David Patrick Stearns: “And just because the [Vienna] public is among the most cultured on the planet doesn’t mean the cellphones are under control. Despite a preconcert warning announcement, one woman pulled out her phone just as Lisa Batiashvili had begun the quiet, slow-burning opening movement of Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Only eight rows from the stage, the phone kept beeping and burbling, its owner entranced by it and oblivious to those nearby shooting her daggers. So the problem was addressed American-style …”
Category: AUDIENCE
Prediction: Music Genres Will Be Irrelevant In The Future
“According to executives at Spotify, my children offer a peek at the future of music consumption. Spotify, which has just introduced a new version of its app, says that because online streaming services let us call up and listen to anything we like, and because its curated playlists push us toward new stuff, we are all increasingly escaping rigid genres.”
Is Live Theatre Anachronistic In Today’s Mobile Always-On World?
“Think about it: we (mostly) ask our audiences to commute to a particular location, step into a dark building, shut off all access to the outside world, be quiet, and not disturb us as we attempt (not always with success) to transport them to the world of a play that is—to hit on another tired trope —a reflection of the world we have asked them to ignore.”
Iraq’s National Museum Is Open Again – Now People Have To Start Coming
“Guides and curators say the museum has averaged about 300 visitors a day since it reopened [in February] … Those who do brave the risks of terrorist attacks and the traffic, which is snarled by regular checkpoints, say they are thrilled to see the museum’s collection, which has been largely closed to the public for the past 20 years.”
Could This E-Platform Build A Big New Audience For Short Stories?
“The clean, minimalist interface echoes popular blogging platforms, and visitors are encouraged to search for something to read by theme and length: trending tags at time of writing included #crime, #humour and #10minuteread.” And its analytics are all too thorough and honest.
Can A New App Bring Young People To Broadway?
There’s certainly a market opportunity. The global theater industry generates tens of billions of dollars in revenue each year. That puts theater in comparable territory to the global film industry, which according to the MPAA made $36.4 billion in revenue in 2014. Yet approximately twenty percent of tickets go unsold on Broadway, and about thirty percent go unsold in London’s West End, TodayTix says.
Pro Sports Has Discovered: Broadcasting Their Games Free and Live On TV Increases Their Business
“Research actually shows that TV broadcasts can increase game attendance. And while blackout policies are meant to increase revenues, as Forbes pointed out, the policy has done little to boost ticket prices for the Indy 500.”
British Museum To Stream A Live Tour Of Its New Show (And You Can Ask Questions, Too)
“The museum has British historian and broadcaster Dan Snow on hand to lead a 30 minute journey through the exhibition’s white marble statues, terracotta works, bronzes and ornate vases. There’ll also be the chance to post questions using the iOS and Android app.”
Music Festivals Are Big Business These Days. Can A Festival Boost Spain’s Economy?
“In the midst of a country with a 23.7% unemployment rate, the growing festival is a notable bright spot in contemporary Spain. Even as the country’s young indignados demand major reforms, Primavera is proof that a well-run music festival can be an anchor for a recovering economy and a central element of its tourism.”
How Doing Theatre For An Audience Of One Changes The Experience
“Acting is often spoken of as a narcissistic pursuit, but it seemed much more humble at Theatre for One. Why crave the attention of multitudes when the most we can ask for is to be seen—fully, if momentarily—by just one person? Being an audience of one started to feel less indulgent, too. When I stepped out of the booth, the line was twenty deep.”