ………..
1 week 1 month 6 months 1 year longer than 1 year
Don’t go out at night Poor parking Expensive Nothing worth seeing
$10 $15 $20 $25 $30 $35 $40
Thriller / drama Musical Comedy Something new / unusual
How many of the audience actually go to a show because they have heard that the play is very good, or have read about it in the paper and decided to have night out – not knowing anyone connected with the production? Look at the audiences you have at present and ask if there is new blood there, or is it the same aging population?
Are Foxtel, Computer Games and apathy winning? The biggest run in Perth this year has been 101 things to do with your boobs – a full house for weeks. The Perth audiences are better than this surely.
I wonder if the ITA Committee might consider making a brief questionnaire with possibly half a dozen questions such as those below. If every member, of every theatre group in the area, ask a cross section of only ten members of the general public at random in the street
(not relatives), then the results of this sample may be a beneficial surprise to us all. It should only take a total of about twenty minutes.
I would be happy to act as a coordinator for the results if required.
Do you mind if I ask you a few quick questions about the theatre?
How often do you go to the cinema?
1 week 1 month 6 months 1 year longer than 1 year
When did you last go to one of the main theatres in Perth? Which theatre was it?
1 week 1 month 6 months 1 year longer than 1 year
His Maj Playhouse Regal Subiaco Burswood Other ………..
When did you last go to one of the local community / amateur theatres?
1 week 1 month 6 months 1 year longer than 1 year
Which theatre was it? ………………………
Would you go back? Yes No
If not why not?
Don’t go out at night Poor parking Expensive Nothing worth seeing
Which is your nearest theatre? ……………………… Have you heard of ???? theatre
How much do you think a ticket to the local Community Theatre costs?
$10 $15 $20 $25 $30 $35 $40
Do you prefer to see?
Thriller / drama Musical Comedy Something new / unusual
Postcode ……………….. Guess at person’s age ……………