Things are starting to come together at the new Majestic Theatre in downtown Madison. The interior remodeling that started a month ago is proceeding better than expected, says venue co-owner Matt Gerding. "It looks a bit like World War III there,' he notes, "but everything is on schedule for the construction deadline at the end of September."
Amidst the renovations, Gerding and his business partner Scott Leslie remain busy with booking acts for the theater after its early October opening. They have 11 shows booked, though not all have them have been announced. Those that have, though, are listed on the MySpace page. The first one lined-up so far is a show by singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson for Thursday, October 4. This won't necessarily be their grand opening, though, explains Gerding, as they remain immersed in booking as many shows as possible for this autumn.
They're also starting to work on booking local bands to play in opening slots for touring acts. "Every time that we submit an offer, we're pushing for adding locals," says Gerding.
Ticket sales are already underway. They're available through the online purchasing system Etix, which typically caries a handling/convenience fee on top of the basic price. "The fee's that you are charged are generally at least half of the fees that Ticketmaster charges you,' declares Majestic management in a MySpace introduction. "This allows you to not have to make a decision about what show you want to see because the fees are almost as much as the price itself." Tickets for their current slate of shows will go on sale on Saturday, August 18.
As for physical tickets, Gerding says they are working on establishing relationships with music shops and other retail outlets in Madison. They will also be opening up the box office at the theatre when renovations are complete. People interested in working at the ticket window, or as a bartender or security, are encouraged to contact the Majestic's management.
"We're hoping to make a big splash when the students return in a couple weeks," says Gerding. "Scott and I are pretty swamped right now with overseeing renovations and the booking process, but it's moving forward.
