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.
www.pbentertainmentinc.com
BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"
Updated On: 8/31/04 at 09:17 PM