Dinner theatre is the perfect date: dinner and a show in one location. However, it can be a little pricey, and in a declining economy, people may be less willing to fork over the cash for a nice dinner and tickets, or the gas to drive there if it is far away. As a result, some dinner theaters, such as Garbeau’s in Sacramento, California, are suffering.
The Dinner Theatre Experience
“Dinner Theater is a unique experience,” says Garbeau’s co-owner Andrea Castel. “First, if you are celebrating a special occasion, food is normally part of the evening. By offering a dining and entertainment destination, only one trip is needed, one parking spot (no parking garage charges), and you don't have to worry about rushing through dinner to make the show - you're already here!”
At regular restaurants, the customer-server relationship only lasts 30-60 minutes. With dinner theatre, that relationship is for an evening. “We expect our staff to provide excellent service, but have fun serving our guests as well,” says Castel. “After all, we're all together for about four hours per evening, so there is a lot of interaction. We get to know our customers very well, and love seeing them return frequently.”
Dinner Theatre on a Budget
With the economy in a general downturn, dinner theatre may seem too expensive. However, smart dinner theatres adapt to the economic climate to keep people coming in.
Castel explains, “When money is tight, we know that dining out and seeing a show are luxury items. But we do offer less expensive seating, and customers may elect to come to the show without dining. We all need to laugh, and live theater is an uplifting experience. We select shows that are also fun and lighthearted, helping guests escape their problems for a few hours and remember the feeling of laughter and delight.” Garbeau’s also offers lower-end dining choices so customers can get just a snack or desert to munch on during the show.
Save Garbeau’s Dinner Theatre Campaign
When Garbeau’s was faced with a new landlord who required a large sum of rent money up front, the owners acted quickly. They spread the word about their plight, encouraging theatre lovers to buy Flex Passes, season tickets and gift certificates, which could all be redeemed later if the establishment remained open—and several area theatres agreed to honor these if Garbeau’s closed. A “Save Garbeau’s” group formed on Facebook, and several groups rallied to hold benefit performances to raise the needed money.
“When we decided to start this campaign, it wasn't just to keep our business going,” says Castel. “It was to see if the community still wanted us here. Emails, phone calls and letters immediately started coming in. We knew that the community DOES want us to survive. We have spent the past year and a half making improvements to Garbeau's to attract more customers, corporate events and be open for more than just weekend dinner theater. Our customers have noticed the efforts made to change the image, and appreciate the "comfortable" atmosphere we have created.”
Why should people rally to help Garbeau’s, just one of many other struggling businesses? As Castel says, “Garbeau's is an institution that is unique to Sacramento, and offers a special experience for residents and tourists. We are also a theater that attracts talented actors to our stage, and we think Sacramento deserves to keep actors in town instead of sending them to San Francisco or L.A. to find work.”
So, is dinner theatre a thing of the past? Not if Garbeau’s can help it!
To find out more about Garbeau’s Dinner Theatre and how to help them stay open, visit www.garbeaus.com.
