AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

aka "Butts in seats!"

The importance of a full house extends beyond financial considerations. Few experiences are more discouraging for a cast than performing to a nearly empty theater. Conversely, there is nothing more energizing than hearing laughter, applause, and enthusiastic ovations from a full and appreciative audience. As The Democracy Ensemble launches not simply a production but an entirely new theatrical organization, that energy, excitement, and public enthusiasm will play an essential role in building the momentum needed for future success.

The long-term success of The Democracy Ensemble will depend not only on artistic excellence, but also on our ability to build enthusiastic and growing audiences. The inaugural production—a concert reading of An American Musical—will serve as both an artistic presentation and an opportunity to introduce the organization to the community.



Every participant will therefore play an important role in audience development. In addition to their artistic responsibilities, company members will be encouraged to actively promote the production by inviting family members, friends, colleagues, and, especially, those who have previously supported their work. Each performer brings with them a unique network of relationships that can help establish a strong and enthusiastic audience for this inaugural event.

The Democracy Ensemble is more than a production; it is the beginning of a new theatrical organization. Building a loyal audience is essential to our long-term sustainability and our ability to secure future funding, expand programming, and provide increasingly competitive compensation for our artists. The success of our first production will therefore depend not only on what happens on stage, but also on the collective commitment of every member of the company to help fill the seats.