They need to start booking some real acts and holding actual concerts like the Egg.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
They need to start booking some real acts and holding actual concerts like the Egg.
Any particular show may be a money maker, even though it doesn't sell out all the tickets. If Proctors buys the show at a lower rate and gets only 2/3 or 3/4 ticket sales, they actually make more money than a sell out of a more expensive show such as Wicked.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Any particular show may be a money maker, even though it doesn't sell out all the tickets. If Proctors buys the show at a lower rate and gets only 2/3 or 3/4 ticket sales, they actually make more money than a sell out of a more expensive show such as Wicked.
There isn't anything to attract different groups of people or different tastes, it seems everything they book is catered to one select group. Have you seen their line up, its dreadful. They should try to book some actual bands that aren't in their late 60's or 70's...no offense
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
There isn't anything to attract different groups of people or different tastes, it seems everything they book is catered to one select group. Have you seen their line up, its dreadful. They should try to book some actual bands that aren't in their late 60's or 70's...no offense
LOL @ "no offense"!!!
Rock of Ages
Quoted Text
It’s five time 2009 Tony® nominee Rock of Ages, an arena-rock love story told through the mind blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Night Ranger, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more.
80's Rock Music
Itzhak Perlman
Quoted Text
Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman holds a superstar status seldom afforded to a classical musician.
Classical violin
Rhythm of the Dance
Quoted Text
Featuring traditional Irish stepdancing, songs, instruments and brilliant costumes, this show is a step above the rest!
and
Quoted Text
The Irish Comedy Tour takes the party atmosphere of a Dublin pub and combines it with a boisterous, belly-laugh band of hooligans.
Irish traditional and pub.
The Book of Mormon
Quoted Text
Ben Brantley of The New York Times calls it "THE BEST MUSICAL OF THIS CENTURY.” Entertainment Weekly says it’s “THE FUNNIEST MUSICAL OF ALL TIME.” From South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, it’s The Book of Mormon, winner of nine Tony Awards® including Best Musical. Jon Stewart of The Daily Show calls it “A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT. SO GOOD IT MAKES ME ANGRY.”
Flashdance - The Musical
Quoted Text
Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the pop culture phenomenon of Flashdance is now live on stage.
More 80's music
Wicked Blue Man Group The Flying Karamazov Brothers Gospel music Acrobats Do Wop Ethnic Dance The Nutcracker
Proctors may not put on acts that you like, but they do book a wide variety of shows.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Now if they could book more bands they could draw in a younger crowd from all over, not many younger people are coming to proctors when they have so many better places outside this city.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
I'd never say never ...... I may decide on a whim to go see "War Horse." Though I am not their ideal customer as I get the cheap Internet seats and bring my own M&Ms.
I'm just curious to see if there are really that many people willing to spend money to see a make-believe horse, with clearly visible guys walking around holding up its butt. I could be wrong. I wouldn't mind seeing Itzhak Perlman, but I can't afford anything like that, discretionary spending is a thing of the past for many Schenectadians, we have to pay for other people to have luxuries we can't afford for ourselves.
The big shows like Wicked are supposed to be the fuel for the "economic engine", the ones that draw in all the spending downtown, the reason we subsidize Proctor's in the first place. If they 'make' more money on a less popular show, that doesn't draw the crowds to downtown. Now, maybe they are thinking that it doesn't matter, because the big shows generate so much spending that Schenectady is paid back for our support, and that enables them to experiment with a wider variety of entertainment. The problem with that thinking is a) I still haven't seen an accounting of all this money generated by the "economic engine", so I'm inclined to believe it doesn't exist in sufficient quantity to balance the money poured into Proctor's, b) nobody at the place with any authority understands anything about finance, c) there is no such thing as "making" money if it doesn't cover your operating expenses, d) we know that Proctor's is hemorrhaging money while supporting a large staff of highly paid people. I'm inclined to think that Proctor's should stick to the "economic engine" shows, and if the theater, the not-for-profit theater, isn't "making" enough money, they should start cutting salaries and laying people off.
I'm just curious to see if there are really that many people willing to spend money to see a make-believe horse, with clearly visible guys walking around holding up its butt. I could be wrong..
"Ghost" was very good ... special effects ... I may give this a chance ... >
I'm just curious to see if there are really that many people willing to spend money to see a make-believe horse, with clearly visible guys walking around holding up its butt. I could be wrong. I wouldn't mind seeing Itzhak Perlman, but I can't afford anything like that, discretionary spending is a thing of the past for many Schenectadians, we have to pay for other people to have luxuries we can't afford for ourselves.
There are 'cheap seats' available at Proctors to see Perlman for $20 per ticket. When you consider that a movie can cost $15, the price to see a unique live performance like Itzhak Perlman, the price is very reasonable.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Thanks for the info, Box, but this time of year, I wouldn't spend on a movie either. Taxes went up about the price of a movie ticket, quarterly. The gougers may not think that is much, but when you budget carefully, that's what it equates to. I would like to see those who are involved with Proctor's have some kind of budget, so that they would have something to base their high salaries on. Like, find a real number for all the money "generated" by having the shows, subtract from that the tax exemption, and any public money given to the theater, and there is your operating budget. If you can stay within that, while paying a whole load of connected types, grabbing grants and then having t pay them back, etc., then more power to you. The trouble is, we are basing the 'success' of Proctor's on their own press releases. I could put on a popular show, like Mr. Perlman, while losing money, and so could you. Do we really need to have a whole slew of connected types involved? Some people's idea of "making money" is similar to that Octomom character's idea. She has been criticized, because with 14 kids, and in danger of losing the house her father got for her, she spent money on things like plastic surgery and having her nails done. Her answer is that she is "making money", so she ought to be able to spend it on herself. Now, she receives taxpayer money to support those kids, but she thinks she is "making money". I'm not against "the arts', or even Proctor's. How do we know what it really costs to run such a place, and whether we can really afford it, if they don't have any kind of financial goals to hit whatsoever? Anybody who runs a business, how do you know what to base your employees' salaries on? And how do you know all these people are 'worth' their salaries, or "competent", without any measurable goals whatsoever? Schenectadians are underwriting shows we can't afford to go to.