Klarinet Archive - Posting 000132.txt from 2003/03

From: "Andy Raibeck" <cactus@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Fwd: Save Broadway Musicians
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 18:37:34 -0500

When you boil it all down, live theater is a business, and therefore the
bottom line is the almighty dollar. The petition idea, while well-intended,
will probably be ineffective. The approach that has the best chance to work
is the one that operates in a language the businesses understand: money.

What really needs to happen is:

- The authors of broadway shows must refuse to sign any new contracts and
stop producing new work until the businesses are willing to present the work
as intended by the authors.

- The theater-going public needs to boycott shows not presented as the
authors intended. (This would have the biggest impact.)

Unfortunately, the realist (some might say "cynic") in me thinks that none
of this will happen. Sadly, the composers, lyricists, choreographers,
artists, etc., need food, clothing, and shelter; so they will be
hard-pressed to stand on principle and refuse to provide these businesses
the means by which the businesses make their money. And of course, the
public will not stop going to shows. Just look at the dreck that passes for
entertainment in our movie theaters, on our TV screens, and on popular
radio, and you'll see that The People (as a whole) would rather watch or
listen to garbage instead of boycott the purveyors of this junk. I suspect
that the same will go for Broadway: if they really do replace live
orchestras with recordings, I doubt that will stop the vast majority of
people from attending.

Signing a petition is meaningless if The People aren't willing to back it up
and vote with their pocketbooks.

Regards,

Andy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Bush" <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Fwd: Save Broadway Musicians

> Now here is something worth talking about and thinking about.
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: Sillymeclover@-----.com
> > Date: Sun Feb 23, 2003 8:18:18 PM US/Pacific
> > To: idrs-l@-----.edu
> > Subject: Save Broadway Musicians
> > Reply-To: idrs-l@-----.edu
> >
> > Dear list:
> > This email is being passed along to inform anyone not already aware of
> > the
> > situation occurring with Broadway theater. This issue should be a
> > concern to
> > all of us that perform live music. Please read...
> >
> >> From Ben Herrington, New York City:
> >
> > Dear Friends and Colleagues,
> >
> > If you are a professional musician, music presenter, music teacher or,
> > most
> > of all, a music lover, this issue is important to you. Live
> > orchestras on
> > Broadway are in jeopardy! The new contract between Broadway musicians
> > and
> > the League of American Theaters and Producers (LATP) is currently being
> > negotiated. LATP is fighting to replace live musicians with recorded
> > music
> > and/or fancy karaoke machines called "Virtual Orchestras." If they
> > succeed,
> > live Broadway orchestras will become a thing of the past. This is not
> > a
> > squabble over a few dollars and pension benefits, it is a fight for
> > the very
> > survival of live orchestras. Go now to <A
> > HREF="www.savelivebroadway.com">
> > www.savelivebroadway.com</A> and sign our petition or read on for more
> > details.

[snip]

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