When was the last time you looked at your business model? When did you last consider how you can reach a new audience? In a day when it’s easier than ever to be national, international and not just local I was happy to see the art of theatre take on a new twist. Last night I attended The White Guard, a production at the Sydney Theatre Company. I was surprised at first to see a number of empty seats and a sign that ‘tonight’s performance is being filmed.’ The sign, at least, was explained before the play began when a staff member explained that as of 7 July, Sydney Theatre Company performances would be transmitted to cinemas all over the country.
This new initiative brings theatre to those in other cities around Australia, but more importantly to country and rural areas where the availability of top-level performances from some of the countries finest actors is not otherwise available. I have a subscription to the theatre and most times make it along. Some times the plays are outstanding, other times (like last night), not so much, but none-the-less, I have easy access to them. So, I congratulate The Sydney Theatre company. As well as spreading the love, they are expanding their business model and will now bring revenue to a location based business whose locations have just multiplied many-fold. At the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, we identified a few years back that it was going to be impossible for us to:
- present educational events in all parts of Australia and
- cater to the time availability of busy women, no matter if we held events at morning, noon or night…
So, in late 2006 we started to use the internet to deliver webinars. Today, on any given week we have women (and men) for all regions of the country listen in to presentations from world-class authors and speakers, from the comfort of their own home. And, if they miss the webinar time… they can watch it later on-demand. So, how can you bring your product or service to more people through the introduction of a new business model? I think the question is worth asking.
