Here’s something that I’ve wondered about for a while: I’ve only been to one CYT show (“Narnia”) and there were tables and tables of show-related merchandise for sale in the lobby. “Avenue Q” at CenterStage had its booth of show-schwag of course and was doing a brisk business.
I know Theatre IV will often have a polite little table doing children’s book sales for some of their shows but I’m curious why there isn’t a bigger push with various forms of merchandise for other productions. There are definitely shows I’d have bought t-shirts from in the past. It seems any of the shows featuring the Sanders Family or the folks from Greater Tuna would be rife for merch opportunities.
Could there be snow-globes for “Scrouge in Rouge?” A tie-in to sell David Sedaris books with Sycamore Rouge’s “Santaland Diaries?” Or even cute little stuffed elves? Ornaments with “Greetings” on them for the Mill’s next show? Or perhaps among the more lucrative possibilities: CD sales of the original music Jason Marks has composed for “A Christmas Carol?” With the Theatre IV cast singing? Or, thinking ahead, the mind boggles at the stuff that could be sold at Firehouse’s “Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll” in the Spring…
I’m sure there are issues I’m missing here but I know with live music and movies, merch is as lucrative and sometimes more lucrative than the “product” itself. Are there reasons theater isn’t jumping on this bandwagon?
15 comments:
Although it sounds like a good idea, I seriously doubt there would be enough sales to justify the start up costs. Some die hards would definitely drop the extra coin for some swag, but really not that many would. And most Theatres would have a pile of unsold crap left over from each production. With a licensed show, I'm sure there would be a ton of hoops to jump through to sell anything with a shows title or artwork involved. Again, probably not a profitable venture.
In most cases, I agree with Anon, unless it were generic to the theatre company. But I have often wished for the Mill to put out Drifty items. There are so many faithful followers, the items would sell out, but I guess it's a matter of added work for overworked staff.
Lisa
The "I'm not Rappaport" Bobble heads just didn't sell.
I understand that there is a risk of mounds of "unsold crap" left over from productions. But I think nay-saying this is also along the lines of Richard Bach's old statement: "Argue your limitations, and they're yours."
First, what start up costs? I just investigated customized shirts recently and found you can order very small quantities -- even as little as 1 -- of custom t-shirts at a reasonable price from many places. So order 5 at $10 a piece and sell them for $20 (my Ave Q shirt was $25). If you sell out, you've made $50 for very little effort. If you have stuff left over, give them to Board Members or sponsors as a thank you. Add value to something like a t-shirt by having the cast sign it. There are lots of places to go here.
Second, beyond the simple profit motive, merch is an opportunity to further connect with an audience. The following two articles talk about business models related to "Connecting with Fans" and generating "Reasons to Buy." They may only be tangentially related, but I still think it's something worth exploring for a company looking for ways to generate revenue.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090930/1559376377.shtml
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090719/2246525598.shtml
Also, I realize this isn't the most revolutionary idea ever and that there are issues involved. And that this probably isn't something that will ultimately generate thousands of dollars. But I think back to the brisk sales at the CYT show I attended and the two chachkas I ended up buying for my kids that we still have. I think about how I left "King Island Christmas" at Theatre IV and ordered up a CD of the soundtrack as soon as I got home. And it's still a holiday favorite at our house. And I think that, for companies that are already struggling, how much could it hurt?
Recording a CD for a show is a MONUMENTAL amount of effort, akin to another simultaneous rehearsal process. I've done it twice. And you'd be surprised at just how few people will buy it. I was.
Anybody want to buy a "Midsummer Night's Dream" CD from 2005? I still have dozens. Ditto for my Christmas CDs from 2006. Hoping to sell some Friday night at Sycamore Rouge.
To Andrew and others regarding show CD's...
I'm curious. Is the matter of online or MP3 sales of soundtracks a possibility? Of course, I'm all for the presentational quality of an actual in-hand CD. But many entrepreneurs seem to be going the route of audio sales over the internet to better avoid the surplus leftover merchandise.
Is this a possibility in our community at this point, you think? Any thoughts? (Pardon me in advance if this was covered in previous posts that I overlooked.)
Hopefully soon, Theatre IV and Barksdale will be opening our new theatre gift shop, Three Bags Full, located next door and to the east of the Empire.
We've ordered the shirts and sweatshirts, which have always been decent sellers for us. We'll have past and current posters, mugs, treasured costume items and props from stages of olde, and books and CDs related to our current shows and/or created by our Barksdale and Theatre IV family members.
So if you want Emily Skinner's CDs, or Debra Wagoners, or Zak Resnick's, or Andrew Hamm's (we'll talk), come on down. Ditto Irene Ziegler's and David Robbins' books. We're meeting this morning, actually, about other things to sell.
We've been selling posters for quite a while now, and I'm always a little surprised that they don't sell better than they do. The best seller we've ever had was the Beehive CD (not our cast).
Last, but far from least, we'll be offering theatre gift items from comedy/tragedy tietacs to bookends.
We'll let you know how it works.
Bruce, this is awesome news! I don't suppose you'll be open by Christmas, will you? If so, I know where I'll be doing a bunch of shopping...
If you are considering other items to sell, I'll make my little pitch that you stock "Glee" periphenial. Sure, it's not technically musical theater, but it's the closest thing on TV! And, well, I love the show. Almost as much as I love Andrew Hamm CDs...
You could go to our shop:
http://www.cafepress.com/RTPPulp
periphenial????
Clearly, I should not be blogging before coffee.
"Paraphernalia" was what I was lurching toward. See how discombobulated I get when I write about Glee? Or is it discombopulated?
There should definitely be an original cast recording of this year's Theatre IV's "A Christmas Carol." The music is absolutely beautiful, the cast is terrific, and it would make a great stocking stuffer or holiday gift for the theater lover in your family.
John, I should and I did! Do you have any autographed t-shirts? Or how about a signed copy of that provocative picture of Christy Mullins 'dipping' Holly Lucas? Or pictures of Elliot Lau from 'Bite Me!'? Just wondering...
Also, I did not pay anyone to write the comment above. Honest.
And Bruce, would you consider selling these shirts?
http://www.zazzle.com/i_yell_on_stage_because_im_dysfunctional_tshirt-235619577387005812
Hmmm Dave, interesting thoughts. How's about the Bite Me teddy bear? or the Bite Me thong?
http://www.cafepress.com/RTPBiteMe
I have the "I yell on stage" shirt and wear it proudly!
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