WHAT IS A GOOD SIZE AUDIENCE?

This has been coming up in several discussions with clients and prospective clients.

Here is one problem with all dinner shows: serving and removing the food. Acts can't really be performed during food service for reasons such as safety, interference with the show, etc. So food service happens in between acts. And with large groups, unless the venue has a quick and large waitstaff, this can take some time. Now with our shows, while food service is taking place, the actors improv with the audience and we play dance music. But if food service takes too long - it's like having a one hour intermission at a movie, a 30 minute break between innings at a ball game, a long wait at a red light, etc. In short, it takes away from the event.

Here is another problem with dinner shows that are interactive: they should not be performed on a stage unless the stage is a raised stage centered in the middle of the group. With interactive dinner shows, the audience is part of the event so you place the "stage" in the center so that the audience can be center stage, so that everyone has a first or second row seat. Usually, arranging the tables in a C or U shape or a circle, with a playing area/dance floor in the middle, works best. We have a sample floor plan in an earlier post.

So what is a good size audience? That really depends on the food service and the venue. And note: other problems can arise in private events that have the same effect as food service: e.g., speeches, raffles, awards, etc. These also take time and with any theatrical performance, timing is everything.

WRITING SHOWS

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Writer's block is a condition, associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work. The condition varies widely in intensity. It can be trivial, a temporary difficulty in dealing with the task in hand. At the other extreme, some "blocked" writers have been unable to work for years on end, and some have even abandoned their careers. It can manifest as the affected writer viewing their work as inferior or unsuitable, when in fact it could be the opposite."

Right now, I have "trivial" because so many othger trivial tasks are before me that I have not been able to sit down and write my shows.

SPONSORING EVENTS

One of the events we contribute to will be The Levittown Community Council's 13th Annual Lazy Days of Summer event at the East Village Green Park on Saturday, July 10 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. in Levittown, NY. There is no admission and the day’s activities are completely free to the participants. The activities include pony rides and a petting zoo, a clown, bubble making, face painting, tattoos, sand art, a fishing pond for the young children, games and activities, a deejay and a basketball competitions.. Guests can bring a picnic, but the Council provides watermelon and cake for dessert. There will be entertainment and prizes given out for the games....and I will be there and then off to our show at The Views At Mt. Fuji!

OH WELL....

Our July 10 show should be interesting as I just realized that in trying to work out actor conflicts and getting confirmations from the actors(still need one more), I would up with a mostly female cast and the show is titled Murder At The All Star game - so I better start working on a plot now.

CLEAN THE GUNS, TAKE THE CANNOLI

That's what we have to do at the end of each month. To keep our stage props in good working order, after a months work, each stage prop gun is throughly cleaned and lubricated so that it is in fine working order for the next month's round of shows. There are various lubricants but we use an actual gun cleaner/lubricant - no plug for any particular brand.

NEW LOCATIONS?

This is all "hush, hush" but we are speaking to two locations in Orange County and Dutchess County and hopefully can make an announcement soon on our web site. So keep our fingers crossed.

OUR CAST LAST NIGHT

MURDER AT GERSCH RETIREMENT PARTY by Jon Avner (Copyright 2010 by Jon Avner)

US Dept of Education Asst. Secretary Arnold Duncan – Darin Chumbley, NYS Dept. of Education Assistant Commissioner Danielle Steiner – Jenny Lee Mitchell, Det. Dorsey –Jon Avner

JULY PUBLIC SHOWS

With all the private events going on, we should mention our July shows coming up:

Saturday July 10 at 8:00pm, MURDER AT THE ALL STAR GAME!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at THE VIEWS AT MT. FUJI, Route 17, Hillburn, NY ($65 pp includes complimentary drink and continental food served) (845) 357-5501

Saturday July 24 at 8:00pm, DEATH BY DANCING!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at VILLA UMBERTO, 90 Meacham Avenue, Elmont, NY ($60 pp includes wine and beer) (516) 352-8455

IT'S PREPARATION TIME AGAIN.

A private show tomorrow. So final review and printing out the evidence, making final travel arrangements, packing props, costumes, etc......this is a retirement party for a director of a NYC agency. But we're doing it in Long Island.

A WRITER'S WORK IS NEVER DONE!

We just received a whole bunch of new information from the client for our private show on Wednesday and now, having completed the script, I need to find a way to incorporate this new stuff into the show. But this is our job - we create custom written shows and although we request that all information be given at least two weeks before the show, sometimes it comes later and we have to deal with it the best way we can.

OUR CAST LAST NIGHT!

GRADUATION TO MURDER By Jon Avner (Copyright 2010 Jon Avner) Starring Bedford Hills Women’s Prison Warden Rudolf Hazen – Bob Ader/Prisoner Pamela Smart – Christie Devoe/Prisoner Shelia Davaloo – Laura Witwer/Hudson Link For Prison Education President Roger Baldwin – Darin Chumbley/Lt. Dorsey - Jon Avner - hope you all had a good time!

JULY SHOWS ARE CAST!

Finally, the emails were sent out and just waiting for confirmation. It is extremely hard to cast shows that haven't been written yet so what I do is come up with a basic plot idea for each show, cast, and then write the show around the casting.

FINISHED!

No, we're still here. I just finished next Wednesday's private event (got all the info yesterday) and can start packing up for Saturday's show and cast all of July's shows.

MORE PRIVATE SHOWS

We have just booked two yesterday. And the script for our private show on Wednesday just went out to the cast: Jenny Lee Mitchell and Darin Chumbley. We're still working out with the venue for Wednesday the proper floor plan but I'm sure all will be fine. As you can see, this sample floor plan gives everyone a front row seat and an area to dance as we play dance music in between acts.

BACK TO THE GRINDSTONE

Well last night's show for H&R Block on board the JJ Audubon was a lot of fun thanks to Bob Ader as attorney Russell Smith, Madelyn Spanier as Mary Prize, Susan Mitchell as the violinist-hitwoman Jackson Hewitt and myself, Jon Avner, as Sgt. Dorsey. And we had the best views of the Statue of Liberty....now back to writing Saturday's public show and next week's private event!

QUICK, WRITE A SHOW!

That's what we're sometimes faced with. We always send a questionnaire to clients for private events so that we can get information to write the show. We ask that it be given back to us at least 2 weeks before the show. Usually, clients get it to us early. Sometimes, they don't. So once again, for next week's private event, the information just came in so.........

NOT A LARGE AUDIENCE FOR SATURDAY

We didn't realize when we set this date it was the night before Father's Day. So come on and have a good time and an intimate mystery - Saturday June 19 at 8:00pm, GRADUATION TO MURDER!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at THE VIEWS AT MT. FUJI, Route 17, Hillburn, NY ($65 pp includes complimentary drink and continental food served) (845) 357-5501

TUESDAY'S SHOW COMPLETE!

We got all the info from the client and all is set. Now on to completing and sending out Saturday's public show...oh yes, we also got a letter from Google that we are a Favorite Place on Google.

TOUGH WEEKEND

No shows this weekend but just got the information to write Tuesday's show and I have to write Saturday's public show....so a day at the computer. And setting up a lot of props.

DYING IS EASY, COMEDY IS HARD.

So I just finished the first draft of the private show we have on Tuesday - very hard rewriting the lyrics to a song so that it is now about taxes. And now on to write OUR NEXT PUBLIC SHOW - Saturday June 19 at 8:00pm, GRADUATION TO MURDER!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at THE VIEWS AT MT. FUJI, Route 17, Hillburn, NY ($65 pp includes complimentary drink and continental food served) (845) 357-5501

A NEW PRIVATE SHOW.....

....just came in and we have less than a week to write it, etc. It's on board The Motor Yacht JJ Audubon. From their website: "The Audubon is perfect for hosting special events or parties on the harbor. Large windows throughout provide spectacular views of the city for every seat. Perfect for groups of up to 600 guests for cocktails or dining. To request more information about planning a yacht cruise event around Manhattan (NY), NJ or CT click here: Yacht Planning Request or feel free to call us Toll Free at 800.278.7178 or 516.931.3195"

THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT

Well, there are many reasons but he is the inspiration for next Saturday's show GRADUATION TO MURDER. Yesterday, the news was reporting that President Barack Obama advised graduating high school students at Kalamazoo Central High School to take responsibility for failure as well as success and that it's easy to blame others when problems arise....Well there's a plot if I ever saw one.

NEXT SHOW COMING UP.....

....and it's time to start working on it: Saturday June 19 at 8:00pm, GRADUATION TO MURDER!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at THE VIEWS AT MT. FUJI, Route 17, Hillburn, NY ($65 pp includes complimentary drink and continental food served) (845) 357-5501. Now what is big with high schools right now that would be entertaining. We already had a Glee parody. But what about a college graduation? Hmmmm.

OUR NEW ACTRESS

Welcome Rachel Wright to The Killing Kompany! As a last second replacement, first time murder mystery show, etc., you did great! And thanks to Dominic Marcus as Al Roker, Prudunce Holmes as Darlene Bratt and Darin Chumbley as Spencer Bratt who were all terrific in our "Heidi and Spencer" spoof - Long live the Bratts!

YES ANOTHER REWRITE FOR TONIGHT....

One of our actresses had a personal emergency and cannot attend. We are trying out a new actress and of course, another rewrite. Last draft went out last night. Hope to see you all at the show!

AND IT STILL HAD A REWRITE!

That's right. And it may have a few changes by Saturday, depending on how the news changes. Our shows are based on current events and to be current, rewriting can happen at the show.

THE SHOW IS COMPLETE!

The script is done. Final scripts will be sent out today and final pick up times. Props are being packed now. The show is on - Saturday June 5 at 8:00pm, MURDER AT THE FAMILY REUNION!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at LOUIS SEAFOOD, 3478 East Tremont Avenue, Throgs Neck, NY ($60pp) (718) 822-4600

OUR CAST THIS SATURDAY.....

Dominic Marcus, Prudence Holmes, Christie Devoe, Darin Chumbley and of course me, Jon Avner. But the final script on Saturday is going to be so much different than the one I sent out earlier. Still working on it.

OUR JUNE 2010 PRESS RELEASE

COMEDY MYSTERY DINNER SHOWS

June 1, 2010. The Killing Kompany, New York City's leading mystery dinner theatre group, announces its updated schedule of shows through September of 2010:

Saturday June 5 at 8:00pm, MURDER AT THE FAMILY REUNION!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at LOUIS SEAFOOD, 3478 East Tremont Avenue, Throgs Neck, NY ($60pp)(718) 822-4600

Saturday June 19 at 8:00pm, GRADUATION TO MURDER!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at THE VIEWS AT MT. FUJI, Route 17, Hillburn, NY ($65 pp includes complimentary drink and continental food served) (845) 357-5501

Saturday July 10 at 8:00pm, MURDER AT THE ALL STAR GAME!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at THE VIEWS AT MT. FUJI, Route 17, Hillburn, NY ($65 pp includes complimentary drink and continental food served) (845) 357-5501

Saturday July 24 at 8:00pm, DEATH BY DANCING!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at VILLA UMBERTO, 90 Meacham Avenue, Elmont, NY ($60 pp includes wine and beer)(516) 352-8455

Saturday August 14 at 8:00pm, MURDER AT THE SUMMER BALL!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at THE VIEWS AT MT. FUJI, Route 17, Hillburn, NY ($65 pp includes complimentary drink and continental food served) (845) 357-5501

Saturday September 11 at 8:00pm, DEATH BY DISCO!, a comedy murder mystery dinner show at THE VIEWS AT MT. FUJI, Route 17, Hillburn, NY ($65 pp includes complimentary drink and continental food served) (845) 357-5501

For more information, call THE KILLING KOMPANY at 212 772-2590 or call toll free at 1 888 SHOOT-EM. And remember THE KILLING KOMPANY is also available for private parties. For over 16 years, we have traveled all over the country, from New York to California, performing for major corporations, hotels, resorts, casinos, as well as fund-raisers, birthdays, anniversaries, sweet sixteen's and bar/bat mitzvahs....you name it! For more information, visit our web site at "www.killingkompany.com" We’re also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and we now have a blog at Blogger!

THE KILLING KOMPANY - Mystery Dinner Theatre Shows
E mail "killingkompany@killingkompany.com"
Web "www.killingkompany.com"
Phone 1 888 SHOOT-EM
Fax 212 202-6495

THE KILLING KOMPANY is a trademark of THE KILLING KOMPANY MURDER MYSTERY DINNER SHOW, INC.