Company publicity - what can they improve?

[keen on kean]

Company publicity - what can they improve?#1

Posted: 4/2/07 at 3:36pm

I am curious about possible publicity campaigns for COMPANY - so many people resist it, and then enjoy some part of the performance, including but not limited to Raul. Who should they be trying to reach with ads, and how could it be approached? There is tremendous repeat business for this show (including me) and I think a little uptick in attendance would have an ongoing effect.

[luvtheEmcee]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#2

Posted: 4/2/07 at 3:38pm

Apparently Raúl and some other cast members are going to be on whatever morning show is on Fox at 9 a.m. one day this week. Not sure which day, but I can try to find out.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[keen on kean]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#2

Posted: 4/2/07 at 3:51pm

What started me thinking was the passage in Meryle Secrest's biography of Sondheim where the author talks about the bolstering of the run of SITPWG by the string of articles appearing in the Times that kept the work before the public eye. With so many "easier" shows opening in the next few weeks, it seems COMPANY may get lost in the shuffle and it deserves to survive and find a broader audience.

[CurtainPullDowner]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#3

Posted: 4/2/07 at 3:57pm

What a lot of people don't consider is that Publicity costs $$$.
And if a show is not making a lot, they don't have it to spend.

Which is unfortunate, because even though I was not a big fan of this production, any production of COMPANY is worth having on Broadway instead of crap like TARZAN, which though not making $, has a corporation behind it that can publicize up the wazoo.

[MotorTink]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#4

Posted: 4/2/07 at 4:01pm

Showing cast members half to fully naked usually works!

On a more serious note: I think it is just there is so much out there to see. When people (non repeat customers) come to NYC there is so much to see, and other shows are a bit more splashy ("what it's just people standing on stage singing and playing the instruments, that's boring" I've heard that many times). Just need to find the edge that will make it stand out to an average joe.

BroadwayBoobs: I'll give all of you who weren't there a hint of who took the pictures ...it rhymes with shameless

SOMMS: I knew it was Tink!

[luvtheEmcee]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#5

Posted: 4/2/07 at 4:05pm

They don't seem to list the upcoming guests by day except for what's up tomorrow... but keep an eye out:

http://www.mandjshow.com/

There's a lot of advertising on theater sites and such, but I'd like to see the show reach out in other places because there's so much in it that could be appealing to a much broader audience. Of course yes, that costs money, and thus the vicious cycle. Although... there was a surge in advertisement after the reviews, so maybe there'll be another after the Tony nods.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[MotorTink]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#6

Posted: 4/2/07 at 4:08pm

I saw a blurb in the adults thread that Company was featured on one of the shows this morning.

BroadwayBoobs: I'll give all of you who weren't there a hint of who took the pictures ...it rhymes with shameless

SOMMS: I knew it was Tink!

[luvtheEmcee]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#7

Posted: 4/2/07 at 4:11pm

Argh, I had a feeling that'd happen.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[Weez]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#8

Posted: 4/2/07 at 4:40pm

If there were FLYERS, people might be more aware of the show! I spent close to a week trawling around tourist places and hotels to try and hunt down a couple of flyers for my theatre scrapbook, but I couldn't find any and ended up having to mutilate a spare Playbill. ;_;

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

[SweeneyPhanatic]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#9

Posted: 4/2/07 at 6:03pm

They could update the website. The "Sweeney Todd" website had wallpapers, buddy icons, soundclips, and a show video preview by the time it went down. If we had stuff to use on our computers, we could spread the word a bit more about the show (Ex: Someone sees your Buddy Icon and doesn't know what it is...so you tell them about "Company" and give them the website link!) I know it's not the best way (it's barely close to good) but it would be something (and I REALLY want to see that website updated!).

-- SDG

[keen on kean]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#10

Posted: 4/2/07 at 6:34pm

Weez and SweeneyPhanatic - both good (and not expensive) ideas. Thanks!

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#11

Posted: 4/2/07 at 7:02pm

The recent print ads are actually good at suggesting a series of complex relationships and a "modern" feel. If they had any money they could try a slick studio produced testimonial ad with celbrities talking about how Company meant so much to them, interspersed with short clips from the show.

Run it on the hotel concierge channels and NY stations.

[dancingthrulife04]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#12

Posted: 4/2/07 at 7:16pm

They have flyers...

http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda "And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler

[Thesbijean]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#13

Posted: 4/2/07 at 7:23pm

Ads and flyers and stuff isn't publicity.

Appearences on talk shows etc and other public appearences is publicity, as is print and electronic media related coverage.

[keen on kean]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#14

Posted: 4/2/07 at 7:24pm

Are they putting the flyers in the usual locations? Are they any good, or just forgettable?

[CATSNYrevival]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#15

Posted: 4/2/07 at 7:34pm

I think they could sell some more tickets if they put Raúl on all of the posters... naked.

[Weez]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#16

Posted: 4/2/07 at 7:49pm

If there are flyers, where are they hiding them, and can I coerce anyone into sending me a couple?

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

[Unknown User]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#17

Posted: 4/2/07 at 8:03pm

I think they could sell some more tickets if they put Raúl on all of the posters... naked.

In his current shape? ... no.

Sorry, couldn't resist. Anyway, having extra features on the website probably wouldn't entice anyone to come who wasn't planning on seeing the show already, save for maybe a video clip. More appearances on talk shows would help to get the word out, especially a show along the lines of The View with a lot of female viewers. Anything else that would really reach the masses would probably require quite a bit of money that I'm not sure the producers are willing to spend.

Sorry to see the show at 47% this week.

[keen on kean]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#18

Posted: 4/2/07 at 8:18pm

I'm sorry too -

I am intrigued by your comment, siamese dream, about women viewers. DO women generally buy tickets more than men, or express a preference when choosing a play? I know that 15-25 year old males dominate movie ticket buying but I don't think I've seen comparables for theater purchases. It's a question that needs answering in any publicity campaign.

[Unknown User]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#19

Posted: 4/2/07 at 8:30pm

I have no stats to back this up, but I would imagine that within a hetero relationship, the woman would exert more of an influence over what show the couple decides to see. I picture men as more indifferent in that situation, provided that they aren't looking to see a particular actor in a certain show. I would also guess more straight females than straight males purchase tickets; female interest outweighing straight male interest in theatre can be observed by simply looking at the population of this board.

As for my statement in my last post, I was specifically talking about Company as a show. I think that both men and women can relate to the show, but I feel that women would be more apt to choose to see a show centered on love and relationships, or at least be more proactive in buying the tickets and convincing her significant other to attend the show with her. I suppose Company also has the perk for potential female viewers of starring Raul Esparza, but in all honesty, I think most women who would consider seeing the show probably aren't of the age where a star's physical attractiveness is going to make or break the decision to see it. As a sidenote, while I find Raul physically attractive (although not overly so), I don't think his looks have a nearly universal appeal by any means. Updated On: 4/2/07 at 08:30 PM

[keen on kean]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#20

Posted: 4/2/07 at 8:42pm

Thanks for all that - very sound reasoning on all counts.

[Thesbijean]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#21

Posted: 4/2/07 at 8:44pm

I just hope the producers learned that putting the name of your star above the title can indeed have a negative effect, especially when you're star has no reason to be billed above the title in the first place.

[CATSNYrevival]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#22

Posted: 4/2/07 at 8:50pm

what's wrong with his current shape? wtf?

[keen on kean]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#23

Posted: 4/2/07 at 8:53pm

I don't know how that impacts sales of tickets, though. And I can't agree with the "no reason" - he is the central character. I've seen plenty of shows where I didn't recognize the above-the-title name until after I saw the show.

[ben1986]

re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#24

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:00pm

Well someone needs to do something because last week it only filled the theatre to roughly 47%. I saw this show three weeks ago and feel that a show like this should run forever. So i hope something is done to get audiences back into the theatre.