698 replies to this topic

[jaqs]

jersey_girl, on 19 June 2012 - 10:16 AM, said:

A lot of shows in the westend have quiet nights, some that have been there for years and still not closing....

All shows have different break even rates for the night, long runners will have long ago recouped their investment too.
Ghost would have had a high initial investment and has high running costs so needs to sell an awful lot more tickets at a higher price to stay open than something like blood brothers or chicago.

[djp]

jaqs, on 19 June 2012 - 01:47 PM, said:

All shows have different break even rates for the night, long runners will have long ago recouped their investment too.
Ghost would have had a high initial investment and has high running costs so needs to sell an awful lot more tickets at a higher price to stay open than something like blood brothers or chicago.

Ghost also doesn't have a schools visit niche (Bllod Brothers) or a dedicated fanbase (WWRY)  or an iconic tourist visit niche like the really long stayers. A lot of long stayers, though, survived their first few years because producers stayed with them when sales were  weak. That probably doesn't happen in a recession, people tend these days not to think long term,  and it may not happened with Ghost if people's main objective was to take the show into the US and its not managed to negotiate the pitfalls of US sales . You also wonder if there's a trend to go for whats seen as easier audiences when you have so many dance musicals and children's musicals replacing those with more story, acting and singing. there's an awful lot out there and coming that looks  aimed at the Strictly Come Dancing market, or the family visit . Its all beginning to look like TV where drama declines, there's the odd import which attracts a limited audience,  and everyone has an idea for a new cooking, antique or dancing show.

[Titan]

I also think that they were possibly a bit arrogant and assumed the brand name alone would be enough, so didnt try hard enough.

[bickypeg]

i got the impression that a lot of the problem was with the score-which was poor-and that no amount of fantastic singing,acting,special effects,sets,and nostalgia for the film could make up for that.

[Titan]

That is definitely the case on word of mouth

[Ghostmusicalfan]

I don't think the reason Ghost is closing is solely based on ticket sales, I believe that it is due to the fact that Viva Forever is seen as a bigger crowd puller than Ghost.  Sad as this is, replacing what is a juke box musical for a original musical score £££ speak louder than anything else these days.

Ghost will live on via a UK tour which will I am sure be a huge hit and in the long run prove to be a better way to thrive.

[Titan]

Shows don't close for other shows if they are making money. It's easy for Ghost fans to blame Viva Forever but the bottom line is it wasn't popular enough and wasn't making money. If there is another show that wants the theatre then of course the theatre owners will take if. Are Ambassadors a producer of Ghost? If so as they own the theatre Ghost has probably had longer than it would have in another venue.

You seem to be saying Ghost is somewhat superior, but yes it has an original (although many think bland) score but it's a movie on stage. The story is not original and aside from some clever effects doesn't real do anything to improve on the movie.  It is no more original than Viva Forever overall.

Has a tour been confirmed? I've heard rumours but I can't imagine it will tour in its current state, and it's also unusual for flops to tour

[Matthew Winn]

Ghostmusicalfan, on 20 June 2012 - 01:03 AM, said:

I don't think the reason Ghost is closing is solely based on ticket sales, I believe that it is due to the fact that Viva Forever is seen as a bigger crowd puller than Ghost.

Theatre doesn't work like that, except in the very rare case where the same people are backing both shows. The first production has a contractual responsibility to its investors, and must do whatever will give them the greatest return on their investment.

If a show closes it's either because it was on a limited contract in the first place or because the producers believe the show has reached the limit of its potential. A show doesn't close so that someone else can make more money, any more than a high street store will cut its own profits in order to boost the success of a rival. Each business runs independently. I know fans don't like to think that the world at large isn't as enamoured of their favourite shows as they are and would prefer to think of a closing favourite as being cut off in its prime, but that's not the way the industry works.

[Richey]

Titan, on 20 June 2012 - 05:11 AM, said:

Has a tour been confirmed? I've heard rumours but I can't imagine it will tour in its current state, and it's also unusual for flops to tour

Why is this being labelled a flop? It's run in the West End for over a year and had a successful run in Manchester.

[Titan]

A show that doesnt make its money back is technically a flop.