Share your unpopular opinions here!

I can't stand J K Rowling.

I think for me the issue is that they see to be taking precedence over new, original material at the moment, the mainstream film and tv makers and book publishers commissioning them as safe bets rather than developing new material from living writers and creatives. And yet when something does come from leftfield, it proves popular - look at word-of-mouth successes from new writers like This County, low budget and tucked away on bbc3, and the indie film God's Own Country.

Madonna is possibly the worst singer ever to grace the charts.

That said, she puts on a damn good show that helps you forget the fact she is actually terrible.

See, I’m the opposite on that. Vocally yes she’s below average (now she is but once upon a time she was perfectly fine). Madonna’s back catalogue of songs is astounding in quality and she’s undoubtedly one of the greatest recording stars for a couple of generations of people. Just think she was only 7-8 years into her career when The Immaculate Collection was released and she even had to leave out #1 hits to fill the CD. Her shows on the other hand are horrendous and from my eye she has zero stage presence.

To follow on from that, Beyonce is a fantastic live performer, but I would be hesitant to ever call her a living legend because she has barely any memorable hit songs. She’s been around for 20 years including Destiny’s Child and I can’t think of a single song so far that could possibly become some kind of future standard that new generations will be covering and playing for years to come.

Hmmm, OK. That's an interesting view.
Thanks.

It was indeed awful. Not sure how unpopular that opinion’s will prove to be though!

Oh Christ is he back again? Someone also needs to start a 'Set Michael Ball free' campaign...I quite like the chubby cheeked Balls, but I've gone right off him since he's been joined at the hip with the Boe. 

Yes, my heart sunk when on a cruise lately when it was announced there were 540 kids on board. When waiting for a performance in one of the lounges on a couple of nights a member of the staff had to make announcements every 5 minutes for the kids to get off the stage. The little darlings were being ignored by their parents. Related to this P and O whose ship it was run nurseries up to 2am! That is parents abdicating responsibility in my opinion.

I absolutely loathe, detest and can NOT bear Brian Blessed.

I do love the fact that every time he's mentioned on TV Tropes his name is in capital letters.

Brian Blessed was outstanding in I, Claudius

But…



What papering companies do, has to be ‘secret’?



Producers wouldn’t go near them if they advertised how cheap some seats go for. It’s upto producers to decide whether to engage them and I believe even subsidised theatre's have done this on occasions.



Producers do it mainly because those who pay to go to the theatre, enjoy it more if the place isn’t half empty. Arguably actors perform better when there are enough in the audience to give them something back. And it can help a show survive with good word of mouth during a lull or until a new cast arrives. Really its just another marketing tool.


I have heard of occasions where its to ensure a full house when they know a VIP will be attending.


If someone who gets a papered ticket is overhead announcing it out loud in the Theatre, then they will have been told that they can expect to lose their membership. They really are  spoilers.





To declare my interest I have received the odd ticket for next to nothing, via such a company. I am also sure I’ve paid top whack sitting close to someone who’s been papered. But I don’t know at which shows and I doubt its been often.

One final point.  I dont think these qualify as a "secretive club" not open to all. They would love to advertise and gain new members, but that would defeat the object. I'm sure with a little use of Google you 'll find out who the players are.