Licensing Bway Shows
Licensing Bway Shows
zainmax
Broadway Star Joined: 1/12/17
#1Licensing Bway Shows
Posted: 2/13/19 at 1:33am
Saw this in Forbes, and I get that this works for SoR and BMC, but would it really work for other shows?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2019/02/12/broadway-becomes-more-chill-in-approach-to-licensing/#6cc751604d3a
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#2Licensing Bway Shows
Posted: 2/13/19 at 4:25am
But we dont really know if it "worked" (or will work) for rhose two. MIGHT SOR have run longer? How successful will BMC be? If BMC flops, will it be because of this or it only appealing to a small demographic or a million other things? And, since we'll never know the road not taken, we can never really be sure.
I think the harder thing is unknown titles are a harder sell to schools/amateurs.
The baseball analogy doesnt work in the article....who goes to watch a little league game if its not their kid/grandkid on the team? Not the same for people that go to hs/community theater. About a third of my audience cones to see the show itself.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#3Licensing Bway Shows
Posted: 2/13/19 at 9:36am
zainmax said: "would it really work for other shows?"
even assuming that it "works" here (taking mama's point on this), no. You really love to pick up this embarrassing articles in Forbes, don't you? lol
First of all, you cannot draw an inference from kid's shows and apply it to anything else. Secondly, it's a two headed monster, not just drawing audience away because they've been there/done that, but turning off audiences because many school and community productions cannot sell the show, and certainly cannot deliver the dazzle. Imagine, for example, what Hamilton would convey in Peoria.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#4Licensing Bway Shows
Posted: 2/13/19 at 12:10pm
Hamilton in Peoria is now something I'd love to see!
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#5Licensing Bway Shows
Posted: 2/13/19 at 12:21pm
dramamama611 said: "Hamilton in Peoria is now something I'd love to see!"
Hey! There actually are some pretty good community/regional theatres in Peoria. Indeed, the Peoria Players seem to get licensed productions a good six months to a year before other Central Illinois theatres can get a performing license. And they do a pretty good job too!
#6Licensing Bway Shows
Posted: 2/13/19 at 1:35pm
I have nothing against Peoria. My point is that producers investing millions in a Broadway product do not want to risk people becoming acquainted with a "pretty good" product.
zainmax
Broadway Star Joined: 1/12/17
#7Licensing Bway Shows
Posted: 2/14/19 at 1:31pm
dramamama611 said: "But we dont really know if it "worked" (or will work) for rhose two. MIGHT SOR have run longer? How successful will BMC be? If BMC flops, will it be because of this or it only appealing to a small demographic or a million other things? And, since we'll never know the road not taken, we can never really be sure.
I think the harder thing is unknown titles are a harder sell to schools/amateurs.
The baseball analogy doesnt work in the article....who goes to watch a little league game if its not their kid/grandkid on the team? Not the same for people that go to hs/community theater. About a third of my audience cones to see the show itself."
Good point re. the road not taken.
Realistically, with SoR, I think that there were only three schools or so approved, so not a massive effect like if The Addams Family started licensing before/during Bway.
I think one issue is if the hs school is bad, and then people don't want to see it on Bway.
zainmax
Broadway Star Joined: 1/12/17
#8Licensing Bway Shows
Posted: 2/14/19 at 1:33pm
HogansHero said: "zainmax said: "would it really work for other shows?"
even assuming that it "works" here (taking mama's point on this), no. You really love to pick up this embarrassing articles in Forbes, don't you? lol
First of all, you cannot draw an inference from kid's shows and apply it to anything else. Secondly, it's a two headed monster, not just drawing audience away because they've been there/done that, but turning off audiences because many school and community productions cannot sell the show, and certainly cannot deliver the dazzle. Imagine, for example, what Hamilton would convey in Peoria.
"
I read everything, and I thought there was an interesting argument here re. licensing so I shared it. Wanted to see what others thought about it.
Do you think that this model would only work for kids' shows?
#9Licensing Bway Shows
Posted: 2/14/19 at 8:07pm
zainmax said: "I read everything, and I thought there was an interesting argument here re. licensing so I shared it. Wanted to see what others thought about it.
Do you think that this model would only work for kids' shows?"
I was not suggesting you should not post it. I guess I just hope that you find some things to read that are a bit more knowledgeable. A boy can hope. 
I don't know that it "works" for kid's shows, but yes I think that's pretty much the limit of its possible viability. The same mojo is not going to build for The Band's Visit...
