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Do you Meerkat or will you Periscope?

Meerkatting... say what? Or what will they think of next! According to this article on the newest app sensation:

Live streaming video from a smartphone may soon be known as "meerkatting" thanks to a new app that allows anyone with an iPhone to become a roving reporter.

It’s a free application that allows you to piggyback on Twitter’s network and live stream video. Apparently Meerkat sends out a Tweet with a link and once you click on it you can live stream the Tweeter’s feed.

Until Twitter shut it down, Meerkat also was able to access your social network on Twitter. According to this Buzzfeed article, you now have to build your own network on Meerkat but the live streaming video is still capable.

Twitter reportedly purchased another live streaming app, Periscope, that is still in beta testing. But once they launch it may be hard for Meerkat to compete with Periscope.

Still, no matter who comes out on top, whichever you choose to do (Meerkat or Periscope), this could be a game changer for content marketing! As Barry Hessenius of Barry’s Blog points out:

As we compete in the limitless world of communication, trying to distinguish our brands, our offerings, our wares, the ability to live stream dress rehearsals, museum curations, bits of performance pieces, fundraising events, informal pitches, day to day life in our organizations and more - all as part of our strategy to win over new audiences, media attention, donors and supporters - seems a natural fit; easy to do, cost effective (cheap), limitless creative applications and all built on an ever growing platform already part of our arsenal of tools (or one that would perhaps not be so hard to develop).

So what do you think? Will you be meerkatting from backstage at your next show? How can we put this to use to create awareness and buzz, sell last minute tickets, or put new butts in our seats? Let’s get creative and get our networks working in new ways to pass our message on!

And let’s just play devil’s advocate. What about when our audience starts to meerkat? Do we allow or encourage the practice within our sacred halls? What about a tour of an art show or a public art installation? Should we encourage cast members to live stream part of a dress rehearsal? How do we remain in control?

#periscoping #meerkatting #marketing strategies

Dot Dot Dot ...

Hey, this looks like some pretty cool stuff in the way of dance in the digital world! I've only seen the preview, see link below, but I'm excited to get up to the Gugenheim museum and check it out. Thanks to Lane Harwell and DanceNYC for sharing this via his Huffington Post blog! The DOT DOT DOT app is a synthesis of Dance, Music, Art, Film and Technology for the next generation of viewers. Click here to check out the trailer for the app.

Tom Gold, directed by Ben Nicholas with Creative Director Abbott Milller of Pentagram, with music composed by Charles Yang, created this new app that was produced by 2wice arts Foundation. To find out more about Tom Gold Dance click here. For more on 2wice Arts Foundation, click here. Or here, http://www.2wice.org/dotdotdot/ to go directly to their dotdotdot page.

#dance #nyc #digital

Playbill EDU... they're at it again!

Playbill online has launched what sounds like it could be an amazing tool. Just imagine if way back (ok, way, way back for some of us) when you were trying to decide what school to go to for Drama or Dance or yikes, Musical Theatre (again, back when they were just starting to offer musical theatre programs). And you could have seen what programs they offered, what working performers had gone there and even compared/contrasted a few of them. How helpful would that have been? Of course back then they were just inventing this internet thingy too... but HEY, now it appears we have both!

So the site went live on August 1 and it looks like it is configured to 3 different audiences. Students, of course, but also parents/guardians and guidance counselors. It also looks from the home page where you can login or create a sign in that they also let you divide your search between theatre, dance or music. I'm assuming that the theatre section also lets you choose musical theatre to find only those programs. Of course at 50 and having just completed my Masters, I'm not creating a sign in... although I wonder if I can search for PhD programs there as well?

Augmented Reality... say what?

Dave Stevens, an Atlanta based TV producer, introduced TheatrePlusNetwork (TPN) in the fall of 2012. It's a smartphone app that brings images in printed materials to life by linking them to video, music or other media.

Sound cool? Of course, who nowadays doesn't love spending more time staring at their smartphone (register sarcasm)? BUT WAIT, this actually does sound pretty darn cool when applied to theater playbills or maybe the lobby/box office poster or a marketing postcard for your upcoming new show. And hey, maybe I could leave those annoying reading glasses I now need at home and just watch the playbill 'come to life' on my iPhone! (of course, I'll turn it off before the show starts)

Audiences at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, The Atlanta Symphony, The Alliance Theatre and The Atlanta Opera discover their show programs come alive when viewed through the TPN lens.

Want to learn more, go check out Stevens website, their Facebook page or Twitter feed. Or better yet take a road trip to Atlanta, check out a show at one of the theaters using TPN, download the free APP first, and then let them know what you think!?

WEBster's Dictionary

Not that Webster, but the brainchild of Mark Blankenship, Theatre Development Fund's web content editor. According to an article in a recent American Theatre magazine, the lightbulb went off one day when he overheard some ticket-buyers in line at the TKTS booth in Times Square.

He Realized that non-theatrical folks might not understand theatre jargon or even something as simple as the difference between a play and a musical. So he began in summer 2011 by writing and directing strike the pilot definition video. It took 15 months before he was ready to launch the TDF Theatre Dictionary in October 2012. During that time he solicited contributors to create the short video definitions.

TDF even offers a stipend to individuals or organizations who want to submit 'definitions' to cover filming and editing costs. But the site is so much more than just a collection of FUN, short videos (which would be more than enough to keep me coming back), there's also an essay related to each video definition that explains its history, usage, and alternate meanings as well as a blog page so that anyone can join the conversation!

Contributors to date include:

Actors' Equity - Gypsy Robe

New York Neo-Futurists - Performance Art

HERE Arts - Off-Off Broadway

Avenue Q the musical - 11 O'clock Number

Chicago the musical - Kick Your Face

there are close to 30 definitions already up and running including the latest Double Take which is sure to have you doubled over in side-splitting hilarity!

Go watch some now and maybe you'll be inspired to create one or contact them with a question about that theatre term that you've heard but never quite understood?

Pogoseat (say what?)

Ever get to a theater and hate the seat you’re sitting in OR just wish you were a little closer OR on the aisle OR in the front mezzanine for a bird’s eye view OR just want to get out from behind the really tall person with the big ass hair? Well now there might be a way if we adapt it for theatrical use!

Thanks to our friend Ken Davenport for this tidbit via his blog, The Producer’s Perspective. As always a great place to grab a fresh perspective and some new (sometimes out there) ideas!

So what is Pogoseat you ask? Well, let me tell you in their own words!

Pogoseat is a fun and simple way to upgrade your seat while you’re at an event. With only a few touches on your smartphone you can improve your seating situation.

Unfortunately, its not here yet for the theatre but it could and probably should be!

And while we’re on the subject what about those Premium Seats that go for hundreds of dollars? Do they actually have more leg room? Could they? Why not! Why shouldn’t there be a few rows in the center of the Orchestra and maybe the front of the Mezzanine with a little more leg room!

Playbill: Pt. 3

The third and final new electronic cool thing that Playbill has going now is Playbill VIP™

Now you can create your very own Playbill for your very own theatrical production! It's your own Virtual Internet Playbill (get it, VIP). Use it to advertise, attract sponsors and tell all your friends and family about your upcoming Fabulousness.

And beyond that, for a small fee, which Playbill will then donate to charity, you can get a printable version for distribution at the theater.

So what are you waiting for middle America? Get your PLAYBILL on! And don't forget to let me know what you think about it all?

Playbill: Pt. 2

Now there's also Playbill Vault, billed as 'The Largest Broadway Database on the Internet.'

like I said...

Check out what's playing now, what's coming up and who's doing what/where. Search by people, show or theatre! No more waiting until you are at a theatre to find out what's played there before, now get the whole history anytime you're curious.

Playbill goes electronic: Pt. 1

In recent months Playbill has expanded their electronic presence with multiple new options that are great examples of an old, well established theatrical presence reinventing itself for the 21st century.

My favorite is the Playbill Memory Bank

I now save all my Playbills virtually and have even started logging in past year's worth of theatrical memories. I love that I can link to the original playbill cover, add the date and time I went, rate the show, add notes and even save my seat #!

Of course you can link your saved memories to Twitter and/or Facebook.

Although you have to do it on a per Playbill basis as you add them rather than being able to set your account settings to Share.

Of course, there are a couple of things that I'd really like to see added or updated. And there seem to be an inordinate number of typos but overall I love it.

For some reason Playbills from off-Broadway shows aren't yet available, I'm assuming this is just a matter of time needed to create that database. In the meantime you can still add your non-Broadway memories, you just can't link them to actual Playbills yet.

Categories also need to be expanded to include such genres as Dance or Cabaret

Hopefully there will be revisions to the original release in the near future. In the meantime, I hope you'll join me there?

#SIP

Do you know what that means? If not you may be behind the times, at least if you're a performer on Broadway or on a Broadway tour!

That's the hashtag Broadway vets are using to tweet pictures of how they amuse themselves on those long two show days! Leave it to those young, whippersnappers over at @newsies to still have enough energy left to find a fun new use for Twitter (or 'the tweet machine' as one good friend would call it).

#sip stands for Saturday Intermission Pictures and you can check out more about it here in Frank DiLella's article for @playbill

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/169114-Tweeting-in-the-Wings-Broadway-Performers-Use-Twitter-to-Express-Themselves-at-Intermission

Stage*Write the New iPad App Revolutionizes Theatre and More

That was the headline (onlie) by Suzanna Bowling on March 2, 2012 for the Times Square Chronicle's article about the latest theatrically bent App! I for one can't wait to try it, although since I haven't been performing in the last 4 years maybe I don't need to spend the $199. But it might be fun to get it and just work on transferring all my old dance captain bible's over to e-versions! Then when I do SM or DC again, I'm ready to go!

Just look at the imagae from StageWrite's website above... how COOL! Follow the link for a short video or search on YouTube... just makes you salivate a little bit. Created by Broadway Associate Director/Choreographer Jeff Whiting and released March 1, 2012 it seems to already have the theatre world and Susan Stroman buzzing.

I wonder if someday we'll need extra backstage masking to block the glow from all of the swings iPad's lying about the wings??? Hmm, maybe the next version will combine this with a way to notate dance steps... bye bye Labanotation!?

What a great engagement idea, why not go behind the scenes on Bway? Ken's idea of something similar to the bonus features on a movie DVD! Why not. I always love any bonus track on a cd and by the way there are two on the new Bway cast recording of Godspell!

Join Composer Stephen Schwartz and Director Daniel Goldstein as they listen in to a live performance of Godspell on Broadway. Tune in next week for Episode 2, only at www.godspell.com/commentary

Watch this amazing video from Corning! OK, now how can we make use of these coming advances in the arts?

I think we should be ready and maybe have a hand in the development!!! Why shouldn't new technologies work for us too?

A Day Made of Glass... Made possible by Corning. (via CorningIncorporated)

Rocco speaks out again! Ya gotta love this man. And why shouldn't we reexamine the proliferation of arts orgs? Maybe more should go down the route of Bill T Jones and Dance Theatre Workshop and merge to create a new form of arts organization.

Particularly love this paragraph as it speaks to my 2.0 theme!

Technology is key in this: the NEA’s Audience 2.0: How Technology Influences Arts Participation shows that people who consume art via the Internet and electronic media are nearly three times as likely to attend live arts events, that they attend a greater number of live events, and that they also attend a greater variety of arts events.

Follow the link to their report (which is of course multimedia/interactive!) and let me know what you think?

#artworks #supplydemand #audience

Must have Arts apps!

Hey NYC - These are free, so grab them now! Awesome apps that anyone living in or visiting NYC must have in order to experience the full Cultural experience...

1. TKTS iPHONE APP: The Official TKTS iPhone app, which is available for download free of charge on iTunes through March 1, 2011, is the only way to get accurate, real-time listings of all Broadway and Off Broadway shows available at the world-famous TKTS Discount Ticket Booths in New York City. The TKTS iPhone app is connected to the same software that runs the TKTS electronic boards, so patrons see exactly what is being shown on the boards.

The Official TKTS iPhone app features:

a real-time display of what is currently on sale at all three TKTS Discount booths.

a comprehensive show search where you'll find what is happening onstage in New York City - including show descriptions, performance schedules, theatre locations, accessibility information and links to official show websites for Broadway, Off Broadway, off-Off Broadway, dance and music productions.

TDF Stages - TDF's online theatre magazine featuring articles, videos and podcasts.

You may download the Official TKTS iPhone app free of charge through March 1, 2011 at the iTunes app store or at www.tdf.org/tktsapp. An android version of the Official TKTS app will be forthcoming.

2. NYC ARTS iPHONE APP:

http://itunes.apple.com/app/nyc-arts/id406369292?mt=8

FIND EVENTS NEARBY Find performances, exhibits, talks, walks, concerts and any other types of art that are taking place over the next three days within a five-block radius of where you are. BROWSE EVENTS BY CATEGORY Search for events in nearly 40 categories of art in New York City, including Theater, Science, Dance, Public Art, Performance, History, Media, Museums, Film, Discussion/Lecture, Architecture and Design and more. BROWSE EVENTS BY LOCATION Search for events in nearly every neighborhood of every borough of New York City. BROWSE BY ORGANIZATION Search for events at hundreds of arts organizations in New York City.

Ticketmaster Adds Social Features

So Ticketmaster is in the Social Media game as well and expanding capability to try and better connect with fans. I saw this blurb on Billboard.biz today by Antony Bruno which then links back to Ticketmasters blog, yes, Ticketology, who knew?

Ticketology brings you regular posts about our North American business from the people who lead, live, and love it.

l and most everyone I know abhore Ticketmaster because of the outrageous fees they charge to get you tix to that must see event. OK, everybody charges fees but somehow I don't mind paying a $4 fee to TDF (Theatre Development Fund), a nonprofit who is making my show tix available for less the 50% to begin with.

Anyway, check out CEO, Nathan Hubbard's post on Ticketology and see how Ticketmaster can help you connect with your friends at upcoming events! Now not only do they have Facebook LIKE and RECOMMEND buttons but also an ATTENDING button so you can immediately tell all of your friends what you are going to see. Ticketmaster is empowering the fans to do their marketing for them!

These two truths we hold self-evident: 1) too many fans miss shows/games/events because they didn’t know about them in advance and, 2) passionate, trend-setting fans make the best marketers.

Somehow I doubt that I'll be there but check it out and then let me know what you think?

Is Video Killing the Concert Vibe?

So I've talked about this before, re: texts, photos and video at live performances but I don't think the debate is decided or dying down by any means. Check out this Wall Street Journal article about smartphones and the live music industry.

Lighters held aloft at rock shows have given way to camera phones. Meet the backlash. SEPTEMBER 24, 2010 By JOHN JURGENSEN

Reactions to the new form of 'audience appreciation' runs the gamut. Some seem very annoyed by it while others don't seem to mind and still others even encourage it. And of course, there's an APP for that! (Justin.tv, Livestream or Ustream)

While there are still artists who cry piracy, many others have either thrown up their hands or pounced on the free promotion these videos provide.

There are some great examples in this article so I'd encourage you to read it in it's entirety:

fans released...video recording of a Radiohead concert...edited together from...60 audience...Flip cams. The band ... providing its own master recordings

Wilco allows...audio recordings...and trade them online...video cameras...bother him

I personally would be annoyed as hell if someone next to me spent the whole concert taking photos or holding their arm overhead filming video. But hey, it annoys me when the kid in grad school sitting next to me spends the whole class texting on his iPhone or the gal two row back is tap-tapping away at her laptop and you know damn well it's not notes she's taking! How bout you, am I just to thin skinned (or just too old)?

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