On July 22, 2014, I received an invitation from Cirque du Soleil to take a survey. Most of the time I ignore surveys because they rarely apply to me – I’m not your typical consumer, especially when it applies to Cirque du Soleil – however, the survey’s introduction piqued my interest, so I took it. Here’s what it was all about…
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Bonjour, Cirque du Soleil has recently launched a project that seeks to explore what people all around the globe think of the different venues available for their shows. We’re asking for your help, and are curious to know what your thoughts are regarding the types of venues used by Cirque du Soleil, which are: under the Big Top, in an arena or in a permanent installation. You will need about 10 minutes to answer all of our questions. Your input will be valuable to help make Cirque du Soleil better than ever. That’s why we are pleased to invite you to participate in this survey.
o) Where do you live?
- United States
- Canada
- UK
- France
- Germany
- Other country
o) Please enter the first 3 digits of your zip-code?
o) How old are you?
o) What is your gender?
o) How many people live in your household on a permanent basis
including yourself?
o) Of the people in your household, how many are children (less
than 18 years old)?
o) Approximately how many paid live entertainment events
(excluding free events) have you attended over the past year
(past 12 months)? Live entertainment events may include the
performing arts (theatre), music concerts, dance, comedy, but
NOT sporting events.
o) Are you aware of Cirque du Soleil, even if you've only heard
the name?
o) Have you ever seen a live show of Cirque du Soleil before (in
person)?
o) If Cirque du Soleil came to town, how interested would you be
in purchasing tickets to attend the show?
o) Using a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you would never
recommend them and 10 means you would definitely recommend
them, please indicate how likely it is that you would
recommend Cirque du Soleil to friends or relatives.
o) As best as you can remember, how many different Cirque du
Soleil show did you ever see?
o) Cirque du Soleil presents its shows in different formats and
venues. Of the different Cirque du Soleil shows you saw, how
many were... Under the Big top, in Larger Arena, in Smaller
Arena, in Permanent Installation?
o) Please select all the countries in which you saw a Cirque du
Soleil show in an arena.
o) Please select all the cities in which you saw a Cirque du
Soleil arena show.
o) You mentioned having seen one or more Cirque du Soleil show
in arena. In which of the following arenas have you seen a
Cirque du Soleil show?
o) Which did you see first between those two? A Cirque du Soleil
show Under the Big top or In an Arena?
o) Regardless of whether you have seen Cirque du Soleil shows in
one or several formats, do you have a preferred format?
- No, they all have equal merit
- Yes, I prefer certain formats over others
o) Can you rank those four formats from the one you like the
most to the one you like the least?
- Touring in a smaller venue / arena
- Under the Big Top
- Touring in a larger venue/arena
- In a permanent installation (Las Vegas, Orlando, etc.)
o) Does the type of venue in which a Cirque du Soleil show is
presented matter to you?
- It matters a great deal to me
- Only to some extent
- Not really
- It does not matter at all to me
o) Is there a type of venue that would discourage you from going
to see a Cirque du Soleil show?
- Yes, Big Top
- Yes, permanent installation
- Yes, arena
- No
o) How interested would you be in purchasing tickets for a
Cirque du Soleil show if that show was held? (I would
definitely purchase tickets, I would probably buy tickets, I
probably wouldn't buy tickets, or I definitely would NOT buy
tickets):
- in a permanent installation?
- in a smaller venue/arena?
- under the Big Top?
- in a large venue/arena?
o) Using a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means you would never
recommend them and 10 means you would definitely recommend
them, please indicate how likely it is that you would
recommend a Cirque du Soleil show to friends or relatives if
that show was to be held...
- in a permanent installation?
- in a smaller venue/arena?
- under the Big Top?
- in a large venue/arena?
The next section is an idea association exercise, where you may come across and be asked to react to ideas offered by other participants – just like you.
o) If you had to explain to a friend what is particularly great about seeing a Cirque du Soleil show in an arena (large or small), what would you tell that friend? To answer, you can either agree with ideas that appear below (by selecting them), or write in your own ideas in the spaces provided. You can refer to details of the show, of the venue, of the experience…anything great that is specific to seeing a Cirque du Soleil show in an arena. Note: ideas shown below (if any) might contain grammatical or spelling errors since they are displayed as written by previous survey participants. o) IDEAS SUBMITTED BY OTHER PARTICIPANTS: - very skillful performers colorful sets avangard style of Music. - the acrobatics are exciting - Great music - Appropriate for any ages! - I also love the costumes, make up and themes of the shows. - the combination of physical artistry and unique musical composition is unique - entertaining acts different from other shows - Very talented performers, great music - I love how there is always some type of action or movement everywhere - The show isn't as much fun but still good.
The next section will show you some other ideas that people use to describe arena shows of Cirque du Soleil.
o) Please indicate whether each of the following statements is an accurate description of arena shows. (Very accurate / Somewhat accurate / Not really accurate / Not accurate at all) - The latest in lighting tech, great acoustics, and support for spectacular sets make arenas a great place to bring Cirque du Soleil to life and ignite the senses. - The wonder of Cirque du Soleil is touring and closer than ever. Arena shows allow you to experience Cirque du Soleil in your very own community. - Arenas let you sit back and take in the spectacle with comfortable individual seating, leg room and great views from any angle. - Larger-than-life venues make Cirque du Soleil arena shows feel more spectacular than under the Big Top tent. - Cirque du Soleil arena shows are your last chance ever to see a specific Cirque du Soleil production presented in your area. - Arenas are in the heart of the action, surrounded by great restaurants and other entertainment, making your night full of fun. - Cirque du Soleil arena shows have captivated hearts and imaginations in hundreds of cities around the world. You'll love it. - The Cirque du Soleil On the Road Tour is bringing classic shows loved by the world, across the country and closer to you. - The Cirque du Soleil Replay Tour brings fan favourites to arenas across the country. - Cirque du Soleil transforms familiar arenas into sensory epicenters and transports audiences through the metamorphoses. - Contagious energy from massive arena crowds adds to the rush of the experience, compared to Big Top shows. - Cirque du Soleil arena shows offer performances in your city for 3 days only. Miss it and miss out. - Easy-to-find, easy-to-park, easy-to-access arenas are the most convenient way to catch Cirque du Soleil. o) Here are few visual executions that we might use to advertise a show. For each of them, please indicate if it refers more to an Arena or to a Big Top show. o) Where have you seen your last Cirque du Soleil show? o) Please select the city in which you saw your last Cirque du Soleil show. o) Where have you seen your last Cirque du Soleil show?
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From the questions asked of me it’s easy to see a bias and skew toward arena and arena-type shows. Perhaps Cirque du Soleil is re-evaluating its future for its shows in this type of venue? Or perhaps it’s looking for justification in order to launch more? We’ll have to wait and see. Of my answers I will only say this: I prefer the Grand Chapiteau for my touring shows thank you very much!
