Huayu: Starting from managing the Mahua FunAge Theater Troupe

Shen Teng was handing out flyers at another street corner.

All the company's permanent and temporary employees have been handing out flyers on the street these past few days.

Of course, the main actors, such as He Jiong and Xie Na, do not hand out flyers on the street. They are big stars invited by the troupe and are paid per performance.

He Jiong is a host of "Happy Camp" and is very popular. Logically speaking, this small theater troupe shouldn't be able to afford him.

However, the company's founder, Tian Youliang, was his neighbor and a professionally trained director who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama. In addition, He Jiong thought the script was good and was interested in drama, which is why he agreed to star in it.

Xie Na was recommended to join the group by He Jiong.

Shen Feiyang felt that if He Jiong and Xie Na could hand out flyers on the street, the publicity effect would be absolutely explosive.

But he's a big shot, he wouldn't stoop to doing something like that.

A dozen minutes later, Shen Feiyang found Shen Teng.

This guy didn't hand out flyers; instead, he squatted by the roadside eating roasted sweet potatoes.

Shen Feiyang slammed on the brakes and stopped the car next to Shen Teng.

The pungent smell emanating from the exhaust pipe instantly overshadowed the sweet aroma of the sweet potatoes.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey..."

Shen Teng stood up, looked at his cousin, and preemptively said, "So what if you have a motorcycle!"

"Having a car is a big deal."

Shen Feiyang retorted, "I've been working so hard handing out flyers, racking my brains for the survival of your troupe, and all you've got is stealing food here."

"Can't I at least grab something to eat if I'm hungry?" Shen Teng retorted, his tone both defiant and defiant. "Besides, whether the theater troupe can be saved or not isn't just a matter of handing out a couple more flyers."

After Shen Teng finished speaking, he looked at the roasted sweet potato in his hand, then lowered his head and took another bite.

"You even know that?"

Shen Teng swallowed the sweet potato in his mouth and rolled his eyes at his cousin: "Nonsense, I'm lazy, not stupid."

"Aren't you in a hurry?"

"I only make a few bucks a month, and my boss isn't worried, so why should I? At worst, I'll just sell roasted sweet potatoes. He got into Tsinghua and Peking University, and I'll be roasting sweet potatoes. There's no such thing as a noble or lowly profession," Shen Teng babbled.

An old man selling roasted sweet potatoes nearby chimed in, "Young man, you're absolutely right!"

"That's right."

Shen Teng looked proud.

Shen Feiyang didn't waste any more time and went straight to the point: "I've come up with a way to make money, but we're short-handed. You'll come with me to do it."

"I'm not going. 'Mahua' is premiering in a couple of days." Shen Teng shook his head and continued munching on his roasted sweet potato.

"Anyone could have played that role."

Shen Feiyang looked at Shen Teng: "Also, can you bear to see my sister-in-law not receive any gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Valentine's Day?"

Shen Teng has a girlfriend who is a sophomore at the same university.

"There's something odd about what you're saying..."

Shen Feiyang didn't waste any more time with him: "Let me tell you how to do this business. It's almost the end of the year, and many companies in Beijing are going to hold their annual meetings. We'll tailor-make skits for them, incorporating their company's people and events into the skits, showcasing our professional skills, making them laugh, and then we'll get paid."

The business Shen Feiyang mentioned wasn't something he came up with out of thin air. The Mahua Troupe later alleviated its financial pressure by creating customized skits for corporate annual meetings.

Shen Feiyang simply moved this business to 2003, when the market was a blue ocean.

After Beijing joined the WTO, the economy developed rapidly, and many companies in Beijing needed to carry out cultural activities. The demand for this kind of activity was very high, and it was almost possible to make money as long as you were willing to do it.

Shen Teng continued his banter: "I am a professional, that's for sure. And you? What are you a professional in? Qiqihar Barbecue Vocational College?"

"No profession is superior or inferior. If you don't want to use your brain, then just listen to me."

"Alright, alright, I'll do as you say. But let's make this clear first: I'm fine with running errands, but don't blame me for taking the blame."

Shen Teng didn't know what the future held; he just wanted to find a place to act properly.

If the company really goes bankrupt, we'll have to find a new place, which will be quite troublesome.

"I'm your cousin, how could I possibly harm you? Let's go, let's talk to your company's management."

"Damn, I had no idea I had a cousin like you before I was 24, and I didn't even know if we were related by blood."

Even if there's no blood relation, you shouldn't have wild thoughts.

"Don't make ethical jokes!"

"Stop talking nonsense and get out of here."

"Wait……"

After showing off the remaining roasted sweet potatoes, Shen Teng got into the car with Shen Feiyang.

……

The Mahua Opera Troupe's business registration address is in Tongzhou, but its actual office is not in Tongzhou, but in a large open-plan residential building at No. 18, Jia, Block 7, Hepingli.

It took Shen Feiyang and Shen Teng more than half an hour to arrive here.

The three founders of the Mahua Troupe are Tian Youliang, who is in charge of content creation, Zhang Chen, who is simply an investor, and Yu Kai, who is in charge of daily operations and management.

In the office, only Yu Kai is here right now.

Yu Kai was doing the accounting, and the more he calculated, the colder his heart became.

The first round of performances is scheduled to begin in three days, but so far, not even a hundred tickets have been sold for the first show.

Theater rental, actors' salaries, stage design and production costs, promotional materials costs... every item is a drain on the market, while the income is pitifully small.

Bang bang bang.

I heard a knock on the door.

Yu Kai looked up and said, "Go in, the door isn't closed."

Shen Feiyang and Shen Teng walked in.

Yu Kai knew both of them.

Shen Teng got the job through an interview.

At the time, Yu Kai and Tian Youliang interviewed him together. It just so happened that Shen Teng's hemorrhoids flared up. During the interview, Shen Teng lay down the whole time, but Tian Youliang commented that there was no trace of acting and that it was very natural.

I met Shen Feiyang after Shen Teng joined the company.

In the past, the company's team building activities always involved eating and drinking at Shen Feiyang's barbecue stall.

Shen Feiyang's barbecue is especially delicious.

Thinking of this, Yu Kai inexplicably felt a little drool in his mouth.

Yu Kai knew that this was because he had been extremely anxious lately, and his body was craving high-calorie foods to fill the void in his heart.

"Shen Teng, Fei Yang, come and sit down." Yu Kai pointed to the two chairs opposite the desk.

"Mr. Yu."

Shen Feiyang and Shen Teng sat down one after the other.

Yu Kai looked at the two of them and asked, "Have you finished handing out the flyers?"

The two cousins, without batting an eye, said, "We've finished sending them out."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Shen Feiyang chimed in, "Being able to do something for the club... no, for the theater troupe, is also contributing to the promotion of the nation's first Lunar New Year stage play."

"Pfft~"

Shen Teng couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Yu Kai smiled and said, "We are a legitimate performance group."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Shen Feiyang got down to business: "President Yu, speaking of formal performance qualifications, the reason I came to see you today is to discuss whether I can borrow the company's performance qualifications."

Shen Feiyang needs to connect with companies that can afford to host annual meetings, so they definitely can't be too informal; they must have the necessary legal qualifications.

This legal qualification is the "Commercial Performance License". The minimum requirement to obtain this license is to establish a company with a registered capital of more than 200,000 yuan and hire at least three full-time employees holding "Performance Agent Qualification Certificates". Only after all the conditions are met can an application be submitted.

Shen Feiyang has neither money nor time now, so he can only resort to affiliation.

"Hmm?" Yu Kai leaned back in his chair, looking puzzled.

Shen Feiyang further explained, "I plan to register a cultural studio, which will be affiliated with the company, and use the company's performance qualifications to take on jobs."

"What kind of work do you take?"

"It's the end of the year, and many companies are holding annual meetings. I'd like to try promoting skit performances. I'll use the company's qualifications to sign contracts, and I'll pay a minimum affiliation fee of 5,000 yuan. What do you think of this?"

Shen Feiyang followed up, "By the way, President Yu, I need to borrow Shen Teng. I need him to take the lead. He will be paid a performance fee, and you can split it according to your signed management contract."

Shen Teng raised an eyebrow.

Yu Kai remained silent for a few seconds.

The troupe doesn't have to pay any costs; they just receive five thousand yuan for free, which should last them at least a few days.

Shen Teng is talented, but in the current project, he is just a minor supporting actor and not particularly important. It wouldn't be a big deal to replace him before the performance, as there are backup actors available.

That means this business is pure profit with zero cost.

Yu Kai felt that Shen Feiyang and Shen Teng wouldn't betray him. Shen Teng was a professionally trained actor and would cherish his reputation. Shen Feiyang was also quite honest and not a bad person.

"Okay. I'll draft the affiliation agreement for you after your studio is established. However, the company won't be responsible for your business operations; you'll be responsible for any problems that arise. Also, you'll have to bear all the taxes yourself." Yu Kai was a prudent person; he preferred to clarify things beforehand to avoid disputes later.

"no problem."

Shen Feiyang should answer decisively.

Yu Kai then looked at Shen Teng: "Going out for commercial performances is also a contribution to the company."

Shen Teng nodded.