Do you wish IBDB was like IMDB?

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:43pm

Do you wish IBDB was like IMDB? With pictures of actors in costume and out of costume and all that? I for one would love, love it.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:44pm

Yeah - but don't actors have to pay for all the spiffy extras on imdb?


Plus, many IBDb actors are listed on IMDb as well.

Updated On: 1/26/06 at 09:44 PM

[EugLoven]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:47pm

I'm a huge fan of IBDB, but of course would love to see a few things added to improve the site. I'm afraid IMDB is too commercialized and over-stimulating for my taste. However, IBDB could definitely snazz itself up with links to media (photos, video, etc).

There is one thing that peeves me about IBDB. I wish for every actor there would be dates for the length of time they spent in a certain role. For example, today I wanted to find the date AND character Whoopi Goldberg stepped into for the "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" Revival. I found nothing but the fact she was a Replacement.
Updated On: 1/26/06 at 09:47 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:48pm

Actually, the part of IDBD I wish would be more like IMDB would be the linking between them. Like you could click on a character's name and it would give you a list of everyone that's played the character, instead of you having to search through the "replacements" pop-up.

I also wish they had more people's dates for when they were in the show. When you click on the actors bios, it has the dates for when the shows's been open, but that doesn't help you when you're trying to figure out their career timeline or something.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:50pm

Great minds think alike, orangeskittles, and post 1 minute apart too!

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:51pm

Good, I'm glad I'm not the only person that's bugged by that.

Updated On: 1/26/06 at 09:51 PM

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:51pm

i HATE ibdb!!! It is awful. IMDB and IBDB should do something with each other because IBDB is crap.

[poppy isabella]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:52pm

Are they maintained by the same entity?

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:18pm

i wish that instead of just saying for instance(just and example) John O'Hurley...Chicago (revival)- Performer (replacement) that it actually would list their role right there on their page as opposed to trying to go back through all of the replacements in the show (for the record, not counting repeat engagements o'hurley is the 31st billy flynn)

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:19pm

EugLoven...it's easy to find out the part that Whoopi Goldberg played and the dates she played it.

You go to the page for that particular revival. Go to the bottom and click "Display replacement and/or transfer information" and it will be listed there.

They may not always list the dates. But the part she played will always be listed.

Updated On: 1/26/06 at 10:19 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:32pm

Yes, it's possible to find it, but like he and I both mentioned before, it would be easier if that information were just included in the individual actor's bio.

[Character Actor]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:45pm

Oh man. I also wish there was a message board! (even though we have one on here, but that's beyond the point.) I also love the idea of the character the actor played and the dates he/she was in it!

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:43am

yes. i do.

[starletta8]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:59am

I agree with all of those who have said it would be great to have linking between them. I'd like to see mention, at least on IMDB, that actors also have theater credits. There's times that I'll look up a movie just to learn a bit more about it- it would be nice to know who else has been on Broadway. Also, I'd love to see West End credits recognized also.

Although IMDB is a bit more commercial, it seems more user-friendly than IBDB at the moment.

[Tag]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 1:17am

IMDB is owned/operated by Amazon. Is that the case with IBDB?

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:02am

I hate how IBDB lists replacements also, it's such a pain in the butt. I too wish that they would include dates the performer was in the role instead of just dates of the show's run. IBDB is definitely not as user friendly as it could be.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 3:26am

Just think IMDB has been around (not only under the name IMDB) for sixteen years.

IBDB has time to catch up.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 11:23am

I am just thankful that we have IBDB at all. It has helped me many times when I needed to find information on a particular show/performer. However, since we are listing things that we "wish" would be available on the site I have a few as well.

1) I also wish you could click on the role and then see everyone who played it and the dates.

2) I wish there was a trivia section for each show where any interesting information about the creation or events that happened during the run of the show could be listed. For example: on the trivia for the original 42nd Street it would mention Merrick's behavior prior to the opening and then his famous curtain call announcement at the opening. Another example would be an interesting way in an actor got a particular role, like Sutton in Millie or Brad Oscar (as Franz) in The Producers or even Joel Grey in Wicked.

3) I wish there would be a written biography page for each performer (when available) a la IMDB.

Updated On: 1/27/06 at 11:23 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 11:45am

IBDb.com needs to seriously catch up to "the times." I tried to submit information on my mother's two Broadway shows (as well as three 1930s shows that a dear old friend of mine was in), and they wanted me to fax them copies of the Playbills, and jump through a few other "eyebrow-raising" hoops.

To this I say...

No way, kids. It's your site. Hire fact-checkers for new data submissions, like IMDb.com does. I'm not doing your work for you. Be glad people out there are submitting information to you at all. I submit info for IMDb.com all the time, and have been doing so for years. There is a simple procedure to follow, and a short "waiting time" while the information is verified before it posts (usually 2-5 days). Occasionally they ask questions about the source, etc., but that's it. I don't have to fax them pages about me or the shows in question. Or submit blood samples or a valid driver's licence. Catch up to the times, please.

*steps off soap box*

Yes, for the main photo submissions on IMBb.com, you have to pay $35, unless you are a close relative of the person in question. Then "the first one is free," but all subsequent pages aren't.

I too wish IBDb.com would work a little harder to make the navigation and information more "viewer friendly"... but their audience is far less that their movie counterpart. And maybe they just can't afford to hire the necessary people to run and maintain it properly. I would think producers and theatrical organizations might help maintain it financially. If it were set up as a networking and "connecting" entity the way IMDB.com was, they might be able to charge for premium memberships as well.