PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE Ken Davenport, Broadway Producer, Off-Broadway, Theater

Favorite Quotes Volume XX: Agents have to work it too.

The William Morris Agency has been in the news a lot lately because of its recent merger (to put it politely) with the younger company on the block, Endeavor. 

So I figured if the WMA was in the news, why not on the blog, especially when their high ranking execs say things like this:

I didn't have connections, I didn't have experience and, initially, I didn't really know what I was doing. But I did know I could outwork just about anybody. If everyone else read two scripts a night, then I would read four. If everyone started reading four, then I would read eight. That was my competitive advantage: I just wanted it more.
                                                            - Mike Simpson
                           

There's a lot to learn from this one:  hard work, staying ahead of the competition, desire, etc. 

But I use it to remind myself that Producers aren't the only ones that work hard.  Those on the "other side of the aisle" have their own set of challenges just like we do, and it's important to be able to see their side of the story.

Producers have to be able to see things from many perspectives.  And the best can put themselves in the shoes of the actors, the directors, and yes, even the agents.

- - - - -

Only 4 days left to enter The Producer's Perspective Tony Pool.  Win $500! 

Play today!  Click here!

Favorite Quotes Volume XIX: A contrarian quote.

This entry marks a first for the Favorite Quotes category on The Producer's Perspective: this is the first time that I've ever quoted someone twice.  

One of the most common doomsday questions heard in marketing offices all over the country is, "How are we ever going to get people in their 20s to come to the theater???"

Usually there's so much silence after that query, you'd think God pushed the mute button.

Last week, when that question came up at the Broadway League Conference Town Hall Meeting, Producer and now Two-Time Producer's Perspective Quotee Mike Isaacson  gave us this goodie:

Why is it that we are always asking how we're going to get people in their 20s to the theater?  Do you ever hear nightclubs wondering how they are going to get 50 year olds to go drinking until 4 AM?

Obviously Mike didn't mean that we should ignore young audiences altogether. He knows, as you should, that (insert Whitney Houston's voice here) "the children are our future" and we should dedicate time and resources towards expanding that audience.

But that time, and those resources, should be proportional to where the majority of our audience comes from (which can differ for each show).

And could it be that theater, like an expensive wine or traveling to see the pyramids, is an acquired taste that comes with age . . . and more importantly, disposable income?

If you're in your 20s, and you only see one show a month now, will that increase when you're in your 30s?  40s?  

Let's hope and pray that this happens.  Actually, let's do more than that. Let's do something about it as well.  

Favorite Quotes Volume XVIII: A lyric that'd make Sondheim jealous.

I'm a lucky member of the BMI Librettist workshop, and every year we get together with the song writers to collaborate on scenes for a musical based on a movie.  This year, it was Woody Allen's Match Point, a thriller that uses tennis as a device to the tell the story of  . . . uh . . . planning the murder of your mistress that's having your baby so you can continue living your charmed life with the wife you don't love but whose parents have more cash than Daddy Warbucks.

In his song, Doug Maxwell, served up this ace:

      "Victory isn't as sweet when you win by default."

This quote took a moment to really register with me, because we all want winners, right?  And at the end of the day people only see the scoreboard, they don't see the game, so as long as we come out a head, who cares, right?

Not me.  For me, the game is only fun if it's played.

In addition to BMI, another one of my weeknight activities is a basketball league that I've been in for about ten years.  There are playoffs and championships and trophies and everything, so every win counts.  

But it just ain't the same when the other team doesn't show up and we get a check in the win column because of a forfeit.

The next time you're having a rough moment in the development of your show, or your script, or you're life . . . remember Doug.  Sure, it'd be great if the first draft of your script was like Noel Cowards first draft of Blithe Spirit (which was 98% unchanged before its first performance).  Sure, it'd be nice to have a billion bucks show up on your door step.  But surely, your smile is not going to be as big on opening night if it was just plain easy.  

So, play the game.  Sweat it out.  There's nothing sweeter than a victory from a hard played game.
 
And let's face it, we're all underdogs in this business because of the incredible odds stacked against us.  But underdogs are the ones carried off the field when they win.
  
And ain't no one getting carried off if it's easy.

Speaking of folks who don't have it easy . . . click here to visit Doug Maxwell's not-for-profit that assists blind composers and performers through the U.S.  

- - - - -

Only 13 Days until the 1st Theater Bloggers Social!

Thursday, April 23rd.
6 PM
Planet Hollywood


For more info and to RSVP, click here.

 

Favorite Quotes Volume XVII: The buck stops. Period.

There are a number of great quotes in this Variety article about how Broadway Producers will go about building productions both physically and creatively during the economic mudslide we're in, but my favorite is from Legally Blonde and Catch Me If You Can Producer Hal Luftig.  

Hal also produced Thoroughly Modern Millie (which I company managed), and with his partners, staged one heck of a comeback to win the Tony Award for Best Musical, despite a poor NY Times review that had us all worried that the toe-tapper wouldn't last the summer.

When discussing how he was keeping a tighter rein on the economics from day one, Hal had this to say to possible critics of his current policies:

"Inexpensive doesn't mean cheap."

Hal is right.  

It's easy to be cheap.  And it's lazy to be lavish.

But finding a way of doing something of the same value for a lesser price is an art.  And in this climate, it's a necessity.

Favorite Quotes Volume XVI: An entrepreneur speaks about raising money.

My latest fav read as I wait (and wait) for the (over crowded) 1 train during rush hour is Entrepreneur magazine. 

While Broadway and Off-Broadway theater Producers have a lot to learn from each other about the business of producing, we can learn even more about business in general from businessmen and women in other industries (too often we forget that we even are a business).

The truth is, every time we start a new show, we are opening a new "start-up" company, and many of our issues cross industry lines . . . including raising money.

In a recent issue of Entrepreneur, franchisee Jay Palmer of Floyd's 99 barbershop, talked about his recent financing woes and his inability to get a loan.  So, he was forced to do what Producers do every day . . . appeal to a private investor. 

We found a personal investor and brought him into the shop. We gave him a shave and a haircut, [showing] him that the concept is great and the experience is unbelievable--great music, great vibe, great atmosphere. I wasn't even there [when he visited the store].  After all that, he was happy to write a check for $150,000. He had some financial figures, but [it came down to] seeing a stream of people coming in and out the door, knowing our customers and our employees are happy, and realizing this is a good business.

Jay's story once again proves that the most important P in the marketing mix is Product.

Numbers are essential.  But even the best financial plan or best recoupment schedule means bupkis unless the product is fantastic (you need fans to be fantastic) .  Think about it . . . it would be great if you could recoup your show in 3.5 weeks at 35%, and that certainly decreases the risk. But if your show is Bobbi Boland, then what good does that killer financial plan get you?

So what's to learn from Jay the entrepreneur? 

Create a great show.  Then get it up on its feet, in the most fully realized way possible (the money I raised for The Awesome 80s Prom was the easiest I ever raised - because the workshop WAS the show.)

Because if you build it, they will write the check.

- - - -

More fun from entrepreneur:  check out their list of best and worst marketing ideas ever. 

Overheard at Angus: Volume II

There I am, enjoying my burger when I hear this from two folks discussing the biz at the bar:

Broadway Guy #1:  What are you working on these days?

Broadway Guy #2:  What am I working on?  What am I NOT working on!?! 

Broadway Guy #1:  You've got a bunch of things going on?  Even in this economy?

Broadway Guy #2:  Oh sure, to succeed in this business you have to work on several things at once.  Especially in this economy.

Broadway Guy #1:  I hear you.  Wasn't it Cy Coleman that used to say that working in the biz was like gardening . . . you have to plant a lot of seeds because you never know when they're going to sprout.

Broadway Guy #2:  Yeah, I've heard that. But I think working in this business is more like juggling.  You gotta have a lot of balls in the air. 

Broadway Guy #1:  Yeah.  And the person with the most balls wins.

Only at Angus, kids, only at Angus.

Speaking of balls, I've got a discount to Blithe Spirit for you (that segue made no sense, by the way, so don't even try to figure it out).  Blithe is in a big Broadway house, but the best seats are on the floor so I'm telling everyone to get your tickets with this deal asap, before the good ones are gone.  You want to be as close as you can get.  Angela Lansbury has four . . . count 'em, four Tony Awards.  Blithe is a chance to see one of our most magnificent actresses live on stage.  These opportunities don't come around often.  (Are you all starting to understand why I signed on Produce this one?)

Do you know who won five Tony Awards?  Comment below!

And email me if you want the Producer discount to Blithe.

Favorite Quotes: Volume XV/My response re: Jeremy Piven's departure

"I'm a stage actor. That is what I do."
                    - Jeremy Piven

Sorry, Mr. Piven.  You're as much of a stage actor as I'm a guy with a "high mercury count." 

If you'd like to meet a couple of real stage actors, might I introduce these fine gentlemen. 

Favorite Quotes: Volume XV

"Boxing is show-business with blood."
                 - David Belasco

Can you tell I've been in the midst of some negotiations over the last few days?

Fun fact:  Mr. Belasco is rumored to still wander around the theater that bears his name on 44th St., 77 years after his death.  He had an office/apt. at the top of that theater and I've had a couple of friends that have done shows there who have sworn they've seen something . . .

- - - - -

Only 8 days until . . .

THE FIRST-EVER PRODUCER'S PERSPECTIVE SOCIAL

Friday, December 12th @ 6:30 PM
The Time Out Lounge at New World Stages
340 West 50th St. (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
Free Drink, Munchies and $25 tickets to the New World Show of Your Choice (subject to avail.)
RSVP by commenting (Name - 1st Show You Ever Saw)

Any questions?  Email me.

See you there!

Favorite Quotes: Volume XIV

"There is no shame in closing a show." - Mike Isaacson, Producer, Fox Theatricals

Click here.

Favorite Quotes: Volume XII

When discussing his unfortunate flop, 1971's Lolita, My Love (closed OOT in Boston), John Barry, one of the most celebrated film composers of all time (he wrote the theme to Somewhere In Time) had this honest and objective comment about this own work.

I think for a musical it got too dark.  I loved it for every reason that they [the audience] didn't like it. But what are you going to do? They're the ones that pay.

Mr. Goldfinger has it right.

The "my show is my child" metaphor has been used more often than a booster seat at The Little Mermaid.  Yet, it's important for parents and producers to know that some times, people aren't going to like your kids. 

It doesn't mean you love them less, but it is important for you to be realistic. 

Because if the majority of people out there aren't supportive of your offspring, it's going to put a limit on what they can accomplish.

Cuz I'm sure that even this guy's parents loved him.