I’m starting a performance club. Who’s in?
Photo: Andrea Silenzi
What, you ask, is a performance club? It will function much like a book club (remember when I tried to start one of those?), only instead of literature we’ll be discussing performance: theater, dance, puppetry, opera, live art in galleries and museums, parades - you name it; if it moves we’ll analyze it, both here and in the occasional real-world gathering with each other, as well as with the artists, presenters and other interesting folks I’ll be inviting in. Diversity of opinion is encouraged - just be friendly about it.
I will pick at least one event per month, spanning a wide price range that hopefully skews toward the inexpensive end of the spectrum (Since, um, we’ve apparently been in a recession for a year). The first show will be sometime mid-month. Stay tuned, details coming shortly.
This is a work in progress. Questions, comments and suggestions are welcome. The first hundred people to sign up get free Gerard Mortier bobbleheads - as soon as my corporate sponsorship kicks in, that is.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I’m in.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
me too
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Yes, count me in.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Yes! Me, too! Great idea (and Claudia, you may still be able to start a book club… I’d go to performances AND read books, happily!)
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
count me in!
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I’m in.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
In!
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
i’m in.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I’d like to do it but it sounds like this will be NY-centric. I’m going to chime in my support for a book club too; Wilde’s The Critic as Artist is on my Amazon shopping cart right now.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I’m in!
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
ok. the book thing too. (trying to be ambitious)
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Sure!
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Sounds like a fantastic idea to me.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Yay! Thirteen members already! It can’t be too far now to corporate sponsorship.
A couple of things: regarding the book club, it might be interesting for us to weave in some performance-related texts - the occasional article/review/essay, and maybe even a book now and again. Suggestions are welcome.
And, as for the club being NY-centric: it will be largely so, but I would love to have folks participate from far and wide. With that in mind I am planning on picking some works/companies that tour, so folks like Jolene can chime in. And, too, there is always YouTube and the like. Maybe every once in awhile the club will discuss dance on camera, or simulcast operas, or rare historical footage. I want this thing to be as inclusive as possible, and am open to any and all thoughts on how best to do that.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Sounds like a good time
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Cool. Any participation possible from Virginia, I’m in.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I am a portlander, oregon that is, and would love to take part in some way.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
im in…Bed Stuy in the house!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Sounds like fun Claudia - looking forward to it.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Yes!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
sounds great! count me in!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I’m in!
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Me too!
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:45 pm
great idea!! i’m in.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
are you serious about the Gerard Mortier bobbleheads?
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
great idea…count me in.
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I am dead serious about the Mortier bobbleheads. I really am only starting this club so I can get one. If there is any justice in the universe, some nice individual or corporate donor will make this happen.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:55 am
I’m in, too. Way to start something Claudia! I had better get a bobblehead out of this.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:37 am
yes! sounds good to me. i’m in.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:45 am
Love the idea. So please count me in.
Of course I already have questions.
What keeps this from becoming a free-for-all of running the mouth commentary? Are you considering an outline for discussion:
What is the artist trying to do?
How has he tried to do it?
How well was it done?
Is it worth doing?
Some principals to guide us so we feel we’ve accomplished something rather then some of the typical unfocused blather I find in many blos and raido phone-in shows!
BUT LOVE THE CONCEPT - I THiNK.
Glen
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
What if we started with Misnomer Dance Theater at the Joyce SoHo? (I know that some people who commented are already planning on going). There will be a live webcast of the December 14th performance, so people who can’t attend or aren’t in NYC can watch that. Thoughts?
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:46 am
I’m down
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Finally, some questions! Hi Glen, glad you’re in, even skeptically.
I am wary of giving folks a checklist of questions, or really any sort of viewing template - as I envision this thing (and keep in mind that it is very much a work in progress!)it will be curated in the sense that I will be picking events and people to bring in for discussions. But I do not want to set an agenda for how people look (though I am interested in the oft-mentioned divide between how critics and “civilians” view art) - this means that, in large part, whether or not our conversations feel meaningful or like blather depends on all of us - how thoughtfully we engage with the work and with each other’s reactions.
People do run on in blogs: that’s one of annoying and the great things about this genre. If people are running on in an interesting way, I’m all for it (and we always have the scroll down option). Inappropriate comments can be deleted; repeat offenders can perhaps be talked out of their ways, or, if it comes to that, blocked.
I am also excited about meeting up in person every once in awhile. Obviously, given New Yorkers’ insane schedules, we can’t count on all of us seeing the shows together. But the social aspect of a club is important and will help, I think, to shape the tenor and depth of online discussions.
With this in mind I am looking for our December outing to be a social one (no Misnomer this time around - sorry Evan!). Details coming soon.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I am IN!
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Great idea, Claudia. We’re in.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
love it love it love it. have already been wracking my brain for more ways to get my butt in a few more seats… the promise of dialogue is encouraging!
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Hi Claudia,
I loved the idea! I’m in and will stay tuned for more details. (I do hope the December event will not be past the 19th because I will be away for 3 weeks).
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I wanna play!
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Will details be posted in the comments section here? Or a new post? Maybe we should (gasp) start a facebook group to more easily communicate with everyone.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
such a good idea. i’m in with the caveat (i’m sure shared) of existing total overburdened schedule.
can i suggest Sibyl Kempson’s “Potatoes of August” at Dixon Place? I did the videos but I would endorse it heartily nonetheless.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
oooo! so exciting.
looking forward to more!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Fabulous, Claudia! I’m in!!
Will we get our bobbleheads at the December outing?
December 4th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Hey y’all, I will be announcing the first outing in a new post later today.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
The anticipation!!! What will it be….
December 9th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Please count me in. The world is so sad I need something to think about and talk about besides doom.
December 9th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
You’re in, Kristen! Are you free on the 20th to come see this: http://www.mistershowbiz.com/holidayshow/
?
Hope so!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I know I’m a little late in the game but I’d love to be in on this!
December 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Better late than never - YAY!
Megan
December 18th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
pulling up the rear (for now anyway), but i’d like to be in.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
This sounds like fun. I work strange hours so may not be able to attend many. But on the off chance performances coincide with my sked, I’d love to. My name is Eric, BTW. I somehow got attached to wfgodot as an e-mail name, and now feel awkward without it. . .
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
hey Eric! I can see why you would be attached to wfgodot, especially as I read it first as wtfgodot…
Would love to have you for as many shows as you can make. This is what we’re planning for January, Young Jean Lee at the Kitchen. It’s spread over several weekends, so hopefully you can make it:
http://www.youngjeanlee.org/shipment.html
happy holidays,
c
December 27th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Better late than never…
December 30th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Just heard about this on Morning Edition. I’m in. Great idea.
January 2nd, 2009 at 5:14 am
This sounds like fun. Count me in as a remote member; though I do make it up to NY from time to time. I like the idea enough to consider organizing something similar in the DC area. You’ll have to let me know how the first one goes.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 am
Stacey and Sue K - terrific, our next outing is to see Young Jean Lee’s show at the Kitchen this month. Details coming in the next few days.
And Maria, that would be fabulous! A D.C. branch! We actually already had the first one. Here is the resulting discussion (including one contribution from a remote member - feel free to add yours). Pretty great, I think:
http://blogs.wnyc.org/culture/2008/12/22/discuss-amongst-yourselves/
January 6th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I want to join! Are there any formalities, or do I just attend and then join in the conversation?
January 8th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Always up for creating and talking or talking and then creating.
Count me in.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Brilliant idea. I won’t be able to make it to all performances, but definitely a few.
Please tell me I made the cut for one of those bobbleheads.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
You have made the cut, Scott. Should those bobbleheads ever materialize, one of them is yours.
Here’s what we’re up to this month: http://blogs.wnyc.org/culture/2009/01/07/performance-club-2009-resolution-see-more-shows/
January 10th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Hi,
I love the performance club idea. I’d like to join for Cedar Lake on Monday but the website says tickets are sold out. Do you have a bunch of tickets already?
January 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Hey Claudia, sign me up for the list - do you have a list? If so I’m in.
January 13th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Hey Mathew. Our next outing is the Shipment at the Kitchen on Saturday - would you like to join?
And here is the latest post, just put it up an hour or so ago:
http://blogs.wnyc.org/culture/2009/01/13/performance-club-canadians-and-italians-and-dutch-oh-my/
January 14th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I’m in!
January 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Can’t make it on Saturday, but will be seeing the show. Look forward to tuning in to the conversations here.
January 15th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Can’t make it to Shipment. My weekend is booked.
Thursday: Jeanine Durning @ St.Mark’s
Friday: watch the kids
Saturday: Firstweekends @ BAX
What’s next weekend?
January 15th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Hiya Fernando - the Shipment will still be up next weekend, which is when lots of club members are going who also can’t make it this weekend. So if you want to go then and participate in the online discussion, great. If not, I’ll be announcing Feb. events soon.
And tell us how Durning is - I’m a big fan of her as a performer, but I’ve never actually seen her own work. Sadly, I don’t think I can make it this weekend, either.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I’m in (and probably the furthest-away satellite member since I’m in Tel Aviv) . . . If I’m ever in the U.S. during an event, I’d love to attend!
January 16th, 2009 at 1:56 am
Can I join - from Minneapolis?
Did see Shipment this past week…
January 16th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Tel Aviv and Minneapolis, yippee! Emily, I’ll be putting up the Shipment post next week, and would love for you to add your thoughts to the conversation.
January 18th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I’m a little late to the game, but I’m going to try to make it to the last weekend of Shipment.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:52 am
Just heard your interview on the Shipment…sorry I missed the event, but I’d be up for joining the group at upcoming outings.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Just heard you interviewed on WNYC, enjoyed your comments and would love to join. Thank you for doing this and…what’s next?!
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Hey Carly, Stevie B, Julia, Emily and Deborah: welcome, and I will be announcing Feb. events shortly. For those of you in NYC, “The Shipment” has been extended through the end of Jan. at the Kitchen - I would urge you to go see it and then take part in our online discussion:
http://blogs.wnyc.org/culture/2009/01/19/performance-club-unpacking-the-shipment/
So many thoughtful comments. And you can always find the latest Performance Club post by clicking on any “Performance Club” tag, such as the one at the bottom of this post (above all the comments)
cheers,
c
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:28 am
Would love to join in! This sounds great!
January 25th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I’m interested. Please keep me posted.
February 1st, 2009 at 9:45 am
Little late in the game, but thoroughly excited! Looking forward to details for February.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
count me in ms. la rocco…please excuse my tardiness…
March 13th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Can I still get in on the fun? Tx!
April 1st, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I’m in for performance telecommuting. -MPLS.