Company publicity - what can they improve?- Page 2
Company publicity - what can they improve?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/06
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#25
Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:05pm
Which the reason for my asking this question?
I wonder if there should be more outreach to younger people (this is not for obvious reasons a typical "ladies who lunch" show), or (with appropriate PC caveats on my part), the Hispanic audience?
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#26
Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:06pmThere is a Company revival on Broadway right now?!
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#27
Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:09pm
Perhaps the problem is not promoting that this is a classic work receiving its best production since it original incarnation. A sense of urgency and purpose to attend is fundamental to a show that isn't a sure sell.
What none of the publicity for the show has communicated is a call to action for regular and occasional theatergoers. They haven't accomplished making it the first choice for potential attendees.
Cabaret was astute at this, as was Carousel. The "miss this and you will die" approach could make a difference at this point in its run.
Updated On: 4/2/07 at 09:09 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/06
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#28
Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:10pm
Yikes!
Also - what if Sondheim were to teach a master class at Julliard, open to the public? Or do a televised interview, like they do with Actor's Studio?
Help!!!
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#29
Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:13pm
what's wrong with his current shape? wtf?
I don't want to derail the thread because of a comment I made in jest, but I was just joking around about the fact that he's a bit on the chubby side.
And I can't agree with the "no reason" - he is the central character.
Performing in the role of the central character is really absolutely no reason to bill someone above the title. I'm not really sure why billing Raul above the title would have a negative effect, though - why do you think, Thesbijean?
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#30
Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:40pm
Well, one great free piece of advertising is Adam Duritz's (of Counting Crows) rave about the show on his blog:
http://adam.countingcrows.com/journal.php?uid=2325
Though I did want to see the show, it wasn't at the top of my list on my once-in-a-blue-moon trip to NYC this past week. Thankfully, though, my friend bought tickets so we went. I'm so glad I did! I loved the show. I'm still thinking about it a week later.
Oh, and, yes, I'm a huge CC fan and so I was somewhat swayed by Adam's posting. It was the most I'd read about the show and stuck with me so that I certainly didn't protest when my friend invited me to the show. Hopefully other CC fans will take the recommendation and go see the show!
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#31
Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:54pmgosh, i should see it again.
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#32
Posted: 4/2/07 at 10:37pm
I think it was around this time of year that the Sweeney site got a total makeover. I'm really hoping the Company site gets updated soon, because the Sweeney one was so cool. I sort of wonder if the lack of attention to making a spiffy website has to do with the fact that while people in nearly every age group use the internet nowadays, the show's presumed target audience isn't really the set of internet-saavy teens like, say, Spring Awakening. I mean, check out their website. It's fabulous.
This week's gross made me really sad.
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#33
Posted: 4/2/07 at 10:42pmPersonally, (and I'm serious here) I think they should be using Norn's caricatures of the COMPANY company. They are fabulous (we all know that) but they also perfectly capture the inherent humor in the show. The drawing of Raul alone would start everyone talking (and not just on this board) and spark added interest.
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#35
Posted: 4/2/07 at 11:07pm
I saw that 47% percent and that heart just sank.
Maybe they should just splurge and take out a big color (the blue of the marquee) ad in the Friday or Sunday Times spotlighting Raul and tons of reviews--especially if it lasts through nomination time and gets a few, which it should, at least for Raul, revival and a couple of techincal awards. He was the main draw for me and while I thought the rest of the cast was fine, he was the highlight...the current group shot just looks kind of odd.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#36
Posted: 4/2/07 at 11:56pmthat is very kind of ya'll.
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#37
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:13am
Take a hot photo shoot with the cast (they can be in costume) and start using pictures from it as ads in The Times, etc. with quotes. New York Magazine named it best musical of the year, it was on the top 10 list of many magazines. The Times raved about it. They do have an ad in Time Out New York pretty much every week. But the poster art is boring quite frankly. And the dull blue does nothing to attract attention. Sleek, hot black and white would be more effective than the dull blue and boring poster photos at this point. Times Square billboard? (I know that's not going to happen)
They need to revamp their print ads. Perform on The View, Leno, Letterman, etc. It is time for them to step it up if they want to stay open. Revamping the website wouldn't hurt either. The site as it currently stands is boring and ugly.
If the die hard fans think the website and print work for the show is dull and boring, imagine what the general public looking at it thinks.
Updated On: 4/3/07 at 12:13 AM
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#38
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:22am
I agree about the dull print add at this point kyle. I thought the design was cute while we awaited the arrival here in NY and through previews, but change it up a little! They've shown variations of the same logo the entire run and it doesn't seem to be too exciting or recognizable at this point.
I like the suggestions about the photo shoot to use with quotes. The show, although somewhat sterile as someone said a long time ago, can be so understatedly sexy! The costumes and upscale fashion could attract that type of audience and it really isn't being capitalized on in a direct way.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#39
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:25am
Ths show took in $253,000 last week.
they barely have enough money to pay the cast and crew, they can not afford a photo shoot or a color ad in THE NEW YORK TIMES which costs a fortune.
And a sexy or revealing pic of the cast????
Fred Rose is the only cast member I would wanna see half dressed.
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#40
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:32am
Not revealing, just sleek and sexy.
The cast is a good looking group of people. Them in their all black costumes, a black and white photo, on a wet New York street. Think...Vouge fashion shoot? The ads they use for Chicago?
Robert in the front with the 3 ladies surrounding him? You get the idea. They could be doing a lot more to market the sleek, sexy aspect of this production and the cast.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#41
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:34am
Well if Raul was anywhere near as hot as Matthew Risch
(and he can't hold a candle to him) Maybe.
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#42
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:35amI kind of expected that they'd market it like... a Sex and the City The Musical type of thing. It's been a pretty conservative approach so far, which I didn't expect. I don't really think undressing the cast is the answer. I mean, I think something "revealing" per se doesn't quite fit the show's aesthetic, but sleek and sexy, sure -- like that picture from NY Magazine of Raúl and Elizabeth. Of course, all hypothetical, since money makes the world go 'round.
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#43
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:38amSH*T, I'll come take the photos and make the ads. I could do a better job than the people they have doing it now.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#44
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:45amI actually do think it would be a lot easier to market the show in that manner if Raul were more conventially attractive. It's hard to market someone who isn't a complete knockout as the ultimate "hot" bachelor if he doesn't entirely look like one. Still, I think the entire campaign could potentially work with a good marketing strategy, although I most definitely don't feel the Company publicity team has shown too much competence.
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#45
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:53am
Well, to be honest, it wouldn't really say much for the show if they needed to resort to marketing it on their leading man's looks. Yes, it would probably be a more viable option if he were more of your standard pretty boy, but still. If it were really necessary, he can photograph incredibly sexy -- in terms of having sex appeal versus being attractive to your average person -- even if not physically everyone's cup of tea. I think it's a show that could be marketed in a LOT of different ways... and yeah, sex sells, but I dunno.
... which is why I am not in marketing.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#46
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:55am
One problem with that would be that Doyle has removed all the "sex" or personal contact from the show.
So if people went expecting SEX IN THE CITY they would be highly disappointed and not create good word of mouth.
they just better hope they make it to the TONY's
(I think the producer's will)
but with those numbers they are taking a great risk.
And I only see 2 noms; (my opinion, of course)
Raul
and Revival
Maybe orchestrations.
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#47
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:56am
I actually do think it would be a lot easier to market the show in that manner if Raul were more conventially attractive. It's hard to market someone who isn't a complete knockout as the ultimate "hot" bachelor if he doesn't entirely look like one.
You're breaking my heart...
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#48
Posted: 4/3/07 at 12:59am
Hottest man in the world? No. But you can't tell me people would look at him and say "What is he doing with 3 women around him?" Give me a break.
He could fit right into a sleek black and white photo shoot. No problem. And it would look a lot better than what they are using to market the show right now. End of story.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Company publicity - what can they improve?#49
Posted: 4/3/07 at 1:01am
I don't think it says any less for the show. Marketing and a show's content itself aren't always intertwined. Unfortunately, marketing a conceptualized show as just that - a conceptualized show - isn't going to sell as many tickets as selling the looks of a conventially attractive leading man. It's moot considering Raul was probably the best combination of physical attractiveness and talent out there anyway, not to mention everyone's been long cast.
I truly don't think that most people who know absolutely nothing about the man and see a picture - even one posters here would consider "sexy," such as the Elle one - would find him stunning. I haven't shown pictures of Raul to too many of my friends who aren't interested in Broadway, but those who I have haven't found his physical looks alone too enticing. I don't feel he's unattractive or ugly by any means, but I don't think he's so sexy on a purely physical level that those who know nothing of him would find him overwhelmingly attractive. This CERTAINLY doesn't mean they still can't do more photoshoots along the lines of the earlier Vogue picture - just that I feel it would be a harder sell. Maybe not too much harder, though.
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