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Hamilton Producer Jeffrey Seller: Live Theater Is the Antidote To Digital Overload (recode.net)
As more people come online and get hold of smartphones, we are witnessing a generation that is reliant on their phones to get news, entertainment, and educational resources among other things. They watch movies and TV shows on Netflix and other services, and they listen to music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. Naturally, you would think that people in the Broadway theater business must be threatened that nobody will physically attend their show anymore, but that's not necessarily the case, at least not with everyone. Take Jeffrey Seller, for example, the producer of Broadway megahit Hamilton refuses to fold to the virtual reality laden world, and he has numbers on his side. From a Recode article (you can also found an hour-long podcast on this there): The success of "Hamilton," which is sold out in New York through May 2017 and will soon spread to Chicago, San Francisco and London, has convinced Seller that demand for a real, non-digital experience is stronger than ever. He said 13 million people went to see Broadway shows in the past season, and only 500,000 of those were "Hamilton" attendees. By contrast, when Seller first made a splash as the co-producer of "Rent" in 1996, he estimated total Broadway attendance was around eight million to nine million people. "Experiencing art live with friends, with family, with people we love, is so rewarding that people are searching it out amidst the digital age, in which our faces are in our phones seemingly every other hour of the day," he said.Explaining why he thinks that virtual reality cannot completely take over, in a rather crass example, Seller adds, "Do you want to have sex or do you want to have a virtual reality experience of sex?"
Priced Hamilton tickets lately?
I strongly suspect that the intersection of the set of people who rely heavily on their phones for interaction with the world, and the set of people who enjoy going to the theatre, is minimal at best. To put it another way, I'm sure live theatre will be a big hit with the phone addicts, as long as they can watch it on their phones.
The rather crass example Seller adds pretty much says it all.
mfwright@batnet.com
I can't help but think there will soon be an Instagram posting of somebody capturing a Pokemon during a performance.
Do it now.
I go deer hunting for a week once a year. Out in the woods in a remote area that has virtually no signal. My boss & coworkers know that they can't call me or email me for any immediate feedback. My phone seems to be able to fetch email, update notifications, etc. at around 2 AM in the morning or so. Not entirely sure why, but the moon & stars must be in just the right alignment. It's pretty nice to be able to unplug & enjoy nature for an extended period of time.
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
Actually, I want the Virtual Reality experience of sex.
Until you've tried it, don't knock it. VR porn is the best thing ever.
And it lets you experience things you might not ever be able to do in real life, and most importantly, lets you experience it with people or characters or anything you want that is not possible in real life.
You wanna bone that hot night elf? What about that draenei? That succubus? Got a pony fetish? Wanna bend rarity over or twilight sparkle?
It's better than life for real.
Since I'm not getting any real sex... I'll take the VR experience, sure!
Live performance was devastated by motion pictures. It will never rise to the same level again.
..depends on the quality of the former.
More people might pick the latter than you think.
https://www.thememo.com/2016/0...
..don't panic
Ask those who were turned away from that adult VR expo in Japan.
General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
"Do you want to have sex or do you want to have a virtual reality experience of sex?"
Both. At the same time.
Just an allusion to south park. Spend your money on my show...get a blowjob from your date.
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
This hints at the real reason why Broadway has seen growth in the past couple decades. The growth of the wealthy and upper middle class. Two thirds of the shrinking middle class is moving upwards, and these people are the ones who can afford Hamilton tickets.
My guess is a smaller percentage of the population wants to see musicals today than in 1996. But a much larger percentage of those who want to go can afford it now. This is driving up prices. I am certainly among those who have always liked musicals but wouldn't spend my money on it until I hit the upper middle class. $300 per ticket would have been lunacy in my 20's, now it is just a few hours of work.
-- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
the lack of pirates is causing global warming. I HAVE NUMBERS ON MY SIDE!
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
Would he care to speculate on the growth of viewership of movies based on broadway musicals over that same period of time?
His mistake is believing something that cannot completely take over cannot disrupt an industry. Virtual sex will never replace sex, but it will impact our sex lives. Just as porn has. If you think the sexual exploration of today's 15 year old is no different than it was in the 1950's, or even the 1990's, then you are in denial.
And VR will also affect live theater to a greater extent than movies and TV does now. It won't destroy the industry, but it will have a large impact. Lucky for them the growth of the upper middle class will possibly offset this disruption.
-- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
But, when will I be able to watch Hamilton on Netflix?
Explaining why he thinks that virtual reality cannot completely take over, in a rather crass example, Seller adds, "Do you want to rub one out, or pay to have sex and maybe catch an incurable STD, or do you want to have a virtual reality experience of sex?"
;>
VR sex please!
Can we watch Hamilton on Periscope?
Anything to pimp his product, right?
His antidote to sitting in front of a screen is sitting in a theater. At least the screen allows some form of interaction.
My antidote - walking the dogs - is cheaper, healthier, and I'm allowed to talk to everyone I meet without having people shushing me.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
...no chance of a 3d camera to capture a show for me to watch in VR so I can see it in my lifetime?
Seller adds, "Do you want to have sex or do you want to have a virtual reality experience of sex?"
The reality is that most people don't want to spend the time or effort to accomplish [insert random thing here]...and even if they did want to spend the time or effort, some things are unaffordable or impossible. Consider...
1) Think about having sex with some person (movie star, model, celebrity)
2) Have VR sex with some person (movie star, model, celebrity)
3) Try to actually meet the movie star, model, celebrity and have sex with them
I have a feeling that most people are going to choose the second option instead of the other two.
There are MULTIPLE ways to see lots of live theater without breaking the bank!
1. Purchase subscriptions. This cuts the per-ticket price by 10-20% while guaranteeing you a good seat for each performance. Plus they will endlessly nag you to contribute to their foundation (many theaters are 501c3 non-profits).
2. Purchase discounted tickets via TIXS or Goldstar. Many theaters want a full house, but more importantly want to always avoid an empty house (it's tough on the artists to give their best in a nearly empty theater). You do get to choose your seat, with typical discounts of 20-60%. Check what's available in your town.
3. Purchase SRO (Standing Room Only) tickets, which are often discounted by to 75% or more. While you won't get to choose your seat, if you attend the less-packed performances (the box office will tell you which they are), you will ALMOST always get a seat. But you typically must show up in person well before the performance to buy your ticket: I typically get the SRO tickets on my way to dinner. I've attended even sold-out performances via SRO tickets!
4. Attend dress rehearsals and previews. While the play may not yet have all its rough edges smoothed, this is actually the best way to learn about how theater really works, what it takes to pull a production together. These tickets are either free or heavily discounted, though they may not be mentioned on the theater's web site, so you may have to call or physically go to the box office.
5. GO FOR FREE! Be a volunteer! When my theater addiction exceeded my budget, I bought a black suit, black dress shoes, white shirt and black tie, and became a volunteer usher. While small theaters may need only 2 ushers per performance, large theaters may need 20 or more, and EACH performance is handled by a DIFFERENT usher crew, which means each theater needs hundreds of volunteer ushers, with the largest needing over 1000. The opportunities are there!
I now see 20-30 plays each year (I usher for several theaters), and my total cost is gasoline, parking, and occasional suit dry cleaning.
Better yet, once I became known to the theater staff I was offered special perks, such as ushering for opening and/or closing night (with an invite to the after-party!). I've also ushered for one-night-only performances, including comedians (such as Billy Crystal, Second City, etc.) and special seminars and workshops held by visiting directors and artists (generally intended as perks for major donors).
But best of all I've been able to meet and interact with thousands of theater patrons. Some are rich or famous, most are old, but the vast majority are just normal folks who love live theater. As an usher, my favorite patrons are the disabled (who need me to get to/from their seats, not just point out the row), and the children (who have endless streams of great questions, especially ones adults may be too embarrassed to ask).
As a volunteer usher, I've also become an ambassador for local live theater, a relationship I treasure.
Theater is far more than just a great way to enjoyably pass a couple hours: It's an entire world with a unique and very diverse culture that also thrives off-stage.
NEVER let money be your reason for not attending!
Sure, the above discounts or volunteering will NOT be available for popular first-run Broadway productions like Hamilton. Just be patient, and excellent local productions and/or a touring company will become available soon after the Broadway run ends.
The vast majority of live theater exists far, far away from Broadway. Complaining about Broadway ticket prices is like complaining about the cost of a Lamborghini: If you can't afford it, you're simply in the wrong market!
That said, I do save up for Broadway tickets every time I travel to New York. I have always been able to find creative ways to get seats for even the most popular performances, sometimes even at a discount!
Google is your friend. Plan early!
Forgot to mention my favorite example:
I saw "Rent" on Broadway, and loved it. Years later the La Jolla Playhouse (a multiple Emmy-award winning regional theater) did its own production, with Neil Patrick Harris playing the lead.
To me, it was significantly BETTER than the original Broadway production!
First, I was in a smaller theater, seated much closer to the stage. Second, the director, Des McAnuff, simply did a better job with the play. The stage was also smaller, which the set designer and lighting director turned into an opportunity and challenge, and their sensational result knocked it out of the ballpark.
Finally, it is vitally important to understand that most Broadway plays don't start on Broadway! They start in smaller regional theaters, or even on a college campus that hosts a theater program.
The La Jolla Playhouse is located on the campus of UC San Diego, my alma matter. They have sent more plays TO Broadway than almost every other West Coast theater!
And as a volunteer usher, I see all their productions for FREE!
Non-monetary costs are still costs. Especially opportunity costs.
What you describe sounds horrible, time-wasting, frustrating, intrusive and would generally ruin the experience for me. Not to mention all the ancillary frustrations - parking, cost of dining out, public restrooms, dealing with horrible people - cell phones, texters, and general obnoxious assholes like the certain ethnic groups that love to talk loudly all through a performance.
I'll wait for the movie version on CD at the local library. Cost to me: 0 marginal, few bucks a month if you count library taxes and late fees.
The thing about theater is the low tech element and the interactivity. It also is a type of acting that is harder than movies. Theater has no retakes, no bloopers. Once a show starts, there are no directors shouting "cut!"... the show runs until it finishes.
Same reason why renaissance faires are popular. Not everyone wants to channel all their entertainment time by using a device.
Then more people can watch Hamilton!
No matter where you go, there you are.
I just might want to, you know, have a spontaneous night out and take in a live show. It should not require me, as a customer, to google my way to affordability. F-that.
Seriously, I've seldom been to any play that didn't put me to sleep
Explaining why he thinks that virtual reality cannot completely take over, in a rather crass example, Seller adds, "Do you want to have sex or do you want to have a virtual reality experience of sex?"
Well, VR sex does come with an off switch... I'm torn.
Yeah, I hear you.
I was minding my own business, sitting in gyno row, the stripper finished her dance and came around to get her dollar.
Tampon string, inches from my face...I went Kinison on her. Talk about bloopers.
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
It's an entire world with a unique and very diverse culture that also thrives off-stage.
Couldn't agree more. And theater is not even on top of the list of my favorite things. I think anyone can find interest in theater provided they find right plays and indirectly right people to watch it with.
This reminds me of when my brother asks me if I saw the latest golf tournament. Even though HE loves golf and I don't. When I say I didn't and don't like golf, he proceeds to tell me all about it in excruciating detail.
We get it. You are into live theater. You're on Broadway, in New York! How can everyone NOT like live theater?! We're still relevant! We're still relevant!
ugh.
My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
We have already fixed all of those limitations with our live sports broadcasts. There is no technical limitation to doing the same with live theater. Everyone could be given the best seat in the house, with the best possible sound if they are willing to pay a few hundred for their headphones.
The real reason theater will be okay is because they don't sell video rights of popular productions. This is because they feel it would cannibalize sales of life performances, which I completely agree with. I saw 3-4 live Broadway performances per year before the kids came (and will probably do the same when neither are breastfeeding), but I doubt I would ever see one again if I could get 95% of the real thing in an IMAX theater or from my own living room.
Broadway will be fine as long as they produce good content and keep full control of how that content is displayed. It will almost certainly always be a small niche entertainment offering, but an enduring one.
-- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
The number of annual visitors to New York has nearly doubled since 1996, so the Broadway numbers actually make it sound like they're becoming relatively less competitive.
My friends will put on s performance of Hamilton for $5 a head. So much for your assertion.
Is Jeffrey Seller's Hamilton a live sex show? On Broadway? No wonder he's doing so well :P
..the guy producing live theater. Live theater also a cure for baldness. Must be true.
I downloaded Hamilton off a torrent site and it totally helped me decompress.
While you mention volunteering, I'd take a major step further: Join your local amateur theatre!
There's a high demand for "geeky" people in theatre, for things like light and sound tech. Most people only think of the acting bit, and consequently there's an oversupply of the acting type. But there's a lot of interesting and important work behind the scenes, and you get to experience the entire production from the inside. More artistic background work includes things like poster graphics, set design and music/sound design.
The light and audio setups in most amateur theaters are relatively small and simple, and anyone can learn them to a basic extent, but it helps if you have a more systemic understanding to begin with. However, it usually happens in a small, tightly knit group that everyone does a bit of everything, and you might end up in a completely different role.
Disclaimer
Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
BRAVO!
And I want to mention your quote >...a relationship I treasure.
You seem to be using one of humanities most instinctive features, being able to relate, making friends where ever you go, and 'working it'. Sadly this is a talent being lost on newer generations because of life's path now being based on Templates Of Success. Our role models now are pre-packaged, and as such, social techniques such as adlibbing and interacting with others has lost its edge. Instead we see combo meal numbers, digital accounts and profiles that work in modular environments, consumer loyalty programs, and a myriad of other 'things' that format & box humans in to the detriment of imagination & flow. I know folks that won't order a meal because it's listed as having (pickles for example), and I saw 'well ask for none. It amazes them!