And Now For Something Completely Different....

For those who are still reading after seeing my name at the top of this, I'd like you to think about the following.....There is a continuing problem in community theatre with people booking tickets and then not showing up. This is not a big deal until you "sell out" the house, turn people away, then find you have empty seats ( which by Murphy's Law will be the "best seats" ).As a result of this, several companies,( including both companies I'm a member of - I am NOT slamming anyone ), have introduced policies saying that you have to pick up your tickets prior to performance nights.Many patrons ( particularly regular community theatre goers ) find this difficult.Here is the challenge.Can anyone think of a system we can develop which could identify "low risk patrons " or regular theatregoers, meaning that a range of community theatres could accept their booking and payment at the door, without worrying that they are not going to turn up ?It would need to work with both box offices run from a person's house as well as those through independent agencies ( except perhaps BOCS....which would be too big an ask ).I've been playing with a couple of ideas......The questions are 1) Is it worth it ?2) Would it be feasable ?3) Do enough people care ?KimberleyPS - The Coralie debate has taken up too much room on the board. Please send any future arguments against me directly to my email.Incidently I thought the tone of my gripe about companies changing dates and details was light enough to be recognised as a dig at myself. I obviously dug myself so deep that Adam thought he would play undertaker. NEVER MIND I HAVE RISEN FROM THE DEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Acorn Theatre tackeled the problem of pre payment for tickets, in 1998.As we have only 28 seats,(yes we r trying to get in the Guinness Book of Records - to no avail, any suggestions welsome), we realised early on that if we filled a night then a booking of 5 or 10 cancelled, it would drastically reduce the size of our audiance, by half.And no one likes to perform to only a handful of patrons.So we introduced a pay before the night policy, which has worked reasonably well.Obviously as a small theatre with a small membership and small no of regular patrons, this is not as big a headach as it may be for larger companies.those patrons who could not send a cheque ( and we stated in flyers and publicity to pay 2 weeks prior), some dropped the money in personally, or in some cases , we did have to let them pay on the night.It was also a case of demand, when u only have 28 seats, even when u do a 9 show season, it limits the no of people who can come and enjoy the show. so we also had the advantage of saying we need the payment prior, because of the limited seating.If you book to go see Les mis.. at his Majestiy's this year, i can guarantee u, u will not be able to just rock up on the night and expect to get good seats if any. And it is not correct etiquite ( excuse spelling) to book for a professional show and not turn up without paying.Ameture theatre should not be any different. If anything, as we are all volunteers, it is more important the $$ comes in, and that the audiance is full, for our dedicated performers.hope this brings some good healthy theatrical debate.Sue ThomasPresidentAcorn Theatre>> For those who are still reading after seeing my name at the top> of this, I'd like you to think about the following.....> There is a continuing problem in community theatre with people> booking tickets and then not showing up. This is not a big deal until> you "sell out" the house, turn people away, then find you> have empty seats ( which by Murphy's Law will be the "best seats"> ).> As a result of this, several companies,( including both companies> I'm a member of - I am NOT slamming anyone ), have introduced policies> saying that you have to pick up your tickets prior to performance> nights.> Many patrons ( particularly regular community theatre goers )> find this difficult.> Here is the challenge.> Can anyone think of a system we can develop which could identify> "low risk patrons " or regular theatregoers, meaning that> a range of community theatres could accept their booking and payment> at the door, without worrying that they are not going to turn up ?>> It would need to work with both box offices run from a person's> house as well as those through independent agencies ( except perhaps> BOCS....which would be too big an ask ).> I've been playing with a couple of ideas......> The questions are 1) Is it worth it ?> 2) Would it be feasable ?> 3) Do enough people care ?> Kimberley> PS - The Coralie debate has taken up too much room on the board.> Please send any future arguments against me directly to my email.>> Incidently I thought the tone of my gripe about companies changing> dates and details was light enough to be recognised as a dig at myself.> I obviously dug myself so deep that Adam thought he would play undertaker.> NEVER MIND I HAVE RISEN FROM THE DEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!>

EMAILNOTICES>no> The questions are 1) Is it worth it ?That depends on the cost of the problem and the cost of the solution.a) A simple solution is to enforce an arrival of ten or so min.s before a showor tickets may be re-sold. This would only occur on nights with full housebookings and the tickets have not been paid for.b) You could also give special considerations to members over other patrons.For example, no ten minute dead-line or no prior payment options (ie can payat door.)> 2) Would it be feasable ?The two suggestions above would not be all that difficult to impliment andin the case of b) the basic structure is already in-place for most clubs.> 3) Do enough people care ?Stay tuned for that one. Just watch the discussions that may or may notfollow.Jeff Watkins

>SueCongratulations on becoming President of Acorn !!!!!!!!!!!!OK - the percentage of Acorn patrons who are allowed to pay at the door.....Do they always show up ? Would it be good for Acorn if there was a sort of "arrangement" which would increase the chances that they WOULD show up ?What has the Guiness Book of World Records said ??Kim

Thanks Kim!We have about 10 patrons who have been coming to Acorn shows since we began, 12 years ago.So we do not hesitate to allow the rules to bend for these patrons as we know they always show up.We also do mention when calling people to confirm bookings , that if they have to cancel, to let us know ASAP. If we can get people to buy their seats, we will, otherwise we cant refund their money.harsh perhaps but neccessary.Guinness Book of Records have been "assesing" our claim since May last year.. and we are still hoping.Will be sending more correspondance to them shortlySue>> Congratulations on becoming President of Acorn !!!!!!!!!!!!> OK - the percentage of Acorn patrons who are allowed to pay at> the door.....Do they always show up ? Would it be good for Acorn if> there was a sort of "arrangement" which would increase the> chances that they WOULD show up ?> What has the Guiness Book of World Records said ??> Kim

Hi JeffI like both of your suggestions and i've seen them work very well.> a) A simple solution is to enforce an arrival of ten or so min.s> before a show> or tickets may be re-sold. This would only occur on nights with> full house> bookings and the tickets have not been paid for.You need to be very clear with patrons when they book over the phone that their unpaid tickets will only be held until 10 minutes prior to the show after which time you reserve the right to cancel their booking and sell their tickets if it is a full house.For large group bookings you may still want to require some form of pre-payment.Otherwise an excellent solution.> b) You could also give special considerations to members over> other patrons.> For example, no ten minute dead-line or no prior payment options> (ie can pay> at door.)This could work in conjunction with the above suggestion, but would have to be done with the utmost discretion by your box office staff, so as not to upset the other patrons.CheersGrant

EMAILNOTICES>no> I like both of your suggestions and i've seen them work very> well.Thanks Grant.If these ideas were to be implimented, they would certainly need somefleshing out, however I'm yet to see them actually used anywhere andI have attended shows at at least 6 different theatres north of the river.Simple solutions are usually the best.Regs,Jeff.

Melville haven't had TOO many problems with patrons not turning up but now that we have installed raked seating which has reduced the available seats to 120 maybe we shall have to have a re-think. Incidentally we opened last Wednesday with the aforementioned seating (which was finished at 11 pm the previous evening!)and have had lots of positve comments. The Mayor said she loved not having to dodge back and forth to see all the action! so it's already been worth the cost/trauma/anguish. we are actually beginning to look like a theatre instead of a barn. One more week to see a very funny play, "Don't Misunderstand Me" by Patrick Cargill. Plays WEd/Fri/Sat. book 9457-4994Norma Davis (wearing MTC hat)> Thanks Grant.> If these ideas were to be implimented, they would certainly need> some> fleshing out, however I'm yet to see them actually used anywhere> and> I have attended shows at at least 6 different theatres north> of the river.> Simple solutions are usually the best.> Regs,> Jeff.