THE BOO BOX

posted by James Reel

In the Wall Street Journal, Terry Teachout offers this proposal for audiences wishing to express themselves more assertively in this era of obligatory standing ovations:

I came up with a substitute that I call "The Silent Boo." Since many theater companies now encourage playgoers to recycle their programs, why not place two transparent recycling containers in the lobby after the show, one marked CHEERS and the other JEERS? That strikes me as a neat and practical method of reaping the benefits of booing while simultaneously minimizing its incivility. Wouldn't your emotional investment in a performance be heightened if you could "vote" on its merits in a simple and convenient manner that was easily visible both to the performers and to your fellow audience members?

A think a better start, though, would be banning standing ovations for all but the most orgasmic performances. Audience response should be allowed more nuance than this mindless and insincere enthusiasm allows.

TICKETMASTER: SORDID DETAILS

posted by James Reel

Douglas McLennan has looked into the gaping maw of Ticketmaster and its proposed merger with another company, and reports what he has found here. This is what interests me the most:

TM's fees are exorbitantly high not because it costs so much to process ticket orders, but because the company kicks back money to venues in return for exclusive deals to sell tickets. These payments can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the company recoups them by charging the consumer higher fees on ticket transactions, claiming the kickbacks as a cost of doing business. The practice effectively cuts out competitors from selling at these venues. The company defends the practice saying it provides added revenue to concert facilities. The practice has ensured that TM maintains its hold on the ticket sale business.