Increasingly Generic/Bland Quality of Broadway Artwork and Show Logos?- Page 2

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/30/18 at 1:53pm

FANtomFollies said: "Um no. There's no excuse for bad design."

Accepting that proposition as true, you are seemingly oblivious to what makes a design "good." In the context of someone who has millions of dollars on the line, the best design is the one that sells the most tickets. 

[jonah3500]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 5:19pm

Tootsie just redid their website for the new logo.

https://tootsiemusical.com/

AKA also did a strange redesign of the Be More Chill website.

https://bemorechillmusical.com/

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 5:48pm

The be more chill artwork reminds me of a more fleshed out Nerds artwork

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 12:49am

I must say that my favorite right now is THE BAND'S VISIT.  Something about the earth tones. When passing the theater I stop just to look at the marquee.

I also loved CURIOUS INCIDENT's artwork. I even bought the ballcap. It was just simple but cool..

Also loved the CAROLINE OR CHANGE  logo with her smoking the cigarette.

My all time favorite is THE WIZ.

 

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 1:03am

am I missing something? how is the logo in #26 different from #1?

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 3:12am

HogansHero said: "the starting point, from the producer's standpoint, is simple: what sells tickets? Pretty artwork, we know, does not. Busy art work does not. Images that catch random attention in theimage assaultthat is the theatre district do. There is also a difference between the function of established images and aborning ones. AKA and the producers who engage them do not need backseat drivers."

I don't think the point is that artwork should be more complicated or prettier. But attractive and eye-catching can go together. I agree that the artwork for the Les Mis era of West End musicals became iconic as those shows grew in popularity. But I think there are some shows like The Lion King and Wicked that go for something that makes an immediate impression. Kinky Boots has less "art" but it makes a strong impact.

Tootsie confuses me because the font is similar to the original movie poster but less distinctive so all you have is the name. Maybe they didn't want to use Santino's face like on the website but glasses, some glitter, something referencing the soap opera? I don't know if you just want to bet on people remembering the movie when the title of the show is a name. Even Amelie and Gigi tried a little harder. 

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 7:59am

I feel like its not much of a question of, are the logos/artwork declining, but its the fact that show art isn't what its needed for. As we enter into this era where social media and word of mouth is the best marketing tools, does it really matter what the marquee or poster look like? I don't think so. I think that a lot of Broadway artwork could be better, but I feel like its not used the way the cracked head for Follies was used, or the eyes for Cats. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 8:35am

fashionguru_23 said: "I feel like its not much of a question of, are the logos/artwork declining, but its the fact that show art isn't what its needed for. As we enter into this era where social media and word of mouth is the best marketing tools, does it really matter what the marquee or poster look like? I don't think so. I think that a lot of Broadway artwork could be better, but I feel like its not used the way the cracked head for Follies was used, or the eyes for Cats."

Since a lot of Broadway musicals are adapted from well-known movies or books, I can see how the marquee/poster won't really matter. 

For original works, however, I think it does matter (of course word of mouth matters more.) I loved Bright Star a few years ago but I felt the logo/poster didn't represent it well or didn't really draw people to watch it. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 9:16am

fashionguru_23 said: "I feel like its not much of a question of, are the logos/artwork declining, but its the fact that show art isn't what its needed for. As we enter into this era where social media and word of mouth is the best marketing tools, does it really matter what the marquee or poster look like? I don't think so. I think that a lot of Broadway artwork could be better, but I feel like its not used the way the cracked head for Follies was used, or the eyes for Cats."

In the words of one of the producing geniuses of Broadway, everything matters. Marquees (and posters/billboards etc) sell a lot of tickets because a lot of people walk around times square and see them while they are trying to figure out what they are going to do during their visit to New York. And these people have no idea what's playing, nor are they locked in to Broadway social media. Producers do not expend small fortunes on these campaigns because they waste precious marketing dollars. (For that we have print ads.) And the familiarity of a title from a movie etc does not change this dynamic. As I have said, it's the "Oh, I didn't know they had made Tootsie into a musical" impact one is looking for. Marketing is not a craft for the ego-centric. You have to get out of your own head. No one on this board is the target of marquees and posters.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 9:41am

fashionguru_23 said: "I feel like its not much of a question of, are the logos/artwork declining, but its the fact that show art isn't what its needed for. As we enter into this era where social media and word of mouth is the best marketing tools, does it really matter what the marquee or poster look like? I don't think so. I think that a lot of Broadway artwork could be better, but I feel like its not used the way the cracked head for Follies was used, or the eyes for Cats."

Social media hasn't negated the need for a well designed logo, poster, marquee, etc. Look at how many of the social media posts by the average theatre goer that are providing that free advertising are photos of the marquee, the Playbill, the merchandise, etc.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 9:44am

HogansHero said: "fashionguru_23 said: "I feel like its not much of a question of, are the logos/artwork declining, but its the fact that show art isn't what its needed for. As we enter into this era where social media and word of mouth is the best marketing tools, does it really matter what the marquee or poster look like? I don't think so. I think that a lot of Broadway artwork could be better, but I feel like its not used the way the cracked head for Follies was used, or the eyes for Cats."

In the words of one of the producing geniuses of Broadway, everything matters. Marquees (and posters/billboards etc) sell a lot of tickets because a lot of people walk around times square and see them while they are trying to figure out what they are going to do during their visit to New York. And these people have no idea what's playing, nor are they locked in to Broadway social media. Producers do not expend small fortunes on these campaigns because they waste precious marketing dollars. (For that we have print ads.) And the familiarity of a title from a movie etc does not change this dynamic. As I have said, it's the "Oh, I didn't know they had made Tootsie into a musical" impact one is looking for. Marketing is not a craft for the ego-centric. You have to get out of your own head. No one on this board is the target of marquees and posters."

You had me until "You have to get out of your own head". But, I will agree when you say that no one on this board is the target for things. In that regard, I can retract some of what I said. Thinking through a more general mindset, I can see how some of today's marketing can reflect what the message the producers are trying to send theatregoers. 

I feel like an interesting conversation can be had with Broadway shows that are adaptations of popular films, or commonly known franchises. In the case of the Disney shows, you know what they show is, by just the art. No title is needed...but that is ramble that we could debate further...although, I don't care to. I will say I loved these features in the NY Times about the artwork of a show, and all the drafts. I remember a Wicked, and La Cage (2005). I can find the Frozen one here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/theater/heres-the-new-frozen-musical-poster-and-seven-that-didnt-make-the-cut.html

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 10:06am

@fashionguru I think you took the "your own head" thing in an unintended way. I was referring to one who is working on marketing, not you personally. I guess I should have said "one has to get out of their own head." 

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 10:40am

HogansHero said: "@fashionguru I think you took the "your own head" thing in an unintended way. I was referring to one who is working on marketing, not you personally. I guess I should have said "one has to get out of their own head." "

Sorry! I have such a defence on these boards some times...I apologize. My mistake. But now, I know 100% what you mean, about getting out of "one's head".