Q&A talks with Eric Joly, marketing manager/touring shows for Cirque du Soleil.
Q: The Cirque du Soleil production of “OVO” opens in Hartford on June 17. What makes Hartford an appealing destination for your company? What keeps you coming back here as often as you do?
A: The Northeast has always been a great destination for Cirque du Soleil. Boston, Washington and New York always had successful runs and we realized through market research that people were traveling two to three hours to come see our shows. Knowing that we had clients in Connecticut, we decided to set our Big Top in Hartford in 2003 and it was a great decision. We have kept coming back to Hartford every two years ever since.
Q: How many people are required to mount this production in Hartford, including cast and crew? How does that compare to other Cirque road shows?
A: The OVO tour, Cirque du Soleil’s latest big top touring production, has 127 employees representing 27 countries, including 54 artists. It is very similar to the other touring shows.
Q: Has the economic impact of your previous productions in Hartford been measured? How much money is added to the local economy from your 25-day stay in Hartford? Do restaurants and hotels see boosts from your presence? There must be sales and other tax benefits to the city and state.
A: Cirque du Soleil rents hotel rooms for the stay of the OVO employees. We buy food locally for our on-site kitchen and we hire up to 180 local employees during the run. The local staff supports the tour in various different manners. They are ushers, prep cooks, janitors, etc. Another interesting fact is that 30 percent of our clients are from 35 miles away from Hartford. These visitors go to the restaurants and stay in hotels.
Q: It was announced recently that your stay in Hartford was extended. It seems as if that happens with regularity. What makes your company cautious in setting the schedule when you have a proven track record with Hartford?
A: With our market research, we know how many tickets we are able to sell which help us create the tour plan. Also, our past experience in a given market is a great indicator of what to expect. We are always very happy to extend but at some point we need to move to be able to open in time in the next city.
Q: Why does Cirque use parking lots for performance venues instead of going to fixed venues like Rentschler Field or the casinos for your performances?
A: Cirque du Soleil actually does both. We have been touring for now 26 years with our big top shows. Our mobile village includes the Grand Chapiteau (Big Top), artistic tent, box office, kitchen, school, offices and more. Completely self-sufficient for electrical power, the site relies only on local water supply and telecommunication facilities to support its infrastructure. Touring with a big top offers a very unique experience for the audience and has over the years become a tradition with our fans.
However, these days we are also touring in arenas. We discovered this tour model with DELIRIUM which came to Hartford in 2006. This arena tour model enables us to bring our big top productions into smaller markets, which could not otherwise sustain four-week runs because of lower population. With the arena shows, we come for five or six nights and go. The arena show Alegria was in Bridgeport last year.
Q: Here’s a chance to plug the show. Why should people come see OVO if they have experienced Cirque du Soleil in the past?
A: OVO is perfect for the whole family. OVO explores the world of bugs. It is in fact a day in the life of an insect community. The acrobatic acts are breathtaking; the costumes are stunning; the Brazilian inspired music will make you want to dance; and the cute love story between the ladybug and the fly will make you laugh. Everybody will leave the big top happy. In fact, we even modified our price structure to accommodate families with our family pack.
