tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36864475.post2664302774645417273..comments2023-07-02T05:14:05.375-04:00Comments on The Clyde Fitch Report: Some Theatres Get the Blogosphere, Some Don'tLeonard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14736316792887920991noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36864475.post-67275239459180577362009-02-04T12:52:00.000-05:002009-02-04T12:52:00.000-05:00I second Art's note about the American Repertory T...I second Art's note about the American Repertory Theatre - I, too, have been surprised by the very negative comments they've allowed on their blog. On the other hand, the Huntington's blog is usually more fun, actually - and it's clearly a form of advertising for the theatre. I don't think there's anything wrong with that; and can we all stop pretending it's somehow desirable to open up a blog to whoever feels like posting? (I recently shut down comments on my blog after crazy attacks and physical threats began coming over the transom.) The practice of inviting bloggers in before the mainstream press, in the hope that they'll build "buzz" (but keep their mouths shut if they don't like what they see), is of course a different kettle of fish, and actually strikes me as undermining the "mission" of blogs (if there is one). I'd never do that, and I'd wonder at any blogger who <EM>did</EM>.Thomas Garveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02492010718011287860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36864475.post-4792991295987709702009-02-04T11:26:00.000-05:002009-02-04T11:26:00.000-05:00Smaller, younger companies have an advantage in th...Smaller, younger companies have an advantage in that egos don't seem to be as much in play.<BR/><BR/>Here in Boston, the two large LORT's, the ART and the Huntington, take very different approaches.<BR/><BR/>The Huntington blog is maintained, very regularly, by Production Manager Todd Williams. It provides some great backstage photos of sets being constructed, video interviews with cast and crew and is a good source for some early news about the productions. But it doesn't take many risks at all. But the blog does link to outside blogs, Thom Garvey and I have been mentioned there.<BR/><BR/>The ART takes a very different approach. Each show they do seems to shape the blog.<BR/><BR/>During their production of Cardenio, they posted audience feedback, unfiltered. This was actually a surprising bit of transparency - some of the comments were not at all flattering.<BR/><BR/>Often the participants in the production will become the official bloggers for production. Some of these types of posts will tend toward the "everybody-gets-along-great" variety. But every now and then there is an artist who has no qualms about opening it up.<BR/><BR/>I function in the corporate world as well, and a very hard thing for organizations to get a handle on.Arthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04845394320537913576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36864475.post-24562559386555299752009-02-04T11:13:00.000-05:002009-02-04T11:13:00.000-05:00I second the need for arts orgs to think through a...I second the need for arts orgs to think through a.) who is actually reading the blog and b.) the audience they want to read the blog. I believe that some analysis of who's clicking many of the institutional blogs would reveal an overwhelming percentage of hits coming from inside the building. Especially is the blog is a carbon copy (remember those?) of PR and marketing materials. <BR/><BR/>For one with personality, check out the Indianapolis Museum of Art's blog at http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/<BR/><BR/><BR/>Lou Harry<BR/>Arts & Entertainment Editor<BR/>Indianapolis Business Journal<BR/>www.ibj.com/artsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com