Here Comes Show Season- Part I

I’m going to take off my educational writer hat for this article and put on my show sponsor hat.  If you attended the MEPA Experience, you heard a series of top 10 lists.  I have one more to present here although it won’t be 10.  This is my top 4 facts that our show sponsors would like everybody to know.  Each year I host between 4 and 9 days worth of WGI and MEPA shows and much of what I have seen and heard could be a long series of articles but here are just a few.  If you’re a first year director and getting ready to go to your first season of shows, congratulations.  Here are 4 facts to keep in mind.

1.)  Parents and Spectators Need an Education- Most won’t come in knowing that they shouldn’t leave or enter the stands during a performance.  They also won’t know that it isn’t appropriate to heckle other groups unless directors tell them.

2.)  Communicate Show Details to Parents- Communicate to them the ticket costs, the fact that they can’t pay with credit card, and the price is not open to haggling.  Also let them know that performance sites, custodians, judges, and hotels are priced for an entire event so tickets must be priced the same way.  “Why do I have to pay this much just to see my child perform” is the most common question I get.  Of course the answer to that is that a ticket entitles the person to 4 or more hours of great performances.  At slightly more than $2 per hour, that’s quite a deal.  (I have always believed that the worst job one can have at a show site is ticket sales…well, besides the parking lot)

3.)  Please purchase from the concession stands- Show sponsors understand that bringing food and drinks to the show site will saves kids from spending a lot of money.  Remember, though, that shows often serve as primary fundraisers for the school hosting the show. (Most, if not all of the ticket proceeds go to the expenses of the show)  With my group, we often had a sizable carry in before we left our school so I knew my kids were fed and then I allowed them to go to the concessions to support the sponsors.  I never permitted my parents to feed the ensemble in the cafeteria at the show site. Sponsors know that all kinds of details go in to eating when on the road but when possible, support the concessions.

4.)  FINALLY…all of my parents, performers, bus drivers, and staff knew of my “pastor rule.”  Treat all show site personnel like you would treat your pastor, minister, or Rabbi.    I explained to them that this whole winter experience is an inter weaved organization.  We’re all in this together and every piece of the puzzle needs our financial and moral support.  If show sponsors don’t make money, we won’t have show hosts and costs for all of us go up.  All money is going back to young people.  Nearly every dime and dollar is going to a worthy cause.  Not very many organizations can claim that.

These four items are not necessarily things we think about as directors but as we all know economic times are tough and our organization depends on successful shows to continue as the strong organization that we are well in to the future.

TALK BACK:  What experiences have you had at show sites that would be helpful to all of us?  How do you handle food for your unit while on the road?