2 Different questions

Posted by: Ken Miller Aug 10 2010, 07:51 AM
QUOTE(Charlie Miller @ Aug 10 2010, 06:10 AM) *
Hello all. I'm wondering if those who are involved in public presentations of "full dome" videos can help me out. I'm trying to determine a reasonable budget for obtaining shows such as "Natural Selection" or astronomy-related productions. I also have a question about Clark/Hansen planetarium.

1) Can anyone provide me with ballpark figures for how much it costs to present full-dome shows in a public planetarium? If there are specific, high-quality programs that could be cited, that'd be great.

2) Does anyone here have an active association with the admin or planetarium people at the Clark planetarium (SLC, Utah)?

Thanks in advance. Don't forget about the Perseids in just a 2.5 days!
Charlie

Check out these links:

www.discoverydome.com/prices_shows.htm

www.lochnessproductions.com/shows/fd_pricing.html

Ken

Posted by: Charlie Miller Aug 10 2010, 08:04 AM
Thanks, Ken.

Hmmm, it looks like, with the Lochness productions, one could easily need $2k for a show. Am I correct in feeling a little disappointment in that they have only one fixed price for the licence fee and video... How do they put it..."There's no sliding price scale for "size of market", no "gate share" - one simple price". Simple for them, I guess, but clearly the smaller places take a bigger hit.

Posted by: Ken Miller Aug 10 2010, 08:08 AM
QUOTE(Ken Miller @ Aug 10 2010, 07:51 AM) *
Charlie

Check out these links:

www.discoverydome.com/prices_shows.htm

www.lochnessproductions.com/shows/fd_pricing.html

Ken
Note that the total price includes both the licensing fee and a formatting fee (which is usually a dollar a pixel, so 1080X1080 is $1080). The free shows still include a formatting fee, so free can equal $1080. There are sometimes ways around that, but it's not something I'm sure I can discuss. As long as you have a license, you can exhibit the show, but you will have to explain how you got the show before the license will be issued, and they will have to be on board with your methods. The licenses are granted by the show developers, who are not necessarily the distributers.

Posted by: Charlie Miller Aug 10 2010, 01:12 PM
Yes, it does cost money to produce these shows, although not all shows are equally slick and some are relatively content- and science-free. It seems that it is important to have choices. I'd like to advocate for more producers and lower fees. I wonder if NASA or the NSF are aware of what I see as a problem with way shows are produced and distributed.

I don't mind popularization (i.e., same shows at many venues) as long as there are multiple producers and fresh ideas.

Clark Planetarium manages to offer its productions on a sliding scale, unlike Loch Ness, which for no reason that I can understand, slaps smaller facilities with a disproportionate degree of cost with its "flat" pricing. It makes no sense --- unless the market has been captured by too small a number of players, so that the "supply and demand" fantasy need not apply and a small number of producers can call their own shots.

To those who work in mid or smaller planetarium, I'd be curious to get your take on this. There seems to be two ways of running science museums: the administrative way, which usually means an IMAX and rather typical exhibit fare, or the smaller facilities that are propelled by science-minded people and have more built-in interest in conveying science concepts. I suspect that these two business models end up producing two different products. It would be a big loss if productions were monopolized by a few players. Are there any mechanisms for smaller facilities to get some help?

Posted by: mrgare5050 Dec 4 2019, 12:23 PM
QUOTE(Ron Walker @ Dec 3 2019, 03:33 AM) *
People really have no idea as to how much good visual production costs. Then only having a very limited number of domes to sell to makes the break even and profit point unrealistic for inexpensive sales.


I can only imagine

Posted by: mrgare5050 Jul 1 2020, 03:47 PM
QUOTE(Ron Walker @ Dec 7 2019, 07:01 PM) *
For a half hour show you could easily blow $100,000 to $30,000,000 for good special effects.


wow

Posted by: Ron Walker Jul 2 2020, 07:11 AM
QUOTE(Strgzr @ Jul 2 2020, 12:43 AM) *
So Ron are your shows canned?
And by the way can't wait for a vaccine so I can catch another one!
I have to believe through the interjected humor and you asking questions that only Renee would know that it was a very personal experience! Loved it! wink.gif

The price of any canned show that I have seen are way out of my price bracket.

I am in doubt that there will ever be a vaccine for the 19 as a virus mutates faster then a vaccine can be made. Look at the yearly flu vaccine that never really hits the proper one except by pure chance every so often. No, only when enough people get it will the numbers came down. I think I read somewhere that another nasty has been discovered in China and will be let louse on the world.

Yes, the one on one interaction works far better then just pushing the start button. I think most people enjoy it as well. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it as it is hard to get feedback.