tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post115444174187304027..comments2024-01-07T06:59:04.212-05:00Comments on The Playgoer: The Nielsens of Theatre (i.e. Nielsen)Playgoerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154822812325796552006-08-05T20:06:00.000-04:002006-08-05T20:06:00.000-04:00You all really need to read TRUTH LIES AND ADVERTI...You all really need to read TRUTH LIES AND ADVERTISING by Jon Steel. A crash course in the art of disruption might also be helpful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154539152802280032006-08-02T13:19:00.000-04:002006-08-02T13:19:00.000-04:00I think the essential issue (although I'm guilty o...I think the essential issue (although I'm guilty of taking it another direction) is whether or not focus groups should guide artistic decisions. Categorically, of course, the answer is NO. That would be the tyranny of the masses.<BR/><BR/>The flip side is, though, more access to what the audience thinks in a categorically defined way. Which can be a blessing and a curse. If I knew what others thought of me at all times, I'm not sure I'd act in a way that WASN'T influenced by that.<BR/><BR/>Pandora's box? Maybe.Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01183078884824734105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154530823838498042006-08-02T11:00:00.000-04:002006-08-02T11:00:00.000-04:00Well, dear Cine...There's responsive and there's c...Well, dear Cine...<BR/><BR/>There's responsive and there's craven.<BR/><BR/>Yes, we "purists" can dig our heads in the sand too far. And marketing is not inherently evil--perhaps even helpful. And yes, I want people to see theatre.<BR/><BR/>But all I'm saying is if this Nielsen style focus-grouping does for theatre what it's done for TV, then I see little to be happy about.<BR/><BR/>And don't counter that there's a lot of good tv. There is. But almost none of it would have gotten on the air if it were up to test audiences. (Seinfeld being the classic example.)Playgoerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154480953098254702006-08-01T21:09:00.000-04:002006-08-01T21:09:00.000-04:00Yeah; god Forbid theater should actually be RESPON...Yeah; god Forbid theater should actually be RESPONSIVE...<BR/><BR/>Sometimes, when I'm sitting there alone, in my empty theater, the entire galaxy of life and (eww!) commerce whooshing by outside the walls, I just want to hug myself and thank GOD I'm so PURE.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154455103907653372006-08-01T13:58:00.000-04:002006-08-01T13:58:00.000-04:00If this practice is abhorrent, if the work is bast...If this practice is abhorrent, if the work is bastardized, better than we try to prevent it from happening as often again as it has in the past instead of accepting its inevitability. This sort of perspective on theatre marketing is laying out the welcome mat to such risks, and there's nothing revolutionary about it. It's sheer opportunism and imitation of corporate practices.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154454983438498342006-08-01T13:56:00.000-04:002006-08-01T13:56:00.000-04:00My thoughts are posted on my little blog. I'm not ...My thoughts are posted on my little blog. I'm not sure I think we should decry all market research and marketing tools as NECESSARILY negative.Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01183078884824734105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154454241639147062006-08-01T13:44:00.000-04:002006-08-01T13:44:00.000-04:00Yes, I was waiting for someone to remind me of Ibs...Yes, I was waiting for someone to remind me of Ibsen's own "improvements". Well done.<BR/><BR/>I believe he justified it with something along the lines of: "If anyone's going to bastardize my work it might as well be me."Playgoerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154451128958123502006-08-01T12:52:00.000-04:002006-08-01T12:52:00.000-04:00While I'm in agreement, I just thought I'd point o...While I'm in agreement, I just thought I'd point out that Ibsen did indeed rewrite the ending of A Doll's House for some German productions. He later called it a "barbaric outrage." So this kind of artistic compromise is nothing new. Still abhorrent though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154450383652272402006-08-01T12:39:00.000-04:002006-08-01T12:39:00.000-04:00Thanks for blogging this article, Garrett. Much in...Thanks for blogging this article, Garrett. Much in agreement with you. More from me <A HREF="http://www.ghunka.com/index.cgi/Theater/Blogs/quality_quantity.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154442275873080562006-08-01T10:24:00.001-04:002006-08-01T10:24:00.001-04:00Broadway is a lost cause, but you're right about t...Broadway is a lost cause, but you're right about the fear of "Homogenization" spreading to other areas. It will influence the premise, subject matter, type of actor, length of play, and many many other things. The same way the Hollywood runs now. Dust off the old writing recast with the new actor.<BR/><BR/>Buddha Cowboy -NYCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-1154442252233628352006-08-01T10:24:00.000-04:002006-08-01T10:24:00.000-04:00Douglas McLennan--on whose ArtsJournal.com daily n...Douglas McLennan--on whose ArtsJournal.com daily newsletter I rely so heavily on--has exactly the right heading for this article in his link today: "God Forbid They Ever Declare A Sweeps Month."Playgoerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.com