As with any major endeavor, laying a proper foundation is the best way to ensure a successful outcome. Toward that end, the following guidelines will help you launch your successful Travel Adventure Film Series.

Begin with enough time to do the following:

• Seek advice
• Find the perfect auditorium and facilities
• Book the best films for your audience

Talk with established, successful presenters. This first step is most important. Successful presenters, especially those in situations similar to yours, can be very helpful. They will be glad to share information about all aspects of their programs, as well as discussing advertising, promotion, etc. This assistance can be most valuable during the early years of your new series. The following are successful presenters available to help you:

Feel free to call any of these presenters, even if they are not in your region. Also be sure to fully explore our website at www.travelfilms.org.

A successful Travel Adventure Film Series depends on the experience and skill of the artist and the quality of the film. But there is also an extremely important silent partner in a good show. That "partner" is the performance facility. Without an adequate hall and proper equipment, a good film cannot have optimum impact.

An auditorium suitable for showing motion pictures is of course necessary. It must be darkened during the show so that no sunlight or streetlight can fog the screen. 

How many seats are necessary? The hall must have enough seats to make the series profitable. The minimum size is usually 200 to 300 seats, but the exact number will depend on ticket prices and expenses such as hall rental, artist fees, equipment and promotion. 

Location. A large part of every Travel Adventure audience comes from the senior population of a community. A convenient location in a safe part of town is very important. Just as important is ample nearby parking and few steps to reach the auditorium.

Auditorium vs. gymnasium. An auditorium or theater is clearly best, but it is possible to use a gymnasium or large meeting room. A high school or university auditorium is often available. With careful management and staging, some excellent series are presented in gymnasium settings and meeting rooms.

Screen. Bright sharp pictures are keys to a successful series. Artists will be showing their presentations on either 16mm film or digital video. Both types require an adequate viewing screen. While both pictures can be adjusted to fit the screen, try to use the largest screen possible.

Auditorium staff. A good, dependable projectionist is an important asset. Your projectionist should have good vision, and be able to focus the projected image on the screen. Remember the film artist usually brings his/her own projector. Additionally, there should be someone available who is familiar with the house lighting and sound systems to assist the artist during set-up.

Determine your target audience—younger, older, a certain ethnic background, etc. What area of the world do you think your audience would enjoy? Know your audience! When planning your series season, you will have well over a hundred films to choose from.

Call the Booking Agents:

• Click here for a current contact list of member agents and self-booking artists.

These agents can suggest the best films for your target audience and provide you with biographical sketches, portraits, outlines and full publicity kits of the films you have chosen.

Then, market, market, promote, promote! Consider and seek co-presenters to help underwrite the cost of the series. 

Above all, it's “live” entertainment! That’s the unique thing about Travel Adventure shows, and you should make the most of this feature. Announce from the stage that the artist will be there after the show to answer questions or “just to visit.” Patrons continually list this as one of the things they enjoy most about armchair traveling.

The above information is provided by the Travel Adventure Cinema Society (TRACS). It is a long-established group of professional film artists and presenters from the various venues that host Travel Adventure film series. Its members are committed to the advancement of professional production, and sponsorship of Travel Adventure motion pictures. To do this, TRACS hosts an annual Convention & Film Festival, provides promotional materials, yearly membership directory, supports the industry magazine and maintains this web site, www.travelfilms.org.

If you have any questions or if I can provide you with more information, please call me toll free at 877-279-7604, or contact us via e-mail.

Kathie Veach
Executive Secretary
Travel Adventure Cinema Society