Monica Bryne’s article in the Washington Post, “Why theater (in its current form) does not deserve to be saved” is lighting up the socials this week, especially among people like us with a passion for independent live performance. It’s a think piece about a change that’s already happening in the theater world, fueled by the notion that we need to move the art back to being centered on the artists, consuming art directly from the people who give it its very life. Obviously, this is a complex issue, and we’re not about to come at anyone creating art big or small, we need it all. But it does touch on a shift happening in the art world. She writes:
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For theater, as we know it, to have any future at all, a new economic model must take its place, founded on a simple principle: fund artists directly. Then let the artists produce their own work, rent their own venues and pay their own collaborators.
This would be revolutionary.
Here at Gobo, we believe the revolution is already well underway. And we’re here to enable performers who are powering it. It’s not just happening in theater; it’s bigger than that. It’s a sea change throughout society that invites artists of any stripe to engage their fans and their communities directly. You could trace it back to various movements — punk rock of the 1970s, indie film in the ‘90s, the alt-comedy scene of the 2000s, countless threads of internet “geek” culture — but it’s here, and it’s undeniable.
What’s also undeniable is that technology can play a meaningful role in this revolution. The right platform tools can help artists connect with their audiences wherever they are, be it storefront theater, house shows, festivals, community cafés, or independent venues. Just as importantly, technology needs to remove (rather than create) friction between performers, presenters, and patrons. It must be easy to use, affordable, accessible, and purpose-built to help artists understand who and where their audiences are. (All without needless fees, of course.) Big or small, traditional or avant-garde, we think that’s a thing everyone get behind.
At the end of Byrne’s article, she lays out her vision for the future:
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Instead of a world in which you pay astronomical prices to see another tired revival from the mezzanine, imagine there are a dozen theater cells in your area, performing new work in backyards and parks and city squares and empty storefronts. Art that is fresh, fluid, immediate, accessible and affordable — to make and to see — all because we collectively decided to fund the artists directly. That’s the future I want.This would be revolutionary.
That’s the kind of future we want, too. And Gobo is designed to help bring it to life. Want in on the action? Try using our platform and be a part of the movement.
Cheers,
The Gobo Team 🎶 🎉