It may not be possible in Pittsburgh but Austin is giving live stream theatre a go!

August 14, 2009 • One Comment

 

 

I was reminded by my twitter friend Travis Bedard that Cambiare Productions was going to live stream Orestes tonight at 8 p.m. central. 

 

As you probably remember from yesterday’s post, The History Boys live stream that Pittsburgh Irish and Classic Theatre tried to do last Saturday got the squashed by Actors Equity Association. 

 

It is going to happen folks.  We better start thinking more about how it will work and what it means.

 

To watch Orestes with me here is the link.  See you at 8 p.m. central time.

The future of theater is put on hold by AEA and AFTRA – no PICT live stream of THE HISTORY BOYS -UPDATED

August 13, 2009 • No Comments

 

I thought it was the fact that I was Up North in Michigan with spotty internet service, but is seems Actor’s Equity Association and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists put the future of theater on hold!

 

According to Theater Mania, The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre cancelled the live stream of The History Boys which was to be delivered via a new platform LIPLO™ (www.LIPLO.com).   The reason for the cancellation was reported as “the company has been unable to secure permission from Actors’ Equity Association and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists for the test run of LIPLO with a full production.”

 

I for one am disappointed because I wanted to see the numbers who watched and the response to the live streaming.  And despite all of my concerns I do think the definition of LIVE is changing and it is interesting to think of building community through theater without walls or geographic restrictions. 

 

I have to admit I will be a bit surprised if the press release was sent and the broadcast was set without securing union permissions, but it wouldn’t be the first time union negotiations that looked like a sure thing fell apart.

 

For the record press release had the following quotes:

 

Joe Warik, member of the AEA liaison committee, says “this is a great way to audition for agents and show off your work live as it is happening – nothing can beat the online option when you can’t get to the theatre.”

 

Christopher Lacey, Assistant Executive Director of Pittsburgh’s local chapter AFTRA (American
Federation of Television and Radio Artists), a union which represents actors and stage managers, was enthusiastic from the start, citing the potential for this emerging medium to open up new and unique work opportunities for union members.

 

So I wonder what’s up?  I emailed Stephanie Riso, PICT cofounder and operations director and co-developer of the technology to be used for the web stream), to see what I could find out since the theater nor LIPLO’s websites didn’t have further information.

 

UPDATE:

 

I did indeed here back from Stephanie who sent me the following letter that was sent out when the performance was put on hold:

 

PLEASE POST

Dear PICT Staff, Cast, Crew, etc…

It has come to my attention that, through recent efforts to open up a new revenue stream for PICT and for those involved with the making of live theatre, new media and live streaming pose great challenges to the unions who seek to claim stake to the enormous financial potential it may yield.  As a result, the LIPLO™ project to live stream of The History Boys became a liability when the two unions could not agree to move forward together, and one was not going to act without the others consent.

However, it is my hope that the silver lining in this temporary setback would be AEA and AFTRA start a meaningful dialogue to create a framework by which live streaming can be tested and/or developed and finally brought to “market.”  As discussed at the initial actor meeting, we can already site the enormous upside potential such as reaching the elderly and handicapped, students at schools unable to afford busing, out-of-town theatre junkies who can’t physically be in town, and those who have lost their jobs or have had to tighten their spending but would love to see live theatre as it happens.  And, of course, theatres small and large would greatly benefit from the increased audience and revenue potential by having a legitimate online presence, and actors, designers, stage managers, etc. would benefit by having their work streamed live for any potential employer to see.  So, there is really very little downside.

I encourage any of you (whether you are a union member, SPT theatre staff or patron) who care enough about this to communicate with the leadership at Actors Equity Association asking them to please work with AFTRA to come to an equitable agreement that will allow professional actors to participate in live online streaming activities.  The appropriate parties to contact are as follows:

 

Actors Equity Association – Filming and Taping Department

Larry Lorczak             212-869-8530 x340    llorczak@actorsequity.org

Dwane Upp                212-869-8530 x341    dupp@actorsequity.org

 

Actors Equity Association – Business Representative, Developing Theatres

Dragica Dabo             212-869-8530 x394        ddabo@actorsequity.org

 

Feel free to forward this to anyone you told about the LIPLO™ event scheduled for Saturday so they understand why the show was not streamed live as advertised.

Sincerely,

Stephanie

Stephanie Riso

Operations Director

clip image001 thumb The future of theater is put on hold by AEA and AFTRA – no PICT live stream of THE HISTORY BOYS UPDATED

If you can write a book on Twitter why not an Opera…

August 4, 2009 • One Comment

David Pogue of the New York Times wrote a book from Tweets – The World According to Twitter and now Royal Opera House in England is going to write an opera!  Follow YourOpera to be a part of the process (love the user name).

Royal Opera describes the project:

We’re working Twitterverse to create the storyline for a brand new opera, which will be performed throughout the weekend of Deloitte Ignite (4, 5, 6 September 2009). We’re investigating how short, 140-character contributions can build upon each other to create a non-linear narrative – like a Choose Your Own Adventure story or a game of Consequences. Our mysterious opera director will be regularly blogging here with updates on the story, and as well as offering his thoughts on how the story can combine with some music and acting and marvellous singing to become a finished piece.

I have never written for the opera before, but I think I will follow and see if I can contribute.  After all I hadn’t written anything for a book before The World According to Twitter!

Theater of the future – live from Pittsburgh

• 6 Comments

 

Well someone is finally doing it.  As you can see from the press release below the future is here.  Over the last year I have discussed often in this blog the idea of simulcast or live-streaming of production as well as the definition of live theater. 

 

All I can say is mark this day because it is the day American Theater evolved.  We don’t know how yet, but trust me the game just changed forever.

 

Media Contact: Stephanie Riso
412.561.6000 x201
sriso@picttheatre.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

All Eyes on Pittsburgh – Regional theatre goes LIPLO™

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre first to secure rights to stream August 15th, 2009, 8:00pm performance of The History Boys “live and in person and live and online”

 

PITTSBURGH (August 4, 2009) — Mid-way through its 2009 season, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre (PICT) has been given the green light by authors and unions to test run its “live and in person and live and online” streaming web portal, allowing people across the world to witness the live production. On Saturday, August 15th, 2009 at 8:00 p.m., anyone with a computer and high-speed internet connection can attend PICT’s live performance of the award-winning play The History Boys by Alan Bennett, being held at the Charity Randall Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pa., via LIPLO™ at www.LIPLO.com. Viewers will have the opportunity to watch the entire show live as it happens and comment on the performance. A customer service technician will be available to help troubleshoot technical problems.

 

LIPLO™ – the acronym for “Live and In Person and Live and Online” – was developed by PICT cofounder and operations director Stephanie Riso in conjunction with Alex Geis of 21 Productions. Between 2007 and 2008, they had great success using LIPLO™ to live stream cabaret entertainment. Riso proposed expansion of the trademarked web portal to include live theatre through her affiliation with PICT, and the idea was embraced by the staff, board, unions and authors.

 

Geis and Riso are both graduates of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU); Riso holds a degree in
Music, and Geis holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Film and Digital Imaging. Geis returns to CMU this fall to begin studies for a Master in Music Technology – a new major offered by the School of Music, School of Computer Science, and Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. “I think this idea is genius” exclaimed Canadian actor Bernard Cuffling, who also plays the Headmaster in the production. “It is not easy to travel from Canada to see many of the theatres I’d like to see, so this option is terrific.”

 

Joe Warik, member of the AEA liaison committee, says “this is a great way to audition for agents and show off your work live as it is happening – nothing can beat the online option when you can’t get to the theatre.”

 

Christopher Lacey, Assistant Executive Director of Pittsburgh’s local chapter AFTRA (American
Federation of Television and Radio Artists), a union which represents actors and stage managers, was enthusiastic from the start, citing the potential for this emerging medium to open up new and unique work opportunities for union members.

 

The History Boys LIPLO™ performance streams live on Saturday, August 15th, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at
www.LIPLO.com. PICT will continue the program by streaming live performances of Crime and Punishment in September and Jane Eyre in December (dates to be announced). Those wishing to participate, must have a valid email address to access the LIPLO™ portal and the minimum computer requirements, which will be outlined on the website, to properly experience the performance as it was intended. Viewers are also encouraged to comment live during the trial period and will have the opportunity to purchase LIPLO™ signature events for PICT’s 2010 season. For more information about PICT visit www.picttheatre.org. LIPLO™ (Live and In Person and Live and Online) is a 21st century live theatrical entertainment portal which offers unedited theatre performances live as it happens.

 

Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre was founded in 1996 to expand and diversify Pittsburgh’s cultural landscape by providing high quality, text-driven theatre. Now in its thirteenth year, PICT strives to become a leader in 21st century  theatrical production and distribution through innovative thinking, business-minded activities, educational activities  and ongoing diversity-building initiatives that highlight PICT’s motto “Great Stories: Well Told” – using a new world view.

###

Good Tweet, Bad Tweet

July 14, 2009 • 2 Comments

 

Now I will be the first to admit – I have become a bit Twitter obsessed.  Each day I am surprised by how many people are tweeting about their lives.  For example, I am following the filming of the final installments of the Harry Potter series via Tom Felton, this morning I started following new to twitter John Stamos (Bye, Bye Birdie), and I have lots of twitter friends who I have never met and likely never will who I chat with regularly.  

 

Often I get my theatre news via tweets before I check Broadway Stars, Playbill or Theatre Mania.  Without question I now find more of my nonprofit resources – studies, interesting tidbits, statistics – via twitter.

 

I have posted several times about Twitter:

Twitter effect on how we experience events

Focus on Content

Guest Blogger Samantha Kindler wrote in her post on Social Media

Great Twitter Contest – great customer service

Failed Fundraising Tweet

 

And I am delighted that organizations, shows, and actors seem to be adopting twitter rapidly as a way to communicate with audiences. 

 

But I have to say some are doing it better than others!

 

Today’s Good Tweet:

 

clip image001 Good Tweet, Bad Tweet

ChicagoMusical @broadwaycom @po0pie TONIGHT is our online talkback with Samantha Harris of #dwts. We hope to see you there! Join us: http://ow.ly/hf3Y
Tue, Jul 14 11:50:31 from web in reply to broadwaycom

 

First and foremost, three cheers for this veteran revival for hosting the first streamed talk-back I have heard about on Broadway.   Great use of technology.  I hope it will be available for download and perhaps folks can tweet in their questions – if not this time then next?  I have seen about 15 tweets on the talk-back because of the “@” specificity of the Chicago tweets most of the word is being spread through conversations.   It almost makes up for Hair’s twitter silence yesterday during the whirlwind LA trip – not one tweet from the Tonight Show studio or stage guys?  At least the LA Times gave us a bit of dish, but without follow-up as of yet.

 

Today’s Bad Tweet

 

This breaks my heart, and I have to preface it with Hartford Stage – I love you guys.  I love so much that you do marketing wise.  I love your shows.  I am sorry, but…

 

HartfordStage

HartfordStage A THWAK!-tastic Ticket Giveaway! We’ve got 75 tickets for this Friday’s show: 7/17 at 8pm. While supplies last! http://bit.ly/geO0L
Tue, Jul 14 12:08:39 from web

 

 

Your first ticket give-a-way was prefaced by several tweets about it being the first and I was on the edge of my seat for something fun and exciting.  But giving away 75 tickets just feels like papering or an attempt to get contact information.  Especially from the folks who brought us this great way to spend your lunch, Springboards and many other wonderful marketing and audience interaction events.

TEXT away Midtown International Theatre Festival!

July 8, 2009 • No Comments

 

Just wanted to highlight – Leonard Jacobs,  coverage of mobile marketing for Midtown International Theatre Festival over at Clyde Fitch Report.  I have long been an advocate of SMS texting as a customer interface and I think as a field we have yet to harness the power of the text.   I think institutions should use it for subscriber exchanges, directions, info on the show, among other things.  The application in theatre has immense possibilities.  Ken Davenport recently wrote a post about new media notes importantly in it that commercial productions don’t own their consumers names and can’t really contact them directly without significant expense – the great thing about texting is it is USER initiated when done correctly so it not only opens the door to communication but it is at the customers request.  Some art forms (museums mostly have started) embracing this, it is time the most interactive art form does!

 

All you marketing directors out there – if you are using sms and mms messages to reach your audiences, let me know so we can start sharing what others are doing! 

 

Brief info on MITF mobile marketing campaign from the press release by Michelle Brandon Tabnick (one of my favorite folks working in marketing and communications) – as posted on Clyde Fitch Report.

The Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF) has made its first foray into mobile with a mobile marketing campaign and a mobile website. MITF is the first NY theatre festival to embark on such a mobile campaign. Partnering with BWYNOW (299669), The Mobile Way to Broadway, MITF will connect one-on-one with its audience of theatre fans, create more buzz, drive ticket sales, and build a mobile community that will stay connected – from wherever and whenever – with the push of a button from any mobile device on the market today.

Theatre fans who text MITF to 299669 (BWYNOW) will receive news and special offers as well as a mobile web page listing information on the participating shows in the Tenth Anniversary season, running from July 13 – August 2, 2009. 43 plays and musicals have been chosen, as well as three Studio Series shows and five readings. Selected plays for SHORT SUBJECTS, a new division for plays that run under 60 minutes, will be announced at a later date. Tickets are available at www.midtownfestival.org or by phone at 866-811-4111.

This week’s interesting articles and blog posts!

July 5, 2009 • No Comments

 

 

    From the papers and websites:

     

  • Now, Sarah’s Folly – NYTimes.com – http://shar.es/Gj5o

  • Female playwrights find it’s still a man’s world — Newsday.com – http://shar.es/GvPV

  • ‘Girls Night,’ Bachelorettes plays – WSJ.com – http://shar.es/G7al

  • Summer tourism to NYC down sharply. Tourists forgoing Broadway for less pricey atttractions. http://tinyurl.com/n6zegy

  • Mayor Michael Bloomberg – A public insurance plan will help heal a broken health care system – http://shar.es/cj5u

  • How Not to be Hated on Facebook – TIME – http://shar.es/cjaT #fb

  • BackStage on the amazing Bernie Telsey http://bit.ly/EkA1b w/actors Telsey tales-note 1st one http://bit.ly/tQGlP

  • City’s Funds For Film and Television Tax Credits Run Out http://bit.ly/DeLkn

  • Critic Peter Marks says that the power of the critic "theater, like most politics, is local," http://is.gd/1lpVZ

  • Bravo, Sarah Jessica Parker launching art-themed reality series http://bit.ly/ayTQZ

  • Playbill profile of MCC Artistic Director Bernard Telsey’s double life as a casting director – http://bit.ly/11dlAF

  • Kaiser on Arts in Crisis http://bit.ly/hQfwE H

  • Nonprofits Employ Tougher Measures as Downturn Deepens http://bit.ly/18ud9h

  • Twitter Revamps Following and Followers Pages – http://bit.ly/LFlWJ

  • Male Nonprofit Executives Earn 27% More Than Female Leaders, Study Finds http://twurl.nl/hfkofm

  • Kennedy Center to Spread the Knowledge http://bit.ly/1gwGiq

  • Productive but Neurotic New York – Crain’s New York Business – http://shar.es/5W13

  • Charles Isherwood of the NYT on the NT Live Phedre http://bit.ly/lbi00

  • It’s official: T.R. Knight is headed to Broadway http://tinyurl.com/nqz2vz

  • Guthrie Theater Wraps Up Highly Successful Kushner Celebration http://tinyurl.com/mdxv5f

  • Recession Taking a Toll on Nonprofits, Bridgespan Survey Finds http://bit.ly/LMxYt

  • Facebook Could Create a Revolution, Do Good, and Make Billions – NYTimes.com http://ow.ly/fYGc

  • Variety – interesting business/creative model for the musical "Ella": http://bit.ly/OpU1z

  • Bard Stars Esparza, White Help Raise $1.3 Million for Public – Bloomberg.com – http://shar.es/74rL

    •  

     

      From the Blogs (For a daily update check What’s being talked about on the Blogroll regularly.  It is updated several times throughout the day.  Follow me on Twitter to receive a tweet whenever it is updated.)  If there is a blog I am not following and I should please let me know.  You can see the blog roll by category here.:

       

       

      • *’Bums on Seats’ * "PR folk are always asking how… from Hannah Nicklin – Blog

      • The Huffington Post says The Skylight is following… from Artsy Schmartsy

      • Be careful what you say from The Mission Paradox Blog

      • Acceptance Video for the ITBA’s Citation for Excellence from Flux Theatre Ensemble

      • On Theatre Etiquette from Theatre Bay Area Chatterbox

      • July 1, 2009 – Can we practice empathy together? from SEE Blog

      • Paneled on July 8th! from Parabasis

      • What? A Panel About Theatre Blogging? from The Playgoer

      • Ohio Theatre Update from The Playgoer

      • Here’s how to solve the arts funding crisis  from Stage: Theatre blog | guardian.co.uk

      • Have we seen the last of the looooong running musical? from PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE

      • Women Actors Make Way Less Money Than Men from Women & Hollywood

      • Valuing Cultural Diplomacy and Engagement for the arts from ARTSBLOG

      • Creative risk pays off for the Guthrie from Carolyn Jack

      • Gender Bias Gets Confusing! (But Poetic) from Parabasis

      • My last e-mail to Emily from The Hub Review

      • Microphilanthropy from Createquity.

      • Thinking Bigger with your Vision, your Board and your funding from For Impact Daily Nuggets

      • Are Nonprofits Good At Social Media? from The Agitator

      • Is Michael Kaiser a Demigod or Merely Superhuman? from Clyde Fitch Report

      • As Mayoral Control of Schools Lapses, Will Arts Education be affected from Clyde Fitch Report

      • On Quality, Value and Criticism from Flux Theatre Ensemble

      • Goodbye and Thanks from AmericanTheaterWeb

      • First Rehearsal to the Third Power from Steppenwolf Theatre Company Blog

      • Free, Says Gladwell: Such a Little Word… from Clyde Fitch Report

      • How is Tony Voter turnout? from PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE

      • Gentle Persistence from A Small Change- Fundraising Blog

      • Gender Bias in Theatre — Digging a Little Deeper from Women & Hollywood

      • The “Turn-A-Round King goes National from off-stage right

      • The 500th Post: 16 Nonprofit Marketing (and Life)… from Katya’s Non-Profit Marketing Blog

      • Truth, beauty, trust from The Artful Manager

      • Around the horn: Thriller edition from Createquity.

      • Are Audiences Lemmings or Thinking Lemmings? from Clyde Fitch Report

      • Today’s Must Read from Parabasis

      • O, malignant and ill-boding audience! from Struts and Frets: Kris Joseph

      • I’m lost, but I don’t think I am the only one from off-stage right

      • A Balancing Act from The Halcyon Blog

      • Broadway (officially) lends T.R. Knight ‘Tenor’ role from Entertainment Weekly’s Ausiello Files

      • Why Every Nonprofit Is Accountable For A Vision from SPURspectives

      • And then it’s gone… from Theatre Aficionado at Large

      • How convenient are we? from One Producer in the City

      • Women Directors Breaking Through in Theatre from Women & Hollywood

      • Is the Curtain Closing on Live Theater in America? from Culturebot

      • Jerry Lewis, Marvin Hamlisch taking ‘Nutty Professor’… from Culture Monster

      • A ‘West Side Story’ for the Twitter set from Culture Monster

      • Saving Arts Programs? There’s an .App for That. from ARTSBLOG

      • What You Do Isn’t Worth Paying For: The Message Google… from Technology in the Arts

      • What You Do IS Worth Paying For, We Just Can’t: Non-Profit… from Technology in the Arts

      • New York Arts Fund Offers Cheap Rent to Charities from Give and Take

      • Femme Fight from Blank New World

      • Rock and a Hard Place 3: What Actors Want from a poor player

      • Theatre as Case Study? from Parabasis

      • Fisking Emily Glassberg Sands from The Hub Review

      • The Impact of Giving Circles from Nonprofit Law Blog

      • Politics Of Online Ad Targeting from The Agitator

      • Considering the Creative Ecology from The Artful Manager

      • Keeping The Passion Alive While I am Away from Butts In The Seats

      • Question For My Inside The Arts Family from Butts In The Seats

      • Rehearsing opposites from Struts and Frets: Kris Joseph

      • Breaking the ’5th Wall’… from NEA New Play Development Program hosted by Arena

      • Engaging Dissent from NEA New Play Development Program hosted by Arena

      • I Want To Make Something Really Clear from Parabasis

      • A Good Post From David Dower from Parabasis

      •  An Open Letter to Roundabout from Theatre Aficionado at Large

      • Box? What Box? from Entrepreneur The Arts Blog

      • The Norman Conquests – Table Manners from Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals

      • TWITTER’S TIME HAS COME from Jane Fonda

      • Twitter Guide Book… from Mashable!

      • Theatre is about more than comfy seats | Matt Trueman from Stage: Theatre blog | guardian.co.uk

      • How to Lose Your Audience in One Easy Step from Theatre Bay Area Chatterbox

      • How Broadway Talks to its Audiences Using Social Media from Mashable!

        • Recent articles about the arts, theater, etc. from the last two weeks

        June 18, 2009 • No Comments

         

        A LINK TO A MUST READ POST FOR EVERYONE IN THE ARTS!!! @createequity http://tinyurl.com/mzdl62

        Nonprofits gird for long battle – Crain’s New York Business – http://shar.es/Wk9N

        How Twitter’s Staff Uses Twitter (And Why It Could Cause Problems) – NYTimes.com – http://shar.es/WqUN

        Competitive Advantage Is Fleeting (And It’s Okay to Admit It) http://bit.ly/nsMAE

        Company has employees volunteer for charities, pays them, takes tax deduction http://tr.im/nXpv

        Declaration of Arts Ed Rights – http://shar.es/f39I

        The evolving hybrids in corporate structure – The Artful Manager – http://shar.es/2NWv

        Roundabout announces $10 Birdie tickets, sponsored by Bank of America http://bit.ly/l1IBT

        The Columbus Dispatch : Cultural groups tap audiences via social networking – http://shar.es/2Uqe

        Beleaguered City Opera Tries to Hold Off the Ultimate Finale – NYTimes.com – http://shar.es/29lH

        Helen Mirren in "Phedre" live broadcast #fb http://shar.es/29gt

        North Shore Musical Theater to Close – http://bit.ly/j3cVq

        NEA reports decline in arts audiences for 2008 | Culture Monster | Los Angeles Times – http://shar.es/rtXO

        Obama Plays It Safe With the Arts – WSJ.com – http://shar.es/fNth

        Obama and the arts, Part 2 http://bit.ly/11njer

        Obama and the arts, Part 3 | Culture Monster | Los Angeles Times – http://shar.es/fNXP

        Tonys boost Broadway box office – Entertainment News, Tony Awards, Media – Variety – http://shar.es/roU7

        Interesting study on gender and Twitter use: http://bit.ly/tg2XE

        Making Art Pay For Art – http://shar.es/r1h4

        The Revolution is Tweeted, Does it Matter?  http://shar.es/r1iu

        Jonathan Demme to Direct for MCC Theater – ArtsBeat Blog – NYTimes.com – http://shar.es/rgem

        Arts, Briefly: Broadway’s New Season Takes Shape http://bit.ly/12rzoO

        NYT reports giving last year fell by largest percentage in five decades: http://rde.me/Y6

        The Associated Press: Amid meltdown, charitable gifts in US fell in 2008 – http://shar.es/fNov

        Charitable Donations Fell by Nearly 6% in 2008, the Sharpest Drop in 53 Years http://twurl.nl/ijbq6x

        Shrek the Musical Comes Closest to a Perfect Social Strategy for Broadway Musicals, http://bit.ly/e0Dz3

        Merce Cunningham plans his retirement – Crain’s New York Business – http://shar.es/f1hc

        Laura Benanti and Steven Pasquale have found happiness on and off stage! http://bit.ly/uPGCp

        Roger Freidman trying to stir it up with Michael Riedel http://bit.ly/69H5Y

        Three sign on for ‘Pillars of the Earth’ http://tinyurl.com/nf5wf2

        BroadwayRadio’s This Week on Broadway podcast post-Tony discussion is now available! http://tinyurl.com/ndsn83

         

        Completely forgot to post last week’s interesting articles! Sorry

        June 1, 2009 • No Comments

         

        LAByrinth Gets New Leaders http://bit.ly/wSz7O

        TIME’s The Future of Twitter – http://is.gd/KxqB

        Harvard Business School’s New "M.B.A Oath" http://tr.im/mVpb

        Quality too good to pass up – Entertainment News, Legit News, Media – Variety – http://shar.es/XQXL

        Tunesmith takes on "Minister’s Wife" Variety – I hear great things about this show. http://tinyurl.com/mj8q9x

        Hold the Interview | forimpact.org GREAT LINK to Chip and Dan Heath article – http://shar.es/XAGh

        Tips on Filling Out the Governance Section on the New Form 990 (IRS) http://bit.ly/KqeW0

        10 Ways to Think About Social Networking And The Arts (the zen of "free" as a strategy) http://bit.ly/1Dpo5

        Babes in Broadwayland: How Old Is Old Enough? http://bit.ly/ymtpi

        White House Officials Discuss Plans for Social-Innovation Office http://twurl.nl/zbxpum

        Shubert teams with NYC and Co. – Entertainment News, Legit News, Media – Variety – http://shar.es/0mLz

        Stephen Belber: ‘Is it better to write for Hollywood?’ – Los Angeles Times – http://shar.es/0nSL

        Broadway embraces web community – Entertainment News, Legit News, Media – Variety – http://shar.es/mLLj

        Conference Committee report is out on HB2649. Stripped as promised by Rep. Smith. (link at @jimonlight http://is.gd/KPrS)

        Modern Socialization

        August 20, 2008 • One Comment
        Did TV, Film, Internet, and mass entertainment hurt the arts or did have people found new ways of socializing?
        Often arts practioners moan and groan about how increased competition for people’s attention has drasitically lowered attendence and made it very difficut to reach audiences. Needless to say we should be using these mediums to reach audiences – and we aren’t doing that enough, but I want to pose a different hypothesis. What if what has really changed is how people socialize and how conversation about events is generated? And what do we do if the hypothesis is true?
        Let’s look at how over the years people have entertained themselves. It used to be that people would gather in someone’s drawing room or home, and read, sing, and entertain one another. Or go to the theatre or the opera to see a performance. People sought out group experiences and these experiences lead to conversations.
        What technology allows is for people to “experience” something individually but they can still maintain the conversation. The technoligy allows each person to expereince the same thing. This is what the solidiaryreading a book has always provided. We live in an ON DEMAND culture in a CONNECTED WORLD. TV shows, YouTube video, Blogs, and Movies (which most people watch at home or on netflix anyway) are experienced by individuals or in very small groups but they are the topics of “mass” conversations.
        I recently joined facebook, twitter, plaxo and a whole slew of social networking sites. Even though I am a total technology junkie, it took me a long time to come around to social networking. I just didn’t get it. But all of a sudden I am aware of what is happening moment to moment in friends and aquaintances lives. I am actually closer to several friends because of the technology. It was the same feeling I had when instant messaging became so popular or current day texting. It is a “live conversation” more often than not. Everyone has the story of some kids they know sitting within 3 feet of one another texting.
        Live seems to imply in person, but really doesn’t it mean real-time? If it does, what does LIVE theatre really mean? Look at the simulcasts that the MET is doing – it is changing the opera world. Is that a live performance. Do you need to be in the same room to have a live experience? Is it now true that an individual experience is also group experience?
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