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Backstage with EPC's Kim Jansen - Show Announcements · Backstage at The EPC's Podcast

• 0:09
  SPEAKER_01: Hello and welcome to Backstage at the EPC.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_01: Today we we are chatting with Executive Director Kim Janssen.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome, Kim.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_01: Hello.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, with the entertainment inner industry, we always have like new and exciting things going on.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_01: So today we wanted to hop on and talk about some new show announcements that we've made recently.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: So we announced our season 17 in July.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: So that's that big announcement where we roll out the 40-some shows and uh really get things going.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: But then throughout the season, we add additional shows as things become available and as things are coming through our market, we make sure we grab some cool things.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: And uh this month we have two announcements to make.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we wanted to add some additional comedy shows to our tour.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: So we had the opportunity to add two new shows.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: So we announced the Gen X Comedy Tour, and then we also are going to have Carrot Top here.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: So we've added some comedy to our season.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: And those two are kind of I mean, they're they're different types of comedy.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_01: Right?
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_01: So what's Gen X's more um Gen X?
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: If you are a member of Gen X, you probably are already a little familiar with this.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: They have so many reels and so many um so much information on social media.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so they're already a very popular tour.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um, they've been out for a while and it's a group.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_01: It's so much fun.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: So there's several comedians that will come out that evening.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so that one's coming April 24th.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: And like I said, if you're a member of Generation X, they basically make fun of all the things we went through growing up and compare it to the earlier generations and the later generations.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: They really focus on just that humor uh that our generation will really appreciate.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: So this one is for you, Gen Xers.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_01: And then Carrot Top does, I mean, I I think everyone knows the name.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: And you can definitely go out and search videos of him.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_01: But he does a little bit more like prop-based comedy.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Carrot Top is kind of known for, first of all, for having red hair, of course.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: Hence the name Carrot Top.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but he also brings tons of props in this trunk.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: And it's it's kind of um for an older generation, Generation X, like I remember seeing Carrot Top like on MTV and stuff when I was younger, uh, but it wasn't as relevant to me.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: So I do think that the older members of Generation X and stuff are going to probably look to purchase this show.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_01: And is that one are they they both more like adult content?
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: Adult ratings?
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: I would bring adults to this one.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: Most of the comedy shows here, if it doesn't say family friendly, you can probably just assume it's more geared towards adults.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: So both of these are great shows for adults.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: Like I said, Gen X is gonna be April 24th, and Carrot Top is gonna be May 16th.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_01: So um our so kind of back to the Bachman Turner Ode overdrive.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: So we had originally, you know, kind of had them on their schedule, and then um they had to pause for a little bit um and fig re-figure out their schedule.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: So we finally got a new date.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so that one was a little bit of a ride.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so we were all ready to announce.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: We were already a little bit through our pre-sale um when we were told there was some things that came up with the tour and we were going to have to reschedule.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: So, of course, we just put the brakes on right away, and uh then we had to sit and wait for a new date as they got some things figured out as far as the routing in the tour.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: So we do have a new date.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I don't have it on me, so Haley's gonna have to tell you.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_01: The new date is March 9th.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: All the dates are running together right now.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: And we realize it's a Tuesday night, uh, but we take what we can get, and if you're a true BTO fan, then you'll be ready to go even on a Tuesday night.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: And I feel like uh the Bachman Turner Overdrive fans are going to appreciate a Tuesday night because they don't have ball games in the way, they don't have you know different uh uh community activities.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_00: Tuesday night, the calendar is usually pretty clear, so Tuesday night it'll be a lot of fun.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_01: So you briefly touched on um why we have add-on shows.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_01: So as we initially released all of our season shows, and then throughout the year we announce new shows.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_01: Touch on that a little bit more.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: Like that this is because they reach out and yeah, so we can touch on that a little bit.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: So what happens is, well, first of all, sometimes we already have offers out there pending, and we just can't get them wrapped up in time for that July announcement.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: So we might have a couple things out there, uh, like I said, pending, waiting for some routing and stuff to work out, waiting to see kind of where all they go.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, there's a lot of pieces of puzzle, a lot of pieces to the puzzle uh when you have a bigger tour.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: So they're trying to figure out where they can go and how they can make it work, and sometimes they just can't meet the deadlines that we're looking at.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: And if it's a big enough show, we don't mind just having it as an add-on.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and some of those we don't need to advertise them as much because they are bigger names that come through and the ones that we announce we know will sell.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: Usually if it's an add-on, it's a national touring show.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so some of the smaller shows and stuff they're booking out way in advance.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Some of the national touring things, though, they're not really putting together their spring tours until this time.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: And we of course want to make sure we're part of those.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and it we always leave holes in our calendars so we can add on some really cool stuff.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: So I always tell people when our season comes out, there's lots of amazing stuff on there, but just wait because more is coming and they're going to be big announcements throughout the season, which is one of the reasons why a lot of our seasoned ticket holders want to become season ticket holders, which you can still do till the end of September.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_01: They want to be season ticket holders so that when we announce new shows, they are the first ones to get tickets.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: So if you are a seasoned ticket holder, there's always a special pre-sale period just for seasoned ticket holders.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: And we have never sold out through just season ticket holders.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_00: So there's always still tickets available by the time we get through that sale.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_00: And uh not only do you get to be part of that pre-sale, but you also save 5% on those tickets.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_00: There's a little bit of a discount.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: Uh but um another thing about that is like I said, you get to be just part of those early announcements, you get to find out what's happening before everyone else finds out, you get to get your tickets.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you don't have to worry about being in the huge lines or waiting on Ticketmaster in the queue trying to get through.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: So that's the best way to get the best tickets to our shows.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_01: So you talked a little bit about how, like, you know, putting the pieces of the puzzle together for the season, and sometimes, you know, national touring acts don't quite get onto the schedule, like they're not finalizing their stuff.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: But you are already starting to like think about season 18.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: So we're we're currently we just announced season 17, and so you will be heading out to a bunch of um conferences and yeah, so um as soon as the season rolls out, as soon as we kind of know where we want the add-ons to go, we are looking at season 18 already.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_00: So I always feel like I'm working a year in advance.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: It's kind of hard to remember like what year it is sometimes.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so yeah, so right now we're already booking for season 18, which is gonna roll out uh in the summer of 2027 with shows starting in the fall of 2027.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_00: So we're already getting things on the calendar there, uh, shopping around and trying to figure out what we want that season to look like.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: As always, we're looking for a little something for everyone.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll be going to different conferences, uh, seeing different showcases, finding out who's out there and who's touring, and starting to work on season 18.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_01: So these conferences that you guys go to, it's set up a little bit where you're you're basically shopping, right?
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: So the uh tour managers or or who who are you setting up meetings with at these?
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so we set up with different tour agencies and then they just give us the rosters of who they represent, and we can look through it and learn more about them.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: And then some of the agencies will have those shows showcasing for us.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: So if you've never if you're not sure if you've never seen that artist or you've never seen that type of art, you can go and experience it firsthand uh to see if it's something you think will work in your venue.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_01: So you spend uh like the whole day at a conference setting up appointments, meeting with these people, you know, finding out the criteria that they need and what you need.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_01: And then in the evenings you get to go to these showcases and and network a little bit more and find out, you know, what some of these acts really are.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_00: It's very much like speed dating.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: You set up appointments in these 15-minute increments, and you run from agency to agency and you hear about what all they have to offer, and then during the night you can go and and see some of those things and figure out, like I said, if it is a good fit for your venue and if it's the quality you are looking for.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_00: So it's a lot of fun.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's really busy, but it's a lot of fun, and we come back with giant stacks of flyers and brochures and booklets and links to different videos to figure out what works, and then we just start putting the puzzle together.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like a big puzzle every year.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_01: So that's a fun thing.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_01: I love that um you get to go do that, and you're so you're so good at you know, talking with the people and and figuring out all of those pieces to to put together a great season.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_00: And it is interesting because some of the shows that I have never heard of, and I go and see it, it's like, oh, that's really cool.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: That'll work here.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_00: And then there's then there's stuff you see, and you're like, oh, I'm curious to watch this, but I'm not sure if it'll work here.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: So it's really trying to figure out what we think the market's looking for.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: And every season I do sneak in a few things that are outside our comfort zone as far as our patrons are purchasing and hoping that they'll try something new and they'll come.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: So, like this year, and a great example of that is our Outrageous show.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, a lot of people have never heard of Outrageous, but it's really cool.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_00: People are going to love it.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I would encourage them to get on and learn more about it.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: But there's always shows like that that we kind of sprinkle in that people have never heard of, uh, but we've seen it along the way and we think it'll resonate with our market once they learn what it is.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_01: Well, thank you so much for joining again.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_01: And um we'll have more announcements coming throughout the season.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_01: So we'll be back like this.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_01: So make sure you're listening to the podcast.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_01: Yep.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_01: All right, thank you so much.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, thanks.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_01: Before we go, on deck at the EPC is Who's Live Anyway on September 13th, Jamie Johnson on September 19th, Taylorville, an unofficial live tribute band on October 3rd, and 1964 the tribute on October 10th.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_01: For a full list of upcoming shows, visit our website at theepc.org.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_01: As always, you can purchase tickets through our box office Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_01: to 2 p.m., and on show days from 10 a.m.
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_01: to show time.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_01: You can also purchase tickets online through ticketmaster.com slash EPC.