What are some creative ways to market a theatrical production to a younger audience?

Theatre is important more now than ever. It allows everyone to connect on a very visceral level. To help younger people find theatre productions social media may be a simple area, but the most important are classroom visits, mall showings, libraries, craft fairs or other public forums. Free introduction classes or clinics as well as special pricing is also a valuable tool. The goal is engagement and helping the children feel involved in the experience. It's all about immersion and direct contact is the beginning.

IMO I think it's important for young (potential) audiences to hear enthusiasm for theatre from someone around their own age. Find a young local theatre enthusiast - every town has them! - and invite them to sit in on a dress rehearsal or preview, and have them post about it. Offer them some B-roll clips for Tik-Tok and other socials. I'm enthusiastic and passionate about theatre, but I'm also a Gen X-er, so why would a Gen Z or a Gen Alpha listen to what I have to say about how great a show is? Once the young audience is there, post-show talkbacks with the cast and crew can be a great way to continue to drum up enthusiasm. Backstage tours, as well as tours of the scene/prop/costume shops, if possible, can also create excitement.

Utilize platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to create engaging content such as behind-the-scenes glimpses, cast interviews, and interactive challenges related to the production.

This is such a cool idea. Markekting to kids? Well I'd see if there are places to do just that. While social media isn't a bad idea, most parents are trying to get their kids AWAY from their devices. A kids book store collaboration might be nice. Or maybe the local library has capacity for a sampling of the play in the children's area. Maybe talk to some of those indoor gym places and see if they will let you hand out flyers in front of their building in a cute costume, with free lollipops. I do know you have to go where the kids are, no matter the age group.

marketing to a younger group can be challenging but good. using all social media platforms are important for maximum outreach. short form videos would work best especially if younger groups only spend a few seconds to three minutes scrolling on media platforms. I also would consider having a short preview of any shows be out in public like on parade floats or in the park so that anyone can see what the show would be like and if it peaks their interests.

Design the website with a modern and visually appealing layout that reflects the style and themes of the production. Use high-quality images, videos, and animations to capture attention and create an immersive experience.

Follow the site statistics, which can be very useful in identifying the audience and provide info for outreach. Be careful with pop-ups, to sell tix. Can be very annoying.

While websites are great for ticket reservations, if your aim is to market to younger people (10-18 yrs), they will not click on the website unless it is right in front of them. Social media is the best option.

Las vías de difusión en el teatro, como en cualquier otra actividad de la oferta cultural que hay que hacer llegar a un sector de la sociedad en concreto, es imprescindible que estén actualizadas a los tiempos, a las formas y a los nuevos públicos. Que puedan conocernos y saber qué vamos a ofrecer antes de adquirir una entrada/localidad. Que sepan qué tipo de experiencia van a vivir, que la palpen, que sea plenamente sensorial y no solo visual, donde el espectador tenga posibilidad de convertirse en “parte de”. A través de una web dinámica, que muestre imágenes, vídeos, perspectivas y posibilidades, es más fácil llegar a ese público, darnos a conocer y generar ese engagement que conseguirá un experiencia previa positiva.

Optimized for what?! More acronyms. Do young people know what IBM or AT&T actually stand for. Does SEO stand for words or is it a glyph in and of itself? Inquiring minds want to know.

In my opinion, the best option is to generate your own influencers. Turn young people with active use of social media into theater critics who have access to previews to communicate the interest of the theatrical proposals with like-minded people.

Don't forget children's theater and classes. They are the most direct influencers since kids are already interested in theater and involved. Align with teachers, keep them informed of appropriate shows. Make special offer discounts for student matinees, provide posters and handcards with QR codes and links.

The more someone sees/hears something, the more likely they are to do it. If you pay one influencer to see your show, that could become your sole marketing plan. Major influencers can charge up to $10,000 for a 2-minute ad!

Offer live streaming options for performances or host virtual events such as Q&A sessions with the cast, virtual tours of the set, or interactive watch parties. This allows younger audiences to engage with the production from the comfort of their own homes and can help reach those who may not be able to attend in person.

We are looking into the option of hosting a parent’s night out. This is a two sided event that can work in two different ways. 1. parents can drop kids off for a family friendly show where we have extra ushers to keep kids save while we have planned date night events, coupons, outings scheduled for the parents while we entertain the kids. It gets younger parents involved with what we’re doing and starts to grow younger audiences interested in theatre. 2. We could have kids night where parents drop their kids off with us for planned theatre games and things to keeps their kids watched while they enjoy a show because getting tickets for the whole family price them out or the show isn’t family friendly so the parents have to pass.

My daughter is heavily involved in the theater program at her high school and this has been a topic of discussion for her Thespian Club meetings. I suggested inviting Theater Alumni to visit the school and talk about their experiences and how they made it "BIG" in the industry, success stories and struggles of being a performer and/or production team.

Qu'ils soient des modèles ou des anti modèles, les influenceurs "influencent" réellement la jeunesse actuelle. Alors, les associer à un projet est une bonne façon de susciter l'intérêt des jeunes. A l'avant première d'une pièce de théâtre par exemple, inviter deux influenceurs qui prétendument sont en couple va a coup sur attirer les jeunes. Cependant, ce qui attire vraiment les jeunes ce sont les thématiques qui leur parlent, qui reflètent les réalités de leur époque et leurs aspirations profondes. Tout ce qui est savant savant est ennuyeux.

Sometimes beyond hosting an event you become the event and take the event to them. Go into schools and perform excerpts and have students engage by being part of the event. The they are connected and invested in seeing more.

Offer discounted tickets for students or special group rates for school groups or youth organizations. Make sure to promote these deals through channels where students are likely to see them, such as school newsletters or student-focused websites.

I have seen great success with a pay your age night for audience members. This opens the doors to younger folks to pay a step discount in prices and peak their interest in coming back to future shows.

Offering discounts to young people is a fantastic way to get them excited about attending theatre shows. By making tickets more affordable, it becomes much more accessible for young folks to experience the magic of live performances. It not only encourages them to give it a try but also helps foster a lifelong love for the arts. Plus, when young people attend shows, they bring fresh energy and perspectives, creating a vibrant and diverse audience.

Ticket prices can become outrageous if the show gets popular enough. If you offer discounts to students or those under 18, then you can expect more people to attend the show.

I've seen theatre companies have lots of success with offering various discounts to those under 30. I know it certainly helped me afford to see theatre in my early twenties when my budget for entertainment was incredibly tight. The theaters with high production quality made me a return customer and eventually led me to me getting season tickets once I had a higher income.

Interactive Storytelling: Create an interactive storytelling experience that allows users to engage with the narrative of the production before they even step foot in the theater. Incorporate multimedia elements such as audio clips, animated sequences, or interactive timelines to introduce characters, plot points, and key themes. This interactive narrative not only captivates visitors but also sets the stage for an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Understand that youth don't look at theater from the same perspective as you. It will require a conscious effort to convey what about your production will speak to them, as their assumptions will be influenced by their only engagement with the art form up until that point — likely something akin to an assigned reading project for Hamlet in high school. Realize that the youth of today want the same range of experiences in their media as you did in your youth: comedy, escapism, action, etc. They don't inherently understand how your production could provide those experiences in a worthwhile way, so communicate that! Be careful not to patronize, but do engage! Most have never even been to a theater, so it's intimidating and energy-intensive.

As a teen, if I look at the logo/poster/designs and I think they look bad, my mind will usually not go deeper into watching the performance. Obviously, I shouldn't be judging a show by its poster, but if it looks cheaply made or generally boring, I may lose interest. Invest in designing or hiring a designer for your logos and posters.

As a visual artist it's none other than getting them be involved in the production of the props , costume design , stage design which involves creativity and some form of understanding between crew and members working with the project .

engage + activate youth the same as we do with any audience - successfully … 😉 go and meet them where they are. communicate with language and in ways that they recognize, and with which they resonate (this marcom strategy, of course, is assuming that the theatrical production itself is of interest to youth) and if your team is not currently connected enough to youth to know these answers readily, conduct a focus group of your focus/ideal audience, and compensate them for their time + intel 🤗