ART

There are two productions on in Perth this week in community theatre. One is as I understand sold out and deservedly so. The second is ART at the Old Mill Theatre in South Perth and although word of mouth has certainly pulled in a crowd we still have some seats left for this coming Thursday and Saturday evening so BOOK NOW If you have already seen the aforementioned first show or can't get tickets then come and see ART, featuring three wonderful performances from Dean Schulze, Mark Blades and Mike Anthony Sheehy at their brilliant best! Call 9367.8719, enjoy the show and meet the cast over a drink at the bar afterwards. OLD MILL THEATRE, MENDS STREET, SOUTH PERTH (Opposite the Windsor Hotel)

It's just a shame the play doesn't have a more interesting title - the general public are renowned for their stupidity and I reckon a number of them will have thought ART means there's an exhibition on, not a play. Maybe your promotion promotion should have said something like "ART: A scintillating play in two fabulous acts"

I don't think the 'general public'are stupid. anyway I did put down who the author is and the actors and anyone with a modicum of intelligence can see that this is a production!!

Vast experience says that the 'general public' are less than sharp at times. Just spend some time at roundabouts in Perth (you have to know what to do to get your L plates apparently!) and see the complete ignorance of some as to what to do. Or check out the people chatting on their mobiles (without even the 'cover' of hands free)- often in peak hour and at great speed on the freeway Or see how easily they are led on issues of national importance, such as children overboard, tampa, 'terror'... why would anyone presume to think these same people who can't distinguish details that will save their lives will necessarily understand that this was a production? what makes you think that anyone goes past the first 2 lines, if that far? I know I don't. I haven't got the time to waste on anything that doesn't immediately grab me. Marketing 101 attention spans are small people, and you need to hit them between the eyes. Especially at post-christmas, start of school, PIAF time. and the general public are not necessarily 'people like us'. Most people on this site have more than a passing interest in the theatre. A large chunk of the general public don't (unless it's big & foreign or has a soapie/tv star in it) Might be worth looking at the contribution of the post, which appeared to me to suggest something quite helpful, rather than shooting it down on a value judgement. Good luck with the show though. Hope you have some luck getting a crowd in. Nev It's the simple things stupid...

Did you see the article in the West's supplement about audience numbers in Mt Isa? pop 22,000 - 18 went to see the opera, 18,000 went to see Bobcats Dancing. (numbers quoted from my memory of teh article) It's all to do with perception

The reason why theatres fail so often with marketing is they think only people who have a devoted interest in theatre go along, which isn't the case at all. Go out in the street and talk to some people, not just theatre devotees on this site.

I just wanted to advertise the show!!!!!Thanks for all the comments anyway- just goes to show that 'people' DO read this site anyway we are doing very nicely thank you for the final three shows this week (There are a few seats left for Thursday Feb 15 and Sat Feb 17th, call 9367.8719)

Lived there when my wife worked there for a couple of years. She was in the first Bobcat show and had a ball. To be honest, it was an incredible show. By any measure. The second bobcat project was interesting, but a bit 'samey' for me. Still had massive audiences though. 2 key points- local involvement- almost every single person involved in the shows was local, barring one actor from brissy in the first one (who wasn't all that amazing from memory), and again for the second. In these country towns, local involvement is critical. 2- they used mining machinery as 'actors' in the shows. This was relevant to an audience in an isolated mining town, and people came. Opera on the whole is entirely alien to this community. That said, both my wife and I spent many nights watching theatre, music, opera, dance with literally less than ten people (18 is doing really well in the Isa Civic Centre). The only shows I know do well regularly (at the civic centre) are the local musicals (we did Les Mis to about 400-500 per night across 6 nights), the comedy roadshow, and Bobcat Dancing. I think Isa is an example of a theatre/civic centre not really being in touch with their community, and simply buying product that won't sell, and then not even doing the correct marketing to sell it. This is a problem I have seen throughout Australia's regional venues in my extensive touring life... Ironically, the local amateur theatre company plays to sell out audiences throughout the year in their own little shed/theatre. They are much more oriented to their audiences, while still doing some more 'challenging' shows as well. I think it's proof that if you're willing to get involved with the community and listen to them, anything can be successful (in terms of audience). This doesn't nullify the importance of an art form such as opera, but you must be willing to accept that it is unlikely to be an audience grabber in certain communities. Enough from me. Mt Isa was too fascinating a town, well worth looking at if you're an amateur theatre co., and I need to stop! Nev It's the simple things stupid...