Last night, Alabama Public Television aired a Live from Lincoln Center performance celebrating Julliard’s 100th anniversary. As I watched Itzhak Perlman channeling the Schindler’s List theme through his violin on my hotel room’s TV, I could see every jowly movement of his fleshy face. What a performance!
This reminds me of the “Is it live or is it Memorex” ad that used to run years ago. Similar to the “Is it delivery or is it DiGiorno?” ads, these taglines question how well consumers can tell – or prefer – the “real thing,” or its packaged alternative.
I probably would not choose to attend Perlman’s live performance at Lincoln Center. It’s hard to get there from Madison. And truthfully, I’d never seen Itzhak Perlman before last night. I couldn’t have told you which instrument he played. But I sat there in my hotel room riveted. And now I’m a fan.
I wondered, “Is watching this on TV better than being there live?” Even the closest seat at Lincoln Center wouldn’t have afforded me the views of Mr. Perlman’s facial gestures which I so enjoyed on TV. Of course, this is controversial in the arts world – if people can simulate live performances at home, will ticket sales drop?
Maybe. But it reminds me of VHS’s impact on the Motion Picture Association of America. The movie industry swore that videotapes would spell their doom. In fact, movie profits have skyrocketed. Even B-rated movies can make their money back when they’re released to video or now, DVD.
So if the goal of the arts is to increase revenues, maybe distribution through media channels is part of the answer. And if developing younger audiences is a goal, distribution through media may also be an answer. If Mr. Perlman is ever in Madison, I’ll be in line for tickets.
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