The location of this complex is almost ideal, due to the fact that the area is served with a very good transport system, including several bus routes and the London underground. The location is very trendy with a number of pubs, bars and restaurants situated nearby as good meeting points for cinema goers either before or after visiting the complex and making a complete night out of it. The complex is very clean and modern and would not be out of place even in the west end. The reception area is large and well set out. Huge video screens give comprehensive details to film times and availability and once you have made your film choice, there are four ticket windows, manned by helpful complex employees or four automated ticket sale machines, meaning the need to queue is very rare. Once you have purchased your tickets, there are stairs, escalators and lifts (making access for everyone) to take you to the cinema level. At this level, there is a large choice of amenities catering for a wide range of needs. There are two fast food outlets, where you can buy hot dogs, burgers, chips, onion rings and nachos etc… There is also two confectionary counters serving popcorn, pic ‘n’ mix sweets, ice-cream and soft drinks etc… To meet the needs of their older audience, there is also a bar and coffee shop available. All these facilities are again manned by helpful friendly complex employees. Scattered around this waiting area are also arcade machines to occupy those waiting for there film to start. For those not wanting to use the machines, there are comfortable chairs and sofas to relax in whilst waiting. Approximately fifteen minutes before your film is about to start, a cinema usher meets you in this waiting area and escorts you to your screen. The walk to your screen is rather luxurious as the carpet underfoot is very deep and springy. On route to your screen, you pass several toilets (making availability very good). The toilets are very clean, modern and well-maintained. When you reach your screen, your usher directs you to your seat. The seats are larger than standard cinema seats and are of a much higher quality. Every seat has a drink holder attached and plenty of leg room. As the rows are very spaced out, every seat is a ‘good seat’ as the screen can be seen easily from any of them.
The overall experience of a cinema visit to this complex is a good one and the value for money here is very fair. It is like having the West-End facilities at your door!
The second venue in which I have researched is a large music venue. I have chosen to do this year’s Party in the Park at Hyde Park, London, which took place on the 11th July from twelve until seven thirty. This large music event holds 100,000 paying people and is surely the event of the year, every year. It is more of a pop-music event and the money raised at the event goes towards the charity of the Prince’s Trust. It is set up, hosted and ran by the members of the Capital FM team and the tickets are always a complete sell out. There are no seats at this venue so if you want a good view you have to get there early but the atmosphere is so good that a good view is not really needed.
At this concert, a range of performances are offered. Firstly, you get the presenters of the show from the Capital FM team, getting the large crowd involved with the action by playing games and making sure everybody is having a great time! Then the show kicks off with a performance by one of the contributing pop acts and the crowd are then in the mood to party and have the time of their lives! The performances offered at this venue are singers, dancers, participating in games and trying to break the record for the loudest scream. The famous singers are always very strong performers and always look like they are enjoying themselves as much as the crowd are. The fact that the singers get the crowd involved makes the audience feel included in the concert and this is always a nice feeling. The following people were in this year’s line up for Party in the Park was: Will Young, Busted, Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morissette, The Calling, Sugababes, McFly, Avril Lavigne, Darren Hayes, Bevereley Knight, Sean Paul, Natasha Bedingfield, Blue, The Corrs, Lemar, Anastasia, Lenny Kravitz, Jamelia, Lionel Richie, Matt Goss, Peter Andre and last but not least Shapeshifters.
The type of audience targeted is varied as many people from all age groups enjoy this event. Due to Party in the Park being a standing concert rather than a seated concert, those such as the elderly and very young children might not be the main audience targeted here. However, its audience is always varied and people of all ages like to attend. This may also be due to line up of singers of the day. Bands such as Blue and McFly would appeal more to teens whereas the likes of Will Young and Lionel Richie would appeal more to an older audience. As said before, at this event there is something for everybody to enjoy. The venue advertises and promotes this event in various ways. Due to the fact that it is sponsored and presented by the crew from Capital FM, this event is mostly broadcasted over the radio on Capital. It is also promoted in magazines, newspapers, and also through the music channels and other channels on the television. As it is a popular event not a lot of promoting is needed as the tickets are always sold out really quick. Due to this quick sell out, Capital FM hold certain competitions in order for those who were not lucky enough to get a ticket, to try and win one on the air!
Considering the event is held in a park, it is very clean and looks completely different once the stage and other stalls for food and drink are situated around the standing area of the concert. It is held in a friendly environment and everybody is very helpful and nice around you. As everybody is there to enjoy themselves, not many arguments or fights take place and this is also due to the high standard of security here. Free water was given out this year as the weather was really hot and therefore people were dehydrated, so instead of the audience trying to make their way out of the crowd to buy drinks, free water was passed into the crowd by security. Situated around the park were stalls selling either souvenirs, such as t-shirts, badges, pens etc…, food, drink and other products such as whistles, programmes and scarves etc. Toilets and wash rooms were also situated around the park so the audience had easy access if they needed to use them. Overall, this venue is very clean, a lot of fun and partying is done and the fact that it is all for the Princes Trust and you know your money is going towards a good cause makes the day even better!
