I know, I couldn't resist the Spiderman reference.
On a serious note. Bloggers have become a force in this industry. We are starting to be seen as "taste makers" in marketing terms, and now that the ITBA has been formed, we are starting to be invited to shows.
As people who may have influence over folks who are deciding what to see, I think we also have a responsibility to recognize that this business is very small and that what we say will be heard and sometimes taken very seriously.
This can be an amazing thing and encourage change and growth in our industry, but this can also be damaging as well and it's our job as bloggers to do our best to strike a balance.
When I blog about a show, I start off by telling everyone that I am NOT a reviewer. I do not have the skill set, I was not trained to review shows, and I do not write reviews regularly.
That said, if I like something, I will blog about it. This doesn't make me a reviewer and that is not my goal in writing about the show. I write about shows that I think other producers should be aware of and that's my position because that IS my skill set.
Blogs are a place where we can express ourselves, but often I have read blog posts that have been damaging to shows because they hit before the press hits, or they spread a rumor that may or may not be true, or they roast somebody who they don't know etc.
Personally, I think it's irresponsible and just as I would not curse in front of my students, I will not say things with the whole community listening that intentionally damage other people.
That, of course, is just MY take
What's yours?
Excelsior!
