Use creative marketing to attract audiences to your theater.
It can be difficult for local performing arts theaters to compete with blockbuster films and 3D technology that mainstream theaters offer to audiences. However, all is not lost, as many people still enjoy going to the theater to see live performances. The issue, however, is bring in more people to the theater. To market your theater successfully, be creative. Think about what you have to offer your audiences, and establish a connection with the community.
Instructions
1. Reduce your ticket prices. This gives your theater a competitive advantage against your competitors, such as other performing arts theaters and movie theaters with higher ticket prices. Find out what your competitors charge for their tickets, and price your own slightly below that. By offering a more economical means of entertainment, audiences will feel like it's a bargain and be willing to bring along the family and friends for a night of entertainment.
2. Offer ticket packages. Ticket packages are sold at a high rate, but audience members receive multiple tickets to the different shows that the theater produces for the season or year. When audiences purchase ticket packages, they will already have the tickets in their possession, so the chances of them attending the theater are higher. Additionally, see if you can offer customizable ticket packages, so that audience members can select for which shows during the year they want tickets, and for which ones they do not.
3. Set up an electronic audience database on a basic spreadsheet or tracking system. Every time audience members purchase tickets to your theater, ask them for an email address, phone number and mailing address. This gives you access to their contact information so that you can make phone calls about upcoming shows, and mail them pamphlets or flyers to spark their interest.
4. Venture out into the community. Stage sneak previews of performances in communal areas, such as at the park, downtown and at schools -- with permission. This gives the public a chance to see what your theater group has to offer, and can make them interested to see the rest. Bring along lots of flyers with ticket purchasing information.
5. Put together promotional activities. Examples of promotion activities are "buy one ticket, get one free" or "this month, all children under 12 years old are free." This gives audiences incentive to come to your theater. You also can advertise that all audience members who attend the show will have their names placed in a raffle, and at the end of the performance, you announce the randomly drawn winner who receives a free, year-long ticket package.
6. Make upgrades to your theater. If your theater does not already have a concession stand or a place to purchase snacks and beverages, look into setting one up. Little luxuries can make audiences more excited to attend your theater, and also increase your revenue.
7. Select your productions carefully. Think about what types of shows the people in your area enjoy, based on some cultural and demographic information. If you are a theater in a college town within walking distance from the campus, you could bring more people to your theater by producing shows that appeal to college-age students.
8. Stay in touch with your audience members, especially the regulars. Keep them updated on upcoming shows, and let them know when tickets are going on sale for particular events.
Tags: your theater, audience members, This gives, about what, already have