File puptcrit/puptcrit.0712, message 94


From: "Mark S. Segal" <segalpuppets-AT-comcast.net>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:54:19 -0500
Subject: [Puptcrit] audiences


I love my audiences! Don't always like them :) but where would any of us be
without them???????????????

Now well over 90% of my audiences fall into the 3-8 range. I go to them they
don't come to me.

Have a couple of  thoughts of how to deal with an audience which I'd like to
share.

But nothing is ever set in stone......one thing that is possible is that WE
are the first exposure a child has to a live theatre experience.

The biggest problem I always face are the Teachers, their prejudices and
sometimes lack of good manners or sense, this is usually found (but not
always) in younger ones or of course poorly paid or treated ones. But I have
also found the way the head is (the director or the principal) so follows
the body (the staff).
I believe that there are no bad audiences. They are a group that have needs
to be met. The performer's job is to meet those needs. To flex to meet those
needs.
Now sometimes you may not want to think about that, sometimes it is take the
money and run, sometimes you just can't find the way and/or you just don't
want to.
Sometimes inappropriate people are brought to my show, as Bob Nathanson
might say the neoborns! Or 2 years olds or youngsters that can't follow
anything yet!
I do suggest before we start that any crying child be taken out of the
space.

BUT I also insist that younger children (any one under 3 ) are put in the
back. ( Also anyone who does not want to participate as an audience member)
This is something that literally took me 20 years to learn! As long as there
is space between children they can see just fine.

I send a pre letter to all locations explaining how to set -up the audience
and what is required (from me) for a successful experience. Sometimes it is
read and shared and sometimes not.

Nancy Cole in her book "Puppet Theatre in Performance" mentioned knowing
your audience. This is what I think it is about knowing what you are facing
and how to deal with that.

Once long ago watched a show that I directed in a situation that I and the
performers knew well. What was learned was that sometimes you have to play
just for the core group that is in front of you PERIOD. That of course is
very rarely satisfying for us as performers.

I believe that attention spans are getting shorter...but also noticed that
at festivals no matter what I looked at my watch around the 20 minute mark.
So now incorporate some kind of change or break at that point in my shows.

We can decry the difficulties faced, but excuse the expression this is like
"pissing the wind"
It is what it is and it becomes just another thing for performers or
management to learn to deal with in affective fashions.

Mark S.


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