Josie Doll posing on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Tennessee while attending a work conference there.-- SUBMITTED PHOTO
Every day my first order of business is to turn on my computer and review what tickets have been sold on TIXX.ca over the past 24 hours – this information is vitally important to every part of the rest of my day.
Although choosing and securing entertainment for the Esplanade is fun and exciting, there’s a lot more to it than might meet the eye! It includes data analysis, research and time spent networking to ensure we are presenting shows that will not only sell tickets but will provide high quality entertainment options and variety for our community.
How do we do this? To put it simply, research.
From attending conferences, artist showcases, award shows, sitting on boards both provincially and nationally, to reviewing and adjudicating many offers, this information is used to ultimately decide on 35 presented events or so each year at the Esplanade. Before each and every offer for an event is submitted, I have looked into the artist’s previous ticket sales, reviewed their most recent tour statistics, talked to other professional presenters, watched show clips and determined the best location for this particular artist – be it in the main theatre, a part of our On-Stage Series, if it would be best suited to the studio theatre, or even the rooftop terrace. The location of the performance helps us set the stage for the overall event experience and is all part of the decision-making process for a show. We are so fortunate to have this beautiful facility that allows for so many options.
The entertainment industry has also seen changes in ticket-buying behaviours post-COVID.
These changes are impacting who is looking to buy tickets, what type of experiences they are looking for, how often and when they want to attend. Knowing this information, we have been able pivot to accommodate for this change to ensure we continue to best meet the needs of our community.
The goal is always to curate a year of entertainment that includes names you know, but also some you might not. This gives you the opportunity to experience some of your favourite artists along with others you might not have considered seeing but will certainly be glad you did. We have taken the time to choose the best options for you, based on hard work and research.
Take a chance and trust us – we love to entertain you! See you soon!
 Josie Doll is Entertainment and Events Coordinator at the Esplanade.
