| Ames Tribune
The Talent Factory Performing Arts Center opened its doors on Nevada’s Sixth Street on Saturday for the first time since closing them due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 6.
Joseph Hall, an Elvis tribute artist and America’s Got Talent finalist, performed for just 67 people at the venue — which typically hosts comedians, musicians and variety entertainers in Nevada’s historical Camelot theater.
The crowd was far smaller than the hundreds the site typically draws, according to Talent Factory owner Larry Sloan.
“I think everybody is still a little sensitive and a little frightened, and some people are genuinely worried about their health,” Sloan said. Most of the year’s other live shows had already been canceled.
“A lot of bands, especially bands we had booked with four to six members in them, simply cannot survive on just a few people showing up,” Sloan said. “They have to make a living, and when you only have 60 people come to a show, that limits your income severely … So they’ve canceled, and I can understand why.”
With the majority of the concerts and shows slated for the year suddenly erased from the schedule, Sloan said he was left looking for ways to fill a nearly blank calendar.
“We ended up with basically two shows for the rest of the year,” Sloan said. “We had two choices … we just do the shows that we have, and then nothing for the rest of the year, or we (figure out something else.)”
Leaving the gaps in the schedule unfilled, he said, “flies contrary to our philosophy to bring entertainment to Nevada.” So he decided to fill the empty slots with something the whole community — and those from throughout the county and state — could enjoy.
“Even when things are down and out of place, you can feel more normal if you do normal things,” Sloan said. “We thought, well, let’s try to get people out, let’s try to get people back to being entertained and get them back to experiencing life like it used to be, albeit with some changes.
“We thought the best way to do that was to run classic movies.”
Upgrading to a ‘visual experience’
Eight years ago, the Talent Factory was in the process of procuring a sound system for bands to use when “we decided that we needed to make it a visual experience as much as an audio experience.”
As a result, the Talent Factory purchased a small computer projector to light a 30-foot screen from 50 feet away. Sloan said, “in a perfectly dark room, you could see it,” but it was far from perfect.
When the center closed in March, Sloan said, “we thought, ‘Well, we got to do something to maybe attract other businesses or other events.'”
In hopes it would allow the Talent Factory to start hosting business meetings and family events once reopened, they bought a large venue projector.
They installed the new projector and two 18-inch subwoofers, earlier this month and, “the difference is really incredible,” Sloan said.
It made so much of a difference that Sloan decided showing movies on the big screen would be the perfect way to invite the community back into the Talent Factory.
Classic movies at the Talent Factory
Showing classic movies at the venue is not a new concept for the venue. Sloan said the venue screened some movies before. Now the number of movies being shown is expanded and the experience will be better.
The new movie programming will start Sept. 11, with the 1945 film “The State Fair.” Movies will continue the rest of the year with films like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Beetlejuice.”
Most of the movies will be free, “anybody can walk in and you don’t have to buy anything,” but concessions are available, Sloan said. There will be a charge for other events, like the showing of new release “Neither Wolf Nor Dog,” on Saturday, Sept. 19, and still-scheduled concerts.
“We wanted to make it something that the community could use,” Sloan said. “Money isn’t always the goal. Some of the goal for us is to just bring people into the theater so they can see it, so they know we’re there, so they can see the changes we’ve made.”
The show Sloan is most excited about? The Talent Factory’s Children’s Christmas Party, which will show “The Polar Express” on Friday, Dec. 4, while giving kids the ultimate holiday experience.
“For the kids watching ‘The Polar Express,’ where they have the hot chocolate scene, that’s where we ‘break the film’ and have the lights turn on. Our staff members come down the aisle with carts of hot chocolate,” Sloan said. “Then, when the kids leave, we provide them with a sleigh bell and a Polar Express ticket.”
It costs $3 to reserve a spot in the theater for the holiday event, but each ticket holder will receive a $2 credit at the concession stand.
Family movie nights and events
In addition to showing classic movies in place of canceled events, the new visual and audio equipment has also opened a new door for the business: large group events and family movie nights.
Sloan said groups of up to 20 people can book the entire venue for meetings, movies or sports events, bringing their own DVD movies and beer or wine, if they so choose. The Talent Factory will provide theater popcorn and soft drinks.
The cost to rent the theater for up to three hours is $250, plus sales tax.
Sloan said the venue is also introducing a “Heroes Program,” which will allow renters to nominate a healthcare worker, firefighter, first responder, police officer or other person whose name will go into a monthly drawing for a free family and friends night.
‘We want to bring entertainment to Nevada’ but safely
With a newly-filled schedule, Sloan is excited to welcome guests from Nevada, Story County, Iowa and beyond back inside the Talent Factory.
“We’re thrilled to be back open again. It’s been six months of, I would say, boredom for us,” he said. “While it’s also rather freeing to not have to worry about shows, it’s also contrary to the goal and the reason we bought the theater”
“We want to bring entertainment to Nevada and, hopefully with the town’s agreement, we’ll make that happen again.”
However, there are some changes for guests to keep in mind during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Movie theaters are at 50% capacity, and we try to social distance as well,” Sloan said. “According to our guidance, people need to either social distance or wear a mask.”
The theater is sanitized and disinfected between each show, there are four hand sanitizer stations available and all staff are required to wear masks.
The venue is alternating rows so there is distance in front and in back, and groups are asked to distance themselves within the rows. Masks are not required as long as 6-feet of distance is maintained between groups.
“We just want to make sure that everybody is comfortable, so if you’re sitting next to somebody who is not wearing a mask and you prefer to move, we will accommodate that,” he said.
The Talent Factory’s current schedule includes:
Free Movie
The State Fair (1945)
Friday, September 11th @ 7:00 PM ~ Free
Movie
Neither Wolf Nor Dog
Saturday, September 19th @ 7:00 PM ~ $8.00
Celebration of The Doors!
Mr. Mojo Risin’, A Fabulous Doors Tribute Band!
Friday, October 2nd @ 7:00 PM ~ $15- $20
Free Movie
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Saturday, October 17th @ 7:00 PM ~ Free
Free Halloween Movie
Beetlejuice
Saturday, October 31st @ 7:00 PM ~ Free
Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute
by The Fortunate Sons
Friday, November 6th @ 7:00 ~ $15 – $20
Tom Petty Tribute
By Ventura BLVD
Friday, November 13th @ 7:00 PM ~ $
Tickets Not On Sale Yet
Nevada Children’s Christmas Party
Friday, December 4th @ 7:00 PM ~ $3.00
Click to reserve tickets
Sandy Clark’s Annual Christmas Show!
Sandy Clark & Friends
Saturday, December 12th @ 7:00 PM ~ $
Tickets Not On Sale Yet
RESCHEDULED: Ultimate Tribute to JOURNEY!
By ReCaptured
Friday, February 19th @ 8:00 PM ~ $18 – $20
Elvis’ Rock N’ Remember
A world class tribute to the King!
By: Joseph Hall – AGT Finalist
Saturday, April 24th @ 7:00 PM ~ $20 – $25
To hear demos of the entertainment or to buy tickets, visit https://www.iowatalentfactory.com/.
