Dear Theater Fans, Please Stop Stealing

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 4:36pm

"Classist." "Elitist." "A spoiled 14-year-old." "Hates poor people."

 

All reactions to my latest column (along with plenty of more positive ones). Would love to hear your thoughts.

"Dear Theater Fans,

You tend to be a wonderful bunch, always hungry to experience more, to see, hear, explore and just take in all that Broadway has to offer.

Some of you also tend to be common thieves — and you may not even realize it."

Dear Theater Fans, Please Stop Stealing

 

[Margo319]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 4:42pm

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 4:44pm

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 4:45pm

I clicked the link. I knew better, but I clicked anyway. Fool me twice, shame on me...

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 4:52pm

Can you provide credits for the gifs? I'd like to make sure they weren't created from pirated materials.

 

 

*ducks* 

[Chicken_Flavor]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 4:55pm

Do you really want to know what I think?!?!  

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:01pm

Dear Nacissistic Self-Promoting Blogger, Please Stop Posting

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:06pm

You are all kinds of ignorant Illana Keller! Just shut up!  That's what I think. Bootlegs are highly regarded among theatre professionals in New York and for good reason. The West End is a totally different story but no one here cares. Playbills are free for a reason. Stage dooring with out seeing the show is whatever. At the end of the day, who does any of this hurt? 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:10pm

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:14pm

Chicken_Flavor said: "Do you really want to know what I think?!?!  "

I'd love to hear what you think, especially if you can discuss topics and not personal attacks. But even if not, I guess you'd be in good company. 

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:16pm

Mister Matt said: "Dear Nacissistic Self-Promoting Blogger, Please Stop Posting"

Dear Mister Matt, I'm Not A Blogger. And, Um, No.

Would love to hear you articulate any specific thoughts you have on the topics at hand, though.  

 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:17pm

Actually, you are a blogger. Now begone, Ilana!! 

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:18pm

Broadway_Boy said: "You are all kinds of ignorant Illana Keller! Just shut up!  That's what I think. Bootlegs are highly regarded among theatre professionals in New York and for good reason. The West End is a totally different story but no one here cares. Playbills are free for a reason. Stage dooring with out seeing the show is whatever. At the end of the day, who does any of this hurt?"

Creatives.

Actors.

Producers.

Theater owners.

Fans.

Future productions.

Your own experience.

Potentially your eardrums.

 

 

[Michael Kras]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:20pm

I can never agree with bootlegs. To me, it's less about the idea of 'theft' and more about the idea of consent. The actors onstage did not consent to be filmed by you and have their work on that particular night immortalized. The designers, director, choreographer, writer didn't consent to their work being captured either. This is a violation of them as artists and as people and I disagree with it wholeheartedly, while simultaneously agree there is a severe accessibility need that must be addresses for theatre, commercial and otherwise. Bootlegs are not the answer to this. 

Updated On: 5/2/17 at 05:20 PM

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:21pm

Liza's Headband said: "Actually, you are a blogger. Now begone, Ilana!! "

 

Aww, it didn't work. Maybe try again. Or maybe, articulate and contribute to a discussion instead of just dismissing things you (presumably) don't agree with. Seems like that would be a more worthwhile use of time than attempting to shoo me away, but your call.

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:21pm

I'm opposed to bootlegs unless you can smuggle a tripod in there, too. And don't sit behind someone taller than you...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:21pm

Okay. Take a look at how many performers have tweeted out gifs of themselves or their colleagues that come FROM bootlegs. Or those who have bootlegs in their YouTube playlists. Sure, some of them hate it, but come on, Ilana Javert.

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:25pm

Michael Kras said: "I can never agree with bootlegs. To me, it's less about the idea of 'theft' and more about the idea of consent. The actors onstage did not consent to be filmed by you and have their work on that particular night immortalized. The designers, director, choreographer, writer didn't consent to their work being captured either. This is a violation of them as artists and as people and I disagree with it wholeheartedly, while simultaneously agree there is a severe accessibility need that must be addresses for theatre, commercial and otherwise. Bootlegs are not the answer to this."

I agree consent is also an issue (maybe not instead of theft, to me but in addition). Many an actor has taken to Twitter to say as much. 

I do think steps are continually being taken to address access, and the growing demand for alternate consumption. I think we owe it to people to give them the time and space they need to figure it out -- saying, "oh well, I have no choice but to steal in the meantime" (as many do), is no excuse or justification. Instead it's a symptom of an entitled person, who feels they are owed the access to see what they want when they want.

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:28pm

LizzieCurry said: "Okay. Take a look at how many performers have tweeted out gifs of themselves or their colleagues that come FROM bootlegs. Or those who have bootlegs in their YouTube playlists. Sure, some of them hate it, but come on, Ilana Javert."

But I wouldn't hesitate to say for every person this applies to, there is another who posts about the distracting cameras in the audience, preaches against it, or has taken other anti-bootleg steps. What makes the feelings of those who embrace it more important than those who don't, particularly when the law is on their side?

 

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 5:42pm

No one has ever gotten in trouble for recording a show. The most they would do is make you delete it. When they do it right, they get away without being noticed by anyone so it's obviously not a distraction and it's a miracle that we can watch shows from the past that we wouldn't be able to see otherwise. Many theatre professionals publically praise bootlegs of their own work all the time. Also, you are a blogger. Professional journalists don't go around pushing their stories on message boards and Facebook groups. I have seen you post this all over the internet for the past few days. Obviously, no one agrees with anything you're saying here. 

 

Also, your personal phone number is on the article. You could not be anymore unprofessional.

Updated On: 5/2/17 at 05:42 PM

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 6:00pm

Broadway_Boy said: "Also, you are a blogger. Professional journalists don't go around pushing their stories on message boards and Facebook groups."

Professional journalists engage with the communities they cover.  

 

"Also, your personal phone number is on the article. You could not be anymore unprofessional."

That would be my work phone number. Also my work email address. Which is included on every piece of content I write, again, in an attempt to engage with people and be accessible to them to further discourse. Feel free to give me a call if there's anything you would care to address.

 

 

 

[canadian fan]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 6:16pm

I read all the comments before I clicked on the link.  Once I did, I couldn't believe all the nastiness here for an article that seems to promote protecting an artists work and encourages ethical behavior.  Agree with the article or not, why cant people just be civil?  Why the need to attack or mock people on this social media? I see it over and over here. You would think THIS community would be one to promote acceptance. Just sayin.... 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 6:20pm

Okay, here are some thoughts:

I have personally known famous creatives to request copies of bootlegs, so no, your self-serving click-bait post regarding the smug, helicopter-parent blanket shame-all blog entry of the Theatre Etiquette Rules of Condescension isn't completely correct nor is it especially helpful or effective.  

Attention everyone: Grab as many abandoned Playbills on the floor as you like and stage door when you want.  The blogger does not legislate nor apply theatrical attendance law.  Bootlegging, on the other hand, will always be at your own risk.  But you don't need a blogger to make a royal proclamation or speak down to you to know that.  I mean, it's not as if a blogger actually has any right to tell you what to do.

[pupscotch]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 6:26pm

On a fundamental basis, I agree with the opposition to bootlegs. I personally don't watch them. But I live in Manhattan, and can easily go and see a show any time I like. For many theatre fans, this is not an option, and that's the grey area for me. Many will never get the opportunity to see shows they love, or see shows that closed many years ago, without bootlegs. It's about accessibility, and for most, Broadway is simply inaccessible without bootlegs.

Stagedooring after a show you didn't see, however? I don't think that's "stealing" at all. Again, many young theatre fans love shows like Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen, but can't afford tickets to see them live, but still want to meet the cast members of a show they love so much. Many people come to matinees of those shows due to cost and availability, and then stagedoor the night show, as many cast members don't stagedoor after matinees. While the rest of your article makes perfect sense, I simply do not understand that part.

[IlanaKeller]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 6:35pm

As we have discussed prior in this thread, people (no matter who they are) doing something does not make it right or wrong, or lawful or not. Telling me that the Royal Empress of Oz murdered someone doesn't make murder legal.

Not quite sure why you need to tell people it's OK to take Playbills off the floor. Perhaps upon a closer read, you'll see that was not an action that was questionable, and in fact, encouraged if one desires a few extra copies, rather than swiping an usher's stack.

I agree with you, I certainly can't tell someone what to do or make them do it. The only one who can set your moral compass is yourself. That does not mean I cannot express my opinions or point out logical flaws or debate or encourage actions that don't directly harm others. As anyone does.