In this economic climate, it's inspiring to see colleagues focus on their passions, both on stage and off. In a time when the arts have to struggle to keep themselves in the news, I caught up with two innovative entrepreneurs who have recently launched theatre websites that make it a point to include Off-Off Broadway in their coverage. Read on as Molly Marinik from Theatre is Easy and Karen Tortora-Lee of The Happiest Medium talk about what inspires them to help keep Off-Off Broadway talked about.
Read the full story...
Contributed by Morgan Lindsey Tachco
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
How does OOB use technology?
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How do you use new technology to produce and promote your productions? What technology do you want to learn about?
The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation will be hosting 3-4 technology events over the course of 2010. We'd like to hear your ideas on potential topics of conversation. Examples include: using technology to market your show, greening your theatrical production, tools for internal company communication and production planning, using technology in your theatrical design ...
We have posted a questionnaire to collect your ideas and suggestions.
The deadline to complete this very brief form is December 4, 2009.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The first event will be January 31st 2010 at 6pm at The Players Theater Loft (115 MacDougal Street) and live-streamed at nyitawards.com.
x
How do you use new technology to produce and promote your productions? What technology do you want to learn about?
The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation will be hosting 3-4 technology events over the course of 2010. We'd like to hear your ideas on potential topics of conversation. Examples include: using technology to market your show, greening your theatrical production, tools for internal company communication and production planning, using technology in your theatrical design ...
We have posted a questionnaire to collect your ideas and suggestions.
The deadline to complete this very brief form is December 4, 2009.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The first event will be January 31st 2010 at 6pm at The Players Theater Loft (115 MacDougal Street) and live-streamed at nyitawards.com.
x
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Does the Health Care Bill work for OOB?
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On November 7th, the House of Representatives passed the “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,” which is actually the amalgamation of three different health care bills. The bill passed by a vote of 240-194, which included 1 Republican. (A fact that Speaker Nancy Pelosi used to proclaim the bill to be bi-partisan.)
The bill’s purpose is to “provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending.” President Obama called the passage of the bill “courageous” while many detractors are decrying it as “fiscally irresponsible.”
At a reported 2,000 pages there is plenty in the bill to support and plenty to question. For example, I have a medical condition that I have to manage on a day-to-day basis. It is of the utmost importance to me that there is no pre-existing condition clause for my health insurance. This fact has a major effect on what job(s) I choose and God forbid if I were to lose my job and the health insurance that goes with it. So making it illegal to deny coverage due to a pre-existing condition is something that I strongly support.
As artists we may not get health insurance through our jobs. So providing health insurance that is actually affordable would be a very empowering thing for our community. It could provide the opportunity for us to cut ties with unwanted day jobs and allow us to pursue our artistic aspirations while still caring for our health.
On the other hand, there are items in the bill that don’t quite add up for me, such as requiring everyone to have health insurance and if they don’t they are fined. So what happens to the poor folks that can’t afford food, let alone health insurance? Would the government seriously add to their financial woes by levying a fine upon them?
The bill still needs to pass the Senate, where changes will undoubtedly be made. Assuming it passes the Senate, a committee will have to reconcile the bill that the House passed and the bill passed by the Senate. Then both the House and the Senate will have to vote on and pass the reconciled bill again before it will make it to Obama’s desk. So, we have a long way yet to go.
Granted I have not read the bill in detail – although I’ve downloaded it and have started reviewing it.
I am wondering, what are your health care concerns? As an independent artist, what parts of this bill work for you and your family and what parts don’t?
x
On November 7th, the House of Representatives passed the “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,” which is actually the amalgamation of three different health care bills. The bill passed by a vote of 240-194, which included 1 Republican. (A fact that Speaker Nancy Pelosi used to proclaim the bill to be bi-partisan.)
The bill’s purpose is to “provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending.” President Obama called the passage of the bill “courageous” while many detractors are decrying it as “fiscally irresponsible.”
At a reported 2,000 pages there is plenty in the bill to support and plenty to question. For example, I have a medical condition that I have to manage on a day-to-day basis. It is of the utmost importance to me that there is no pre-existing condition clause for my health insurance. This fact has a major effect on what job(s) I choose and God forbid if I were to lose my job and the health insurance that goes with it. So making it illegal to deny coverage due to a pre-existing condition is something that I strongly support.
As artists we may not get health insurance through our jobs. So providing health insurance that is actually affordable would be a very empowering thing for our community. It could provide the opportunity for us to cut ties with unwanted day jobs and allow us to pursue our artistic aspirations while still caring for our health.
On the other hand, there are items in the bill that don’t quite add up for me, such as requiring everyone to have health insurance and if they don’t they are fined. So what happens to the poor folks that can’t afford food, let alone health insurance? Would the government seriously add to their financial woes by levying a fine upon them?
The bill still needs to pass the Senate, where changes will undoubtedly be made. Assuming it passes the Senate, a committee will have to reconcile the bill that the House passed and the bill passed by the Senate. Then both the House and the Senate will have to vote on and pass the reconciled bill again before it will make it to Obama’s desk. So, we have a long way yet to go.
Granted I have not read the bill in detail – although I’ve downloaded it and have started reviewing it.
I am wondering, what are your health care concerns? As an independent artist, what parts of this bill work for you and your family and what parts don’t?
x
Friday, November 6, 2009
Will the committee serve the Arts?
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On November 2, the White House announced the selection of 25 new members to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. These individuals join 12 federal members of the committee, whose agencies have cultural programs. First Lady, Michelle Obama will serve as the Honorary Chairman of the committee.
This committee will work with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and
Included in the new members of the committee are: actors Sarah Jessica Parker, Kerry Washington, Forest Whitaker, Alfre Woodard and Edward Norton; cellist Yo-Yo Ma; Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Senator John Kerry; director George C. Wolfe; CAA partner and managing director Bryan Lourd; independent film producer Liz Manne; publicist Andy Spahn. and Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue magazine.
Some critics say that the committee resembles a
What is your opinion? Will raising the profile of the committee with movie stars and fashion icons help garner support for the arts or are these celebrities too far removed from the realities of cash strapped arts organizations to be effective?
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Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Election Day!
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Today is Election Day (or "Vote Day" as Shay calls it). We here at the IT Awards encourage all OOB artists to exercise your Constitutional right by casting a vote for our city officials.
Check out the NYC Voters Guide before you head to the polls.
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Today is Election Day (or "Vote Day" as Shay calls it). We here at the IT Awards encourage all OOB artists to exercise your Constitutional right by casting a vote for our city officials.
Check out the NYC Voters Guide before you head to the polls.
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Thursday, October 29, 2009
Top 5 Reasons to Join a Community Board
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Community Boards throughout the 5 boroughs make resolutions that effect their neighborhoods. They make recommendations to local and civic leaders about how they want their community to run. Often land use & zoning decisions, city budgets, and many other programs must begin by getting approval from the community boards. Their voices resonate deeply with elected officials and their input is felt in profound ways.
Members of these boards have a birds eye view of important civic activities long before they are making headlines. It is very important for those of us in the OOB community to be in touch with our colleagues on the community boards. It is important for us to be aware of what is being presented to these boards. It is perhaps even more important for us to become members of these community boards.
To that end, here is Shay's Top 5 Reasons for Joining a Community Board
2010 Applications for Manhattan Community Boards Membership is now available at Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer's website.
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Community Boards throughout the 5 boroughs make resolutions that effect their neighborhoods. They make recommendations to local and civic leaders about how they want their community to run. Often land use & zoning decisions, city budgets, and many other programs must begin by getting approval from the community boards. Their voices resonate deeply with elected officials and their input is felt in profound ways.
Members of these boards have a birds eye view of important civic activities long before they are making headlines. It is very important for those of us in the OOB community to be in touch with our colleagues on the community boards. It is important for us to be aware of what is being presented to these boards. It is perhaps even more important for us to become members of these community boards.
To that end, here is Shay's Top 5 Reasons for Joining a Community Board
- It is an opportunity for us to educate the members of the community board to the challenges and needs of OOB on a personal level.
- You can act as an educated conduit to provide information to the OOB community about important activities and opportunities that might be available to us.
- You can network on behalf of the OOB community and make advantageous connections and act as a contact for OOB.
- You will have insights into how your community board works and what is important to that community.
- You will get to vote. You will get to help make the decisions and recommendations that shape New York City.
2010 Applications for Manhattan Community Boards Membership is now available at Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer's website.
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