Adapting to Change: Bob Watkins on the Future of Live Theatre at The Lincoln

What Are The Biggest Challenges Facing Performance Halls Today?

Discover the art of adaptation in the world of live theatre with our special guest, Executive Director Bob Watkins, who shares his invaluable insights on the evolving challenges of running a historic venue like The Lincoln Theatre. From the economic pressures squeezing performance halls to innovative strategies aimed at drawing in younger audiences, Bob unveils the theatre’s blueprint for success amidst changing times. Ever thought about how community involvement and a little creativity could turn the tide for local theaters? This episode is packed with actionable ideas and firsthand experiences that paint a hopeful picture of the future of live entertainment.

Join us as we navigate the impact of digital entertainment and streaming services on traditional theatre experiences. Bob candidly discusses the potential and hesitation of venturing into digital realms, while emphasizing the irreplaceable joy of a live audience. Listen in for exciting revelations, like the introduction of "Thirsty Thursday," a novel event aiming to shift perceptions and draw diverse crowds to the theatre. Whether you're a theatre enthusiast or simply curious about what goes on behind the curtains, this conversation promises to enlighten and entertain.

To learn more about The Lincoln Theatre visit:
https://www.TheLincoln.org/
The Lincoln Theatre
117 E. Main Street
Marion, Virginia 24354
276-783-6092

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to On Stage with the Lincoln Theater, where
history and entertainment stealthe show Dive into the rich
legacy of this iconic Mayanrevival theater, from its 1929
debut to its starring role inMarion, Virginia's entertainment
scene.
Guiding us through this journeyis the man in the spotlight,
our executive director, BobWatkins.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
The spotlight may shine bright on stage, but
behind the curtain, performancehalls face hurdles that even the
most skilled acrobats mightstruggle to clear.
Bob Watkins sheds light on howthe Lincoln Theater tackles
these challenges head on.
Welcome back everybody.
Skip Monty, here, co-host,slash producer, back in the
studio with Executive DirectorBob Watkins.
Bob, how's it going?

(00:54):
It's going great.
How are you doing, skip?
I'm doing just fine.
It's a good day, good day to doa podcast, yeah.
So, bob, what are the biggestchallenges facing performance
halls today and how do you planto overcome those?

Speaker 3 (01:11):
Well, I've been reviewing with some other venues
, talking to some of theirdirectors as well to check and
see what they've been dealingwith, and the consensus is that
the concerns and threats withinthe economy and the cost of
goods and household expensesincreasing on a regular basis,
it's just caused a lot of peopleto shy away from spending the

(01:33):
extra money on entertainmentsources there and going to
different venues andhistorically nonprofit theaters.
Like us, we've always seemed tohave an issue with generating
enough funds to support theexpenses that we have.
So I've just been reviewingdifferent types of performances
to try to maybe decrease thecost of ticket prices so we can

(01:55):
get some more patrons to come in, and just also increasing the
area in which I market to try tosee if I can recruit more
people to come in and enjoy theentertainment that we offer.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Very good.
So what role does communityengagement play in addressing
those challenges, or does itCreates?

Speaker 3 (02:16):
a huge impact on it there.
It's a good question because Ithink a lot of times, especially
in smaller communities like weare located in, our community
tends to maybe not appreciatethe opportunities that they tend
to have in their hometowns, sothey venture out of the area and
go elsewhere.
So with us engaging with thecommunity a little bit more and

(02:38):
increasing the focus that theymight have on some of the
activities and programs that weoffer, I think it just increases
the number of people that comethrough our doors and see what
we have to offer so they canstart to gain a little bit more
appreciation with their hometowngym that we have here.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
When it comes to getting younger audiences, do
you have any special activitiesthat you do to try to draw a
younger audience, like TikTokdances?
Is that too far?

Speaker 3 (03:08):
Well, we haven't pursued anything like that.
One thing we have done is wehave increased the different
types of genres that we do here.
So we're trying to target multitypes of entertainment here so
it appeals to the younger crowd,middle-aged crowd, older crowds
.
One of the things that westarted doing here is a happy
hour on a Thursday.

(03:28):
We're doing a Thirsty Thursdayprogram here to try to just
change the atmosphere that thepatrons have seen here at the
theater and make it a funactivity, to where they can come
and have some entertainmentwhile they're seeing the shows.
That seems really good to getsome more people in here too.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
The baseball approach Thirsty Thursday.
That seems really good to getsome more people in here too.
Yeah, the baseball approach.

Speaker 3 (03:48):
Thirsty Thursday.
Yeah, it's not going to be 50cent drafts like it was there.
What was that?
Cleveland Indians or somethingDid that yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah.
It's going to be like.
That Is digital entertainment.
Is that competition for you andif so, how do you deal with
that?

Speaker 3 (04:03):
I do think that the digital, the capabilities of
streaming because, again, goingback to the economy, you can go
and get a subscription to streamjust about anything that you
see, and then you can also seedifferent concerts at home and
things like that so it doescause some issues.
We're not currently doinganything to stream any of our

(04:27):
performances or anything likethat, but that has been a
thought that I've considered.
But at the same time, I justenjoy having the people here in
the theater, so we're notlooking too much into the
digital side of it.
But for different performanceswe might pursue that at a later
date.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
Got it so Thirsty Thursday is one of the
strategies that you mentioned toreach younger audiences.
Do you have any otherstrategies in mind for the
future to ensure financialsustainability?

Speaker 3 (05:02):
Well with us a lot of the stuff that we do to help
assist with that financialimpact.
There is a lot of grants.
We're looking for a lot ofdifferent grants to try to
secure so we can, because we're20 years of reopening the
theater so it's about time tostart really assessing our
infrastructure here in thetheater.
So roof, hvac systems, thingslike that, and, as you know, the

(05:26):
expenses.
It's very difficult to get thatpaid for with the tickets, so
we need some additionalresources to come in.
So I've just been pursuing alot of grants and the community
support going back to localgovernment, trying to get some
funding to support differentprograms here as well.
So those are some other avenuesthat I've been traveling to get

(05:46):
that support.

Speaker 2 (05:49):
So is that the grants you mentioned primarily through
local government or theirfederal?

Speaker 3 (05:55):
There's a state.
Virginia Commission of the Artsis a program that offers a lot
of different types of fundingfor whether it's a 50 percent
coverage of performance acts orjust operating expenses to where
you go ahead and submitrequests and show the different
programming that you're tryingto do to help improve the
community and provide some stufffor the community, and then you

(06:16):
can on occasion receive some ofthose grant fundings to help
support your operating costs.

Speaker 2 (06:22):
Very good and, of course, I'm sure you appreciate
donations from the public aswell.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
Always, always.
The Friends of the Lincoln is agreat group of people that they
continuously give out of thekindness of their hearts because
they see what we're doing hereand they've really enjoyed it
over the years.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
Very good, very good.
Well, bob, love it it.
We'll catch you in the nextepisode.
Hope you have a fantastic restof the day.
Same to you, skip.

Speaker 1 (06:46):
Thanks a lot take care thanks for tuning in to on
stage with the lincoln theater.
Want more of mary andvirginia's entertainment scene?
Visit us online atthelincolnorg yes, that's
thelincolnorg or drop by ourtheater at 117 East Main Street.

(07:08):
Let's keep the arts alive andkicking together.