Official Kickstarter to get Spring Awakening to perform on the Tonys- Page 5

[seahag2]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 1:54pm

NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "Seriously, how is this any different from any other show asking the public to pay for their performance?

 

"

When has a show asked the public to help fund its Tony appearance? Not trying to be snarky, genuinely curious if something like this has happened and how it turned out.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 1:56pm

As far as I know, nobody has tried to crowdfund their Tony performance before. Probably because it's ridiculous.

"This is a commercial Broadway production whose producers are hiding behind a non-profit to ask the public to generously donate as an excuse to cut the losses on footing the bill for a nationally televised performance."

Precisely.

Updated On: 5/25/16 at 01:56 PM

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 1:58pm

seahag2 said: "NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "Seriously, how is this any different from any other show asking the public to pay for their performance?"

When has a show asked the public to help fund its Tony appearance? Not trying to be snarky, genuinely curious if something like this has happened and how it turned out"

I don't know that any other show has which is what I was addressing. It's absolutely ridiculous that this funding campaign exists. I imagine some donors are superfans who wouldn't care either way but some are being manipulated and certainly wouldn't donate if Shuffle Along or Bright Star asked for money. As Kad said, it's a commercial production masquerading as a charity case.

[seahag2]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:04pm

NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "seahag2 said: "NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "Seriously, how is this any different from any other show asking the public to pay for their performance?"

When has a show asked the public to help fund its Tony appearance? Not trying to be snarky, genuinely curious if something like this has happened and how it turned out"

I don't know that any other show has which is what I was addressing. It's absolutely ridiculous that this funding campaign exists. I imagine some donors are superfans who wouldn't care either way but some are being manipulated and certainly wouldn't donate if Shuffle Along or Bright Star asked for money. As Kad said, it's a commercial production masquerading as a charity case.

 

"

Sorry, completely misread your post. I can kind of see the justification behind it. It's a show that closed months ago so they have no reason to spend the money at the Tonys in hopes of boosting ticket sales. They want to be at the Tonys so they can share accessible and innovative theatre. I think that's a great reason to perform on national television! But what gets me is that it feels like the producers want us to reimburse them. The Tony performance should be an investment they are willing to spend without crowdfunding simply because they want to show the world what inclusive theatre can look like.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:05pm

Right, that's exactly the problem. They want to have their cake and eat it too-- they want this but not enough to pay for it themselves.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:11pm

I can imagine a scenario whereby, following the nomination, Arden and the company asked if there wasn't some way they could financially swing an appearance on the telecast.  Davenport has said that he and the other producers could not fund it so Deaf West went back to what had previously worked for them - Kickstarter.  And while Davenport is supporting their efforts, I'm not sure how that qualifies as "hiding behind a non-profit," as Kad opined.  Of course, as others have said, the logistics make no sense in terms of the timing and it may well have already been underwritten.  Personally I'd love to see them get a spot on the show to showcase the unique work that DW does.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:15pm

"And while Davenport is supporting their efforts, I'm not sure how that qualifies as "hiding behind a non-profit,""

 

It's hiding behind a non profit because they're saying your donation to a commercial enterprise on a national TV show is tax deductible. You see the problem here?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:15pm

Because, Wilmingtom, it's a pack of lies. Someone had put up the money, and that someone has to be paid back. Those wire transfers would have been required a while back. Whether it is the production or not is irrelevant. 

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:28pm

The donation is being made to the non-profit theater company with complete transparency as to what they intend to spend it on.  There's nothing untoward about that.  Hogan, I suspect you're correct - I said as much in my post - and it may have been better had they said we have an angel who's agreed to foot the bill and we'd like to pay them back.  Not quite as effective in terms of launching a fundraising campaign.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:29pm

"The donation is being made to the non-profit theater company with complete transparency as to what they intend to spend it on."


The second half of that sentence, yes. The first part? No.

[AnnieBlack]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:29pm

Curious, has anyone seen the show announced on any touring theaters 2016-17 schedule? 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:30pm

I think we discussed this earlier in the thread, but how are they going to mount a tour when they can't afford to mount a Tony performance? There won't be a tour.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:34pm

I think this revival was stellar and I would love to see it perform on the Tonys.

But, given the details and timeline, framing this as a donation to a (very worthy) non-profit seems misleading. This looks like a situation in which the thing being Kickstarted is already financed, and all the money raised is going to pay that back. So, yes, technically it is a donation to Deaf West. But it's not money that Deaf West is actually seeing, it's money being used to pay back potentially commercial entities.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:35pm

Neon, when you call DW to make a donation, or submit it on their site, where do you think the money goes if not to them?

[Kad]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:39pm

The issue I have- and what I suppose others have- is that this is being framed as "a little theatre company that could" narrative when it's really "repay commercial producers who really believe in this project but have deemed it not fiscally responsible to foot this bill so they will take your money."

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:40pm

Kad said: "I think this revival was stellar and I would love to see it perform on the Tonys.

But, given the details and timeline, framing this as a donation to a (very worthy) non-profit seems misleading. This looks like a situation in which the thing being Kickstarted is already financed, and all the money raised is going to pay that back. So, yes, technically it is a donation to Deaf West. But it's not money that Deaf West is actually seeing, it's money being used to pay back potentially commercial entities."

Exactly. And while it is arguable that having a performance in such a national spotlight would bring more inclusive theatre to a wider audience, the money wouldn't actually be helping to provide anything for the actual company in a measurable way. Sure, exposure is important, but the money isn't providing services for anyone- it's just a big advertisement. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:43pm

Wilmingtom said: "Neon, when you call DW to make a donation, or submit it on their site, where do you think the money goes if not to them?"

 

I don't understand what you aren't getting. Money donated directly to Deaf West DOES go to them. This Kickstarter DOES NOT.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:43pm

It looks like they are making 22,000 a day. So if they keep that rate going, they'll make the money in no time.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:48pm

Any ideas what happens if/when this Kickstarter is overfunded?

[Valentina3]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:56pm

Kickstarters can avoid overfunding by putting a limit on each possible donation value. i think once they hit $200,000, the campaign will close.

 

Pledge $350 or more

 12 backers - All gone!

 

Pledge $1,000 or more

 1 backer - Limited (2 left of 3)

 

Updated On: 5/25/16 at 02:56 PM

[seahag2]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:56pm

And any idea what happens if they don't reach the goal? The cast will still perform on tv, they can't back out I'm guessing.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:58pm

Kad, while I understand your well-taken points, I don't begrudge DW for trying to reimburse whoever agreed to bankroll their appearance.  I believe their efforts are sincere.

[GreenSharpie]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:59pm

neonlightsxo said: "Wilmingtom said: "Neon, when you call DW to make a donation, or submit it on their site, where do you think the money goes if not to them?"

I don't understand what you aren't getting. Money donated directly to Deaf West DOES go to them. This Kickstarter DOES NOT."

This Kickstarter is attached to the Deaf West Theater account, which means it's attached to them financially. The money is going directly to them. Even if someone (or many people) fronted the bills for the performance, if they are getting paid back by Deaf West that means ultimately the money is coming from Deaf West, and someone was willing to help them out in the interim.

This is not Lion King or Spongebob the Musical, this is a tough sell and does not easily rake in the big bucks, but it is a beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime production. Maybe it needs to be slightly subsidized compared to other shows. It's important and has touched many people, and some are more than willing to pitch in a little bit (or a lot for those who easily can) to something they believe is an important cause worth further promoting on national television. It would be a shame if they were the only show nominated for Best Revival of a Musical that could not perform because they can't afford it. If fans think it's worth footing the bill, let them do it- it's their money. Earlier this year a gentleman subsidized the Spring Awakening lottery to give all of the winners free tickets, and that was just because he loved this show and wanted to share it with people who couldn't afford it.

Yes, Ken Davenport has very iffy Marketing tactics that I think he definitely needs to work on, agreed.

But in the end of the day as I see it this particular cause is for Deaf West.

Updated On: 5/25/16 at 02:59 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 3:01pm

seahag2 said: "And any idea what happens if they don't reach the goal? The cast will still perform on tv, they can't back out I'm guessing"

 

Nothing will happen.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 3:04pm

Wilmingtom said: "Kad, while I understand your well-taken points, I don't begrudge DW for trying to reimburse whoever agreed to bankroll their appearance.  I believe their efforts are sincere."

I don't begrudge DW at all!

I begrudge Davenport et al who champion the company but have deemed supporting their Tony performance as fiscally irresponsible, yet have put up the money and left DW to Kickstart their reimbursement. And that's what this is: a crowdsourced reimbursement of (presumably) Davenport and the co-producers.

I think Davenport has to put his money where his mouth is instead of trying to pass off producing responsibilities to the public.