Omnibus Ups the Ante
Tue, 24 Aug 1999, 10:57 pmGrant Malcolm4 posts in thread
Omnibus Ups the Ante
Tue, 24 Aug 1999, 10:57 pmA couple of months ago an online survey here on the ITA website showed that 88% of respondents would not pay more than $25 for a ticket to a community theatre production. Omnibus Productions appears to think otherwise.The survey was a response, in part, to some "community theatre" companies charging ticket prices up to $27.I was personally critical of Prompt Corner for charging so much for a production featuring an unpaid cast and, by several accounts, mediocre production values. I went on to suggest that whilst Prompt Corner claimed not-for-profit Incorporated status, i couldn't see how they weren't generating very considerable profits relative to any other community theatre company.Omnibus Productions have not been around as long as Prompt Corner in it's various incarnations. However, that hasn't prevented them acquiring a considerable following for their productions of popular musicals. Like Prompt Corner, Omnibus to the best of my knowledge uses exclusively unpaid cast. The company relies on a large entourage of unpaid volunteers performing many other roles within each production.Tickets for Omnibus' latest offering at the Regal are $34. Anyone care to calculate the potential profits? I'm curious whether Omnibus will be claiming incorporated status too.Cheers
Grant
Grant
Re: Omnibus Ups the Ante
Wed, 25 Aug 1999, 09:55 amEMAILNOTICES>no> Omnibus to the best of my knowledge
> uses exclusively unpaid cast. The company relies on a large entourage
> of unpaid volunteers performing many other roles within each production.I have done a few shows with them and found them to be very professionally executed. They have always expresed an interest/desire to go Pro/Am, then completely Pro.I believe the Musicians are paid, at least, I think they are.They also like to hire expensive theatres which may explain their high ticket prices. They have also been trying to get longer seasons going, but paying for the theatre for longer periods gets quite expensive. Another reason?I don't want to appear to be Defending Omnibus (even though I am) but there may be very good reasons (other than profit) for these high prices.Jeff "Tip-toe through the Tulips" Watkins
> uses exclusively unpaid cast. The company relies on a large entourage
> of unpaid volunteers performing many other roles within each production.I have done a few shows with them and found them to be very professionally executed. They have always expresed an interest/desire to go Pro/Am, then completely Pro.I believe the Musicians are paid, at least, I think they are.They also like to hire expensive theatres which may explain their high ticket prices. They have also been trying to get longer seasons going, but paying for the theatre for longer periods gets quite expensive. Another reason?I don't want to appear to be Defending Omnibus (even though I am) but there may be very good reasons (other than profit) for these high prices.Jeff "Tip-toe through the Tulips" Watkins