At face value production is turning resources into results for the three principal interests; venue, talent, audience. It’s having the right budget, format, talent pay, lighting, seating, and support logistics to execute the marketed event. It’s a formula that balances fiscal and social capital to satisfy the three principal interests. A well run production provides the venue with a return on investment, performers with compensation, and audiences with high levels of satisfaction. So long as each interest is satisfied subsequent shows are possible. While the nuances of production can be argued ad nauseam, the essential components can be boiled down to four key considerations; Sound, Lighting, Seating, and Service.

Sound

Amplified sound that is clear over ambient noise is essential to a show.  Sound waves drop off over distance and are absorbed by the audience itself. If a show is too quite, people begin to ask one another what was said. Even at low volume talking adds up, and enough will eventually disrupt the integrity of the show. Equally dangerous is overly-amplified, distorted, or dangerously loud sound. We recommend a minimum of 1/2 a watt of available sound per square foot (not to exceed 600 watts from a single source).

If your establishment does not have an appropriate configuration of wiring, microphones, soundboard, and PAs, one will be provided at no additional charge. However, if you do become a regular venue you should consider purchasing a modest system, or at least running speaker wires to facilitate easy setup and breakdown.

Lighting

Appropriate lighting for a show requires balance. Without enough stage light the audience may as well be listening to a recording. Too much light and the stage becomes harsh causing the performer to squint or have difficulty seeing the audience. If ideal stage lighting is not attainable with in house equipment, DMX spot and/or auxiliary (canned) lighting will be provided.

The “house” (audience) lighting is just as important. Too much house light and the audience will begin to lose focus and start talking or even worse, “heckle”. This can and eventually will obliterate the integrity of a show. Ideally, a venue will have the ability to dim the house lights just before the show begins, as doing so creates a strong psychological response to stay quiet.

Dynamic lighting facilitates more than just an attentive, well behaved audience. From an ROI perspective, lighting is FAR more important than sound. Lighting controls that allow us to raise house lights and lower stage lights can signal patrons to exit the showroom. The wait staff can then quickly clean and reset the showroom, enabling us to effectively produce multiple shows in a single night.

Even during the pandemic when the total number of patrons was limited to 20-30 people per show, rapid turnover strategies can optimize return on investment if the demand is high enough to sell out multiple shows. The performers are already there and the equipment is already set up, all we have to do is cycle the lights and reset the tables.

Seating

Much like lighting, seating effects both the attentiveness of the audience and potential ROI. Each paid seat must be free of obstructions and enjoy a comfortable viewing angle of the stage. Adequate access to refreshment and bathroom facilities also reduces the likelihood of regular interruptions to the show.

Guests need to be able to find seats quickly and have rapid access to building exits. For this reason we provide a detailed plan for your venue that will satisfy ADA, OSHA, and most recently CDC compliance. We can also make extra seating available to augment your existing furnishings, as well as provide one or more ushers to help arrange, seat, and break down after the show.

Standardized seating is also critical to the finances of a show, as it is essentially impossible to accurately track a show’s financial performance without it. Seating impacts premium ticket volume and countless other variables. Most critically, a lack of standardized seating eliminates the ability to accurately calculate diminishing returns. For example, increasing ticket prices typically also increases individual spend. However, at some point ticket volume will decline and take gross sales with it. In order to overcome this slump, new seating sections are needed to offer options to a wider segment of consumers. By plotting the data on a line chart we can easily detect cross over points where these new seating options should be implemented to optimize profitability.

Service

It’s not enough to simply give them a good show, it’s imperative to provide them with a good experience. They should leave feeling like they just did something intimate and special. Good service can make or break a show, especially if other factors are neglected. This might necessitate specialized staff such as ushers, cocktail servers, or even security. We also recommend offering ticket discount codes to big spenders and any regulars that might not at first take kindly to new clientele.

For no additional fee, our promotion team will also provide you with marquee videos or slideshows formatted for your digital displays. This allows you to use one or more of your TV’s to create digital marquees highlighting the line-ups of upcoming shows.

Implementing up-to-date marquees and 11×17 posters adds a “WOW-factor” that builds brand distinction and awareness. Regulars exposed to the physical likeness of a performer before they see them live are more likely to respect the performance, buy “merch” from the performer, and (most importantly) recommend the show to others.

Keep learning about the Three P’s or contact us for a free estimate.