Feedback from posts
From: “More Lessons from the Big Screen” posted October 26
You make a valid point about those outrageous high-priced live concert tickets.
I run a small live music festival production firm. Two things are becoming apparent: 1. The public does indeed want affordable escapes from reality. 2. Ticket prices/cover charges must be a max. of $10.00 for local music talent or they won’t sell. They’d rather host friends in their homes, listen to free radio, rent movies and buy beverages from the supermarket.
In fact, guests at one of my shows this weekend complained about a $5 cover charge to see two local veteran classic rock bands in a lovely, unique full-service bar and grill situated on the relaxing Sacramento River. I was forced to allow some in for free or risk losing future fans and possibly potential gig referrals. In this economy, it has become more important to me (and the bands) to gain exposure and build a fan base in hope they can charge higher cover in the future when the market can bear it. Until then, my work, and theirs is a labor of love!
By the way, I agree with you that combining local comfort food/wine/brewpub with music makes for a more attractive, fun show/festival/concert.
Seth Godin endorses the practice of selling season tickets for entertainment. I might give this try for my 2010 festivals, if I can get local venues on board.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom,
Jenn Hill, Jenn Hill Productions
From: “What is a Freemium and Will it Work for Us? posted September 21, 2009
One of the things that could be done on this subject is for the Marketing Director/Manager of the building to approach other companies about getting something with the purchase of a ticket. Marketers are always looking for something out of the box to do to break through with their product. How about 2 free hours of play at Chuck E Cheese with every purchase of a family show…or how about a gift certificate to a grocery or drug store for the same $ figure they paid for their ticket? Put the store all over your advertising……they will get a bump and so will the family show..imagine Pay $20 for a ticket to see the Joe Lewi family show and then get a $20 gift certificate to spend at Kroger or CVS!!! Wow what a value! Do something different and see if it works….if you can’t figure it out hire me and I will do one for you and show you that it works.
Steve Brodsky
I think that freemium will be a powerful tool in the future, yet I am not sure that free seats can be considered freemium. I would make a difference between free samples and freemium. With free samples it is piece of apple you can taste, a limited time where you can use something or a few free tickets to a show. With freemium the free part can be valuable for ever in and of itself. Like the free version of skype, wordpress or even the free videos from common craft.
Usually these free services are something that can be duplicated on the internet at virtually no cost. Making freemium ideal for companies with a large scope. As I understand it, you are only located in a single location, which would make freemium less ideal and free samples a better match.
Peter, www.freemium.org
Joe,
It has worked for me as an audience member.
While Goldstar’s tickets are generally 25 – 50% off sometimes they have a number of free tickets for an event.
I’ve been lured to an event with the free ticket offer sometimes I’ve opted to pay for better seats, other times I’ve gone to the free event and told others. Also, if the free seats are gone it raises the event’s ranking within Goldstar so it’s a hotter event.
Seems like it’s working for everyone.
Annie Uzdavinis
Feedback Questions
The other day I asked two questions for today’s feedback:
- Do you think the merger of Live Nation/Ticketmaster will happen (why or why not)?
- How do you think H1N1 will affect ticket sales in the upcoming months?
I only received one reply and his answers were:
1) Yes, too much money at stake
2) No, money in people’s pockets and strength of value in consumer’s mind will determine ticket sales
Since I didn’t get any other feedback on those questions, I will take the silence as “you don’t care” and move on.
People in the biz updates
Bob Collins, Chairman of the Board of Circus Sarasota (and formerly with WWE, Ice Capades, and Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey) is currently teaching a marketing class in his hometown, Sarasota, Florida. The course, entitled “Creative Marketing Tactics for Small Businesses,” is designed to coach local business owners and managers to use many of the same marketing concepts that we use to promote family shows: particularly low-cost/high impact grass-roots marketing tools. Ultimately, Collins and colleagues hope to “take the show on-the-road” and offer the course in other cities as a day-long seminar to inspire business-owners to conduct their marketing with “show-business” creativity and flair.
Brandon Lucus of Carbonhouse wrote in: “Joe, you know I wouldn’t miss opportunity to talk about our excitement on current projects. We just launched:
www.charlotteconventionctr.com.
Check out these websites. The guys at Carbonhouse do good stuff!
Have a great weekend and Happy Halloween (my favorite holiday)!
Tags: Seth Godin, Bob Collins, Brandon Lucas, Carbonhouse, freemium, feedback, high price concert tickets, Jen Hill, Steve Brodsky, Goldstar, Annie Uzdavinis, Circus Sarasota
