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2023: General Discussion

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Thameslink Rail said:
Going back to the marketing, I have to wonder if they are deliberately trying to be cringey:
From: https://www.facebook.com/reel/302325325571628?s=yWDuG2&fs=e

That particular text to speech generator is massively overused on TikTok (often if the creator deems their own voice to be unsuitable) and is widely considered annoying.
Edit: added screenshot as Facebook isn't playing ball for everyone, the video is literally an exchange between them about a short break offer at Alton Towers with a joke about the lack of fresh air in their city.
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Some might find it annoying but this sort of native content is very effective for advertising on TikTok/Reels so makes sense for them to use it. Polished content just wouldnā€™t work well.
 
jom222 said:
Some might find it annoying but this sort of native content is very effective for advertising on TikTok/Reels so makes sense for them to use it. Polished content just wouldnā€™t work well.
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I'm not sure, I think it can and probably will be effective, but polished content works too, but perhaps not in the traditional marketing style but rather, behind the scenes stuff and things like that. It makes people interested and engaged to the socials.
 
They really let them selfs down with events like this and the smiler takeover. I wish they didnā€™t bother, rather than cheapen the whole resort to ā€œButlins levelā€ nothing against Butlins by the way but this used to be a world class theme park! Like others have said this suits Thorpe, or does it? I mean maybe they should aim for higher standards to, but whatever happened to that lovely steam punk set they built on the stage the previously year?
 
TroySmith1 said:
They really let them selfs down with events like this and the smiler takeover. I wish they didnā€™t bother, rather than cheapen the whole resort to ā€œButlins levelā€ nothing against Butlins by the way but this used to be a world class theme park! Like others have said this suits Thorpe, or does it? I mean maybe they should aim for higher standards to, but whatever happened to that lovely steam punk set they built on the stage the previously year?
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The set was for the Sir Alegenon plot-driven shows. This year they have just gone with music. Its possible that guest feedback is that music on the front lawn is preferred to a show with a plot that is harder to watch if you are late. They really should go back to having a proper show in the Cred Street theatre.

But "events like this" have always happened at Alton Towers. One of my strongest memories of visiting in 1994 aged 12 and being a bit scared of the coasters was a musical act on the music powerhouse stage that used to permenently be where Woodcutters is now, me and my Mum watched them perform Walking on Sunshie (originally Katrina and the Waves).
They've done summer themed events for a long time, or cheesy vote for your favourite coaster events. I don't think this is new and it is very on brand for Alton Towers, its not right for Thorpe.
 
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jon81uk said:
But "events like this" have always happened at Alton Towers. One of my strongest memories of visiting in 1994 aged 12 and being a bit scared of the coaster was a musical act on the music powerhouse stage that used to permenently be where Woodcutters is now, me and my Mum watched them perform Walking on Sunshie (originally Katrina and the Waves).
They've done summer themed events for a long time, or cheesy vote for your favourite coaster events. I don't think this is new and it is very on brand for Alton Towers, its not right for Thorpe.
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Yep this show certainly feels akin to the Power house shows from the 90s.

It makes sense to have a show that you can rock up and sit down to watch at any point and donā€™t need to have been sat at the start to understand the thread of what is going on. Due to its location it is more likely that people will be passing and hear something on the stage and wander over to see what is happening.

Also, baby bear in that hat - adorable šŸ¤£
IMG_5298.jpeg
Pic: Towers St
 
Screenshot_2023-07-26-16-19-45-23_a23b203fd3aafc6dcb84e438dda678b6.jpgAlton towers are doing a summer sale throughout all of the summer holidays prices per ticket are Ā£35 instead of Ā£39 which isn't too bad considering the economic state of the country, let's hope this summer season will be a success.

Changing topic completely I'm taking my 8 year old brother next week, he's never been and I showed him POV's and he said he would do everything, definitely going to build our way up to the big boy rides though, he did do apocalypse at Drayton manor when he was 5 and multiple times on our repeat visits (he loved it) so hoping it will go well.
 
Noticed a lot of generic 'summer' music playing around the paths in front of the towers the other day, felt like I should have been stood in Stealth plaza šŸ˜‚ didn't mind it at all though, made it feel very summery despite it being quite a dull day.
 
I know managers often read this page, so if thereā€™s an ents manager there - please tell your dancers to smile and try and look like theyā€™re having fun !

First with Mardi Gras and now the new stage show, the dancers look *so* bored, and theyā€™re simply marking through their routines - itā€™s no wonder theyā€™re struggling to hold a crowd.

Iā€™m a massive fan of performance in general, and Iā€™m not being enticed to stick around or allocate time out of my day to watch the offerings, so the chances of general public who arenā€™t interested in performance in the first place taking time out are vanishingly small.

I donā€™t know if itā€™s a rehearsal thing or a motivation thing (could there be an element of getting what you pay for?) but itā€™s a poor look for what should be the UKs leading theme park!
 
tayspru said:
I know managers often read this page, so if thereā€™s an ents manager there - please tell your dancers to smile and try and look like theyā€™re having fun !

First with Mardi Gras and now the new stage show, the dancers look *so* bored, and theyā€™re simply marking through their routines - itā€™s no wonder theyā€™re struggling to hold a crowd.

Iā€™m a massive fan of performance in general, and Iā€™m not being enticed to stick around or allocate time out of my day to watch the offerings, so the chances of general public who arenā€™t interested in performance in the first place taking time out are vanishingly small.

I donā€™t know if itā€™s a rehearsal thing or a motivation thing (could there be an element of getting what you pay for?) but itā€™s a poor look for what should be the UKs leading theme park!
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If you were not enticed to watch that, then what would you be interested in seeing on the main stage?

They've have the Darwin & Eric shows for Summer of Fun previously which were very family-orientated. Whereas the shows now seem like they have a broader appeal and less story-focused so people halfway through the show can still sit down and watch.

I'd love them to build some sort indoor entertainment venue in the future. Like how they've had the circus and ice show in the past. The park is very ride-dominated and it's just not appealing to the public who don't like rides and there's only so much growth new rollercoasters can do.
 
Bert2theSpark said:
If you were not enticed to watch that, then what would you be interested in seeing on the main stage?

They've have the Darwin & Eric shows for Summer of Fun previously which were very family-orientated. Whereas the shows now seem like they have a broader appeal and less story-focused so people halfway through the show can still sit down and watch.

I'd love them to build some sort indoor entertainment venue in the future. Like how they've had the circus and ice show in the past. The park is very ride-dominated and it's just not appealing to the public who don't like rides and there's only so much growth new rollercoasters can do.
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The content of the show is absolutely fine - if it were executed with any kind of enthusiasm. If the performers arenā€™t bothered about what theyā€™re doing why should anyone else be?

I agree an indoor venue with a story based show would be perfect, thereā€™s one sitting empty over in Questionable Author corner
 
Must be a bit boring to perform the same thing over and over to little or no crowd because of awful rainy weather though. Gotta throw people a bone occasionally. Performers sometimes get their energy from the crowd's energy.
 
I love a good performance too. If the performers were extatically happy after performing show after show to empty crowds, I would start to raise questions and concerns about their sanity and mental health, as I would not call that normal behaviour. I know we have the Smiler a few hundred feet away, but, you would hope their staff are not being marmalised.
 
BarryZola said:
Must be a bit boring to perform the same thing over and over to little or no crowd because of awful rainy weather though. Gotta throw people a bone occasionally. Performers sometimes get their energy from the crowd's energy.
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Counterpoint though, itā€™s their *job*

I attended Mardi Gras on a weekend, it was the busiest Iā€™ve seen Towers in years, the park was very busy. Lots of energy to feed off but no, they looked bored

Summer of Fun, brand new event, and yet the footage from the first time *ever* performing that particular show - bored

Iā€™m not asking for deranged levels of happiness but, the current display isnā€™t cutting it either
 
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