Tell us about your beliefs on the importance of theater.
I firmly believe that theater is something that can help us grow as individuals. We can see characters and scenarios play out before us that allow us to find a relation in their actions. We can see the faults of these characters and find similarities in ourselves. It helps us take a step back and analyze our actions. We can also find inspiration from characters who overcome great struggles as well. I know many people who look to stories to help them get out of a rut whenever things are not going great in their lives.
At what age did you know that you wanted to work in theater?
I knew from a very young age that theater was going to be my passion in life. I have always enjoyed acting. I would say lines from movies in different ways in my own ways when I was little. However, theater management was something that would eventually be my calling. I hold the keys that allow many people to pursue theater as their passions as well. It is a blessing that I consider myself very lucky to have in my life.
What is your community of patrons like in Kentucky?
We were concerned at first that we would not have a theater crowd in Kentucky. Most people in the area primarily look to sports and other recreational activities as a form of entertainment. However, we were surprised to find ourselves receiving overwhelming support for our theater. It turns out there were many people wanting something different in the area! Fortunately, we were able to capitalize on this. Our community of patrons are incredibly loyal and have helped us build this business from the ground up. We owe it all to their efforts.
Speaking of patrons, what do you think your secret of success is?
I would have to say that our secret is our ability to communicate clearly with our patrons. We have a working relationship that allows us to share ideas on how we can improve our business regularly. We want to create the best theater we can possibly have here in Kentucky. The patrons generally know what is best for our theater. We have been listening to them for years and it always pays off. Fortunately, there were tools that we have been using that helps us garner proper feedback.
I have heard that you have been utilizing an NPS promoter score to help receive feedback. Can you tell us more about it?
We owe a lot to the NPS promoter score system. It allows us to receive direct feedback from our patrons after a showing. We take their responses and try to work their requests in for the next showing or general theater atmosphere. We take their feedback very seriously and consider it to be the reason we have improved so much. This system is something that we continue to use to this day and it helps us improve regularly.
What are some challenges that you face regularly whenever you are running the business?
One of the biggest challenges that I have faced regularly is that we are under-staffed. It is a good problem to have. However, we cannot find enough theater specialists in the area to help us keep up with demand for the shows that we provide. Fortunately, we have cast a wider net that can help us find more specialists in the area. We have seen some people come from quite a distance to help us run the show. We appreciate their efforts wholeheartedly.
What advice do you have for people looking to start a new business in an area that they are unfamiliar with?
I would recommend that you spend some time to learn how the community is in the area. This means that you should talk to as many people as you can. I spend the majority of my day at networking events in the local area. These events help me get an idea of the people who could become potential patrons for our shows. Outreach is incredibly important and requires a great amount of your time to accomplish. However, hard work pays off in the end.
Finally, what do you see for the future of theater?
I see theater slowly but surely making a comeback into the mainstream. People are becoming tired of traditional movies. They want a different form of entertainment. Fortunately, the theater can provide hundreds of years’ worth of entertainment for all ages to enjoy.