Just a thought. The definition reads “competition arises whenever at least two parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss.” We compete for funds, grants, talent, performance dates, strong material, poignant shows, designers, resources, spaces, donors, audiences, accolades in order to get to the next show of the season, the next competition.
So does one theatre win while another loses? In a world increasingly vying for everyone’s free time and extra income, theatre companies tend to pit themselves against each other. It starts naturally, a company trying to find their niche, choosing their season: Musicals vs plays, original vs published, classical vs contemporary, family orientated vs adult themed? What would work for us that the others couldn’t or wouldn’t produce? Or how do we produce first before the competition! Theatres have to grab everyone’s attention, get audiences and supporters on board for the season. Store-front style theatres like RFT have a tighter spectrum of show styles compared to our neighbours and could be limiting. The community theatre buffet style season (a little something for everyone) has worked well in the past but the season ticket holder mentality is fading. The cost of buying season tickets even if a small percentage of the season may not be appealing, can be too expensive for most.
Maybe decreasing attendance is a reaction to our competition. Are there too many of us? Are audiences, donors, and sponsors feeling the pressure of the competitive nature of our theatres? Would someone not go to theatre A because of their allegiance to theatre B? Do people not buy a season ticket because they feel locked into dates, shows, and events, at just one theatre? Do audiences not invest in a full season because they want to enjoy another show at another company that could be a better use of their time and money? Are people willing to pay the for-profit ticket prices so they don’t have to deal with the constant non-profit funding drives? Or has the internal competitive struggle for companies( fund-raising, shows, talent, marketing, artistic choices, or business decisions) taken our focus off the audience experience?
RFT is helping to give artists another venue to work, express and improve their art while giving audiences different experiences to enjoy and discuss, although we have added to the competition of the Cedar Valley arts scene. We tried to find performance dates that didn’t clash with other companies, but we missed one. Red Herring had a staged reading on the night we chose to open our inaugural season. A lot of the talent and audience that will and have supported us already were committed to Red Herring’s evening and we lost out.
However, we have been helped by all theatres in the area, allowing us to use props, set pieces, and freelance artists teaching make-up skills or designing our logo and poster (thank you CFCT, WCP, Finch and Olivia respectively!), or with financial contributions through donations and ticket sales. This sharing between artists and companies reduces the intensity of competition, reduces the us vs. them, reduces the fear of the new and the contempt for the established. I am guilty of both.
Healthy competition fosters the desire to appreciate others hard work and success, then to step up one’s game to create an even better experience. I believe we want to measure ourselves against the best of other’s work. And for everyone to do their best work we must continue to share, discover how to share better, communicate & support more because competition is inevitable, and it can be healthy. Just a thought.
Alan Malone
President, RFT's Board of Directors