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Post by thecaptain on Oct 3, 2022 1:14:28 GMT
Evening all, first time poster here...  I'm just back from debuting our own musical, and have a question. I'm curious to know if folks here have experience with pay to watch online services for musicals? Meaning for example, a recorded musical theatre performance that people can pay to watch for a limited time.. I welcome thoughts/advice.. Cheers, Rich |
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 3, 2022 7:47:19 GMT
Rich,
Firstly, welcome to the board.
Personally, I am not a fan of streaming/on-demand services. I'm just not.
That said, I guess it depends on the musical and how well it's been captured on film.
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Post by andrew on Oct 3, 2022 8:52:37 GMT
I hugely support the idea of shows that have closed being recorded for release in any form, be that for purchase or for streaming. NTLive and the like are amazing but if you become interested in seeing something at a later date, or are a younger person who wasn't around 10 years ago to see something that does not help you one bit. We should always prioritise the live experience of theatre, but once it's gone anyway I think it's hugely beneficial to be able to leave some version of that experience for future reference, and not just tucked away in an archive. If that ends up being through Netflix or through a specific theatre streaming service, that's fine by me.
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8,156 posts
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Post by alece10 on Oct 3, 2022 9:03:37 GMT
I used to have Digital Theatre years ago and bought a copy of Into The Woods, then they changed rhein policy and made it a monthly rental scheme so, although inhad already purchased the show, I had to pay a monthly subscription to watch it. So I stopped.
I've not paid for any others as I prefer seeing things live when I can. They are never as good streamed.
I watched a few things during lockdowns but they were all free to air.
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Post by sph on Oct 3, 2022 12:52:52 GMT
I quite like the idea of great productions being preserved in a more viewer-friendly recording than the usual archival ones with a static camera. Not only does it prevent a particularly good show being lost to history, but it also makes it accessible to those who live a long way from the actual show's location.
I still have fond memories of discovering the Angela Lansbury production of Sweeney Todd as a teenager!
Would a streaming service work while a show is still running? I can see why producers might be hesitant. It may look like something that would put off actual ticket sales. On the other hand it may increase revenue for the show by bringing in additional viewers.
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Post by og on Oct 3, 2022 15:47:30 GMT
All for it. My work schedule means I don't always get the chance to see what I'd like. Multiple trips to NYC are not cost effective (nor do I fancy getting shot). So the opportunity to stream theatre (mostly musicals) to the home is an amazing perk of technology that I try to take advantage of.
Experience with (though it maybe of interest that non are limited to musical theatre):
NTLive
BroadwayHD
Digital Theatre
Stream Theatre
Along with the provisions direct from theatres such as Leicester Curve (Sunset Boulevard, Color Purple), Home Mill theatre (Rent), Opera North etc.
Not forgetting the plentiful additions on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and even BBC's iPlayer.
There were a couple of services that popped up during lockdown that went quiet pretty quickly, I think because their selection was limited and fairly low profile.
That said, what streaming theatre does is expose the piece for all its vulnerabilities. You loose the atmosphere of not being with an audience in a theatre, so the product needs to be seamless and of a high standard to work. I've watched a few new shows that I lost interest in quickly, because it all felt a bit am dram. Im sure I'd have enjoyed them in theatre, but on the sofa, it's far easier to switch off, both mentally and physically.
So if you're looking for advice; make sure the performance is good, make sure the recording is good and make sure the platform is good. Don't skimp on any area. A Locked off camera at the back is more likely to do more damage to the reputation than not distributing a recording.
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Post by thecaptain on Oct 3, 2022 20:13:01 GMT
Thanks all for the feedback, I thought I was subscribed to the thread, so didn't see the replies until now.
I probably should have sought out a technically oriented forum, as my question I suppose, is a technical one relating to configuring streaming video..but some great reading nonetheless.
Kind thanks all!
Rich
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7,183 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 3, 2022 20:20:44 GMT
I quite like the idea of great productions being preserved in a more viewer-friendly recording than the usual archival ones with a static camera. Not only does it prevent a particularly good show being lost to history, but it also makes it accessible to those who live a long way from the actual show's location. I still have fond memories of discovering the Angela Lansbury production of Sweeney Todd as a teenager! Would a streaming service work while a show is still running? I can see why producers might be hesitant. It may look like something that would put off actual ticket sales. On the other hand it may increase revenue for the show by bringing in additional viewers. I think the NT at Home approach is the best compromise is that a streamed version isn't available until the show is closed for a few months and if something was really successful then they hold off releasing a streamed version while the live version is still viable. I suspect theatre owners with a successful show probably would veto a show being streamed unless they got a cut of the revenues. |
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