I was reading a bit of American Theatre online - specifically this article by Celia Wren that summarizes and slightly analyzes this year's Theatre Facts insert - and I came across this quotation.
Jorge Z. Ortoll, executive director of New York’s Ma-Yi Theater Company, frets over the fickleness of theatregoers today. “If it’s a rainy day, they don’t come,” he says. “If it’s hot outside, they don’t come. If it’s a nice day to go to the park, they don’t come.”That perfectly summarizes my frustrations with trying to understand why audiences do and don't show-up. If there's basketball on TV, they don't come. If there's a college football game, they don't come. If it's within a week of a holiday, they don't come, if there's a big band in town, they don't come. If Spider-Man 6 is opening, they don't come. If it's cold out and our show isn't a comedy, they don't come. If the rave review just came out today, they don't come. If they might be anything more relaxing to do, they don't come.
Is there ever a good night to do theatre?
Comments (2)
My take: these are post hoc excuses to try to explain away the fundamental lack of demand for live theatre.
Posted by Brant | December 2, 2007 12:14 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 12:14
I don't know. I've never seen much of a drop-off in Chicago due to weather since I started tracking it four or five years ago. I had thought it was a no brainer, but there actually seems to be a bit of an upswing when the weather's bad. The one exception of when it's 85 and sunny. There are few perfect weather days in Chicago though, so that's not too much of a hit. (Though I wonder if people having the option not to drive places by taking a cab or a train helps this here?)
Following Brant,
I think a lot has to due with the need to create demand and a sense of event. It's always harder to get someone in the door for the first time, than to get them to come back.
Posted by Tony | December 3, 2007 2:23 PM
Posted on December 3, 2007 14:23