“Find Your Seat. The Show is About to Begin!”
Chicago Theatre Community Reopening Campaign
This fall and winter as theatres across Chicago reopen to live audiences, it’s time for us to come together as a community and encourage more people to experience theatre once again. The League of Chicago Theatres has created several promotional images and a short video, as well as put together sample copy for you. All are below for your convenience. Thanks in advance for your support of this campaign!
Key Dates:
On-going; September 2021 – January 2022
Campaign Tagline:
Find Your Seat. The Show is About to Begin!
Hashtags:
#ChiTheatre #ChicagoPlays (#FromMySeat for Instagram contest)
Campaign Landing Page:
https://chicagoplays.com/find-your-seat/
*You can also simply direct folks to ChicagoPlays.com as well.
Email/Social Media/Website Graphics
Static Images:
White Transparent Logo – 1280×450 (place on top of your own show or venue images!)
Horizontal – 851 x 315 (good for website, emails)
Horizontal – 1200 x 675 (good for Facebook, Twitter)
Square – 1080 x 1080 (good for Instagram, website, emails)
Vertical – 1080 x 1920 (good for Stories, website, emails)
If you need a different-sized image to support this campaign, please email Hayley Ross.
Promo Video:
#FromMySeat Social Media Contest
Encourage your patrons to participate in the #FromMySeat Instagram contest! Patrons will be asked to take a photo of themselves or of the theatre from their seat once they return to live theatre and use the hashtag #FromMySeat to be entered into a contest to win tickets to a show opening soon. Find Official Rules and Contest Details here.
Contest Copy and Images for Social Media/Website/Pre-Show Emails to Ticket Holders:
How long has it been since your last show? What have you missed about the theatre? How does it feel to be back?
Take a photo *from your seat* and share your theatre experience! We can’t wait to hear what you have missed about being in an audience and how it feels to be back.
Use the hashtag #FromMySeat when sharing your post or story on Instagram for a chance to win tickets to an upcoming theatre production.
#FromMySeat Square – 1080 x 1080 (good for Instagram Posts)
#FromMySeat Vertical – 1080 x 1920 (good for Instagram Stories)
*Photography is not permitted of the stage or during performances.
Sample General Messaging:
There’s nothing like the awe-inspiring feeling of the lights going down and the collective excitement as the show begins. Chicago’s theatre community has been eagerly waiting to welcome you back to the theatre.
Find your seat and experience Chicago’s fearless soul once again.
Visit ChicagoPlays.com/Find-Your-Seat/ to find all the information you need to rejoin the audience as Chicago’s theatres reopen their doors.
We cannot wait to welcome you back to the theatre!
Sample Copy for Social Media Posts:
Chicago theatres’ intermission is finally ending! It’s time to find your seat – the show is about to begin. ChicagoPlays.com/Find-Your-Seat
Find your seat. The show is about to begin! Discover live theatre performances near you at ChicagoPlays.com/Find-Your-Seat.
Find your seat, the show is about to begin! [THEATRE NAME/We] is/are open/reopening on [date], and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the theatre! ChicagoPlays.com/Find-Your-Seat
Discover the magic of live theatre again. Find your seat – The show is about to begin! ChicagoPlays.com/Find-Your-Seat
Ready to see a show? Find open theatres in your neighborhood at ChicagoPlays.com/Find-Your-Seat. #ChiTheatre
There’s nothing like the awe-inspiring feeling of the lights going down and the collective excitement as the show begins. Find your seat this fall! ChicagoPlays.com/Find-Your-Seat
Sample E-Newsletter Mentions:
There’s nothing like the awe-inspiring feeling of the lights going down and the collective excitement as the show begins. Chicago’s theatre community has been eagerly waiting to welcome you back to the theatre. Find your seat and experience Chicago’s fearless soul once again. Visit ChicagoPlays.com/Find-Your-Seat to find all the information you need to rejoin the audience as Chicago’s theatres reopen their doors.
How & When to Participate
We recognize that not all Chicago theatres will reopen on the same timeline and some theatres may not be open until much later than others. Below is a breakdown of how your theatre can participate in the Find Your Seat campaign before your theatre is open, and once your theatre has reopened for in-person performances.
Before Your Theatre Opens:
- Share general messaging about reopening in emails and social media and direct patrons to the Find Your Seat campaign webpage to find more information about what theatres are reopening and when. Use the graphics included above.
- Make sure that the League staff knows when your reopening date is and add your shows on ChicagoPlays.com. Contact kara@chicagoplays.com if you need help logging in or posting your show.
- Support other theatres in your neighborhood/area and encourage your patrons to try a new theatre nearby if yours is not open yet.
- Encourage your staff and board members to participate in the #FromYourSeat social media contest to get the momentum going if they attend or are part of a show at an open theatre.
When Your Theatre is Open:
- Share general messaging about reopening in emails and social media and direct patrons to the Find Your Seat campaign webpage to find more information about what theatres are reopening and when. Use the graphics included above.
- Encourage your theatre’s patrons to participate in the #FromMySeat social media challenge at your theatre.
- Display a #FromMySeat ad in program book or include our flyers in your program books or display inside your theatre. Contact hayley@chicagoplays.com for details if you would be interested in including a program book ad or distributing materials at your venue.
- Promote the #FromMySeat Instagram contest in your pre-show email, encouraging patrons to take a photo from their seat!
Questions? Please email Hayley Ross, Advertising and Marketing Manager, at hayley@chicagoplays.com.