Comments on: Into what hoods and where are they anyway? http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:29:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Joe Brown http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-14614 Joe Brown Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:12:34 +0000 http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-14614 Old aged Box Office Managers and Ticketing Managers that were around when musicals lasted longer than 6 months know far much more than the current "Marketing Managers... Executives... Directors...Representitives" or what ever their current title is this week. Old aged Box Office Managers and Ticketing Managers that were around when musicals lasted longer than 6 months know far much more than the current “Marketing Managers… Executives… Directors…Representitives” or what ever their current title is this week.

]]> By: Peter Harlock http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-14143 Peter Harlock Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:16:00 +0000 http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-14143 God almighty - the usual whinge from Joe Brown - he's got Box Office person written all over him and he's years behind the times. God almighty - the usual whinge from Joe Brown - he’s got Box Office person written all over him and he’s years behind the times.

]]> By: Joe Brown http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-13427 Joe Brown Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:19:05 +0000 http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-13427 Supposed advertising and marketing agencies are one of the faults with the West End. Years ago when I was in theatre they were simply print and distrubutions companies coming up with great artwork and concentrating on distrubuting that - not they messle in with purchasing and sales, when really they have no idea what it takes to sell a musical and simply use about a dozen ticket agents mailing list and take a few ads out on well known papers and site instead of actually finding theatregoers that suit that show.... it often makes me wonder if marketing agents - which put account persons in care of shows who really don't have a clue about the show they are working on as they just generically assigned to a production - weren't so "in charge" completely of productions fantastic shows like "The Drowsy Chaperone" would have had more chance of selling and advertising budgets wouldn't be whislted away and actually be pro-active to sell Supposed advertising and marketing agencies are one of the faults with the West End.

Years ago when I was in theatre they were simply print and distrubutions companies coming up with great artwork and concentrating on distrubuting that - not they messle in with purchasing and sales, when really they have no idea what it takes to sell a musical and simply use about a dozen ticket agents mailing list and take a few ads out on well known papers and site instead of actually finding theatregoers that suit that show…. it often makes me wonder if marketing agents - which put account persons in care of shows who really don’t have a clue about the show they are working on as they just generically assigned to a production - weren’t so “in charge” completely of productions fantastic shows like “The Drowsy Chaperone” would have had more chance of selling and advertising budgets wouldn’t be whislted away and actually be pro-active to sell

]]> By: Michael Coveney http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-13198 Michael Coveney Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:28:24 +0000 http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-13198 Good to hear from you, Peter. But I'm dismayed to see that, booking wise, you think "the sooner everything is done on line" the better, and better value. I always cherished the advice and input of box office staff when I was a young theatre goer, and still do, to a certain extent. Theatre is a social activity and wherever it is depersonalised it is lessened, in my view. How to reconcile the need for quicker, easier ticket buying and the idea that, when you buy a ticket, you're embarking on that experience right there...You've started me off on a new line of thought, though... Good to hear from you, Peter. But I’m dismayed to see that, booking wise, you think “the sooner everything is done on line” the better, and better value. I always cherished the advice and input of box office staff when I was a young theatre goer, and still do, to a certain extent. Theatre is a social activity and wherever it is depersonalised it is lessened, in my view. How to reconcile the need for quicker, easier ticket buying and the idea that, when you buy a ticket, you’re embarking on that experience right there…You’ve started me off on a new line of thought, though…

]]> By: Peter Harlock http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-13181 Peter Harlock Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:50:27 +0000 http://blogs.whatsonstage.com/2008/06/19/into-what-hoods-and-where-are-they-anyway/#comment-13181 Nice one Michael; sometimes this has happened (leaving name of theatre off advert) if producer cannot book a theatre in time but wants to open for group booking anyway and of course the centralised booking room with booking fees and transaction charges encourages this. With fees you have to blame the producers - they opt for a theatre deal which entails the smallest or no commission charge for selling a ticket so the punter (as in all walks of life) bears the cost. When I complained to the Whitehall Box Office once about the transaction charge being levied (for post/mail costs supposedly) even though I was collecting my tickets in person I was told it was 'for the pleasure of taking my call'. And Box Offices always blame the newspapers even though the B/O manager has often been faxed /emailed a copy of display adverts and classifieds for checking b4 they appear. The sooner everything is done online without the need for human interaction the more efficient and better value the ticket buying element will become. Nice one Michael; sometimes this has happened (leaving name of theatre off advert) if producer cannot book a theatre in time but wants to open for group booking anyway and of course the centralised booking room with booking fees and transaction charges encourages this. With fees you have to blame the producers - they opt for a theatre deal which entails the smallest or no commission charge for selling a ticket so the punter (as in all walks of life) bears the cost. When I complained to the Whitehall Box Office once about the transaction charge being levied (for post/mail costs supposedly) even though I was collecting my tickets in person I was told it was ‘for the pleasure of taking my call’. And Box Offices always blame the newspapers even though the B/O manager has often been faxed /emailed a copy of display adverts and classifieds for checking b4 they appear. The sooner everything is done online without the need for human interaction the more efficient and better value the ticket buying element will become.

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