Hamilton Producer Jeffrey Seller: Live Theater Is the Antidote To Digital Overload (recode.net) 100
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?"
Just not affordable (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
So not the antidote since there is virtually zero supply. Got it. Also this thing I sell over here is the antidote to everything that ails you.
Re: (Score:2)
So not the antidote since there is virtually zero supply. Got it
Then increase the supply. Start your own theater production company, and offer alternative entertainment. For instance, you could tell the same story from Aaron Burr's viewpoint. I would pay to see that.
Re: (Score:2)
Don't you watch south park?
Broadway tickets will get your dick sucked.
Re: (Score:3)
ain't that the truth, with wife and two kids I can confirm virtual sex would have been much more affordable
Affordable for a select few (Score:3)
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
Re: (Score:3)
All costs are opportunity costs.
You can't find anything better to spend $300 on? Really? You could get 1000 rounds of ammo for that kind of money.
Ask yourself: What would Alexander Hamilton have done? Buy the ammo.
Re: (Score:2)
All costs are opportunity costs.
You can't find anything better to spend $300 on? Really? You could get 1000 rounds of ammo for that kind of money.
There are diminishing returns for any purchase or activity. My cable bill for instance is far more economical than theater tickets, but I can't get much more value out of buying two cable packages. I also get a lot of value from a McDonald's meal, but arguably negative value from eating there too much.
Live theater is similar to taking a vacation. The expense of these entertainment options are grossly higher than almost all other options, but they cannot be replicated in any cheaper form.
Re: (Score:2)
You're saying you already have enough ammo?
I can get far more live entertainment value for $300 at the local strip club vs broadway shows. To be fair; I should compare costs of Manhattan nudie bars, which are insane.
Re: (Score:2)
You're saying you already have enough ammo?
Ammo would have almost no value to me since throwing bullets at things seems quite boring.
I can get far more live entertainment value for $300 at the local strip club vs broadway shows. To be fair; I should compare costs of Manhattan nudie bars, which are insane.
I never got the appeal of strip clubs since frat parties were quite similar but with the option of sex most nights. And much cheaper. A few years after college, $300-$500, a Match.com profile, and a car / clothes which show off your income also has a much better outcome than a strip club. Although the one night I went to strip clubs in San Diego I realized I would probably like them far more in California than in the C
Re: (Score:2)
You don't go to nudie bars expecting to get laid. You go for entertainment. Same as people who go to broadway shows.
Re: (Score:3)
$300 per ticket would have been lunacy in my 20's, now it is just a few hours of work.
Wait until these productions go on tour out in the boonies. I don't think I've paid more than $65 per ticket to see a production that was insanely popular a few years earlier.
Re: (Score:2)
$300 per ticket would have been lunacy in my 20's, now it is just a few hours of work.
Wait until these productions go on tour out in the boonies. I don't think I've paid more than $65 per ticket to see a production that was insanely popular a few years earlier.
Most things wealthier people can enjoy today can be enjoyed by those with lower incomes in a few years. That holds true for entertainment options, electronics, car features, etc. But in many cases it will never truly be the same. For instance my wife has seen Wicked played by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, and by a new cast about eight years later (with me). She said that while it was still very enjoyable, seeing it with the original cast at the Gershwin Theater was the better experience. I'll obviousl
Re: (Score:2)
What's your definition of the "former middle class"?
If you mean to say, of those persons previously in the 2nd quartile of income (top 20-40%), 2/3 are moving up and 1/3 are moving down, in terms of relative wealth, then I'd say the historical numbers are on your side. If you are implying that 2/3 of the middle 1/3 of society is experiencing an increase in disposable income, sadly that is not the case.
The upper 33% are pulling away from the pack, and it's an exponential gain from there, the higher you go,
Re: (Score:2)
Middle class is generally defined as between two-thirds and double the local median wage. Depending on the context that local wage may be within your city, county, state, region, or country. In 2014, that put the middle class at about $42k-$125k nation wide.
According to Pew Research [pewresearch.org] the percentage of people in the middle class has dropped by 11.3% from 1971-2014. 2.3% (20% of the total) went to a lower income level, and 9% (80% of the total) moved into a higher income level.
So I actually remembered the numb
Re: (Score:2)
Everybody has graphs backing up their views:
http://www.advisorperspectives... [advisorperspectives.com]
I will point out that analyses of workers in specific fields absolutely neglect the unemployed. That pattern of needing to be a local business owner (or otherwise financially not-dependent on your neighbors to grant you a decent income for your labors) repeats through all small towns I have known from Florida, through Alabama to Texas. The free market directly implements the golden rule: he who has the gold, makes the rules.
Re: (Score:2)
If you are implying that 2/3 of the middle 1/3 of society is experiencing an increase in disposable income, sadly that is not the case.
It's slowed down since 1980 [wordpress.com], and still marches forward.
The upcoming automation thing will either occur over a stretched time span (humans stay competitive with machines) and create a technical renaissance (1950-1980 on that chart), or they'll occur compacted (rapid wage increases, increases in payroll taxes, sales and middle-class income tax increases, etc.) and cause a technical revolution (Industrial Revolution: 80% unemployment for 100 years, massive economic destruction).
A lot of people want a sort
Re: (Score:2)
I suppose a better statement would be: the middle 1/3 of society is not experiencing an increase of disposable income nearly on-par with that of the upper 1/3 of society.
Those graphs that show costs of food, clothing and shelter decreasing over time neglect the realities: to buy the same food you would buy from an ordinary grocery store in 1960, today you have to buy organic, housing costs per 1000sf have indeed declined, while sf of housing occupied per person has skyrocketed... sure, if you want to live l
Re: (Score:2)
I suppose a better statement would be: the middle 1/3 of society is not experiencing an increase of disposable income nearly on-par with that of the upper 1/3 of society.
It's more like the upper 10% (which is people over $142,000/year).
if all you want is clothing - absolutely you can shop at Wal-Mart and buy Hanes brand socks that last 25% as long as the same Hanes brand socks used to 20 years ago
Uh, those are spending shares. It's the amount people are actually spending. That means if they buy 10 times as many socks and spend 1/3 the money, those socks MUST COST 1/30 AS MUCH PER EACH.
housing costs per 1000sf have indeed declined, while sf of housing occupied per person has skyrocketed...
Yeah, people are living in big luxury homes now, pretty much.
to buy the same food you would buy from an ordinary grocery store in 1960, today you have to buy organic
I actively avoid organic food because of its unsustainable environmental practices and its higher level of toxicity. Modern farming is intensive, targeting high yield per land area, whi
Re: (Score:2)
Average broadway ticket price passed $100 in 2014. In 1996, the average was $36 and the highest price was $55.
With inflation, modern tickets are 83% more expensive... if one is affordable, two should be half as affordable, ne?
Re: (Score:2)
2/3rds? Fuck off, that's not even remotely believable without some twisted definition of "moved up".
You're right. After I fact checked the numbers I was recalling from memory, I found it was closer to 80% of middle income workers whose household changed in fact moved up into a higher income class.
Re: (Score:2)
"Just not affordable"? WRONG! (Score:5, Interesting)
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!
Re: (Score:1)
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
Re: (Score:2)
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 dir
Re: (Score:1)
Wow. You make it sound like you perceive only easy instant gratification as being worthwhile. I hope that's not the case!
Having to work toward a goal brings its own rewards, especially when the payoff is an awesome artistic experience. Personally, I view it more like a detective search, where buying a diamond for the price of a beer warms me to the cockles of my cheapskate Yankee heart. Which is pretty much the way I shop for everything online.
Movies have their place, but I find them confining: You can
Re: (Score:2)
Good lord. If your priority is to avoid public restrooms, then that would rule out doing anything outside the house. Hardly a problem particular to Broadway Theater.
Re: (Score:2)
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 mus
Re: (Score:2)
There just are not enough theaters for everyone either. Seriously, if it's showing on Broadway then it's only accessible to a tiny minority of the population; the 1% of the 1%. Even then, nobody goes to the theater every single week. If you've got the time and money then maybe once or twice a summer. That's not going to do anything to fix digital overload.
NO (Score:2)
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.
Good Luck (Score:2)
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.
Re: (Score:2)
Well something like that https://entertainment.slashdot... [slashdot.org]
More so they can go to the theater and play candy crush on their phone instead of watching whatever it was they paid to see and degrading the experience of everyone sitting by and behind them.
"virtual reality cannot completely take over..." (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Ask those who were turned away from that adult VR expo in Japan.
Re: (Score:2)
Just an allusion to south park. Spend your money on my show...get a blowjob from your date.
Re:"virtual reality cannot completely take over... (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Re: (Score:2)
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.
Re: (Score:2)
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.
Re: (Score:2)
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 li
When will somebody capture a Pokemon there? (Score:4, Funny)
I can't help but think there will soon be an Instagram posting of somebody capturing a Pokemon during a performance.
Re: (Score:2)
I can't help but think there will soon be an Instagram posting of somebody capturing a Pokemon during a performance.
Ah, yes. The infamous Hamilton-Bulbasaur duel.
My antidote to digital overload (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
My solution? Buy a home. If I don't put the electronics down every once in a while, the blackberry vines will swallow my house. Heck, they may manage to do it regardless.
Vacation time doesn't get spent going to exotic places... it gets used to work on our place.
Hmm... I'm not sure if I'm offering a solution or just complaining...
Actually... (Score:2, Funny)
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.
Re:Actually... (Score:5, Funny)
get a real pony, you pervert
Vaudeville is dead (Score:2)
Live performance was devastated by motion pictures. It will never rise to the same level again.
Sex or virtual sex? (Score:3)
..depends on the quality of the former.
More people might pick the latter than you think.
https://www.thememo.com/2016/0... [thememo.com]
Since you ask... (Score:5, Funny)
"Do you want to have sex or do you want to have a virtual reality experience of sex?"
Both. At the same time.
Re:Since you ask... (Score:5, Funny)
I wonder what women will do when they're effectively made obsolete when it comes to sexual gratification. It's literally the only thing that gives them power over men.
If you ever find one desperate enough to sleep with you, maybe you can ask her.
numbers. (Score:2)
the lack of pirates is causing global warming. [wikimedia.org] I HAVE NUMBERS ON MY SIDE!
45% growth in broadway attendance over 20 years. (Score:2)
When? (Score:1)
Of course he'd say nonsense like that. (Score:2)
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.
Re: (Score:2)
His frickin' name is SELLER. Of course he's pimping it.
You have to realize... (Score:1)
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 op
They should make a video and put it online (Score:2)
Then more people can watch Hamilton!
Live Theater is the antidote for insomnia (Score:2)
Seriously, I've seldom been to any play that didn't put me to sleep
So says... (Score:1)