Ken Davenport --- has he sunk to a new low?
Ken Davenport --- has he sunk to a new low?
MinnieFay
Stand-by Joined: 5/19/16
#1Ken Davenport --- has he sunk to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 12:08pm
In his latest e-blast, Ken Davenport talks about the value of having "open call" auditions for his shows --- because it's a way to get free publicity. Of course these shows are usually already cast, so this latest scheme seems like just another way to take advantage of vulnerable young actors. He even talks about using the auditions as a way to sell tickets to the auditionees! While that may not be illegal, it's certainly unethical. That's our Ken!
Updated On: 11/21/16 at 12:08 PM
#2Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 12:09pm
Having open calls for publicity is certainly not a Davenport-devised trick, but openly discussing how to use them to sell tickets to the auditionees is certainly sleazy.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Alex Kulak2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
#3Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 12:11pm
What deal with the devil did he make to get his hands on Deaf West Spring Awakening?
#4Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 12:25pm
Can you paste in the text of this email, Minnie? (Or anyone else who got this?)
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#5Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 12:34pm
He is the Donald Trump of theater.
MinnieFay
Stand-by Joined: 5/19/16
#6Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 12:35pm
Here's the link to the blog:
https://www.theproducersperspective.com
Updated On: 11/18/16 at 12:35 PM
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#7Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 12:38pm
Sounds like the open casting calls held in Miami and various cities for ON YOUR FEET! when allegedly the leads were already cast. A simple way of promoting a show and putting it on people's radar almost a year in advance but talk about wasting people's time and giving them false hopes.
justasmalltownboy13
Stand-by Joined: 1/28/16
#8Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 12:46pm
LizzieCurry said: "Can you paste in the text of this email, Minnie? (Or anyone else who got this?)
"
AUDITIONS AREN’T JUST FOR AUDITIONING ANYMORE. LOOK WHAT ELSE THEY CAN DO!
Here’s a fact.
There are a lot of people who want to be actors in this world. (It’s one of the reasons this is my most popular post.)
And I get it. I was an actor once (although I hung up my masks pretty quickly when I realized that I was never going to be George Clooney . . . or even George Ballooney).
What does this have to do with the price of pizza in Poughkeepsie?
You see, whenever there’s a lot of people who want something (which is what we call “demand&rdquo
. . . people are going to want to hear when that thing is available.
Let’s use a tech example . . . like, the iPhone. Well, shoot, that’s the coolest new thing around, right? And when a new one is announced, it gets headlines.
New product = News.
You see this happen on Broadway when shows like Hamilton, etc. announce a “new block of tickets” on sale.
But roles in shows are even rarer than tickets to shows! And that means auditions and casting can get even more press attention.
Now I’m not saying your show is the next iPhone or the next Hamilton, but if you have more public and accessible auditions (aka “The Open Call&rdquo . . . they become not only auditions . . . they become advertising for your show.
I always have open calls for my shows for three reasons:
- I think it’s the right thing to do to make auditions as accessible as possible.
- You never know when the next superstar is going to walk in the door.
- Auditions advertise the show without having to pay to advertise the show.
Auditions are one of the easiest ways to get the word out. The announcement usually generates press, whether that’s the TV response we got for the open call of my Broadway revival of Godspell, or whether that’s an announcement in a local paper for the local Community Theater production of The Music Man.
And I got news for you . . . people that audition for theater go see theater. Those people in line are your ticket-buyers (I’ve done special offers to auditionees before and have seen very good results).
Open calls are what I call a Marketing Perfecta . . . because both sides win. You get the word out and a chance to discover new talent that you might not have seen otherwise and people get their shot at their dreams.
And . . . wait. Wait a minute. I just got an idea. Ooooh, this will be fun. Stay tuned.
#9Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 1:27pm
He even talks about using the auditions as a way to sell tickets to the auditionees!
That's really more of a negative spin on what he actually said. It doesn't sound to me as if he advertises auditions for the purpose of selling tickets. He talks about getting the word out and points out that auditionees are also potential ticket buyers (which is technically true and noting it doesn't seem to be unethical to me) and he has offered discounts to auditionees in the past. It's a marketing tactic, but considering the auditions I've attended and didn't get, I would have liked to have at least had that offer after working my butt off all day. Let's face it, the acting community LOVES buzz and gossip and will spread the word on audition experiences for new shows as fast as their WiFi connections will allow. Acknowledging that seems to be business savvy and if he can potentially sell tickets...I really don't think it's sleazy at all. I guess it depends on how you choose to look at it. Maybe it just seems sleazy because he says out loud what producers would normally try and keep under wraps and deny deny deny.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#10Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 2:03pm
Today I noticed a casting call on backstage and it was for frozen. It said that they were looking for someone to play Anna, Elsa, Olaf and a few other roles. When these roles are already taken, apparently. It could be a different situation, but why waste people's time? If you are trying advertise the show then just advertise it.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
nasty_khakis
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/15/07
#11Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 2:06pm
Call_me_jorge said: "Today I noticed a casting call on backstage and it was for frozen. It said that they were looking for someone to play Anna, Elsa, Olaf and a few other roles. When these roles are already taken, apparently. It could be a different situation, but why waste people's time? If you are trying advertise the show then just advertise it. "
They could be looking for standbys, covers, understudies, potential replacements, etc. A lead can be cast but they need someone in the ensemble to be able to play the role too.
#12Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 2:06pm
Call_me_jorge said: "Today I noticed a casting call on backstage and it was for frozen. It said that they were looking for someone to play Anna, Elsa, Olaf and a few other roles. "
Wouldn't you audition this way to get the understudies? I doubt they just cast the ensemble blindly and then sort out who could double for the principals as an afterthought.
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#13Ken Davenport --- has he sunken to a new low?
Posted: 11/18/16 at 3:30pm
Wouldn't it be "has he sunk to a new low?"
And Ken Davenport has no limits on the lows to which he can sink.
