tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902716.post115132995793723785..comments2024-02-22T01:36:48.427-08:00Comments on On Theatre and Politics - Matthew Freeman: The NumbersFreemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01183078884824734105noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902716.post-1151373993976286792006-06-26T19:06:00.000-07:002006-06-26T19:06:00.000-07:00Lots of survey questions would be about numbers, n...Lots of survey questions would be about numbers, no? The budget thing, broken down into just a very few categories. Rehearsal space, performance space, ticket revenue, donations, marketing, wages, etc. As few categories as it makes sense to have. Lots of detail is needed by individual groups more than on a survey. Number of performances and number of cast and crew members, too.<BR/><BR/>Has any group successfully got beyond showcase by organic growth, or does it all depend on one large donation to grow to the next level? That would be really helpful to learn, actually -- how others have grown beyond basic showcase, and what percentage never do it. The one tricky thing for many groups is how to grow by reasonably sized steps -- and it always seems a few more seats to sell at a slightly higher price would help immensely to take those steps (while awaiting the swooping down of one's angel, natch). How could incrementally larger numbers be embraced by AEA? The idea of paying actors a little more doesn't seem to appeal to them, but if enough actors speak up, that might do something.Kevin Ashworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03939686975662114724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902716.post-1151341260586470542006-06-26T10:01:00.000-07:002006-06-26T10:01:00.000-07:00I'm in agreement with your assessment of the Showc...I'm in agreement with your assessment of the Showcase Code. <BR/><BR/>I'm not sure if this really answers your question (since I think it'd take me about 20 or 30 pages to just start answering it), but I will say I'm not the wildest fan of Equity because of their stranglehold practices on indie shows receiving publicity (I'll rant about how the AEA royally effed Nosedive in trying to publicize an earlier show of ours at length at some other time) and extending runs. <BR/><BR/>We don't have any Equity actors in <I>Nervous Boy</I>, which is why we've been able to extend the run. <BR/><BR/>My bottom-line on the subject is that the AEA is antiquated and in a lot of ways no longer relevant. This doesn't mean it should be abolished, but instead updated to fit in with the realities of the theatre-making world. <BR/><BR/>(But yeah, in the eyes of Equity, me being the Big Bad Producer trashing the Showcase Code is like President Bush calling Ted Kennedy to abdicate his seat in the Senate. It's going to take Equity actors to say that the Code is outdated and hurtful.)Jamespeakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11365318854323448524noreply@blogger.com