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| Steve Presley and Barb Lancaster, Administrative Secretary, reviewing advertising piece for this year’s show. |
The Branson.Com Show Guide lists almost 100 shows that Branson visitors can choose from. Some of those shows are new and some have been in Branson for more than one year, some more than 20, but only two for more than 40 years, the Baldknobbers Jamboree and Presleys’ Country Jubilee. That’s quite a few years of getting next year’s show ready, but what really happens between the seasons to insure that next season’s show will provide the audience with an experience that is new, fresh and exciting.
To explore the answer to that of that question, Steve Presley of Presleys’ Country Jubilee, was interviewed recently. He said, “As the curtain came down on the 2008 show on Dec. 13, the work had already begun on the 2009 show back around Nov. 1.”
He explained that from his perspective, there were three main elements that went into the show each year. The first and most important element is production followed by marketing and theatre operations.
In terms of the show’s production from year to year Presley, said “Show changes are always a given.” He said he could not recall ever starting a new season where the material in the show was not at least 50 to 60 percent different from the season before.
When asked if the 50 to 60 percent new material every year applied to the comedy portion of the show Presley said it does. He described the shows comedy as the “life blood of the show” and one of the things that makes Presleys’ Country Jubilee unique and gives the show great appeal to children. He said Gary Presley, “Herikmer” and Eric Presley, “Cecil,” father and son in real life as well as the show, are constantly working on new material, not just for this year’s show, but next years and beyond.
Another important area under show production is costuming. Presley pointed out that, although it might not seem like it, there are 60 to 70 costume changes per show. He described the selection of costuming as a family venture, but at the end of the day, he is the person who has the responsibility for making sure that all the right costuming, in all the right sizes, is in the right place at the right time, and ready to go.
He went on to say the planning for costuming starts early on in the production process to help insure that it is available on opening night. He mentioned that there were a few times where, from a costuming perspective, things were closer than we would have liked to have seen them.
Presley stated that the marketing for the show is a multi-phased, ongoing, and evolving process. That process involves the updating of the shows marketing plan, its budgeting, and implementation as well as the modification of the shows brochures, web site, billboards, and other advertising media to insure their currency.
Presley said that the operational aspects of the theatre covers, among other things, administration, accounting, the number and type of support personnel needed to sell tickets, usher, and assist with parking, as well as vendors, the operation of the gift shop and just about anything else that pertains to the non-show aspects of the theatre. He acknowledged with sincere appreciation, the business acumen, organizational skills, and commitment that the women of the Presley family have demonstrated over the years as they have handled, and continue to handle, theatre operations.
Presley said all the year to year planning and changes are dedicated to the same thing each performance of the show is, giving the audience a fresh exciting entertainment experience they will not only enjoy, but will return to see again. Almost with a twinkle in his eye he expressed his confidence that “Once we get them through the door, a large percentage of them will be coming back.”
