Ticket Sales

Hi Jeff, There are lots of reasons why the clubs are all starting to use BOCS. Probably the main reason is that the huge BOCS publicity machine works for us, for very little outlay. It reaches many, many people whom we could not dream of reaching otherwise. It simplifies the booking process. It is nothing to do with laziness, as you implied. The process of taking bookings for a production is an horrendous business at best. You are expected to be available to take bookings practically 24 hrs/day. People want to book for specific seats, then change their minds. People make group bookings, promise to collect and pay for tickets, then don't. We turn away people who would have both paid and fronted up. Most of the clubs who are using BOCS are also keeping a certain number of seats available to members and regular patrons through the club - no booking fee - but only for certain nights, or for a limited period of time before opening night, or some such restriction. It is worth enquiring. The main benefit of using BOCS however, is the new patrons it brings into the theatre. The other night at Playlovers I got chatting to a couple of women who had previously been totally unaware that the world of Community Theatre even existed! They asked me all sorts of questions about how the production came to be. They found it absolutely fascinating to realise that this whole process went on all over Perth. And that nobody got paid!! I ended up giving them the address for this website so that they could find out more for themselves. They are looking forward to attending more amateur shows. None of this would have happened if we had not used BOCS. We have had full houses of 200 every night for the season of The Vagina Monologues, and most of them have been people who do not 'belong' to the world of Community Theatre. I think this is wonderful. And by the way Gordon, yes, we did put out flyers, contact our local paper, (I got interviewed, but as far as I know the article was never published), I talked to Dita on Radio Fremantle, Mel at TAZ publicity did a great job for us, and we certainly posted plenty of stuff on this website. But BOCS beat us hands down with the number of people they reached! So. Yes, we are using BOCS, and we will almost certainly continue to do so. Most of the clubs either are using them already, or considering the idea. Yes, it costs a little more, but that can usually be avoided if you are a member. Look for an alternative phone number on the flyers. A lot of people are grumbling, but they are all people who have never tried to handle the bookings for a production or do the publicity for a show. Keep an open mind, I truly think you will recognise in time that it is a substantial benefit to the world of Community Theatre in general.