Huayu: Starting from managing the Mahua FunAge Theater Troupe

Around 5 PM, we finished visiting the zoo.

Shen Feiyang took Jiang Yan to the Weilan Western Restaurant on Wanquanhe Road for a nice meal. After dinner, they went to Huaxing Cinema to watch the French romantic film "Fanfan Tulips," which was showing at 7:55 pm.

It was an old-fashioned romance film that Shen Feiyang found extremely boring, and he could only play with Jiang Yan's fingers to pass the time.

The fact that cinemas are showing this kind of movie during prime time on weekends shows that they really want to make money off couples.

After watching the movie.

It was past 10 p.m.

Shen Feiyang escorted Jiang Yan back to the entrance of her residential compound.

On a first date with a girl who has no dating experience and has just turned eighteen, it's impossible to go straight to winning her over. It would take at least three dates.

Taking the helmet from Jiang Yan, Shen Feiyang smiled warmly and said, "Remember to send me a text message when you get home."

"Mmm." Jiang Yan nodded, then smiled, revealing deep dimples: "I'm very happy to be with you today."

"Me too."

"Remember to text me back."

"Okay."

"Shen Feiyang, take off your helmet."

"What's wrong?" Shen Feiyang took off his helmet.

Jiang Yan quickly kissed Shen Feiyang's cheek, then retreated into the residential area, waving happily, "See you next time!"

After watching Jiang Yan enter the residential area and receiving a text message from her upon arriving home, Shen Feiyang rode away on his motorcycle.

It was past 11 p.m.

Shen Feiyang returned to Fuyi Garden.

Xiong Naijin, who was watching TV to pass the time, immediately pounced over and wrapped herself around Shen Feiyang.

Shen Feiyang held her large buttocks.

Xiong Naijin sniffed carefully: "Why do you smell like another woman?"

"Really? Let's go wash up together..."

"I'm not going."

"You have to go, whether you want to or not."

……

the next day.

Sunday, June 29, 2004.

It was a little after 2 p.m.

Shen Feiyang and Xiong Naijin had just left the house.

Xiong Naijin returned to school.

Shen Feiyang then went to the Hepingli office.

Guo Gang was already waiting here.

He selected a few venues and showed them to Shen Feiyang to see if they were suitable.

Tianqiao Le Tea Garden, Huguang Guild Hall, Lao She Tea House...

The fixed venue rental for a single performance ranges from three thousand five to eight thousand.

The number of seats is around 200-300.

Sitting on the sofa in the office, looking at the list of venues handed to him by Guo Gang, Shen Feiyang finally understood how cheap the Yifu Theater had been when Yu Kai and the others rented it because of Tian Youliang's status as a teacher at the Central Academy of Drama.

After Shen Feiyang had roughly finished reading it, Guo Gang pointed to the list in Shen Feiyang's hand and said, "Mr. Shen, the rental fees listed here are fixed fees for temporary venue rentals."

"In fact, due to the sluggish performance market, these venues have a high vacancy rate and need fixed performance groups to perform long-term. If we perform long-term, we sign a contract for one or several years and can negotiate a revenue-sharing model with the venue owner, so we don't have to pay rent."

"The revenue-sharing model means that we split the daily ticket sales revenue with the venue owner according to a certain ratio, and the venue owner can also earn some extra money for tea and snacks. This is the kind of contract I signed with Guangdelou before."

"Is the performance at Guangdelou cancelled?" Shen Feiyang asked casually.

"Yes. Yesterday was the last day, and they've already started renovations today," Guo Gang replied.

Shen Feiyang pointed to the list in his hand: "Which venue on this list do you think is most likely to be willing to offer a revenue-sharing model?"

"Tianqiao Le Tea Garden".

Guo Gang explained, "I had a preliminary discussion with the manager of Le Cha Yuan some time ago. They were willing to offer a 60/40 split, with us taking 60% and them taking 40%. However, I think we can discuss it further, but it would require your intervention, Mr. Shen."

Shen Feiyang thought for a moment: "Can we meet the manager of Le Tea Garden now?"

"Yes, he's usually at the teahouse."

"Okay, let's go over there."

……

Shen Feiyang and Guo Gang took a taxi to Tianqiao Lecha Garden.

On the way, Guo Gang and Shen Feiyang shared the information he had gathered.

Tianqiao Le Tea Garden is a property of the state-owned Hebei Bangzi Opera Troupe.

The Hebei Bangzi Opera Troupe originally opened the Lecha Garden to showcase folk customs and their own opera.

However, times have changed. Hebei Bangzi opera no longer sells tickets. It relies on acrobatics, wrestling, and juggling to keep the audience occupied, with only a few dozen people attending each day. Tickets average 20 to 30 yuan, and the opera is in a state of constant empty attendance and losses.

The troupe appointed Zhang Fuyan as the head of the Lecha Garden, who was in charge of the venue assets, overall revenue, and pricing for external rentals.

The person in charge of business operations is a guy named Zhong Zhaohui. Zhong Zhaohui has been in charge of the tea garden's performing arts sector since 1993, and he is responsible for daily business development and connecting with performing groups.

But it was Zhang Fuyan who ultimately decided on the profit-sharing model.

……

Tianqiao Lechayuan is located in the core area of ​​the old Tianqiao area. The surrounding area consists of old residential buildings and ordinary courtyards. There are dense low-rise shops along the street, but no high-end shopping malls or office buildings. The overhead power lines are messy, and the road surface is ordinary cement road. The overall appearance of the city is rather old.

In Shen Feiyang's memory, the urban beautification project for the old overpass was only launched after 2006.

In terms of transportation, it's alright. It's right next to Tianqiao South Street, and the Tianqiao bus stop is just a 3-minute walk ahead.

Overall, Shen Feiyang was quite satisfied with the place. He could see the sign for Tianqiao Le Tea House from the street, unlike the Yifu Theater which was so hard to find.

I got out of the taxi.

Heading towards Le Cha Garden.

Guo Gang pointed around the surroundings and said, "President Shen, although this place is old, it has the feel of an old teahouse. Moreover, this area around Tianqiao has been a place for performing traditional arts since the older generation, and the locals appreciate it."

Shen Feiyang nodded slightly: "The surrounding environment can indeed be used for marketing. Let's go, let's talk to the manager first."

……

Step into Le Tea Garden.

The decoration style and layout are similar to Guangdelou, a traditional old-fashioned teahouse.

"Master Guo." A man in his thirties walked up to you and extended his hand.

"Manager Zhong."

Guo Weigang shook hands with Zhong Zhaohui, and then introduced Shen Feiyang next to him: "Manager Zhong, this is Shen Feiyang, the general manager of Happy Twist, the producer of the stage play 'Want to Eat Twist? We'll Twist It for You Now'."

"So it's President Shen. I've heard so much about you."

Zhong Zhaohui reached out his hand and looked at Shen Feiyang with curiosity.

Shen Feiyang grasped Zhong Zhaohui's hand: "Shen Feiyang."

"Zhong Zhaohui".

After shaking hands, Zhong Zhaohui gestured to the side, saying, "Please, both of you."

The three of them sat down at a table in the lobby on the first floor.

There will be no performance this time.

The waiter brought over a pot of tea and a plate of peanuts and melon seeds.

After pouring tea for Shen Feiyang and Guo Gang, Zhong Zhaohui asked, "Are you two here to rent a venue?"

Guo Gang looked at Shen Feiyang.

Shen Feiyang picked up the thread: "Manager Zhong, it's like this, I just acquired Master Guo's performance group and plan to find them a long-term performance venue. Master Guo mentioned that your company is interested in implementing a revenue-sharing model, so I came here specifically to understand the situation and see if we can grow and strengthen together."

"Oh? What does Mr. Shen mean by 'to grow bigger and stronger'?" Zhong Zhaohui asked curiously.

"That's how it is..."

Shen Feiyang explained the publicity strategy he had developed for the company and its future prospects.

I heard from Shen Feiyang that they can insert theater addresses into audio files for distribution, and that the 㯖云社 (a comedy troupe) will soon be featured on a satellite TV comedy competition program hosted by Zhao Benshan.

Zhong Zhaohui looked at Guo Gang and couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise: "Master Guo, I didn't expect that you would have such an extraordinary encounter in just one month."

Guo Gang smiled and said, "As the old saying goes, you meet a benefactor at thirty. I just turned thirty-one last month, so it's my turn to meet one, haha."

While he was speaking, Zhong Zhaohui quickly thought for a moment.

Zhong Zhaohui looked at Shen Feiyang again: "President Shen, I've discussed the profit-sharing model with President Zhang, and he basically agrees."

Zhong Zhaohui then added, "If you feel the revenue split is too low, I can try to negotiate with Mr. Zhang. He should be interested in a resident theater troupe with good prospects. I'm confident I can get a 30/70 split of ticket revenue, with you getting 70%, and we'll reserve the prime time slots from Thursday to Sunday for you. How does that sound?"

Shen Feiyang nodded: "It's far beyond expectations. I'll also let Manager Zhong know that I'm confident I can raise the ticket price to over 100 yuan by the end of this year. You should know Master Guo's strength; once he steps onto the TV stage, he can become a sensation in an instant."

"I completely agree with that, Mr. Shen, Master Guo. Since we've had such a pleasant conversation, let's have dinner together tonight and discuss things in more detail."

Guo Gang looked at Shen Feiyang.

"Okay." Shen Feiyang nodded slightly.

He then added, "Master Guo, please also invite Teacher Yu Qian."

"no problem."

drop by drop...

Shen Feiyang's phone rang.

A call from an unknown number.

"Feed?"

Shen Feiyang answered the phone.

"President Shen, this is Sun Yue. I want to work with you." Sun Yue's voice sounded muffled on the other end of the phone.

"Okay, I'll let you know when the company's arrangements are complete so you can come and sign the contract."