First Night FRIGHT NIGHT

Jules · Post by **Jules** » January 2nd, 2007, 4:46 pm

Lord, don't I know it! Just a joke, folks....just a joke.

Miggy · Post by **Miggy** » January 2nd, 2007, 4:48 pm

Oh God - how did I do this again???

Sorry Shannon. I can see how my comment sounded that way, but I'm not trying to say family = philistine. Am I making judgements, though - yes - About the people I ran into the other day. People like them irk me to no end. I cannot stand people that could live in a city, refer to themselves as Austinites and never come into the city. It's the urbanist in me. I'm putting my bias right out there - feel free to disagree with it. Most do.

I'm also making a generalization, though not a judgement on families re: attending improv theatre. I want more people, families or otherwise, but I don't know how to reach them. As an example, I'm the only single male under the age of 40 in a large group of people (~150) here at work and I can say that I have made the pitch to people over and over again with little success. People even stop by to ask me about my shows or shows in general and I gave out some free tickets when I had them but then they never show up. I have had only two (the only two single females in that same group and both 32) come to my shows from work. That's it. In an entire year.

Again, I don't see a lot of diversity in our audiences and would love to branch out from what we've got today. I just don't think handing someone a flyer will convince most people to come out...with families being a paticularly hard sell. I just don't have a better suggestion at this time.

Respectfully,
Michael

P.S. When my friend last year commented on the 'quality' of his audience, he meant that his audience understood it. That he talked to a number of people afterwards in serious discussion on dance. He didn't comment on what they looked like, how old they were or if they had kids.

P.P.S. As still more long-winded commentary - I have several friends who are very into art and very not-into improv. So much for generalizations

shando · Post by **shando** » January 2nd, 2007, 4:51 pm

Miggy wrote: Sorry Shannon.

No need to apologize. I was just quoting you, who was quoting Jeremy.

Jules · Post by **Jules** » January 2nd, 2007, 5:04 pm

Miggy, I"ve come to similar conclusions as you. I've had lots of people ask me about improv but never attend a show, even though they'll ask and ask about it. I kind of think it freaks them out that they'd be seeing a co worker doing something "crazy" out of character and also the very concept of improv in general.

I do also tend to agree with you that there are lots of sub urban and ex urban types that never come to town make a mess blah blah and that a lot of them are associated with "families"

I think that if you liked art and such prior to kids you'll probably like it after, just will need to have a stronger committment to experiencing it.

I too would like to see diversity in our audience and also in our members. That's just me though.

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » January 2nd, 2007, 5:57 pm

beardedlamb wrote:there were mostly families and not so much art fans.

is this the statement you're referring to? i guess it's a bit of a semantic argument. i didn't mean to say these two things are opposites, cuz they sure as hell aren't. but i stand by the statement, for realz.