The Shills Go 'Round- Page 2

[ponine24601]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 3:00pm

guys, why do there have to be so many 'hate' threads about broadway shows? it's stupid. if you don't like it, that's your problem.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 3:02pm

Thanks, CurtainUp2, but it's just that when there's something I believe in, I'm not just going to sit around when people are accusing people that love the show to be shills. Glad you're excited for the show, and so am I.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 3:05pm

CurtainUp...there are people on the board who believe that anyone who posts questions about or a liking for a show is a 'shill' and is trying to build an audience.

The idea that anyone here would think that their post on this board would significantly impact ticket sales is just silly.

If you like a show, feel free to talk about it. If they don't like the show, they should just ignore the thread and not feel obligated to call you out as being a 'shill' I may be wrong but I thought these boards were for people who love theater...not for those who want to tear it down or tear others down who might like a show they don't like.

Art is, after all, subjective...and that's what makes it so great.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 4:20pm

That has always been my point SamIAm. I, personally, make fun of the shills and the producers that hire them to post on this or any other message board, because it is truly, laugh out loud foolish to think it will have ANY impact (negative or positive), on what happens to a show and/or the people involved in the show. It's the psychosis that sites like All that "crap" suffer from. It make no difference, as no one outside of the hard-core theater community knows or even cares. As "famous" as Sutton Foster, or Menzel might be to the fans on this board, trust me, they are not household names in Nebraska. Same thing with a show like Brooklyn opening up. No one outside of the tri-state area is all that hyper aware of it's existence, nor are they anticipating it, in any way.

[Brooklyn Bound]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 4:36pm

Al Dente, you have said it all, and eloquently I might add.
On that note, let's just close this thread once and for all.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 5:04pm

I couldn't agree more!

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:10pm

This thread will not end and will contuinue to educate those who are not informed about shilling.

It's great to be a fan of a show. It's great that you like it. But we don't need to hear about it 22 times. And not when you post links to important articles about the show. And not when we're provided with the TeleCharge number to order tickets.

Shills take advantage of the good nature of theater people. They pose as innocent members who just want to "enlighten" us about a certain show. However, they are anything but innocent. They are being PAID and even directed to shill for the show that the PR company they WORK for represents. It is disgusting and unprofessional to take advantage of the good nature of members.

Shills are pathetic and an insult to people on this board. Members can spot them a mile away. There's already been one member who joined us a couple of days ago and his first post? An enlightening link to "BKLYN". Wow...how kind! And we haven't herad from them since. And guess what.....probably won't.

That's the ultimate insult.

More cheese?

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 08:10 PM

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:20pm

Al Dente, Denver isn't in the tri-state, and they loved the show.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:23pm

Wow.

The whole state of Denver loved the show? That must have been a large theater.

And just to refresh your PR memory...the reviews were all not glowing or all favorable.

But then...I suspect you'll be posting a link to all of them any minute now.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:53pm

Ah yes the state of Denver.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Conneticut
Delaware
Denver
Florida
Georgia

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 08:53 PM

[SMiller]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:17pm

Tuttle,

What is the other board?

SM

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:17pm

So do you know who these so -called "shills" are for a fact? Can you prove that they are paid by someone connected to a production/event they are promoting/ "shilling"? ...whether it be monetarily or in tickets, favors, etc?

Is it because of their "tone" of excitment or manner of presention of a post or perhaps that they post a direct link to a show site or ticketing? Is that proof enough? Seems a little bit like a guessing game to me. Without proof it's just empty complaining on an assumption.

Am I a shill? or a "supporter"? if I express my support for someone else's opportunity. Does the fact that I may know people in this business make me automatically "shill guilty" for publically supporting my theater friends? If they're not my clients am I a shill for expressing excitiment for others in the business?

While, I agree it is a cheap shot for "paid" staff members or promotors to "raid the boards" incognito with the intent to promote ...but your're not gonna stop it. Shoot! You can't even confirm it. You're not gonna catch them and as mentioned, they IN FACT have little to do with the success or failure of a show. They only insult those gullible enough to beleive them or stupid enough to complain about them.

So what's the point in hunting what you can't catch and accusing what you can't confirm. Just chalk it up to unethical tatics and move on. It's part of the business... it's called PRESS.

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 09:17 PM

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:19pm

LETS TORCH HIS HOUSE!!!!! SHILL!!!!

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:22pm

Well, since you insist on continuing this discussion... I've never been paid by any group or organization to act as a "shill" for them. But since you're apparently so knowledgeable about this practice, and since I'm currently unemployed, perhaps you could tell me how I can go about volunteering for such an assignment. Sounds like easy money to me!

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 09:22 PM

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:37pm

HE'S THE DEVIL! GET HIM! LYNCH HIM! SHILL! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:40pm

Shameless shilling for free!!

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:44pm

Yes, yes... I know... shilling for bupkus. How low can you get?

In fact, I think I'll start a new thread.
What shows would you be willing to shill for for free?

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 10:44 PM

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:48pm

THE CRUCIBLE!!!! YOU SHOULD KNOW!!! YOU ARE A WITCH DOCTOR OF THE SHILL WORLD!

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:13pm

That's me! Dr. Shilldaire.

There's no business like Shill business!
On a clear day, I can Shill forever.
Don't Shill on my parade!
Don't Shill for me Argentina!
What I did for Shill.
And I am telling you I'm not Shilling!
I am what I Shill!
I could have Shilled all night!

Updated On: 9/1/04 at 11:13 PM

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:26pm

Just give it up. People are allowed to like a show that doesn't get all wonderful reviews. Just look at Wicked. And Dracula, some people like that. Just... if you like it, wonderful. Enjoy it, spread the word, because it might just be a great show and maybe these so called "shills" are actually being kind and thinking about others (so rare, I know) and letting other people in on a great new show. Maybe, just maybe. Does it really matter? All you could have said was "stop advertising for Brooklyn." What is this thread getting us? It doesn't matter.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 8:37am

Most of you are missing the point, *my* point, at least. No amount of shilling, paid for, or otherwise, is going to make even the most miniscule difference in ticket sales, or popularity, outside of this board. That's all I'm saying. It's a waste of time for the shills and a waste of money, if it's actually being paid for. Nuff said!

[SamIAm]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 9:06am

Al Dente, I'm not sure what makes you think that anyone is being paid to shill on the boards, though I did get your original point about this.

As I said, the idea that anyone would spend their money to pay someone to shill to such a small audience in such an out of the way place as to have NO influence on the traffic to a show is a bit silly (So...CurtainUp...I'm sorry to say, you'll have to find other employment)

That is exactly why I have answered people in the past to say that their claims of shills are silly. If someone is hammering on a show and posting threads left and right about it...it may be annoying and it may mean that they have lost their perspective and are living in a 'wicked world' or a 'bombay dream' but it doesn't mean they are a 'shill' in the true sense of the word. Can them a fanatic if you will...that might apply.

:)

[jayem1968]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 9:11am

Just pay attention to who is NOT posting on this thread....you'll get the picture.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:42am

Now I'm supposed to pay attention to whose NOT posting messages to determine whose a shill??? Why that's down right shilly!!!

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 10:53am

Now everyone let's all settle down and talk about something else, like Tale of Two Cities the most awemazingly splendiferous show to ever grace a stage! IT IS FANTABULOUS YOU MUST SEE IT WHEN IT GETS TO BROADWAY! My opinion on the difference between a shill and a fan of the show has to do if they only post once or twice about a show then disappear. (Also usually completely in CAPS) In my case, my goal is not to make people believe anything about A Tale of Two Cities. I just want to get the word out about it because very few people are even aware of its existence. I only want people to know about it because I believe it speaks for itself as any good piece of theatre does. (Waiting to get flamed.)

Updated On: 9/1/04 at 10:53 AM