The Butterfly Effect of Web 2.0

Having just read through the "Lens 1: Communication of Ideas" section of the handbook, it really got me thinking into how profound social media and Web 2.0 is within our lives.

I don't just mean that I have a Facebook, Instagram and Pintrest account; I mean how it plays a pivotal role within my practice. When I think to how much I use YouTube on a day-to-day basis when preparing for auditions or finding music for my dance and singing classes; it truly makes me wander how performers and teachers got by before. This really got me to reflecting as to how Web 2.0 has 'forced' the nature of the arts industry to change. Before there were cast recordings of most musicals available and free to access online, with backing tracks or instrumental accompanists; in light of an audition performers would have to go pay a pianist for their time to play through their audition material.

This brought up the question: How have apps such as YouTube, iTunes and even Spotify affected the industry? Have pianists profited in any way by creating accounts whereby they record themselves playing a "backing track" and uploading it for people to share and download? Are singing teachers creating videos with tips and tricks drawing people into their schools? Are dancers sharing pictures, videos and teasers to gain more views and followers?

This then lead me to a separate train of thought - are performers now expected to have a following online? And could this possibly affect them getting cast or not? Recently there has been some controversy within the theatre-world as YouTubers with a popular online fan following have been cast in leading roles in Broadway and West End shows. For example many eyebrows were raised when YouTube blogger, Tanya Burr was cast in the Southwark Playhouse's revival of Judy Upton's Confidence. Many people did not even know she could act! One would think that to be cast in a West End play they would've hired someone with some level of acting ability so as to not embarrass the company but Matt Trueman himself admitted, "If every one of her 3.7 million YouTube subscribers bought a ticket to Confidence, she'd have the Southwark Playhouse's studio space sold out for the next 87 years."

For a further interesting read go to the following link below to see what Mark Shenton had to say in a post on The Stage in Feb 2018.

https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2018/mark-shenton-stunt-casting-like-tanya-burr-really-way-future/

What could this mean for the future of theatre? Should youngsters focus on spending years at a drama school honing their craft? Or do they focus on their online influence? Or perhaps both?

I realise there are many questions and different trains of thought within the post but I would love to hear other people's opinions on such matters!