Merchandise suggestions

So I hope no-one will be too offended if I say that most of us here are probably sad enough to buy whatever's got that famous white mask on it. *thinks of that Cameron Mackintosh song from Forbidden Broadway*. So how about making a list of cool suggestions to send to the RUG, proposing ways in which they can extract even more of our hard-earned cash from us?

I'll start, by saying that I'd like to see (at least in the London production):

• The return of Phantom calendars like they used to do
  
  
• Phantom wallets for men (and purses for women)
  
  
• Some of the Vegas merchandise imported and modified for London, such as the wax seal, the playing cards, the wine/shot glasses etc.
  
  
• New Phantom jumpers/fleeces/hoodies that aren't so 80s. A jacket would be nice too.
  
  
• The return of George Perry's The Complete Phantom of the Opera -- the fact that it's out of print because it got replaced by the film companion which butchered the text and added a zillion errors is unforgivable!
  
  
• Phantom stationery: folders, writing pads, memo pads, diaries etc. One of the productions I know at least did a beautiful folder thing to keep documents in....can't remember which one it was.
  
  
• A current cast single with all the new orchestrations (I know a full recording isn't possible because of contractual reasons, but if Canada managed its own highlights recording I'm sure the London production could release a 25th anniversary highlights CD or something like that)
  
  
• Phantom oyster card holder for Londoners!
  
  
• Phantom laptop bag like the ones the Copenhagen production sold
  
  
• The return of former popular merchandise like the pop-up book, jigsaw puzzle
  
  
• Phantom iPod and mobile phone covers/cases
  
  
• And finally, since this is the digital age, a Phantom computer game/interactive CD-ROM!

Yeah, I think procrastination has now gone so far that nothing will get done today. *sigh*

P.S. Shall I add a Phantom apple to the list so that Raphael doesn't have to?

I've long thought they should offer live recordings of each performance for sale after the show. All of KISS' recent tours have been recorded; at a show in 2004, I bought a 2-disc soundboard recording of the concert I had just seen right after it ended for $25. Imagine how that would cut down on the bootleg market, rev up the fanbase's clamor for the various casts, and make money for RUG at the same time.

I also would like them to make a souvenir mask that actually resembles the ones worn by actual Phantoms; they could be plastic but cast from an actual mold used in the show. The masks available generally are not wearable or look terrible (hey, that rhymed).

I remember seeing one of those Phantom document holders on eBay a few years ago. I wanted it, but was outbid. I don't remember what production it was from. But I'd love to see more things like that - stationary, etc...and I love the idea of a laptop bag or at least a sleeve.

I'd like one of those drawstring sack-style backpacks in black with the Phantom mask on it. I have a drab blue one from the Oxygen Network that I got for free somewhere and I use it often...but it's ugly.

Luuuuvin' dat laptop bag!


And this is a great topic, btw. I've had lots of ideas for merchandise in the past (all forgotten now...), and it's so fun to see/read other peoples thoughts on the matter. Many excellent ideas here already.

Damn, now I'm totally lustifying after that laptop bag. Actually, I have a black messenger bag with a small stitched logo from a local business that I've been meaning to remove or cover with something else. A Phantom mask applique would be perfect for it...

You know, that laptop bag from Copenhagen wasn't all that expensive. I think it was DK 95,- (app. $18), which was just a bit more than the brochure they sold. When I were there in May they let me buy one of the last they had, on display in the souvenir stand, and I've used it several times a week since then. It's a handy thing, although the straps are a bit dubious.

Holding that thought, what about a laptop softshell cover with POTO logo?

Scorp wrote:P.S. Shall I add a Phantom apple to the list so that Raphael doesn't have to?

Ha-ha-ha! Definitely.

This is an excellent post.

Anyway. One that came to me is larger 'single' photos of some of the pictures in the brochure, of previous casts or current casts.

So the next time I don't feel crummy sending a photo printer paper picture for Crawford to sign.

• A DVD (or DVD set) with various documentaries and other such footage about the show from years past
  
  
• Shirts that are...well, a bit cooler? Sort of along the lines of what the Disney Couture fashion line has done for Disney, though hopefully not quite so overpriced
  
  
• Plushies or teddy bears

Those are all I can think of that haven't already been suggested at the moment.

Paula74 wrote:
I'd like one of those drawstring sack-style backpacks in black with the Phantom mask on it. I have a drab blue one from the Oxygen Network that I got for free somewhere and I use it often...but it's ugly.

Yes! I'd like to see that too. RUG made one for Starlight Express, so it'd be nice to see them do it Phantom.

And my laptop doesn't actually fit in the bag from Denmark, lol. I still haven't found a use for it, but it looks nice. Maybe I can stick some souvenir brochures in there since the boxes I usually keep them in are now a bit too full...

I want Phantom baby clothes and other baby items. My husband will be able to dress our baby in suits with Iron Maiden on and his favourite football teams, I want to do the same though with Phantom stuff.

Phantomlove wrote:I want Phantom baby clothes and other baby items. My husband will be able to dress our baby in suits with Iron Maiden on and his favourite football teams, I want to do the same though with Phantom stuff.

That would be so cool, it's a fantastic idea! I'm not there yet, but when my time comes for having babies I would definitely like to dress them in Phantom clothes.

operafantomet wrote:Luuuuvin' dat laptop bag!

I've got one too And I absolutely love it!

Speaking of clothes, I'd LOVE a Phantom buff!

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buff_(headgear) )

Scorp wrote:
[list][*] The return of Phantom calendars like they used to do

[*] Some of the Vegas merchandise imported and modified for London, such as the wax seal, the playing cards, the wine/shot glasses etc.

[*] New Phantom jumpers/fleeces/hoodies that aren't so 80s. A jacket would be nice too.

Yes! I second the return of calendars. I have all the old ones from the 90s - would love to see them make a comeback!

The Toronto production sold shot glasses. We have a few with gold masks that say 'Pantages Theatre, Toronto' or something like that. They're really quality too. They don't feel cheap or tacky.

We bought some jackets at the BC/EFA Flea Market a few years ago. Awesome deal - $5 each!! They're more windbreaker style though, with the mask embroidered on the left front. I think (?) they were surplus from an order placed for the cast, as I've never seen them on sale before. Jeff and I each have jackets from the Toronto company as well. Mine is black denim, with a mask embroidered on the front upper left, and the cracked mirror font across the back. Jeff's is leather, with the mask on the back and the mirror font on the front. Reeeally nice. He barely lets me touch his jacket... LOL!

Do they have travel mugs, like you could take to Starbucks? That would be nice. Though I haven't really extensively looked, so they may very well exist already....

Rebecca wrote:
Do they have travel mugs, like you could take to Starbucks? That would be nice. Though I haven't really extensively looked, so they may very well exist already....

Nice idea. Of course, Starbucks has those customizable tumblers...I love them. I have one that I change up frequently...though I have to admit I haven't done a Phantom theme...yet.

I love the leather and wool jackets...when I met Mark Jacoby at the Sweeney Todd stage door, he was hard to miss in his. If it hadn't been so brutally cold, I might have mugged him and stolen it.

This is actually giving me a ton of ideas for my shop

Except for the standard items, PotO merchandise always leans towards the high-end stuff. In keeping with that, I'd expect there to be a line of "Hannibal" inspired jewelry and scarves of the Elissa, Christine, Aminta, and Raoul variety.

I'd also like to see 8x10s of the current principal actors in costume (similar to the "portrait" photos that used to be in the front of the early 90s US souvenir brochures). It would be a good alternative for autographs rather than using the standard, changes once every couple decades, US brochures.

R.

The scarves and Hannibal jewelry are an amazing idea. Perhaps some nice copies of the masquerade masks too?

In Stockholm they sold nice wineglasses for a short period of time. I have two of them. They have the mask engraved, quite small glasses but they look nice.

Oooh, Masquerade masks are a good idea. They've just started selling that sort of thing at the Paris Opera House's new boutique, but I haven't had a look in there yet.

Re: clothing, I'd LOVE to see a trendy woolly hat thing with the mask on. Kind of like the hat that the London production of Avenue Q sold for a while, but with a mask instead of the "Q" logo.

I think they should bring back the old Phantom bookmarks too. Not keen on that current pagemarker thingy...I reckon if I used it it would spoil the book.

Oh, and thinking of Toronto, didn't they sell Phantom photo frames? Some classy ones would be nice.

Scorp wrote:Oh, and thinking of Toronto, didn't they sell Phantom photo frames? Some classy ones would be nice.

Yes, they had a number of really nice looking frames, though some of them came with masks or something already in them so you couldn't really put in your own photos. They had amazing, wonderful stuff at the Phantom Boutique at the Pantages! We were very spoiled! Made it hard to go back to the merchandise stands at the US tour or something...

Scorp wrote:

Re: clothing, I'd LOVE to see a trendy woolly hat thing with the mask on. Kind of like the hat that the London production of Avenue Q sold for a while, but with a mask instead of the "Q" logo.

I think they should bring back the old Phantom bookmarks too. Not keen on that current pagemarker thingy...I reckon if I used it it would spoil the book.

I want a RED SCARF! (Though I assume I can just buy some generic red scarf and have it be the one Christine has... Which I *did* do, lol. But a Phantom scarf would be nice. I think they sold them at one point? But I want a wool one to go with that fetching hat, Scorp!

Phantom bookmarks? I was at some place in Florida that sold bookmarks of old Phantom theatre tickets. It was neat.

Rebecca wrote:

Scorp wrote:Oh, and thinking of Toronto, didn't they sell Phantom photo frames? Some classy ones would be nice.

Yes, they had a number of really nice looking frames, though some of them came with masks or something already in them so you couldn't really put in your own photos. They had amazing, wonderful stuff at the Phantom Boutique at the Pantages! We were very spoiled! Made it hard to go back to the merchandise stands at the US tour or something...

Didn't they even have mask-shaped wine gums?

ML6 wrote:I want a RED SCARF! (Though I assume I can just buy some generic red scarf and have it be the one Christine has... Which I *did* do, lol.)

Behold, a red scarf I bought for €5 with the express intention of throwing it in the sea in Perros-Guirec (which I did do, but I don't think it travelled that far out to sea, lol):

Scorp wrote:

Didn't they even have mask-shaped wine gums?

ML6 wrote:I want a RED SCARF! (Though I assume I can just buy some generic red scarf and have it be the one Christine has... Which I *did* do, lol.)

Behold, a red scarf I bought for €5 with the express intention of throwing it in the sea in Perros-Guirec (I don't think it travelled that far, lol):

Yes, they did sell packages of mask shaped wine gums. Which everyone loved except me. I just don't care for gummy things (<--- little green face.. like mine after eating gummies...)

I love the red scarf in the sea photo! Awesome!

They did sell Phantom scarves in Toronto, but they weren't red scarves, which would have made sense. They were black with the Phantom logo embroidered on them (words, not mask).

And, yes, I too bought a generic red scarf to wear as my secret homage to Phantom. Well, except when I was seeing Phantom, when it was probably obvious why I was wearing it! It was also very warm and cute. I love scarves! You can never have too many, especially living in Toronto!

Raphael wrote:
I'd also like to see 8x10s of the current principal actors in costume (similar to the "portrait" photos that used to be in the front of the early 90s US souvenir brochures). It would be a good alternative for autographs rather than using the standard, changes once every couple decades, US brochures.

A pretty good idea. Inexpensive to produce and it would save some fans the trouble of printing out photos from the actors' sites in advance.

I used to have one of those leather bookmarks with the mask. Picked it up at the B'dway Flea Market a few years ago, but it's lost and I'd love it if they'd sell those again.

Scorp wrote:

ML6 wrote:I want a RED SCARF! (Though I assume I can just buy some generic red scarf and have it be the one Christine has... Which I *did* do, lol.)

Behold, a red scarf I bought for €5 with the express intention of throwing it in the sea in Perros-Guirec (I don't think it travelled that far, lol):

Teehee.

My scarf might be used this year! It's in my costume box (yes, I have a costume box) and it's brand new and soft and silky. It looks just like the scarf Sarah Brightman holds in the pictures on the OLC album. It's got TASSLES!

Oh, and I almost forgot: Meg and Christine love dolls! Oh wait, they'll probably make those for LND...

R.

I have to admit I had to look up "wine gums." Hadn't heard of them until this thread.

Raphael wrote:Oh, and I almost forgot: Meg and Christine love dolls! Oh wait, they'll probably make those for LND...

R.

LOL, yeah I'm thinking that LSD LND might do the baby clothes as well for all those little cuties Gustaves all over the world... OMG and if they actually make little clowns you can buy that will make my life (or lead me to a breakdown). Oh dear...

Those scarves they sold in Toronto sound cool -- were they unisex or meant for women?

I'm liking all these ideas...if people would like, I'm happy to put it all in one big list in a letter and send it off to whoever's in charge of marketing at RUG.

SenorSwanky wrote:I have to admit I had to look up "wine gums." Hadn't heard of them until this thread.

We found a bag of them a year ago when we were packing to move. Needless to say, they were well past their prime. They had all pretty much turned black and grey. Sooooo gross....

Scorp wrote:Those scarves they sold in Toronto sound cool -- were they unisex or meant for women?

They were unisex. They were more a winter scarf than a fashion scarf, but there's more of a market for that around these parts.

Rebecca wrote:

SenorSwanky wrote:I have to admit I had to look up "wine gums." Hadn't heard of them until this thread.

We found a bag of them a year ago when we were packing to move. Needless to say, they were well past their prime. They had all pretty much turned black and grey. Sooooo gross....

I had to look them up, too. Though I sort of figured they were rather like wine-flavored Jelly Babies (love Jelly Babies, but they're so hard to find here).

Paula74 wrote:

Rebecca wrote:

SenorSwanky wrote:I have to admit I had to look up "wine gums." Hadn't heard of them until this thread.

We found a bag of them a year ago when we were packing to move. Needless to say, they were well past their prime. They had all pretty much turned black and grey. Sooooo gross....

I had to look them up, too. Though I sort of figured they were rather like wine-flavored Jelly Babies (love Jelly Babies, but they're so hard to find here).

There is a market near my house that sells Jelly-Babies imported from England. I bought my sister a box because she is reminded of Tom Baker from Dr. Who (and his love for them). We had a few, then she stopped eating them... they're all hard now.

I remember back when I would prowl ebay looking for Phantom items in 2001, wine gums were ever so popular on the site.

Scorp wrote:LOL, yeah I'm thinking that LSD LND might do the baby clothes as well for all those little cuties Gustaves all over the world... OMG and if they actually make little clowns you can buy that will make my life (or lead me to a breakdown). Oh dear...

I WANT TO SEE CREEPY CLOWN DOLLS. If they look anything like Tim Curry's character from IT. Dude, I think I'll laugh so hard I'll cry.