If you're considering using the Wildish Theatre for your performance or production, think twice. The Majestic Theatre is a far better choice, as The Wildish, even though we were doing what's called a "door deal," no rent to the theater, just splitting the take at the door, refused to split $500 in radio advertising expense, didn't put our show listing on the website until 2 weeks before the show, and only then because I pointed out it wasn't there! They insisted that they just put the show in the Caledar listing at the Register Guard and the EUGENE Weekly, and did social media marketing (though I saw none until the week of, and only on Facebook). We sold 50 tickets.
We took the same show to The Majestic Theatre in Corvallis the next night. They advertised on Bicoastal Media radio Stations and got us a story, for our "Baby Boomer Comedy Show," in the local paper, and did a wonderful job of social media marketing, we sold 287 tickets (300 is a sellout).
We had the same split the door deal with The Majestic, so at $18 a person, the Theatre made $2,066.
The Wildish, I believe in part because the listing didn't make it to the scroll on the website until two weeks before the show (and it might not have made it then if a friend hadn't texted me and said he couldn't buy tickets), I didn't see any social media posts until a week before the show (and only on Facebook) and though we offered to split the cost of radio advertising, none was done, the Wildish netted $605, less than a third of the net for The Majestic, at $2 more per ticket.
That's the second time we've brought the show to the Wildish (same lack of promotion the first time as well), and it will be our last.
Not sure where the disconnect is when it comes to the Board of Directors realizing that with a "door deal" the theater has skin in the game and needs to step up and promote the show.
The Majestic, operated by the City of Corvallis, gets that, in spades.
If the Wildish hasn't gone out of business by the time you read this, I'd suggest finding another venue. read more