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Live Entertainment
www.parkworld-online.com
SHOW TIME!
Cost-effective entertainment for parks and attractions
Few other offerings keep guests entertained for longer or in such great numbers, which is
why shows are essential to most amusement park operators. More flexible than rides, they
can be changed easily from season to season to suit a venue’s budget and guest
demographics. As more and more park owners begin to re-examine their expenditure on
new attractions, is live entertainment now rising to the fore as a cost-effective way to keep
guests happy? We examine the approach at a handful of US parks before highlighting some
of the new productions entertaining guests this season at venues across the globe
Bob the Builder at Darien Lake
shows and entertainment touch our guests in special ways and are as
critical as any ride. Like rides, these experiences need to evolve or
become new every season.”
“Each case is unique, but overall live entertainment probably is a
good way to go in times like these,” adds Gary Goddard. This season,
Gary Goddard Entertainment is extending its Glow in the Park parades
to a number of new Six Flags outlets in the United States. “Marketed
correctly, live entertainment can do the job as good as a new ride – at
a fraction of the cost,“ adds Goddard.
“You really have to look at your park’s demographics,” says Brad
Billington, founder and CEO of Mirage Entertainment, which has shows
playing this season in China, Taiwan, India and Pennsylvania. “Not
every guest wants to do rides. Parks use live entertainment in a number
of ways. It’s a great way to welcome guests to the park, get them out of
the heat, or help brand a location. I really believe live entertainment is
making a comeback at many venues. You only have to look at the
success of show-based parks like Universal Studios to prove that live
entertainment can attract visitors if it’s done right.”
A
t Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, live entertainment In the UK, Thorpe Park added live entertainment to help ease
certainly represents a major part of the park’s offering. This congestion on the rides. “The park previously had only minimal live
season the park is adding new shows including the Zhejiang entertainment so asked us to create a concert featuring costume
Balancing Monks from China, Stomp-style supergroup JEERK and a 28- characters,” explains Simon Foulkes of Rainbow Productions. “The
member Peruvian music and dance troupe.
“From a show perspective, there isn’t a time of year when we are not
Glow in the Park from
offering something spectacular,” says Brad Schroeder, director of
Gary Goddard
special events. “Silver Dollar City is like a 50-acre performing arts hall,
constantly presenting the best shows we can find and create
worldwide.”
Over at Darien Lake in New York State, new productions for 2009
include the park’s first-ever midway concert series, intended primarily to
drive early season attendance, and the addition of daily shows featuring
licensed properties such as Bob the Builder and Survivor.
With no major new rides or attractions debuting in 2009, shows and
special events represent a major slice of the park’s investment for
2009. So is it possible that live entertainment can provide a recession-
friendly way of pulling in guests?
“The current economic climate certainly plays a role in the decision
process for additions,” concedes Christopher Thorpe, Darien Lake’s
general manager. “Last year our guests had a great time with the
Motocoaster, but after reviewing guest surveys we recognised
opportunities to improve the ‘software’ side of our experience. Live
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JULY 2009
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