Willie Nelson in Branson - Photos Continued
Ticketmaster and Branson Theaters
This post is in response to an email sent below. I've received several requests to address Ticketmaster's entry into the Branson market and have conducted some follow up on the issue...here's what I understand.
Suggestions have been made and championed by members of the League of Theaters to move to Ticket Master as a means of selling theater seats. Some theaters believe this will create more exposure but many have doubts. Ticket Master is likely to push national headliners no matter where they're playing. Though Ticket Master has a large audience, great organization and innovation, a higher level of exposure for the Branson market seems unlikely.
A number of other ticketing firms have presented solutions for nominal fees. One of the main problems is the theaters themselves are in more competition than co-opetition and lower quality productions can move themselves into the market with extremely low prices. Time-share firms also add a layer of complexity. They want the perceived price of tickets to remain high while accruing a volume discount at very low prices.
Problem: Live theaters are expensive to maintain and a lowering of quality productions in the Branson market could cause a collapse. Consider the price of a movie ticket and compare the value of watching a live production. Consider costs including manpower, brick and mortar maintenance fees etc.. it's a pretty good deal.
Now consider costs associated with demand creation (marketing and advertising). This can be a deal killer especially in a competitive market. Third party firms may have more incentive to spend the dollars to market regionally. A time share sell can net thousands per customer where ticket margins a few bucks at best. A large firm can negotiate substantially cheaper rates with a promise of delivering volume. Sometimes, these companies withhold payment or worse... When this happens a theater can experience financial devastation. A powerful time-share firm might be able to pit theater companies against each other lowering their cost. Can you see where I'm going with this?
Back to Ticketmaster: Can Ticketmaster survive in the Branson market? That depends on customers. As I understand it, Ticketmaster will require theaters to block a number of seats whether they're sold or not. A couple other theaters have joined this boat. Consumers have a number of options. Private companies such as the Branson Tourism Center provide a hybrid of direct sales and timeshare bookings. Companies such as Reserve Branson provide direct ticket sales. The first model is most common and the second is rare. Ticket master uses the direct sell method at a substantial premium. The basic question is will Ticketmaster add value by marketing for Branson heavily outside the market...seems unlikely. Does this answer your question?
Dear Branson Edge:
Can you address what is going on with Ticketmaster in Branson?
We tried to phone the RFD-TV Theatre box office and order tickets on
our credit card. For 3 adult tickets, they wanted to charge us the
ticket price plus a $14 service fee, which they blamed on
Ticketmaster. I don't see this kind of thing flying in Branson. Other
places, maybe, but Branson?
We told them to forget it. I can go down the street and see a show
that will ONLY charge me the price of the tickets, and not have any markups.
What theaters are going Ticketmaster, and which are not? I did hear
"off the record" that the Ticketmaster thing was a "complete
disaster", but no news outlets seem to be covering this story yet.
Thanks for your time.
Amanda
Suggestions have been made and championed by members of the League of Theaters to move to Ticket Master as a means of selling theater seats. Some theaters believe this will create more exposure but many have doubts. Ticket Master is likely to push national headliners no matter where they're playing. Though Ticket Master has a large audience, great organization and innovation, a higher level of exposure for the Branson market seems unlikely.
A number of other ticketing firms have presented solutions for nominal fees. One of the main problems is the theaters themselves are in more competition than co-opetition and lower quality productions can move themselves into the market with extremely low prices. Time-share firms also add a layer of complexity. They want the perceived price of tickets to remain high while accruing a volume discount at very low prices.
Problem: Live theaters are expensive to maintain and a lowering of quality productions in the Branson market could cause a collapse. Consider the price of a movie ticket and compare the value of watching a live production. Consider costs including manpower, brick and mortar maintenance fees etc.. it's a pretty good deal.
Now consider costs associated with demand creation (marketing and advertising). This can be a deal killer especially in a competitive market. Third party firms may have more incentive to spend the dollars to market regionally. A time share sell can net thousands per customer where ticket margins a few bucks at best. A large firm can negotiate substantially cheaper rates with a promise of delivering volume. Sometimes, these companies withhold payment or worse... When this happens a theater can experience financial devastation. A powerful time-share firm might be able to pit theater companies against each other lowering their cost. Can you see where I'm going with this?
Back to Ticketmaster: Can Ticketmaster survive in the Branson market? That depends on customers. As I understand it, Ticketmaster will require theaters to block a number of seats whether they're sold or not. A couple other theaters have joined this boat. Consumers have a number of options. Private companies such as the Branson Tourism Center provide a hybrid of direct sales and timeshare bookings. Companies such as Reserve Branson provide direct ticket sales. The first model is most common and the second is rare. Ticket master uses the direct sell method at a substantial premium. The basic question is will Ticketmaster add value by marketing for Branson heavily outside the market...seems unlikely. Does this answer your question?
Dear Branson Edge:
Can you address what is going on with Ticketmaster in Branson?
We tried to phone the RFD-TV Theatre box office and order tickets on
our credit card. For 3 adult tickets, they wanted to charge us the
ticket price plus a $14 service fee, which they blamed on
Ticketmaster. I don't see this kind of thing flying in Branson. Other
places, maybe, but Branson?
We told them to forget it. I can go down the street and see a show
that will ONLY charge me the price of the tickets, and not have any markups.
What theaters are going Ticketmaster, and which are not? I did hear
"off the record" that the Ticketmaster thing was a "complete
disaster", but no news outlets seem to be covering this story yet.
Thanks for your time.
Amanda
Willie Nelson Comes to Branson Missouri
Branson Missouri Aldermen Final Moments
Being a public servant means being under fire. It's a choice and a noble venture. Though it is our duty to nitpick - it's for one reason (I hope I don't just speak for myself here). We do it to keep our nation free and self governed. That being said feel free to join the peanut gallery :).
In Love,
Editor
Ferris - Branson Finance - Strahan - Taney County Assessor = Battle of Mathmaticians
Branson Missouri Board of Aldermen March 26 Audio File
Branson Missouri Alderman Meeting - Click Play to Hear
Here's a few highlights:
Van Gilder's Opening Prayer
Branson Arts Council asks for funds
Branson Landing update (We have photos from the latest hacking - not posted yet)
Taney County VS City of Branson - Strahan plotted a filibuster - which lasted for nearly an hour and ten minutes. Branson gave unusual leverage to Strahan with one warning from Branson's city attorney Paul Link. (I listened to this segment several times and stayed at the newspaper all night punching out a short piece on the topic) **Strahan's a smart guy holding a hillbilly hat in his back pocket in case it needs to be used. He catches subtle errors from Branson's new finance manager Ferris Brown - who gave a good show. Strahan makes a minor threat letting the city know "meeting the mark" could just as easily involve millions lost for the city if certain parts of the index were changed. Having looked through these documents Strahan's argument holds some merit. Commercial property is low on the index and Strahan claims the state doesn't want this adjusted. Commercial entities are far more likely to protest an assessment and usually win a fight with the State Tax Commission in the event they raise a stink. Homeowner's rarely do or are uninformed that they can fight the Board. The main category Strahan considers to be too low is older houses - those built in the 50-'s and 60's. The County has filed a breach of contract suit against the state. Hershcend backs up Strahan saying his case has merit.
Western Taney County Commissioner Ron Herschend pounds on Branson city government. Apparently, the City of Branson may eliminate their health inspection department which could create problems for the county. He also pounds on Schaefer who is trying is looking for a zoning change to satisfy a need for Huffman who's buying his property.
Here's a few highlights:
Van Gilder's Opening Prayer
Branson Arts Council asks for funds
Branson Landing update (We have photos from the latest hacking - not posted yet)
Taney County VS City of Branson - Strahan plotted a filibuster - which lasted for nearly an hour and ten minutes. Branson gave unusual leverage to Strahan with one warning from Branson's city attorney Paul Link. (I listened to this segment several times and stayed at the newspaper all night punching out a short piece on the topic) **Strahan's a smart guy holding a hillbilly hat in his back pocket in case it needs to be used. He catches subtle errors from Branson's new finance manager Ferris Brown - who gave a good show. Strahan makes a minor threat letting the city know "meeting the mark" could just as easily involve millions lost for the city if certain parts of the index were changed. Having looked through these documents Strahan's argument holds some merit. Commercial property is low on the index and Strahan claims the state doesn't want this adjusted. Commercial entities are far more likely to protest an assessment and usually win a fight with the State Tax Commission in the event they raise a stink. Homeowner's rarely do or are uninformed that they can fight the Board. The main category Strahan considers to be too low is older houses - those built in the 50-'s and 60's. The County has filed a breach of contract suit against the state. Hershcend backs up Strahan saying his case has merit.
Western Taney County Commissioner Ron Herschend pounds on Branson city government. Apparently, the City of Branson may eliminate their health inspection department which could create problems for the county. He also pounds on Schaefer who is trying is looking for a zoning change to satisfy a need for Huffman who's buying his property.
Larry Van Gilder
My favorite part of the Alderman meeting was Larry Van Gilder's prayer. The rest of the meeting was...well..I'll post it here ia a moment.
The prayer below was sent to me by Clayton Lynch.
When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of
the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard;
*************************
"Heavenly Father,
We come before you today
To ask your forgiveness and
To seek your direction and guidance.
We know Your Word says,
"Woe to those who call evil good"
But that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium
And reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and
Called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness
And called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it
choice.
We have shot abortionists
And called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline
Our children and called it
Building self esteem.
We have abused power
And called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's
Possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air
With profanity and
Pornography and called it
Freedom of speech and expression.
We have ridiculed the time
Honored values of our
Forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God,
And know our hearts today;
Cleanse us from every sin
And set us free.
Amen!"
The prayer below was sent to me by Clayton Lynch.
When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of
the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard;
*************************
"Heavenly Father,
We come before you today
To ask your forgiveness and
To seek your direction and guidance.
We know Your Word says,
"Woe to those who call evil good"
But that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium
And reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and
Called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness
And called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it
choice.
We have shot abortionists
And called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline
Our children and called it
Building self esteem.
We have abused power
And called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's
Possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air
With profanity and
Pornography and called it
Freedom of speech and expression.
We have ridiculed the time
Honored values of our
Forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God,
And know our hearts today;
Cleanse us from every sin
And set us free.
Amen!"
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