Ken Davenport - Opinions from a Broadway Producer

Fun on a Friday: What a Producer does.

Almost two years ago, I took a poll of all my Producing Peers in the Broadway League and asked them to give me their definition on what the &!$%# a Producer did anyway.

Over 100 of them responded.  You can read all their smart, funny, sad and inspiring answers here.

And when you're done, then you can just look at the graphic below which has been making its way around the internet these days.

It pretty much says it all.

Happy Friday everyone.  Here's to hoping you pull a rabbit out of your producing hat this weekend.

 

(Got a comment? I love 'em, so comment below! Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!)

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FUN STUFF:

- Win Two Tickets to see Venus in Fur on Broadway.  Click here to enter!

- Take the Musical Boot Camp!  Click here for info and an application.

- Broadway Road Trip from DC on 4/28.  Click here.

Fun on a Friday: If you had invested in Oklahoma.

I stumbled on an old book about Mssrs Rodgers and Hammerstein today, and found a chapter about the trials and tribulations of getting Oklahoma! off the ground.  It was a tough one to finance, with no stars and a western subject matter.  (Have we seen another cowboy musical since?)

R&H were turned down a ton, despite their previous successes.  The boys were even forced to work what they call in the book, the "penthouse" circuit, visiting the wealthy in their apartments and singing/playing numbers from the show (a custom still done today).  

But finance it they finally did. 

And revolutionize American musical theater they also did.

But what about those reluctant financiers?  And what about all those people that turned it down?

Well, according to this biography, a $20,000 investment in Oklahoma! eventually turned into 6.5 million.  

So, all you folks out there raising money for your shows, the next time you hear, "You can never make money in the theater," remind them about Oklahoma!.

And say, "Sometimes you can not only make money, you can make history." 

(If you're interested in reading more about OK, click here to get the book.  It's an inspiring read.)

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

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FUN STUFF 

- Come to the 4th Annual Producer's Perspective Social on 12/15!  RSVP today.

- Seminar Alert:  How to Invest in a Broadway Show on 12/10!  Click here for info.

- Win two tickets to see Burning at The New Group.  Click here. 

Fun on a Friday: why you and I love going to the theater.

A study was recently released in the UK that just proved what you and I already knew . . . going to the theater actually makes you happier.

Yep, you can read all about it here, but according to this survey of iPhone users and their contentment levels, the London School of Economics has concluded that their peeps are happiest when:

1. Having sex
2. Exercising
3. Visiting the theatre

And . . . uh . . . I don't even know how to comment on that, so, let's just say it out loud one more time, ok?

1. Having sex
2. Exercising
3. Visiting the theatre

I can see billboards now . . . "See a show . . . it's just like doing it."

Ok, I went too far, didn't I?  There was a line, and I just crossed over it.    But you were all thinking it, so don't even try to say you weren't.  And hey, it's Friday, cut me a little slack.

Enjoy your weekend, all.  And according to the Brits, to really enjoy it, you should do one of the three things mentioned above.

I'll let you pick which one.  And no, for the first time since I started this blog, I do not want comments about which one you are doing.

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

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FUN STUFF 

- Come to the 4th Annual Producer's Perspective Social on 12/15!  RSVP today.

- Win 2 tickets to see Bonnie and Clyde on Broadway!  Click here!

- Seminar Alert:  How to Invest in a Broadway Show on 12/10!  Click here for info.

Fun on a Friday: Look who's on Facebook! Carmen!

Whenever I think that marketing a Broadway show is hard, I think . . . well, it could be worse . . . I could be trying to market an opera.

Opera just sounds old, right?  It's like Museum.  Or Antique.  Sure, we know those things have serious value, but they don't say hip, modern and fun.

Enter Seattle Opera, who, in addition to keeping a pretty hip blog for a regional opera company, posted a social network-sized version of Carmen on Facebook . . . from "Carmen's" account.  So early on she and Don Juan become "friends".  They poke each other.  And at the end . . . well, I won't give it away.  Click to read it here.

What I love about the approach is that it's fun, yes, but the successful juxtaposition of two things which would seem so different, Carmen and Facebook, actually makes them seem more similar.  So, all of a suddent, Carmen, the opera, just looks a little more relevant, and less . . . museumy.

Got a piece that is a little musty?  Marry it with pop culture to make it seem less dusty.  (Eminem look out, I'm coming for you . . .)

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

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FUN STUFF 

- Godspell is back on Broadway!

- Tune up your marketing materials at my new seminar!  Learn more here!

- Win tickets to Chinglish on Broadway!  Click here!

Fun on a Friday: Our biggest marketing hurdle

As you'll see below, a 7 year old has discovered the source of all of our marketing problems in the theater.

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

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FUN STUFF 

- 48 Days to Godspell!  Read the day-by-day account of producing Godspell on Broadway here.

- Enter to win a Silver Membership to NYMF! Click here.

- The next Broadway Investing 101 seminar is Tuesday, August 30th at 6:30 PM.  Register here.

 

Fun on a Friday: Everyone has a marketing idea.

In every marketing meeting I've been to, there's always one idea from someone around the table that makes everyone else look at each other and mouth, "WTF?"

Now, I actually think you need those ideas (and sometimes they are mine!) . . . because it's important to get crazy every once in a while.  Sometimes those wack-a-do ideas just need to be refined.

In the marketing meeting below, Paul Rudd gets his chance to pitch a few of his marketing ideas to movie and theater mogul, Harvey Weinstein.  

If you've ever sat in on any advertising meeting for anything, this Fun on a Friday is for you . . . (email subscribers, click here if you can't see the video below).  Thanks to reader Adam for sending it along!

 

Paul Rudd Pitches Harvey Weinstein from Paul Rudd

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

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FUN STUFF 

- 62 Days to Godspell!  Read the day-by-day account of producing Godspell on Broadway here.

- Enter to win 2 tickets to The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown!  Click here.

Fun on a Friday: does this remind you of anything?

For today's blog, I thought we'd stay on the DeLoreon we took a ride on yesterday and take a glance at the New York Times review of Merlin in 1983 from the legendary Butcher of Broadway, Frank Rich.

See if this review sounds familiar, even though it was written so long ago . . .

''Merlin,'' it must be noted, has not yet officially opened. In contrast to most Broadway musicals, which tend to preview for a month or less in New York before an official premiere, this one is now in its eighth week of previews. Three ''opening'' dates have been announced for the show - the third of which was last night - and then canceled. The fourth, most recently announced opening date is Feb. 13, and should changes made in ''Merlin'' by then justify a substantial reappraisal, it will be provided here.

This report is based on Thursday night's preview. While the producers of ''Merlin'' may consider the musical not yet ready to be seen by critics, they have allowed in more than 60,000 paying customers since Dec. 10 at the full, $40-top ticket scale. Open or not, ''Merlin'' is already, after ''Cats,'' the second-longest running musical of the season.

It was as if Mr. Rich had Mr. Merlin's crystal ball. 

Special thanks to PP reader and fellow People Of Godspell-er, Adam, for passing this along.  

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

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FUN STUFF 

- 83 Days to Godspell!  Read the day-by-day account of producing Godspell on Broadway here.

- Win 2 tickets to The Voca People. Click here!

 

 

Fun on a Friday: when pop culture worlds collide

Now that the Anthony Weiner scandal has died down, there seem to be only two topics of water cooler conversation these days:  Book of Mormon and Harry Potter.  

They seem so dissimilar, don't they?  

Not to Tessa Netting, former Billy Elliot Broadway cast member, who created a Harry Potter meets Book of Mormon meets the opening of The Brady Bunch YouTube mashup that is quickly making the rounds 'round Broadway.

Enjoy it, and thanks for the fun, Tessa.  

Now if only there was an Anthony Weiner meets War Horse mashup.  (For the record, I have no idea what that even means.)

 

 

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

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FUN STUFF 

- 90 Days to Godspell!  Read the day-by-day account of producing Godspell on Broadway here.

- Win 2 tickets to Silence, Shrek or Rocky Horror. Click here!

Fun on a Friday: Obama's directing a musical.

What's more difficult . . . directing a musical?  Or being the President of the United States?

Leave it to The Onion to put Barack Obama in the Director's chair of a new production of Guys & Dolls.

(And does this mean Jack O'Brien gets a shot at the oval office?)

Happy weekend, all!  

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FUN STUFF

- Enter The Sunday Giveaway!  Win two tickets to the opening night of Stephen Schwartz's opera, Seance on a Wet Afternoon at New York City Opera!  Enter today.

- Take the Broadway Investing 101 Seminar.  Click here for dates in NYC and LA.

- Come to the Director-Writer Speed Date!  RSVP here.

 

 

 

Sadly, this is the last blog I will ever write.

Now check the calendar.

Did I getcha?

April Fool's it is.

Nope, I'm sorry to say, you're stuck with me.  Now matter how many times a DAY some of the . . . uh . . . indiosyncracies . . . . of our industry make me think about chucking it in and sending off an application to law school . . . I'm going to keep at it.  Blogging, producing, pi**ing people off, whatever.  

And you should to.  

Happy April Fool's Day!  

 

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FUN STUFF:

- Enter The Sunday Giveaway!  Win two tickets to Mamma Mia! on Broadway!  Enter today.  

- The next Get Your Show Off The Ground seminar is Saturday, April 2nd sold out!!!  Register for the June 25th seminar now.  

- Join the Broadway version of Groupon.  Sign up for MyBroadwayDeal.com  today!