Well then THIS seems to be whats 'sticking' to the wall for you then! Let maybe the Christmas show be your anchor from which you grow - find out who these people are - give them a gift, lavish them with fun, talk to them and find out what would bring them back - ask them what they would do with the pointer as it were, what are they interested in. Maybe this IS your niche - if it plays in January, why wouldnt it play in February? etc -
Seems to me we've been throwing all sorts of things against the wall to see what sticks
I said these words to a friend running his own planetarium, and finding his Christmas show was by the far the best attended.
Should we give alot of SHOWS, or alot of SHOW - one big one that plays continuously
This seems to be the final question on Home Planetariums. What keeps them going? Do people come to see the spectacle regardless of what is actually playing, or do they come back again and again to see different content? I favor the one super show approach, whereas he seemed after this exchange to continue programming different things each month. There is no right approach of course, and maybe most of it is what satisfies the planetarium builder and owner the most.
My problem with the multi show approach is, there isn't time for word of mouth to build for the February show before its gone and on to the March show. And the one that really 'wows' them only comes around once a year, way too long a period for any momentum at all to build. I favor the approach of having one incredible show that is always there, allowing momentum to build and repeat viewers. It must be informative yes, but interactive, fun, and include takeaways. The visitors must be pleased and kept track of to invite them back. Counting on them to post to a facebook page on their own isn't enough. Its been tried. You get one chance to wow them. You'd better wow them!
I favor charging a LITTLE. Like the old drivein theaters maybe, a buck a carload. The Father of Home Planetariums, Richard Emmons, said he charged 'to lend dignity to the service'. Perceived value has to be there, and if its totally free its easy to be totally ignored.
These are my final thoughts on actually running a planetarium sustained mainly by word of mouth - advertising is such a drag!
Seems to me we've been throwing all sorts of things against the wall to see what sticks
I said these words to a friend running his own planetarium, and finding his Christmas show was by the far the best attended.
Should we give alot of SHOWS, or alot of SHOW - one big one that plays continuously
This seems to be the final question on Home Planetariums. What keeps them going? Do people come to see the spectacle regardless of what is actually playing, or do they come back again and again to see different content? I favor the one super show approach, whereas he seemed after this exchange to continue programming different things each month. There is no right approach of course, and maybe most of it is what satisfies the planetarium builder and owner the most.
My problem with the multi show approach is, there isn't time for word of mouth to build for the February show before its gone and on to the March show. And the one that really 'wows' them only comes around once a year, way too long a period for any momentum at all to build. I favor the approach of having one incredible show that is always there, allowing momentum to build and repeat viewers. It must be informative yes, but interactive, fun, and include takeaways. The visitors must be pleased and kept track of to invite them back. Counting on them to post to a facebook page on their own isn't enough. Its been tried. You get one chance to wow them. You'd better wow them!
I favor charging a LITTLE. Like the old drivein theaters maybe, a buck a carload. The Father of Home Planetariums, Richard Emmons, said he charged 'to lend dignity to the service'. Perceived value has to be there, and if its totally free its easy to be totally ignored.
These are my final thoughts on actually running a planetarium sustained mainly by word of mouth - advertising is such a drag!
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