Can there be viral marketing when most classical concerts are one-night-only events?I went to the high-flyin'-larious play Boeing Boeing on Broadway last week, and took a gander at my call log today: I sent three texts at intermission and another two while walking to the subway. "Definitely go see Boeing Boeing." "Boeing Boeing is funny stuff." "Loved Boeing Boeing even though my beloved Josh Lyman isn't in it any more." Assuming others had as much fun as my friend and I did, Boeing Boeing got good press on the SMS airwaves that night. And, if … [Read more...]
Talk to me about journalism school
Most Fridays, I post an interview with a certain someone far more knowledgeable than myself on specific marketing and publicity subjects. This week, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism masters student Devin Dwyer on learning how to broadcast himself, the shrinking journalism market, and why this isn't a good interview. Devin Dwyer is a multimedia journalist with a background in public radio broadcasting. The Minnesota native is a graduate of Dartmouth College and candidate for a master of science in journalism from the … [Read more...]
How not to handle bad reviews/how to handle crazy people
From Playbill.com: Perhaps the most famous incident of his career was instigated by New York Shakespeare Festival impresario Joe Papp. In 1973, when Papp learned that Mr. [Clive] Barnes had given a poor review to David Rabe's In the Boom Boom Room -- Papp's choice to open his reign as the new director of the Lincoln Center Theater program -- Papp called the critic at home at 11:30 PM and cursed him, yelling into the phone, "You think you're going to get me? Well, I am going to get you. I am going to get you." That might have been the end of the … [Read more...]
If that’s your girl you better watch your back
Today we learned that Lang Lang is one of the Sexiest Men Alive, or so says People Magazine.Now, I like Lang Lang a lot, but I have to ask...of all the men...alive...is he really...the superlative of sexy? David Beckham...Lang Lang...David Beckham...I didn't get a sociology/biology degree between his Sexiest Man Alive status being declared this morning and the present moment, but I do know that "sexy" is in the eye of (body of? pheromones of?) the (be)holder. Who am I to say who/what's sexy to someone else? Who is People Magazine, for that … [Read more...]
Space heater-side chats
This could have been you, Gerard Mortier!Or any arts organization executive director or orchestra music director, for that matter. Keep us in the loop! We'll care more about what you're doing if you...tell us. … [Read more...]
Good news for people who like confusing news
In recent days, the following happened in the topsy turvy world of media*:Alex Ross quotes a press release on his blog. Anthony Tommasini directs New York Times print and online readers to Jeremy Denk's blog in a concert review. Ronald Blum references Opera Chic in an Associated Press article. Opera Chic blogs about the reference.Inspired by a New York Times profile, Gawker suggests Nico Muhly compose a "singfest" for Gossip Girl. Nico Muhly accepts their offer on his blog. *(" ") … [Read more...]
Disneyfication
I went to...brace yourselves...Mary Poppins on Broadway yesterday, and it took all strength I had left on a windy Sunday night to stop my 20-something sister from buying a Mary Poppins bird-head umbrella. Granted, the umbrella was pretty cute (if not slightly creepy), but, come on now. The joint was filled with merchandise! It is, after all, a Walt Disney production, so the amount of merch was to be expected. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious t-shirts, Mary Poppins dolls, Mary Poppins mugs, a signed poster from the cast (those sales were going … [Read more...]
The argument for digital-only releases
I hauled this woolly mammoth of a shopping bag (CD to show scale) to the post office yesterday, only to be informed by a knowing piece of paper on the door that it was Veteran's Day, and the post was closed. Cue sad Charlie Brown music. I proceeded to take my mailing to dinner, at which point my friend kindly didn't comment on our third party. Physical releases: The expense! The environment! My back! What's the over-under on physical CD production, do we think? Five (ten?) years, and we're all digital, with special-edition physical releases … [Read more...]
Everybody ought to have a blog
Well, every publicist or marketing director, anyway. Now, we all make mistakes. A few weeks back, I sent Steve Smith a potential Time Out NY listing without a date. He was kind enough to write back (errr...when is this??) rather than simply ignoring me, which would have been deserved. But I received two comments on this blog today that will certainly make me think about my pitching efforts and relationship with journalists going forward.The first was an e mail suggesting I write about a website that I already written about, not five days ago. … [Read more...]
PSA from Gawker to Publicists
Jerry Portwood is the editor of the New York Press, and he does a lot of theater reviews. Like lots of theater reviewers, he gets free tickets for plays from publicists. But last week, he was abruptly disinvited and taken off the list for the play "The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents," just before he was scheduled to attend. The reason: the play's publicist didn't like a NY Press story that pointed out that the play's publicists were marketing it by hyping up the fact that Meryl Streep's daughter is a cast member. Losing a pair of free tickets … [Read more...]
“I have had it with these motherf-ing snakes on this motherf-ing plane!”
More thoughts for City Opera, should they decide to go into belated grassroots fundraising mode: Enlist top singers who love City Opera to create public service announcements, or an opera star-filled Obamaish video that can be easily forwarded and posted on opera blogs around the world.Have singers record phone messages, a la the crazy Snakes on a Plane marketing campaign with Samuel L. Jackson, that people can leave on their friend's voicemails. Idea courtesy of my sister.Does footage of Beverly Sills speaking about City Opera exist? That's … [Read more...]
Impresario this
"The irony of all this, I really believe, and many others do as well, is if we could simply have gotten the first season on the boards, it really would have galvanized fund-raising." - New York City Opera's Susan L. Baker to The New York Times 11/7/08, on losing Gerard Mortier due to a lack of funds.I hate to kick City Opera while it's down but...what first season? The homepage of their website, above, looks like the same old City Opera. I realize they need to promote the concerts they're presenting around town this season, but why is there … [Read more...]
Exposing the negatives
I don't completely (heart) the fancy Celebrate Salonen season site that the LA Phil put together, but I do appreciate the alliteration potential and the gesture.Two cool things: 1. The fact that you can hover over any timeline point with an eighth note graphic and an interview will start without your having to click on it, and 2. the wall on which you can leave your tribute to Salonen.I've mentioned this before, but I'm big into the juxtaposition of, you know, Bill Viola's thoughts on Salonen with Lemon Lim from Hong Kong's thoughts on Salonen. … [Read more...]
For the times they are a-changin’
Fill in the blank:It's ____________ that the first thing that comes up when you Google "Metropolitan Opera" is a search for movie showtimes. … [Read more...]