The Last 20 Years of Best Musical Winners: A By The Numbers Infographic by Ken Davenport

Admit it. If you’re a Writer or Producer of musicals, I’d bet that you’ve stood in front of a mirror, imagining yourself collecting your Best Musical Tony Award.  You̵…

Sure you can be successful doing this, but do you wanna? by Ken Davenport

I snapped this pic in this blog at the baggage claim at the Myrtle Beach airport last weekend.  It was my first trip to Myrtle Beach (and maybe my last – thanks to that reprehensible …

People are laughing at how high the ticket prices are at this theater. by Ken Davenport

A Spanish comedy club has taken the ol’ classic “pay-what-you-can” marketing ploy to the next level, and it has been so successful the club and its patrons have been laugh…

Picking at the peak. by Ken Davenport

Yesterday, I spent a few hours of the holiday afternoon engaging in a typical fall familial activity . . . I went apple picking! Or, I should say . . . I tried to go apple picking. My first …

Forget Mike. Be like Chris. by Ken Davenport

Whether you think Chris Columbus “discovered” America or whether you think he was a lucky land thief, you have to agree with one thing. He was one hell of a Producer. Well, wasn&…

Need to finish your musical? Here’s how. by Ken Davenport

The best advice I ever got as I was coming up as a Producer was, “Want a show to happen?  Book a theater.” There’s nothing better than an opening night to make you make it…

5 Tips to Better Broadway Networking. by Ken Davenport

A couple of months ago, I met with a recent college grad looking for some advice on how to start a career on Broadway.  I asked him how he was at networking.  His answer: “Well, of c…

I want to retire . . . by Ken Davenport

. . . a phrase. Just like Blue Man Group held a funeral for the 80s I think it’s time we pack up a certain phrase, put it in a box and never utter it again. That phrase? “Outsid…

All I want is a room somewhere . . . by Ken Davenport

Eliza Doolittle wasn’t the only one who needed a little place of her own.  Cinderella needed her “own little corner,” as well.  And that big dreamer Pippin needed a corne…

Why there is a fine line between hatred and respect. by Ken Davenport

Here’s something I’ve heard a lot of in Producers’ and GMs’ offices through my career.  “Ugh!  I hate that INSERT NAME OF AGENT/LAWYER/MANAGER.” Usually…

Tony Award Winner Billy Porter from Kinky Boots on Star Search by Ken Davenport

5 Takeaways from the latest Get Your Show Off The Ground Seminar. by Ken Davenport

Two weeks ago, on one of the last beautiful days of the summer, eight passionate peeps sacrificed the sun to get together with me and work on something that would keep them smiling through t…

You got yourself a Producer . . . now what? by Ken Davenport

A consult client stepped into my stripped bare office last week (we’re moving!) and said, “Ken, I hope you can help, because I’m extremely frustrated.” “What…

What the fight over Airbnb means about Producing. by Ken Davenport

The photo featured in this blog is a weapon. It’s an ad placed by the DIY real estate website, Airbnb, to stir up supporters as the battle between the site and the NYC hotel industry w…

The Most Popular Posts of the Month: September by Ken Davenport

Time for that monthly summary of what got your attention last month here at The Producer’s Perspective: The most read post of the month: Someone Got Mad At Me The most commented on post o…

The simple secret to selling on social media. by Ken Davenport

I bought a ticket to a show the other day, solely based on a tweet . . . first hand proof that social media can sell. But how?  How can you sell your show on social media? First, it’s…

What to do if you’re not good at business. by Ken Davenport

“I can’t do it.  I’ve got no business sense.” If I had a buck for every young and old buck that has said that to me, I could capitalize Spider-man all over again. Th…

Outfit your office or your show with our stuff! by Ken Davenport

After seven years and five different offices, my company is (finally) moving office buildings!  That’s right – no more moving closet of an elevator! (If you’ve visited me …

Breaking down a Broadway Budget. by Ken Davenport

I’ve only got three months to finish up my New Year’s Resolutions, and this post crosses another one off the list! You see, someone recently asked me what I loved to do the most,…

The asset and liability of doing theater. by Ken Davenport

What I love about theater is that it is always evolving.  You create this work of art, and then it changes and changes . . . through rehearsals, through previews . . . and even years after …

Why is the September Slide getting worse? by Ken Davenport

There’s a myth out there that says “Broadway Business booms all summer long!” While sure, the tide of tourist dollars that arrive in the warm weather helps keep the grosses…

Remember when people lined up for theater tickets like it was a new iPhone? by Ken Davenport

I’m jealous. The photo in this blog is of folks standing in line, waiting desperate to buy the new iPhone 6. I want a line for Broadway shows too!  And not just when we sell stuff at …

Fun on a Friday: Bryan Cranston’s new one man show. by Ken Davenport

Shows about sports are usually hard sells.  When we’ve got females making the majority of the ticket purchasing decision, it’s easy to see why.  As much as I’d want to do…

Bryan Cranston’s one man show about baseball. by Ken Davenport

You can try too hard. by Ken Davenport

In case you haven’t heard, about two years ago I turned into one of those annoying golfers. You know the ones . . . they watch it on TV, they read golf magazines, and they wear golf attire…

A Free Panel on How To Raise Money for Off Broadway Shows . . . and I’m on it! by Ken Davenport

The Off Broadway Alliance always tackles the hard topics. On Sunday, September 28th, the OBA is holding one of their informational monthly panel discussions . . . but this one is about the q…

A new (and cheap) way to try shows out out-of-town. by Ken Davenport

A lot of folks come into my office with musicals underneath their arm.  Some need rewrites, some need readings, and many need actual productions.  Of course, that’s the hardest and m…

It’s still not easy being green on Broadway. by Ken Davenport

Last weekend, my grocery bill at a Ralphs grocery store in LA was thirty cents higher than the food costs.  Why? I forgot to bring my reusable bags and had to “buy” three paper…

The Top 3 Tools I Couldn’t Live Without as a Tourist. by Ken Davenport

I’m in midair as I type this blog, flying back from my honeymoon in Hawaii, where I lived like a tourist for the last 10 days. Going on vacation is always great for relaxing and re-energiz…

The secret of The Forrest Gump Formula. by Ken Davenport

Sometimes I think the success of a movie should be measured not in awards and box office grosses, but in the number of memorable quotes that become pop culture cliches. If that were really …

Someone got mad at me today. by Ken Davenport

Like really mad.  I wasn’t mean to them or anything.  I didn’t insult them or even punch them in the face.  They just didn’t like the way I did something, that actually …