|
|
Post by manchestertheatrefan on Mar 12, 2024 19:05:46 GMT
I suppose this invites an interesting question. Could you argue that the opinion from those who have paid for tickets is of greater worth as they have no obligations? Maybe. I think greater clarity is definitely needed to allow people to draw their own conclusions based on if they paid to see the show or not. 'Celebs' have to clearly mark posts where the item / service they are discussing has been gifted or is an ad to create transparency - why should influencers and bloggers be any different when they get a free ticket and the occasional goodie bag? |
|
|
|
Post by criticalprole on Mar 12, 2024 19:37:49 GMT
Maybe I’m being cynical today…but can anyone claim to be a reviewer and get gifted tickets? 🤔 Yes and no. Anyone can do it, but it's about their reach and budget vs your clout.
They are a bunch of folk who do this for the Edinburgh Fringe, and run a website that's mostly fringe reviews. Some of these are pretty small, but it's the Ed Fringe; getting anyone to help promote your show helps. There's one chap who just does one sentence reviews on a special Facebook page (it has 2000 followers) and hand's out their own awards. They go around attending as many shows as they can get into, and it works. Good for them.
So in my case, I do occasionally get complmentary tickets for a show (I write for a pop-culture website that also does a print edition). Either the PR contacts me or I contact the PR, we have a chat, I agree to do the review, the magazine might agree to pay my travel (this rarely happens) and then I write the review. If the magazine thinks I'm not being impartial, they'll stop using me, as their reputation and clout is very important. Editorial might pull a review for any reason. I might decline to do the review. This is tough on the show, but it happens. Conversely I might just show up, pay on the door, say nothing and write a review. In neither case will I mention in the review how I got the ticket, unless it's relevant to the review. ( Such as "it's a kid's only show, and as an adult I was given special permission.)
Like many publications, the bit about 'if you send us something, that's nice, we're under no obligation to do anything about it is under the T&Cs. It's different for influencers because they tend to be one person with a microphone and platform. But they might just shove their review policy on their website, and point you at that. Or they might decide it's worth getting into a fight with the CMA/ASA (it's not) .
Gifted is not the right word - if you're being given tickets in the hope of an exchange of something, that's not a really a gift.
TLDR: Yes, but if you're a shill or sh*t at it, you won't go far. Though exceptions exist.
|
|
|
|
Post by backtothetheatre on Apr 24, 2024 10:09:16 GMT
|
|
1,098 posts
|
Post by theatrefan62 on Apr 24, 2024 12:45:18 GMT
So do his 'clique' of vloggers/bloggers. Ridiculous though as I think it was mentioned here before then anyway (which is probably where he got it from). Anyway it's always cringe when people do 'I told you so's' people learn who and who isn't reliable over time without you needing to do a smug brag about it. |
|
1,265 posts
|
Post by mkb on Apr 24, 2024 12:58:03 GMT
Maybe I’m being cynical today…but can anyone claim to be a reviewer and get gifted tickets? 🤔 I don't really understand the motivation of any amateur lover of theatre to avoid paying for what they go to see. We all enjoy the occasional special offer and discounts -- some publicly available, some part of membership schemes, and some through seat-filling services -- but trying to get free tickets in return for a review? That lacks class in my humble opinion. Don't get me wrong. I have little time for theatres claiming to be charities and begging for money. They are businesses, and I support them by paying for my tickets and membership fees at the going rate. |
|
