One of the most fun and most productive events we had this year was our “Take Charge of Your ’21” Challenge in January. Over 500 TheaterMakers joined us to hear tips and strategies on how to have your best year yet from super successful people in the business. We learned how to crush writer’s block, how to squeeze a few more hours into each day for your REAL work (not that day job work), how to increase your confidence . . . and more. We got such great feedback on this free event that we...

One of the most fun and most productive events we had this year was our “Take Charge of Your ’21” Challenge in January. Over 500 TheaterMakers joined us to hear tips and strategies on how to have your best year yet from super successful people in the business. We learned how to crush writer’s block, how to squeeze a few more hours into each day for your REAL work (not that day job work), how to increase your confidence . . . and more. We got such great feedback on this free event that we...

One of the most fun and most productive events we had this year was our “Take Charge of Your ’21” Challenge in January. Over 500 TheaterMakers joined us to hear tips and strategies on how to have your best year yet from super successful people in the business. We learned how to crush writer’s block, how to squeeze a few more hours into each day for your REAL work (not that day job work), how to increase your confidence . . . and more. We got such great feedback on this free event that we...

One of the most fun and most productive events we had this year was our “Take Charge of Your ’21” Challenge in January. Over 500 TheaterMakers joined us to hear tips and strategies on how to have your best year yet from super successful people in the business. We learned how to crush writer’s block, how to squeeze a few more hours into each day for your REAL work (not that day job work), how to increase your confidence . . . and more. We got such great feedback on this free event that we...

One of the most fun and most productive events we had this year was our “Take Charge of Your ’21” Challenge in January. Over 500 TheaterMakers joined us to hear tips and strategies on how to have your best year yet from super successful people in the business. We learned how to crush writer’s block, how to squeeze a few more hours into each day for your REAL work (not that day job work), how to increase your confidence . . . and more. We got such great feedback on this free event that we...

One of the most fun and most productive events we had this year was our “Take Charge of Your ’21” Challenge in January. Over 500 TheaterMakers joined us to hear tips and strategies on how to have your best year yet from super successful people in the business. We learned how to crush writer’s block, how to squeeze a few more hours into each day for your REAL work (not that day job work), how to increase your confidence . . . and more. We got such great feedback on this free event that we...

Thank you for listening to these conversations over the 6.5 years I've been hosting this podcast. We're not saying Goodbye . . . just see ya later! Referenced in this episode: The TheaterMakers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theatermakersstudio Continue the conversation: www.instagram.com/kendavenportbway The Producer's Perspective: www.theproducersperspetive.com About the podcast: After 6 years of podcasting with one style, we're shaking it up here - no guests! Just me!...

About this episode: Before I crowdfunded Godspell, I had a thesis. “There are thousands of people out there who would love to invest in Broadway shows . . . they just don’t know how to do it, or who to talk to.” Sure enough, when we announced our plans for Godspell, thousands of leads poured in. In between placing all those return calls I remember thinking, “Huh, will you look at that . . . I got this one right.” Of course, not all those people invested (in the end we had about 750...

About this episode: This shutdown has lasted longer than we thought possible. And while we're (slowly) reopening now, a year and a half later, there are real reasons why our leadership waited. Listen to this 8-minute episode to find out what our advantage is to reopening. Referenced in this episode: The TheaterMakers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theatermakersstudio Continue the conversation: www.instagram.com/kendavenportbway The Producer's Perspective:...

Things have changed since May of 2020. Shoot, things have changed since yesterday! But since May of 2020, when I first posted my “What The Broadway Recovery Will Look Like” series? Well, dang it, can any of you have imagined that we’d only have one Broadway show running a year later? Not me. Not me. Now that we’ve been through the great theatrical drought of 2020 (thanks, Covid!), I thought it was time to revise my prediction. Because, in case I didn’t mention it. Things have...

I arrived in New York City during the Golden Age of Off-Broadway. Forever Plaid, Nunsense, And The World Goes Round, Cryptogram, Family Secrets, and more, were a few of the shows running in theaters under 499 seats . . . in commercial productions! And many actually recouped!   Referenced in this episode: The TheaterMakers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theatermakersstudio Continue the conversation: www.instagram.com/kendavenportbway The Producer's Perspective:...

At the beginning of the pandemic, I called everyone I knew for advice. I’m talking big time theater people, as well as big time business people. I got amazing advice. And it reminded me how important it was to ask for advice from others who are at places in their lives where you want to be. (And not just from a business “producer’s perspective” . . . but from a family perspective, a health perspective, a spiritual perspective, and more.) One of the best pieces of advice I got was . . . “Ken,...

If you've been following The Olympics this year, or if you're on the internet, you probably heard Simone Biles withdrew from an individual all-around gymnastics competition at the Tokyo Olympics in an effort to focus on her mental health and well-being, a decision which came one day after she removed herself from the team final. Tune into my personal reaction of this news and then how I believe we can apply this lesson to all of our lives as we look to reopen the live theater...

Remember infomercials? Late night shopping, 'as seen on TV' commercials? I discovered what worked with those commercials and how the most successful plays/musicals used a very similar technique. Referenced in this episode: The TheaterMakers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theatermakersstudio Continue the conversation: www.instagram.com/kendavenportbway The Producer's Perspective: www.theproducersperspetive.com About the podcast: After 6 years of podcasting with one style,...

In the early 2000s, I met with one of the most powerful people in Hollywood. We discussed the differences between the business models of theater and film. How Hollywood owned scripts instead of licensed them. How producers in Hollywood became hired guns after they proved themselves.   Referenced in this episode: The TheaterMakers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theatermakersstudio Continue the conversation: www.instagram.com/kendavenportbway The Producer's Perspective:...

I'm sharing what I believe to be the hardest part of creating a new musical or play . . . and how I've overcome that. And how you can apply this to YOUR process. Referenced in this episode: 30 Day Play Challenge: www.30DayPlayChallenge.com The TheaterMakers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theatermakersstudio Continue the conversation: www.instagram.com/kendavenportbway The Producer's Perspective: www.theproducersperspetive.com About the podcast: After 6 years of...

After watching one of the most recent NYC Mayoral debates this year, I realized one profession who has to raise more money than a Broadway Producer is a Politician. And after reading through many MANY emails from Politicians asking for donations, I studied their techniques and marketing strategies . . . they're doing something wrong. Referenced in this episode: How To Raise Money For the Arts...Or For Anything: Amazon.com The TheaterMakers Facebook Group:...

Thousands of theater students have graduated this year.  I can’t imagine being a student right now, nevermind a theater student. I recently had one of those students Facebook me asking “what the @#$% do I do now?” And in this podcast episode, I answer that question. Referenced in this episode: The TheaterMakers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theatermakersstudio Continue the conversation: www.instagram.com/kendavenportbway The Producer's Perspective:...

In my 30 years (!) living in New York City, I’ve never watched a Mayoral debate. But with all that’s riding on the next Mayor of NYC, you can bet your A-train that I tuned into the debate between the leading candidates. Tune into this week's episode where I comment on the one thing that disappointed me Referenced in this episode: The TheaterMakers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theatermakersstudio Continue the conversation: www.instagram.com/kendavenportbway The Producer's...

When I was in college at Tisch, I, like every other student at NYU, tried to get into nightclubs on the weekend. And for some reason, the fancy door people, with their super chic outfits, always turned me away. In hindsight, it might have something to do with my khaki pants from The Gap, white shirt from The Gap and blue blazer . . . from JC Penney. I did get into one. Once. One of the ladies from my acting class at Strasberg took pity on me, and escorted me past the velvet rope on her arm....

Sitting on the other side of the table is something that every actor should do. It’s incredibly educational and inspirational because frankly, you realize that while there are lots and lots of people who call themselves actors, there's a much smaller group of actors (and talent is only a small part of that definition, by the by). Since so few actors get a chance to sit where producers and directors sit, here are my 10 tips on how to have a better audition experience. Referenced in this...

It has been 10 years (!) since I crowdfunded Godspell. It remains one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in this business. It took two years to put together. It took three law firms. I had to pass a securities exam. Oh, and let me tell you when this SEC slaps your wrist in the midst of your offering, you lose some sleep. But, like most difficult things, it was also one of the best things I ever did for my business. And my life. Not only did we fund the production, and help launch the...

As the theater comes back to life, marketing is going to be more important than ever before. But before we start advertising, there are things we need to do first: ask our audience how they're feeling about returning, what's on their minds about the return of theater, what type of theater they are in the mood to see, etc. Referenced in this episode: Learn More about TheaterMakers Studio: www.thetheatermakersstudio.com The TheaterMakers Facebook Group:...

Today, I explore what it would mean if Broadway was allowed to run less than 8 shows a week. Referenced in this episode: "8 Shows a What?": https://www.theproducersperspective.com/my_weblog/2007/11/8-shows-a-what.html The TheaterMakers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theatermakersstudio Continue the conversation: www.instagram.com/kendavenportbway The Producer's Perspective: www.theproducersperspetive.com About the podcast: After 6 years of podcasting with one style,...