Save Yourself

After the NEA released a studyabout declining audience for non-musical theatre, a lot of interesting conversation was sparked.

Some called for more conversation about how programming fits into all this . . . which is good.

Others had interesting ideas about how federal funding could be used to create theatregoers . . . . which is also good.

But in the midst of all this talk about the shows *we* should be doing or the collective efforts *we* should be undertaking to draw people to the work  . . . I'd like to mention someone else:

You.

To be more precise, your theatre.

Your dance company.

Your orchestra.

Your band.

Your art gallery.

Does your work make people want to see more theatre/dance/art . . . or less?

Because ultimately that is all there is.

I only mention this because sometimes we seem to be ruthless in our critique of what the "other" does or what they should be doing.

Each of us are representatives of the art form we have chosen to pursue.

As each of us make the difficult choices required to be world class at what we did, the art form we represent is improved.

So by all means, mobilize for collective action.

Have your thoughts about what the collective art form needs.

But don't forget your individual part of the story.

Comments

[Lindsay Price]

Ah ha! When people say 'we should do this' don't they often mean, 'well, someone other than me....'