This topic comes out of a reply to the topic of publicity/getting your members to help out.
1) What do you charge for tickets?
(we charge ?4 and ?3.50 for concessions)
2) What do you charge for programmes or do you give them out free?
(we charge 20p. It is an A5 booklet, nothing fancy)
3) How else apart from ticket sales, do you make money front of house? ie refreshments, raffle, cloakroom.
(we perform at a council run theatre so we get no profits on interval drinks. We do ask people to make donations to cloakroom (if used, October productions normally make more money) and if they put in ?1 we give them a free programme.
4) How many shows do you produce a year?
(we do two)
Full Version: Making money - tickets, programmes and other
for plays we aim for an average of 5 per ticket. I imagine we could charge more for musicals. I imagine we'd need to.
we charge about 20p for the programmes, again, A5, cast list, nothing special.
We don't have our own venue so the venue tends to get any bar receipts. We have a weekly drama class which we have a whip round at the end of. A small but useful income
we charge about 20p for the programmes, again, A5, cast list, nothing special.
We don't have our own venue so the venue tends to get any bar receipts. We have a weekly drama class which we have a whip round at the end of. A small but useful income
1) Anything from ?7.50 upwards with concessions and cheaper tickets on Mondays and Tuesdays!
2) We charge ?1 rising to ?1.50 this year. It is an expensive program however we usually try to ensure that advertising covers the cost of the program and every programme we sell is then profit.
3) Refreshments, Raffle etc, We do them all!!! 200 club etc etc
4) Two Shows a year!
Sorry theres nothing really exciting there!, no new ideas!
2) We charge ?1 rising to ?1.50 this year. It is an expensive program however we usually try to ensure that advertising covers the cost of the program and every programme we sell is then profit.
3) Refreshments, Raffle etc, We do them all!!! 200 club etc etc
4) Two Shows a year!
Sorry theres nothing really exciting there!, no new ideas!
For Tickets we charge ?10 - ?12 this year (a couple of performances may peak at ?15)
Programmes are at ?1.50
Raffles are at ?1
Our Theatre takes an average of 11% ticket sales comission and provide a bar so we can't
refreshments at rehearsals, plus show fees provide some income. Social activities and a wonderful 100 qustion general knowlege quiz (at ?1.00 per head) provide other small income
Car boots bring in more income than Jumble sales - but I'm afraid that Programme sponsoreship and corparate marketing are the hide aways of the real money. For my next show - the team needs to fundraise around ?4 - ?6k if we're to produce the show in the way we want (we have a fal back if we don't) Unfortunatly there is no magic soloution to this - just persistant hard work
Programmes are at ?1.50
Raffles are at ?1
Our Theatre takes an average of 11% ticket sales comission and provide a bar so we can't
refreshments at rehearsals, plus show fees provide some income. Social activities and a wonderful 100 qustion general knowlege quiz (at ?1.00 per head) provide other small income
Car boots bring in more income than Jumble sales - but I'm afraid that Programme sponsoreship and corparate marketing are the hide aways of the real money. For my next show - the team needs to fundraise around ?4 - ?6k if we're to produce the show in the way we want (we have a fal back if we don't) Unfortunatly there is no magic soloution to this - just persistant hard work
For musicals, around ?10-12. For plays, around ?8 with concessions on the first night.
Programmes, usually ?1 for a glossy one full of photos and biogs, at least 12 sides. Have done FOH for other groups who charge ?1.50. Some people look a bit odd at that amount, but it's never stopped anyone buying one! I'd expect programme advertising (usually local shops or topical theme) to cover the printing. Then every single programme you sell is profit. Average sold - one programme per three audience members. This hasn't varied over 10 years of surveys and a variety of venues, so it's a good rule of thumb when you're working out your budgets in advance.
For decent photocopy ones with a card cover, in one colour, then 50p. No-one ever queries this, but make sure you don't ruin your reputation by selling bad copies.
No refreshment income as the theatre has its own bar. IF using a village hall, it can often be difficult to get a licence to sell alcohol, and the church hall only allows us to 'give it away for a donation' but we get there in the end.
We do a raffle, but remember the venue has to have a licence and you have to have one too (it's gambling after all). It can be more bother than you think!
For pantos, a free badge on the programme (Can be very cheaply acquired) means that every child in the audience will demand one. Cheap trick but it's all for a good cause.....
Three shows a year usually.
We make our best profits on panto, Terry Pratchett plays and one-night cabaret or green room shows. We make our biggest losses on musicals of course, as we lose 17% of box office takings to the publisher, and about 12% as theatre commission (to the Borough Council). After theatre hire (?1,000) and reherasal halls (?25 per rehearsal) you have to keen a tight eye on things these days!!
Programmes, usually ?1 for a glossy one full of photos and biogs, at least 12 sides. Have done FOH for other groups who charge ?1.50. Some people look a bit odd at that amount, but it's never stopped anyone buying one! I'd expect programme advertising (usually local shops or topical theme) to cover the printing. Then every single programme you sell is profit. Average sold - one programme per three audience members. This hasn't varied over 10 years of surveys and a variety of venues, so it's a good rule of thumb when you're working out your budgets in advance.
For decent photocopy ones with a card cover, in one colour, then 50p. No-one ever queries this, but make sure you don't ruin your reputation by selling bad copies.
No refreshment income as the theatre has its own bar. IF using a village hall, it can often be difficult to get a licence to sell alcohol, and the church hall only allows us to 'give it away for a donation' but we get there in the end.
We do a raffle, but remember the venue has to have a licence and you have to have one too (it's gambling after all). It can be more bother than you think!
For pantos, a free badge on the programme (Can be very cheaply acquired) means that every child in the audience will demand one. Cheap trick but it's all for a good cause.....
Three shows a year usually.
We make our best profits on panto, Terry Pratchett plays and one-night cabaret or green room shows. We make our biggest losses on musicals of course, as we lose 17% of box office takings to the publisher, and about 12% as theatre commission (to the Borough Council). After theatre hire (?1,000) and reherasal halls (?25 per rehearsal) you have to keen a tight eye on things these days!!
We just started doing a raffle (after 50 years of resistance!). We ask members to donate a prize (bottle of wine, box of chocs etc) which most are happy to do so that the only cost is the tickets themselves. We have a really good FOH manager who runs this efficiently for us. We've also found that some people re-donate the prizes they've won so we make money twice over!
We have been stunned by how much money we make on this. Over a four day run with audiences of about 120 a night, we made over ?200!
Our programmes are card cover, colour photos, about 8 pages and we charge 50p which probably covers the cost (colour cartridges not being cheap).
We have been stunned by how much money we make on this. Over a four day run with audiences of about 120 a night, we made over ?200!
Our programmes are card cover, colour photos, about 8 pages and we charge 50p which probably covers the cost (colour cartridges not being cheap).
I could be wrong here... but surely it's cheaper (and quicker) to get those programmes printed professionally?? I guess colour photos might be the expense..
Just thinking aloud...
Just thinking aloud...
if "colour cartridge" means you're doing them on a computer printer then that is waaaay expensive - you really would be better with a small run printer (there's a posh name for it which escapes me - I can find out if necessary)
What you need to do is to "butter up" your local printer and designer.
We did with great results, he even helps us find advertisers from his clients!
PWD Print and Design
We did with great results, he even helps us find advertisers from his clients!
PWD Print and Design
what a b*****y fine idea... I knew there was a reason I spend so much time here...
The reason we still print these ourselves is a) whenever possible the guy who prints them sneaks them in at work so we don't actually bear the cost of colour cartridges anyway (but don't snitch) and 
flexibility. We seem to add all sorts of things into our programmes at the last minute (adverts for other societies' productions - which we charge for by the way or get them to reciprocate at least), latest society news, y'know. Not the most efficient process we know but we're used to it now!
flexibility. We seem to add all sorts of things into our programmes at the last minute (adverts for other societies' productions - which we charge for by the way or get them to reciprocate at least), latest society news, y'know. Not the most efficient process we know but we're used to it now!
> The reason we still print these ourselves is
> a) whenever possible the guy who prints them sneaks them in at work
wow, he is taking one heck of a risk...
> a) whenever possible the guy who prints them sneaks them in at work
wow, he is taking one heck of a risk...
We put on a play, a murder mystery evening and a pantomime every year. We charge ?5 (?4 - concession, ?14 - family ticket) for our play and panto and offer 10% discount for 10 or more. For our murder mystery we charge ?4 with no concessions.
We hold a raffle for ?1 per strip.
We have sold our programmes (which we run up ourselves - on my computer then photocopied at my workplace - courtesy of another member) for 40p or 50p, but didn't sell many, so we now ask for a donation and find that we sell more and that they average at about 40p!!!!
We don't usually make much on our productions. We have recently approached local businesses to sponsor us with a little success, so that has helped. We also charge members subscriptions for the year. We are always reluctant to put up our prices and don't very often.
We hold a raffle for ?1 per strip.
We have sold our programmes (which we run up ourselves - on my computer then photocopied at my workplace - courtesy of another member) for 40p or 50p, but didn't sell many, so we now ask for a donation and find that we sell more and that they average at about 40p!!!!
We don't usually make much on our productions. We have recently approached local businesses to sponsor us with a little success, so that has helped. We also charge members subscriptions for the year. We are always reluctant to put up our prices and don't very often.
How about this?
If you work for a big firm then, it's often permitted to use the photocopier for personal use but taking this a little further:
The company where I work, are very keen on supporting the local community, especially Manchester where they are based, they are quite often able to provide printing facilities and assistance with promotion.
Its usually only charities that they will deal with (so you will need registered charity status) but why not approach your local big firm and see what they can offer.
Often publicity in the area is very appealing to big companies, they like to feel they are putting somehitng back into the local community in where they are based.
(In saying that, we have had limited results but one very positive one!!, which will be detailed on our website very soon from a very big sponsor)
If you work for a big firm then, it's often permitted to use the photocopier for personal use but taking this a little further:
The company where I work, are very keen on supporting the local community, especially Manchester where they are based, they are quite often able to provide printing facilities and assistance with promotion.
Its usually only charities that they will deal with (so you will need registered charity status) but why not approach your local big firm and see what they can offer.
Often publicity in the area is very appealing to big companies, they like to feel they are putting somehitng back into the local community in where they are based.
(In saying that, we have had limited results but one very positive one!!, which will be detailed on our website very soon from a very big sponsor)
OK, as I understand it (I am not a solicitor):
Companies can only "donate" proper to charities, cos if you're not a charity they don't get the tax rebate.
They can be willing to help but they may want to put it in their PR budget, in which case they'll want something for their money - in effect they're not *giving* you anything, they're buying advertising.
I wrote a polite letter to one of the companies I work for asking if we could use their photocopier and they said yes. So we put a thank you in programs and stuff and in return we get our photocopying for free. It's worth asking, but you have to be careful. I'd really advise against theft though, it's a hobby...
Companies can only "donate" proper to charities, cos if you're not a charity they don't get the tax rebate.
They can be willing to help but they may want to put it in their PR budget, in which case they'll want something for their money - in effect they're not *giving* you anything, they're buying advertising.
I wrote a polite letter to one of the companies I work for asking if we could use their photocopier and they said yes. So we put a thank you in programs and stuff and in return we get our photocopying for free. It's worth asking, but you have to be careful. I'd really advise against theft though, it's a hobby...
I'll clarify that:
"amdram is a hobby - it's not worth losing your job / ending up in court for."
"amdram is a hobby - it's not worth losing your job / ending up in court for."
Quite right!
It's always worth trying!
I would recommend that everyone tries at least one of their local companies, at the end of the day you may end up with an advert in the program or a small donation but as we all know, every bit counts!
It's always worth trying!
I would recommend that everyone tries at least one of their local companies, at the end of the day you may end up with an advert in the program or a small donation but as we all know, every bit counts!
Maureen, I feel your programmes are too cheap. You've already got them in the theatre, and if they're going to buy a programme then they'll pay a pound as easily as 50p - believe me, I'm a volunteer theatre usher and have tremendous experience of audience reaction.
Go for it!
Go for it!
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