2 shows or 1 show? Please HELP!

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » July 6th, 2010, 10:06 pm

We're grappling with how to handle this year's Sunday Headliner shows. Right now we have Three Falling from Israel and FrankenMatt from LA doing a 7:30pm show, with Kevin McDonald doing a show in a solo block at 9:30pm, both at La Zona Rosa.

So, if the Kevin McDonald show was $25 to go see, would you pay an additional $15 to go see the early show, keeping in mind that if you had an upgraded pass, you would get in to the earlier show for free. (There will be no passes allowed for the Kev Mc. show, by the way)

We're basically trying to see if the first show will do well on its own up against a more expensive later show. it has little to do with the shows themselves, as they're all great groups, but i think more with how much dough people will shell out to see comedy on a given night.

So, should it be 1 show altogether or 2 separate shows as it is now and has been in past years?

Thoughts, anyone? Your input is much appreciated.

Aden · Post by **Aden** » July 6th, 2010, 10:33 pm

I'll give you my honest opinion.

I am cheap. I dislike La Zona Rosa. I am unemployed. I do not want to pay more than I have to for anything. It doesn't matter who's performing.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » July 6th, 2010, 11:14 pm

I'm going with the honesty Aden started:

Not too fond of La Zona Rosa either, and if I'm paying for a show I would rather drop 25 bucks for a 'sure thing' than pay extra for folks (Who are probably very talented) who I haven't seen before.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » July 6th, 2010, 11:45 pm

In the past, having an upgraded pass get you into the big show was the reason many people bought the upgraded pass in the first place. If I had a fully upgraded pass and couldn't get into the biggest show, I'd get a little annoyed. I'd rather just have the uberpass cost an extra $25 and actually get you in.

York99 · Post by **York99** » July 7th, 2010, 10:09 am

I'm confused. Is the venue still in question? I don't think I've ever been there, but the reviews on Yelp are pretty bad and the only good ones are dated at times of the year when the weather is cool.

During OoB time, the heat is pretty rough in Austin and that affects people's moods when watching a show.

If it's going to be there regardless, splitting up the two shows will at least make it so people are standing (as I understand it, there's no seating) in the heat for an extended period of time... then again, people in the know might only attend one show so as not to expose themselves to discomfort for too long.

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » July 7th, 2010, 10:22 am

I have seen shows there and don't ever remember heat being an issue.

Lants · Post by **Lants** » July 7th, 2010, 10:38 am

Yeah, heat is only an issue there if it's a rock show and everyone's moving around a lot. Even then, it's not that bad.

Actually being able to see the stage is a different story (it's completely flat and one tall person in front ruins it for everyone behind them), but I don't think he's asking about the venue.

25 is already a lot to pay and I wouldn't be likely to pay 15 on top of that for the earlier show.

Post by **Jon Bolden** » July 7th, 2010, 12:16 pm

Hmmm, is that true, no seating?

Post by **bradisntclever** » July 7th, 2010, 12:28 pm

Jon Bolden wrote:Hmmm, is that true, no seating?

Correct. It has a capacity of 1200 and feels kind of like a hangar on the inside. Due to Phoenix going all over the place in this video, you can kind of get a sense of what it's like. You won't even see what the stage looks like until 1:30. In addition to this big open area, there's a bar and a small outdoor courtyard.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvrtbu_5MxU[/youtube]

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » July 7th, 2010, 12:31 pm

If it has a capacity of 1200, we will likely have room for seating.
Please don't get distracted by the venue details. Jeremy's asking for input.

Adan · Post by **Adan** » July 7th, 2010, 12:49 pm

Personally I would have a hard time paying $40 even if it was for 2 different shows. What immediately pops into my head is if my girlfriend wanted to go we'd be paying $80 and that's a hard number to swallow.

Hope this helps!

Jessica · Post by **Jessica** » July 7th, 2010, 12:55 pm

This is just me, but I'd be more likely to buy a more expensive ticket to see two shows. The reason is that I want to see the "big show" that night, but I don't have a ton of money, I'd make it work for one show, but I would feel like I was splurging if I bought two tickets. However, I'm gonna see that one show, I make it a priority. So, even if it is the same price as both shows together, I'll still make that happen.

I'm also with Matt, that I'd be more likely to buy the "uber pass" even if it was just the same thing with the extra ticket on it.

That's just how my mind works.

sara farr · Post by **sara farr** » July 7th, 2010, 1:27 pm

2 separate shows in one night --
Yes. I'll probably go to the earlier one (Israeli Improv! I'd like to see that), but I feel like I'm the exception. If you make the ticket price more, you will be excluding those who can't afford 2 shows in one night -- not everyone is going to have the upgraded pass -- and PROBABLY those ppl are watching their $.

nick · Post by **nick** » July 7th, 2010, 1:33 pm

Would the lengths of the shows change? If combining the shows would make the Kevin McDonald show shorter, I wouldn't be happy.

I wasn't clear on something: If you combine them, would the price still be $25 for the show, or $40? I have no real interest in seeing Three Falling and FrankenMatt. I would think most non-improvisers who might want to see Kevin McDonald of Kids in the Hall probably have no interest in seeing them either, mostly because, like me, they've never heard of them. So if the idea is to force people to see a show they don't particularly want to see, combining them might work. But if that makes the price go up to $40, I would probably just stay home.

Also, if I were Kevin McDonald, the idea of having 2 improv troupes opening for my one-man show would not thrill me.

Honestly, it seems like one of these shows (Kevin McDonald) might be able to fill La Zona Rosa, but the other one is probably better suited for a venue like SVT.

As a compromise, maybe you could make admission to the first show free with a ticket to the second show, but still charge $15 for a stand-alone ticket to the first show.

Edit: Sorry if this came off as negative, I was just thinking and writing at the same time. Very excited to see the Keving McDonald performance.

sara farr · Post by **sara farr** » July 7th, 2010, 1:52 pm

nick wrote:make admission to the first show free with a ticket to the second show, but still charge $15 for a stand-alone ticket to the first

I like this idea. And if the 2nd show sells out, you're still selling tix to the first show.

But what if I buy a ticket to 2nd show (that includes the first for free), but then decide to NOT go to see the first show? Will OOB be able to know that in time to re-sell that seat? Will I still have my seat for the 2nd show?