thewinelake Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I know that there are a few parents and dancers of EYB here. We're involved with the Stevange show this year. I was wondering what kind of people go (or would go) to see such shows other than family & friends? They seem to be putting some effort into publicity - in the press or posters up around the place, but I'm wondering how effective this could be? So if I'm not involved personally and I see a picture in my local rag of a couple of pretty ballerinas from the local school who are appearing in a show in Stevenage (perhaps 45mins drive away), would I really think "oh, that's interesting - let's book some tickets"? Seems like a tough sell to me. Or maybe there are a hundred or so unrelated ballet fans living in Stevenage who need reminding that it's coming soon? My guess is that they're probably regulars at the Gordon Craig. I wonder if there should be someone on the door trying (asking nicely, of course!) to build up an emailing list. The other thought is that promoting it in the schools of those involved could be a moderately rich vein - teachers and classmates would have some interest. However, my DDs sometimes seem to behave as though they'd rather nobody came to see them perform (at least nobody they know - the idea of teachers coming to see them would be mortifying!). Is this common? Obviously this is not confined to EYB, but many provincial shows of all types. BTW - a lot of pointe after a poniteless summer has brought much pain and suffering. May take a couple of ice buckets in the car for pickup this evening... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 We would have done so, if we still lived in the area. The Gordon Craig is not good at advertising. I only found out about the EYB being there by accident some years ago. It was only because some teenagers from our dance school were in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 The dsncers from the local balletcoforum school type public is more geared to their dance schools I think. It keeps their local teacher onside & more likely to encourage her to promote future EYB productions to her students as its good publicity for her dance school. EYB is on at my local theatre in a couple of weeks. We probably won't go due to time constraints but found here there is a culture amongst dancers, parents & teachers of going to support both this type of thing & other local dance school shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primaballerina1 Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Not sure about EYB but I know a lot of people who aren't related or friends of dancer in lcb go to see LCBs shows! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 Part of that down to the L I suspect ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 DD performed in Swan Lake with EYB in Oxford, and we ended up sitting next to a couple who were on a sightseeing weekend break. They'd walked past the theatre, seen it was on and booked tickets. They really enjoyed the performance. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 DD performed in Swan Lake with EYB in Oxford, and we ended up sitting next to a couple who were on a sightseeing weekend break. They'd walked past the theatre, seen it was on and booked tickets. They really enjoyed the performance. I wonder how many people go sightseeing in Stevenage?! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I wonder how many people go sightseeing in Stevenage?! Probably as many as go sightseeing in Aylesbury! Both times dd did EYB there, the theatre was packed - not just family but regular balletgoers plus a lot of little children seeing their first ballet. I expect seeing a production with children in makes it more user friendly for little ones - and the Adult principal dancers are so good they appeal to ballet fans. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I took my dc when they were too young to be involved when it was on at theatre about hour away, good way to introduce little ones to a full length performance. Then when dd was in it I found myself in audience surrounded by elderly ballet lovers just there to enjoy the performance, one lady said she looked forward to EYB as the joy of the performing children and the audience atmosphere was a real lift. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I agree not much sightseeing in Stevenage but we will certainly be going to watch When DD has done EYB before there has been a mix of people watching. The receptionist at the premier inn that we were staying at booked a performance for a Mother's Day treat which was nothing to do with a bunch of girls staying at premier inn as she had booked the tickets in advance of them staying. It's possibly a mix of theatre goers, ballet fans, people who enjoy children's dancing apart from the cast friends and families. I've known quite large groups from academic schools come to watch and support one or more of their pupils Have you got the job of putting posters up somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewinelake Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 Ha! How did you guess? I was wondering about the optimum timing for posters. I was thinking that maybe about 4 weeks before the show would be about right, given that many of them won't get wall-space for very long. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Ha! I spent the first 18 years of my life in Stevenage and I'm going there today to take my mother to the fracture clinic at the Lister Hospital. There's not a lot of sightseeing to be done although there are a few places of interest in the vicinity eg Knebworth and Hatfield Houses and Verulanium. It might be worth putting up posters in the High Street (eg Waitrose if there's wall space) as well as the new town. Is it worth sending flyers or posters to the local dance schools? There used to be a dancewear (combined with, I think, party supplies) shop in the High Street but I don't know if it's still there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 It's gone, Aileen. It went some years ago. I believe it relocated to the indoor market but I don't know if it exists anymore. There isn't a dance shop in Lincoln (Boo! Someone start one, please!) but Dancing in the Street is about 20 miles away and most dance schools stock their own range of uniform and shoes these days, I have noticed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Shortcake Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Having looked at a few EYB vids on YouTube I have no hesitation in saying that I'd certainly go to see them. The problem is that there are no performances within easy travelling distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 There's a dance shop in Hitchin, which is very local (I grew up there) and hfbrew (member on here) would be able to tell you about all sorts of dance schools etc in the area too as she's based around the Luton area 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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