An Overview

What a year it has been. I often feel we as humans have a tendency to get stuck in the moment, stressed about what is going on and what needs to be done. This semester has been undeniably difficult for me but I have to keep reminding myself of how far I have come. I am not typically the type of person to share what I am going through, but I would like to give a recap of this academic year, to take the time to recognize the lows and to remind myself of the highs.

In somewhat chronological order:

• I served as an Orientation Leader for the first time with an incredible group that stuck with me throughout the entire weekend (and some of which still talk to me).
• I was hired at the Freed Center scene shop.
• My family had to move out of my beloved childhood home.
• I became a charter member of both Sigma Alpha Iota and Polar Cares.
• I understudied with the world-renowned dance company, Taylor 2.
• I started cutting again, after nearly 3 years of being clean.
• Jessica killed herself.
• I spent four and a half days in New York City with my best friend. We saw four Tony Award-winning musicals and met some of my heroes, including Wayne Brady and Lin Manuel-Miranda.
• I completed 22 credit hours over the course of the first semester.
• I learned how to fly.
• I understudied with NYC-based dance company, Ballets With A Twist.
• I served as Master Electrician for Picnic.
• I was cast in the student directed one-act, Chamber Music.
• I overdosed and ended up in the hospital.
• I saw one of my favourite rappers, Kyle, and met/befriended a few talented local artists.
• I had a mental breakdown and went home for two weeks.
• I ended a two-year abusive relationship.
• I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
• I had to report my ex for stalking and harassment. 
• I was nominated for Best Supporting Actor within the department for my role in Chamber Music.
• I quit my sorority.
• I will audition for the fall season tomorrow.
• I will be initiated into the Theatre Honorary, Theta Alpha Phi, on Sunday.
• By the end of the semester, I will have completed 25 credit hours.

These are just a few of the things that happened that have profoundly impacted me. It has undoubtedly been an eventful year, and it is not over yet. This will be my last blog for this class, but I value the lessons that I have learned and the opportunity I have had to share with my peers.

Be kind, be happy, and keep fighting the good fight.

Kathryn

Lemonade

Beyoncé recently took the Internet by storm by releasing a teaser trailer for her newest project, "Lemonade." It is set to debut on HBO this Saturday, April 23. No one is entirely sure what this project may be, though there has been plenty of speculation. Some say that it is Beyoncé announcing a new clothing line, others think that it is the introduction of a line of lemonade stands run by Blue Ivy. The most promising guess, however, comes from Beyoncé's online fan base, the BeyHive.

Bee-hiv-ay???

As we all know, Beyoncé does not require much PR to earn her hype. Everything she does becomes a hit, whether it is announced, teased, or released without warning (I remember being online in 2013 at the exact moment "Beyoncé" dropped). The teaser trailer is obviously a great tactic to get fans excited, but I am convinced Beyoncé could do anything and people would instantly buy it.

Until next time!

Kathryn

25 Years of Freed

Saturday evening, the Freed Center for the Performing Arts celebrated its 25th anniversary. We had the performing group, Broadway Boys, in house to sing arrangements of several well-known Broadway tunes. As an arts administration student, I volunteered as a hospitality manager, meaning that I spent five hours handing out free cake and water bottles to patrons.

Most of the people that came to the show had no idea what the cake was for, so I had the pleasure of sharing with them the happy occasion. Throughout the night I talked to people who had been coming to Freed since it opened and they told me some of their favourite memories throughout the years. It always shocks me to remember that the Freed Center has been operating for a quarter of a century because of how well it is kept- we have a beautiful art gallery in the front, a working scene shop and electrics shop, a dance studio, a costume shop, and a broadcasting center, as well as the two performing centers.

Freed is truly my home away from home. I have eaten, slept, cried, laughed, and bled in the building. I have been in the tunnels under it and looked over campus from the roof. When Jessica died, the entire theatre department met in 114 (the dance room) to mourn together, without any sort of message sent out- we all understood that Freed is our safe place and where our family could gather. Freed was the first place I ever visited on campus; I walked in and somehow knew I was home. The building itself is older than I am and I am sure it will still stand long after I am gone, but for these four years, it feels like mine.

To those of you that have not spent much time in Freed, I encourage you to. There are work opportunities as an usher, meaning you get paid to watch shows and hand out programs, you can be a voice of WONB, the costume shop gives you the opportunity to learn how to fix your own clothes and give you a competitive edge for Halloween, and the scene shop is a great place to work with your hands, especially if you are studying engineering or manufacturing. It is one of the most beautiful buildings on campus and has so much more to offer than meets the eye.

Do you have a favorite building on campus? What is it and why?

Until next time!

Kathryn

Measure What Matters: Chapter 11

Contrary to what Joan Jett would have you believe, reputation is something you absolutely should care about. That being said, you have to be able to come up with a way to make that reputation work for you and your product. A boy band like One Direction may strive to have a goody-two-shoes reputation whereas a deathcore band like Winds of Plague may strive to look tough and anarchistic. Though the latter is not what someone may view as a traditionally positive reputation, it aligns with their image.

In order to gain and maintain a reputation, you have to pay attention to what people are saying about you and respond to it accordingly. If you want your audience to see you in a certain way, you have to do what they like- or at least convince them to like what you are doing by backing it up. That is why stars can get away with so much that the average person could not. An athlete may break the law, but they are respected for their talent. Of course, I would suggest abiding by the law at all times, but being reliable with the quality of your output can sometimes say more about you than your individual actions.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Puppy Fever

I promise she's as excited as I am.

As a child, I was not much of an animal person, much to the dismay of my mother. She had worked for a veterinarian throughout high school and college and had kept pets consistently ever since. Even though I always had dogs growing up (as well as hermit crabs, a cat, guinea pigs, a rabbit, a hedgehog, and countless goldfish...) I never formed a close connection with them. Though I was fond of them, they were just bodies around the house.

One of the changes I have gone through this year is realizing how much I took my dogs for granted. The more I see 4-Paws therapy dogs around campus, the more I miss my own pup. Over spring break, Easter, and my sickness, my dog has sat loyally by my side and offered me unprecedented comfort. Deeka is a pure bred mutt, with no discernable features from any particular breed. She is extremely gentle and loves affection. Her hobbies include but are not limited to: sleeping, lying in the sunlight, getting her belly rubbed, and chasing groundhogs. She is the smallest dog I have ever had, weighing in at a meager 45 lbs, but thinks she is big enough to get in fights with her late sister, a Rottweiler twice her size. I firmly believe that, if I were a dog, I would be just like her.

Nowadays when I'm feeling down, I seek out the therapy dogs on campus (Babs is my favorite but please do not tell Primrose). When that does not work out, I look up pictures of puppies or other cute animals to help cheer myself up. I have not quite pinpointed what it is that changed my attitude towards animals, but I am certainly not complaining.

Do you all have pets? What are they? What are their names? I want to hear all about them!

Until next time!

Kathryn

Kanye: Genius or Mad Man?

Um... if you say so, Yeezy.

A little over a week ago, Kanye West released his newest album, The Life of Pablo, on several platforms, including Spotify, Google Play Music, and Apple Music. Previously, it was only available on Tidal, an exclusive high fidelity streaming platform. This move was surprising because West had previously sworn against releasing the music anywhere else.

Even with the limited streaming source, TLOP soared on the charts, reaching 250 million streams in the first 10 days of its release. In addition, it was downloaded illegally an estimated 500,000 times the day after its release. The last week of March, Kanye released a single (controversial!) track, Famous, on Spotify, Google Play Music, and Apple Music. This release sparked a new wave of new listeners and downloads. Suddenly, on April Fool's Day, TLOP is released for sale and full streaming. As of this week, TLOP has reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart, Kanye's seventh consecutive album to do so. However, it is the first album to reach this spot primarily through streaming. 

So what made TLOP so famous? In fact, what makes Kanye himself so famous? Kanye West is the embodiment of "bad publicity is still publicity." Between his hatred for paparazzi and his crazy antics, he is constantly in the news. Ever since 2009, when Kanye butted in on Taylor Swift's VMA acceptance speech, he has been in the spotlight, usually doing something crazy and controversial. He sparked the shutter shade revolution and various other trends. His clothing line is arguably out of left field, as well as his Yeezy shoes, but continue to sell. Kanye also changed the album title several times within the few weeks preceding its release. However, the quality of his music and production is undeniable. Above all, Kanye is now a household name.

Though Kanye does not have the best reputation, he at least has a reputation. His PR is a nightmare, but as a brand, he stands strong. Is it truly that he is out of his mind or has he created a persona that will continue to earn him followers and a place in the news? We may never know. Regardless, Kanye West is here to stay, and I am sure he will continue to keep us all on our feet.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Measure What Matters: Chapter 8

One of the most important goals of using social media as a PR tactic is reaching opinion leaders and key influencers. Rather than trying to reach everyone in your key audience, you simply have to reach those that will share your ideas; let them do the work for you. In order to do this, you have to find the people that others are looking to for advice, whether it be an enthusiast blogger or the working professionals.

Retitle as "How to Build a Relationship With Your
Key Influencers" and you're good to go!

Paine suggests making a list of these top influencers in your market and reaching out to them in order to create and maintain a healthy relationship. Much like building friendships or romances, it is all about being available to them and their needs, so that they will do the same for you.

You also have to be able to measure the benefits of these relationships to make sure that they are maintaining the image that you want to share. You then have to know exactly who it is that you want to reach and see if they are following you influencers.

Until next time!

Kathryn

One More Month

This semester it seems like I keep telling myself "I just have to make it through this week" or "I just have to get to the end of the day." Today sitting through my classes, I realized that every week is like this. April is going to be one heck of a month.

Not to worry, there's actually more things not even on this calendar!

My favorite thing about the end of the semester is that everyone seems to have some big project due at the same time, and every professor believes that their class should be your top priority. I do not begrudge them of this view, but it does make it difficult to complete projects when each one has about 15 different nit-picky requirements with no apparent regard for the student's time or extracurricular involvement. Alas, I will have to do my best to stay on top of things and keep my head above water for these next 32 days. After all, I chose this lifestyle and therefore I have no right to complain.

To all you lovely readers out there that are going through the same last-month-of-the-semester crunch that I am, know that you are in my thoughts and I am sending you well wishes. We are all in this together and we will survive. To the Seniors, congratulations on making it this far- you are in the home stretch. For everyone else, here's to our mental and physical well-being, our GPAs, and to coming back in the fall.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Corporate Fools

I love pranks as much as the next person, but to me, it seems that April Fools never ends well. There is always at least one big company that takes their prank a little bit too far. This year, Google and Aerie had some of the worst.

The Mic Drop Heard 'Round the World

Google added a "mic drop" feature to Gmail, which included a gif from the popular Minions film and muted subsequent replies. To use, there was an extra option next to the send button that allowed users to send a message ending with the gif. However, there was confusion as people accidentally clicked the mic drop option, not realizing what it was. It also had some bugs in the programming that caused the mic drop to be issued without permission. These bugs bled into the professional and personal lives of several Gmail users and wreaked havoc. Unable to see replies to the mic drop message, users did not have the opportunity to explain the gif or apologize if it had been used accidentally. There are horror stories of users getting in trouble with their employers and significant others because of a mic drop misunderstanding. Thankfully, Google gracefully alleviated the situation on their official blog by accepting full responsibility and apologizing for any harm done.

Aerie, on the other hand, blundered big time. I have always been fond of their brand because of their apparent sense of body positivity. Aerie is known for producing ads using models that have not been retouched in any way. Of course, they have the benefit of hiring exceptionally attractive models, using flattering lighting techniques and having hair and makeup crews (as "natural" as the finished products may be) on-hand, but the sentiment still stands. Recently, they announced that they were launching a campaign called #AerieMan which featured a plus-sized male model (unretouched, of course). Yesterday, they announced that the inclusion of a plus-sized model was intended as a joke.

This just in: men are sensitive about body image as well! What a concept!

Personally, I am extremely disappointed in Aerie's warped sense of humor. Rachel Champlin from Aerie spoke on the issue: "AerieMan was not a prank but rather an opportunity for us to raise awareness about body positivity." Somehow, I find it hard to believe that joking about using a plus-sized male model is an effective way to increase body positivity.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Shedding More Light

For this week's video project, I made a tutorial about changing a lamp in a Source Four lighting fixture. As intuitive as it may seem, most people do not know how to do it! In fact, most people have no idea what a Source Four lighting fixture is. Check out the video below to shed some light on the situation!

Please remember to like, comment, and share!

Until next time!

Kathryn

Telling Secrets to Strangers

"What is your secret?"

This is what Frank Warren, founder of PostSecret, asks the world. 11 years ago, Warren launched his ongoing community mail art project by inviting people to anonymously decorate a postcard to portray an unspoken secret. Every Sunday, he posts a handful of these secrets on his blog for people to read and react to. Since 2005, he has published several books of secrets, done cross-country tours, created a live performance based on the concept, been a guest in several art museums, raised millions for mental health awareness and more.

I have been following PostSecret since shortly after its inception and own all of the books. Reading the Sunday secrets is one of the highlights of my week. Yes, I have even sent in a few secrets of my own (none of which have been published so don't get too excited). Thus, when I found out Frank Warren was coming to ONU, I immediately reserved a ticket to see him. I also volunteered to work extra hours for his speech with the hopes of getting some one-on-one time with him.

One of my all-time favorite secrets, from March 2015.

PostSecret is a beautiful and deeply influential project. In the video above, one girl asks why she should tell her secret to someone she has never met. I say, who better to tell? Strangers can not pass judgement. You never have to see a stranger again, so your secret is safe with them. And with PostSecret, you have the unique opportunity of becoming a part of something larger than yourself. PostSecret has inspired a community of individuals who are caring and conscientious, people who will talk about the things that people will normally not say out loud and are deeply supportive of every individual's struggles and fears.

If you are not doing anything Wednesday evening, there is still a chance to register online to see Frank. My understanding is that he will be doing an interactive presentation based on his experiences with the project and giving some insight that relates to that. No matter your major or interests, this is the chance of a lifetime to relate to your peers on a deeply human level and to meet an incredible man with an inspiring story. I hope to see you there.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Measure What Matters: Chapter Three

At this point in the book, Paine discusses seven main steps she uses every time she develops a measurement program.

Step One: Define Your Goals and Objectives. You must include a date, budget, and desired audience rather than just the desired outcome. Most problems come when groups have mixed objectives.

Step Two: Define Your Environment, Audience and Influence. Social media has torn down the wall between marketing and sales; everyone is much closer in contact with the customer, no matter the department. 

Step Eight: Be as happy as these stock photo models
about your awesome new measurement program!

Step Three: Define Your Investment. Ideally, you should be spending between five and seven percent of your marketing budget on measuring that specific program, opposed to the 4.5% average. 

Step Four: Determine Your Benchmarks. Choose benchmarks so that you can track the results of a specific event, rather than random dates that will not give an effective read of your progress.

Step Five: Define Your Key Performance Indicators. Because you are super awesome, your objectives have all been very specific and measurable- which means that you need to pick a way to measure them, whether it be through shares through social media, event attendance or sales. 

Step Six: Select the Right Measurement Tool. Measurement tools are what you use to collect data. You will want to find something that is appropriate for what you want to do and is affordable.

Step Seven: Analyze Data. Measurement is a continuous improvement process; this means that you cannot wait until the end of your timeframe to reflect on how you did. Paine includes ideas for different tactics in the book.

All of this information may seem intuitive. However, I am the type of person that likes to make checklists and write things down, so I think that it is awesome to have a resource like this that I can go off of. It is also important as a company to have a clear idea of what you want across the board, and having a plan cut into clear, basic steps will help promote larger awareness.

Until next time!

Kathryn

I'll See You Tomorrow

I have been thinking about my friend Jessica a lot lately.

Jessica Eaton was a freshman double majoring in Musical Theatre and International Theatre Production. She was Props Master for Two Gentlemen of Verona and a crew member for Holiday Spectacular. I worked with her every day in the scene shop and I understudied her in Taylor 2, which she eventually had to give up because of injury. November 18, 2015, she killed herself. It was a rainy Wednesday morning, just two days before Thanksgiving break. Nobody expected it. We had just seen her the night before. We thought everything was fine.

I could choose to be angry at the university, and I was for a short time. Though we boast a 1:12::Teacher:Student ratio, we have a 1:1500::Counselor:Student ratio. It takes at least two weeks to get in to see a counselor. There have been two suicides in less than two years and nothing on campus has changed.

It has been just over four months and I still think of Jess every day. Sometimes I think I see her walking on campus or I think of a joke she would make during work. I still have her as a friend on Snapchat. I was by no means her best friend; honestly, I did not know much about her. But she was part of the theatre family and someone I loved. Honestly, I have never felt closer to her than I have in these past three weeks. I wish I could find a way to reach out to her and talk to her. I think I know what she was thinking, but that does not matter anyway. I just want to know that she is okay.

D.F. Wallace once compared suicide to jumping out of a burning skyscraper. The people on the ground keep telling you not to worry, help is on the way, but they don't feel the heat of the fire right behind you. In the end, it is not that you wanted to jump; it was the lesser of two fears. No matter how hot your fire burns, please know that you are irreplaceable and leave an impact.

Until next time!

Kathryn

April 1997 - November 2015

Apple Release

Apple is announcing a new release tomorrow but interest is surprisingly low. Despite the mass success of the iPad Pro, iPhone 6 series and the Apple Watch, sales have begun to level off. Typically, Apple fans are chomping at the bit every time the company introduces a new product or upgrade. Real die-hard fans have a habit of purchasing every new product as soon as it comes out, even if their current model is in perfect working condition. Apple is notorious for their strong brand loyalty, making this lack of interest somewhat concerning.

As someone who uses an Apple laptop but an Android smartphone, I have a somewhat unique perspective on the Apple brand loyalty. Personally, I see myself continuing to use Apple laptops for a very long time. I have had my MacBook Pro for about six years and it still works incredibly well. Despite the abuse that I have put it through, it has proven itself to be durable and reliable, which is much more than I can say for the PC that I owned before it. Though I think PCs are absolutely more appropriate for certain professions, I have been extremely pleased with my product. However, I choose to be an avid Android user when it comes to smartphones because I think the interface is more user-friendly and the product is higher quality. As someone who has owned the same MacBook for six years, I think it is safe to say that I am not the type of person to run out and buy a new product every time an update is released. I find it frustrating that iPhone users are practically forced to buy a new smartphone every time Apple releases an upgrade because their device is rendered obsolete, whereas I have had my LG G3 for two years and am not looking to buy a new phone any time soon.

Apple is in dire need of an exciting new product in order to resurrect the fervor behind their brand. Not an update, something entirely innovative and new. The Apple Watch (which I thought was ridiculous but what do I know) sparked a huge movement of smart wrist-wear and garnered great success. Apple is known as an innovative company but the market is moving at lightning speed. Tim Cook will have to take special care to keep the Apple vision alive and relevant.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Theatre Is Weird

Rehearsals have begun for Student Directed One-Acts. I have been cast in Chamber Music by Arthur Kopit, directed by senior Jordan Michael Loyd. The play is an absurdist piece about a handful of women in a psychiatric facility planning a counterattack against the men's ward. Each of these women believes they are a different woman from history. Naturally, there are several clashes between the characters caused by their extremely different personalities. The play, at first read, seems to be nothing but crazy ladies trying to talk over each other.

One of Jordan's inspiration photos

The brilliant thing about absurdist theatre is it does not have to make sense. In fact, you could say it is deliberately obtuse. That means, however, you can do anything you want with it and it will never be wrong. Absurdism invites the audience to make their own judgements. It allows them to view a piece of art, interpret it and ask questions about what made them have those impressions or come to those conclusions. Theatre of the absurd is theatre that undeniably asks a lot of its audiences.

The first several rehearsals for this piece include something referred to as "table work," meaning the actors and director spend their time focusing primarily on the text and what it means to them. Jordan has asked his actors to share their initial impressions of the script and share images etc. that they think would inspire their performance.

I love art types like absurdism. I love things that do not make sense and force people to think. Theatre, in particular, has a special quality about it that allows strangeness to transcend. The deliberately obtuse becomes something entirely transformative and influential. It challenges the way people view themselves, their lives and society as a whole. I got into theatre because I wanted to do the weird stuff: the stuff that makes a difference. I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to do this.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Tumblr Losing Users

Earlier today, I posted a podcast about my experience as a Tumblr user and how it has improved my life and networking skills. As a blogging website turned community-driven social media platform, it is ahead of its time. However, one thing I did not mention is the fact that long-time users have been unsatisfied with many of the most recent updates.

Tumblr has gotten rid of one of its greatest features: replying to posts. Though the website still has personal communication capabilities through instant messaging, inboxing and a feature called "fan mail," there is no way to respond directly to a post without reblogging it or addressing the author ambiguously through the other messaging systems.

Tumblr's strong sense of community has been strongly compromised by this new update and users are extremely upset. Though Tumblr is still a good way for companies to reach out to and engage with their fans, their fans are going to start leaving this particular platform if the people in charge continue to refuse to listen to them.

In the PR and social media world, it is important to listen to your audiences and respond to them accordingly. Replies have been missing from Tumblr since November 2015 and the staff have refused to address the issue. That is definitely not real-time responding.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Today's podcast:



Edit 3/28/16: Tumblr has brought back replies! Thank you staff!

Spring Break 2k16

Never have I ever gone on a spring break trip. Usually I use the time to pick up extra work hours at the coffee shop I have worked at for several years and tackle whatever projects I've been putting off, like deep cleaning or doing ironic cross stitching. This year, sadly, I was not scheduled to work and found myself with a lot of free time.

#nomakeup #nofilter #wokeuplikethis

The first part of my break was fairly uneventful: I followed up on some applications for summer internships, spent some time with my pet snake and went stargazing on some roofs. I am including the next part for the sake of full disclosure, rather than attention or pity: Tuesday night I had a near-death incident that put me in the hospital for most of Wednesday. I spent Thursday and Friday in a haze, sleeping and trying to recover. I am fine now and have outwardly moved on, almost like it never happened, but I can not shake the sense that I have experienced a profoundly esoteric event. As Mobb Deep (and Lin Manuel-Miranda) says, "I'm only 19 but my mind is old." I am always willing to talk to people about my past and am very proud of everything that I have overcome, but I am still processing what happened and probably will be for a long time. Rather than dwelling too much on it, enjoy the inclusion of an incredibly flattering picture my boyfriend, Dayvon, took of us that I have absolutely no recollection of.

In other news, Saturday was incredible! I bought Dayvon and I tickets to a concert for one of our favorite rap artists, Kyle Harvey, at Park Street Saloon in Columbus. There were three local acts before Kyle; two were entirely forgettable, but the third act was a trio that instantly caught my attention. Their frontman came out strong to a Kanye beat and maintained the high energy throughout their set by freestyling, handing roses out to girls in the audience and sharing some really intuitive lyrics. His name is sarob. (Rob Tate), and he was supported by his crowdsurfing friend and fellow rapper Joey Aich (still Joey Aich) as well as their DJ magician Möbius (Carter Moebius). Immediately following them was the main event, Kyle (previously known as K.I.D.) and his SuperDuper crew, all of whom were phenomenal to watch.

Shout out to @superduper_jesus and Pika (but also @superduperkyle, @superduperbrick, @chukwudihodge, and @superdupermaxx, whose hair was looking especially rad).

A video posted by Kathryn Watson (@katmw8) on Mar 6, 2016 at 10:28pm PST

Of course, as soon as the show was over Dayvon and I rushed to the nearest Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the UFC Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate and Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz fights. For the record, I absolutely called the results for both of them.

After following up with Rob and his friends the next day on Twitter, I discovered they are all students at Denison University, which is just a few minutes away from where I live. Dayvon and I met up with Rob at my coffee shop to talk about life and congratulate him on an awesome show. He turned out to be an absolutely lovely individual, humble to the point of pseudo-shyness and pursuing a degree in Political Science. Dayvon's father, Travis Davis, happens to collaborate on a Columbus-based hip-hop podcast, DaBeeside, so is looking at getting an interview for them.

If I had to sum up this week, I would say that life is absolutely crazy. I keep finding myself with all of these networking opportunities, whether someone is helping me or I am trying to help them, and it feels great to finally start making my mark on the world. Above all, I am super excited to make new friends, as always.

sarob. stuff: Soundcloud Twitter Website

Joey Aich stuff: Soundcloud Bandcamp Twitter Website

Möbius stuff: Soundcloud Twitter


Kyle stuff: Twitter Soundcloud Website - Look out for the rest of the SuperDuper crew, too!
Dayvon's dad stuff: Twitter Soundcloud DaBeeside

Thanks for looking at all the extra stuff in this post, and please actually check out the music these guys are making. They have a really neat vibe and I think they deserve all the new fans they can get.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Share This: Part 4

The business of broadcasting has changed dramatically over the past several years. When people hear broadcasting, they typically think of television or radio stations. Even the idea of podcasts, a form of specialized internet radio, is starting to slip away as our culture begins to rely on spreading information visually rather than through audio. As social media becomes a staple for public relations, practitioners need to find a way to broadcast to their audiences in a way that will keep them engaged. YouTube has become a huge part of marketing and PR because of its visual nature and shareability. In addition, businesses can directly relate to their audiences through the comment section and be sure to respond in real-time.

Until next time!

Kathryn

No Rest For The Wicked

Tuesday was Picnic strike, during which the cast and crew returned the Stambaugh Studio Theatre to normal. For most of us it meant time for a well-deserved break! Of course, me being crazy me, I auditioned for the student directed one acts Wednesday night, had callbacks Thursday and was cast Friday.

And then I get to go home and take it all off.

Senior Jordan Michael Loyd will be my director for the absurdist one act play Chamber Music by Arthur Kopit. The play is about a group of women who believe they are historical figures living in an insane asylum. We will have a relatively short rehearsal period to prepare to perform in the Mathile Lab Theatre in April. However, I am extremely excited to be able to work on this piece and to learn from my peers.

So far, 2016 is going extremely well for me. The theatre business is incredibly challenging and often disheartening. Even getting into this program has been challenging; I auditioned twice to be a musical theatre major and was denied both times. I have only officially been cast in one show and have never had a callback before this week. However, it has driven me to work harder than anyone else and it seems that it is starting to pay off. I have been involved in two productions already in 2016 and am about to star in my third. Of course, it seems just a tad bit unfair that I have been type cast as a crazy lady. 

Until next time!

Kathryn

Kid-Friendly Searching

Why don't adults get a funky robot background?

Google is now officially looking out for your children's innocence! Many of us have suffered the embarrassment of inappropriate results for seemingly harmless searches. For parents of young children, it can be frightening to let them loose when there is a chance of them finding something risqué. Thus, Google is now introducing Kiddle, a child-oriented search engine with features such as larger font for easy reading and strict restrictions on results. In addition, Kiddle does not collect any personal user information, unlike other search engines and websites.

As always, Google is extremely wise in their marketing techniques, widening their audience range dramatically. Earning that trust with parents will ensure brand loyalty and earns them favor with younger audiences that will continue to trust them for years to come.

Personally, I will be using Kiddle every time I am trying to search something around adults professors and my parents. Better safe than sorry.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Share This Part 3

One of the most ingenious uses of social media is its capability to reach specific audiences. Each network has its unique niche; Facebook has developed from a tool for college students to a tool used to keep families and long-lost friends together, Linkedin plays a huge role in professional networking, Twitter keeps followers updated in real-time, blogs provide a more personal outlet and most people still do not know how to use Google+.

Social media must be used to maintain the values of the organization. With Facebook, organizations can reach out to their customers and interact with them in order to develop a stronger community. Twitter allows organizations to have real-time conversations with their followers, as well as monitor what people are saying about them. These two are the giants of social media now, and organizations that are not using them are missing out on huge parts of their audience.

K-E-Dollar Sign-HA

I am constantly astounded by the way social media is used to achieve political ends. Recently, the #FreeKesha campaign has been taking over my various timelines and dashboards. Pop star Kesha Rose Sebert filed lawsuits against her music producer Dr. Luke in 2014, claiming he had emotionally and sexually abused her. Dr. Luke fired back, claiming Kesha was making false allegations against him to get out of her contract. Since then, legal tensions have been extremely high as both parties work to achieve their ends without losing public favor. Recently, Sony ruled that Kesha would not be released from her contract.

Female artists are rallying on Twitter in support of Kesha

The backlash for this decision has been unprecedented. Countless fans have taken to their social media, using the hashtag #FreeKesha to bring awareness to the situation and show their support for her release from the label. There has even been a GoFundMe campaign started with the intention of raising money for Kesha to buy her way out of her contract, though many are skeptical whether or not that is a plausible solution. Several celebrities have also taken to social media to show their support.

I find it fascinating that social media plays such a huge role in every public decision nowadays. In this digital age, nothing is truly private. In fact, many companies use this to their advantage, spinning a story a particular way in order to shape public perception (which is pretty much PR 101). In cases like this, the question of police brutality and other recent cases of racism, it is impossible to hide from the public eye. Awareness is skyrocketing and everyone has an opinion, whether it is grounded in fact or not.

As someone who feels very strongly for women's rights and the voice of survivors, I am extremely upset with the ruling. I do not think anyone should be forced to work with someone, especially if there is even a question of past or existing abuse. It is a danger to public opinion and, more importantly, the client. Sony's image will surely suffer from this entire situation- rightfully so. The time to respond effectively has already passed. From now on, Sony will be forced to pick up the pieces and try to regain the trust of their audiences. I will be looking forward to more news on the subject and hopefully a compromise for Kesha.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Shedding Some Light

I fell in love with lighting when I saw the touring production of the musical Once (lighting design by Natasha Katz) in . There was a moment where the two main characters were standing on an elevated platform above the rest of the set, in complete darkness, silhouetted from behind with a deep blue wash. The idea was that they were standing on top of a hill at night time, looking down on the town below them. There was no set to speak of, no music; just the two actors standing in the light. It was so subtle yet so powerful- I swear everyone in the audience was holding their breath.

Incredible lighting from Carnegie Mellon University's production of Spring Awakening
Lighting design by Dan Efros

Lighting is one of the most important factors in theatrical storytelling. First of all it lets the audience see what is happening on stage. It also gives context for time, place and season, as well as set the mood. In Once, the set was extremely minimalistic, which allowed for the lighting to establish the setting. In dance shows, most of the lighting comes from the side, highlighting and complementing the dancers' bodies. Lighting can also add color to a set.

As Master Electrician for Picnic, I was in charge of maintaining the lighting designer's artistic vision, programming the board, updating paperwork, fixing lights throughout the run and operating the board during shows. The lighting designer for the show, senior Liz Roth, was eager to teach me all of the tricks of the trade she had learned throughout her years at school. I learned a lot about the different types of fixtures used in the show and how to operate them. I also learned some really cool techniques for designing by observing Liz's work, such as dividing the stage like a grid and designating lights by segment.

My favorite part of Liz's design was what she called her "Hal Lights." Every time the character Hal came on stage, the intensity or color of this particular group of lights (group 120 in the programming) would change. She used 36° Source 4 LED fixtures with Apollo 3549 gobos, or templates. This created a tree-like breakup of light on the stage, adding texture to other lights being used. It was supposed to symbolize the way that Hal caused tensions to rise between the other characters.

Scenic design by Kenneth M. Ellis; Lighting design by Liz Roth
Though this particular cue is not used in the show, it is an intensified version of Liz's "Hal Lights"

Ever since seeing Once, one of the first things I notice in any show is the lighting. Though I love performing, I have had an incredible experience working on this show and am extremely excited to begin to delve further into another aspect of theatre that interests me. This is yet another tribute to ONU's incredible theatre program; I can almost guarantee that I get more hands on experience with equipment than any engineering or pharmacy major!

Until next time!

Kathryn

#PolarPicnic

If you would like to see a recap of my live-tweeting session with Ken Ellis today, check out my Storify here!

Share This Parts 1 and 2

Long story short, social media is taking over the Internet, and public relations practitioners need to take heed.

With the uprising of platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, it is now more than ever of the utmost importance to be able to connect with your audience at their level. As Internet communities are being developed based on interests and content, you have to learn how to immerse yourself as a company or organization in what is happening in real-time. This will make sure that your audiences recognize and remember you in the future, promoting your business. It is also essential to garnering new audiences- the more you are involved in social media, the more likely you are to come up in search results relating to your area of specialty! 

I really like the format of this new book. The use of multiple authors allows for several different opinions and perspectives that have worked for people in the past. I love having several different sources from which to choose. After all, we are a business of begging, borrowing, and stealing in order to develop a process that works best for us.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Live-Tweeting

For those interested, I will be live-tweeting a symposium with the scenic designer for ONU's production of Picnic, Kenneth E. Ellis. This will start at 11:00am on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 and will go on for approximately an hour.

Follow me @katmw8 to keep up!

I Can't, I'm In Tech

In the theatre world, there is an unspoken understanding- tech week is hell. Rehearsals are long and tedious, designers and their assistants are frazzled and pressed for time, and everyone is exhausted. Nobody involved has any spare time or patience for anything you might want from them, so do not even bother asking. Your safest bet is to leave them alone and treat them with due pity and respect.

Tech rehearsals differ from regular rehearsals in several ways. At ONU, each night of the "week" (actually Friday through Wednesday) has a designated purpose. Friday night is a spacing rehearsal, in which the actors move from a relatively empty rehearsal space to the actual stage, which is still in some degree of construction. This allows the actors to see what the performances will actually feel like and gives the designers/crew an opportunity to see the show without their added effect. Saturday and Sunday morning consist of load-in, during which crew and work study members do their best to get as much of the set and light plot finished as possible. Saturday evening will be a cue-to-cue (abbreviated as Q2Q) rehearsal, during which the actors run through the show, stopping every few moments for sound and lighting designers to program and adjust their cues, or settings. This may or may not bleed into Sunday's rehearsal. When Q2Q is finished there is a stop-and-go during which the actors get to perform more fully with fewer designer stops. Monday night, actors are in hair, makeup and costume for the first time. Tuesday is the first dress rehearsal, during which the goal is to have no stops. Wednesday night is invited dress, which is essentially a preview. Thursday night is open, with additional performances Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Monday night is strike, when we take all the beautiful lighting and scenery we have created, tear it down, and throw it away.

Not to mention class, work, and homework every day.

Actors typically have about six weeks of rehearsal to put their part of the production together. As a member of the technical team, we have about four days to make the magic happen. As master electrician for the current production of Picnic by William Inge, I am working non-stop from the top of call until we are dismissed for the night. Actors, on the other hand, have the chance to pause in between their scenes and while the technical team is working. I certainly will never again complain about being tired as an actor.

Please go see Picnic this weekend! Performances are Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $5 for students, and they are well worth the price. The department has worked incredibly hard on this project and the results are beautiful.

Until next time!

Kathryn

What The Ye, Frank?

Frank Ocean has, as the kids say, come out the cut.

Friday was a massively significant day for rapper Kanye West. He hosted an event in Madison Square Garden that featured the triple debut of his newest selection from his clothing line, Yeezy Season 3, a trailer for his first ever video game, Only One, and the main event, his new album, The Life of Pablo. However, one of the biggest surprises was the appearance of a certain guest artist.

Rhythm and blues singer Frank Ocean notoriously dropped off the face of the planet this past summer. In April 2015, he put a countdown clock on his official website announcing the release of his highly anticipated album in July of the same year. However, when the day came, nothing happened. In fact, his website stopped working and he disappeared from the public eye. He made a similar stunt in 2013 when he spontaneously deleted his social media accounts. Ever since this latest move, though, fans have been chomping at the bit to hear from him. The release of West's album, which features the R&B singer, is the first time Ocean has been seen or heard from.

Well at least we know he's alive.

Personally I think this is a PR nightmare. In this business, it is best to always under-promise and over-deliver. Ocean has taken over-promising and under-delivering to a new extreme. I became a fan of his when he was active with the rap group Odd Future but his abandonment has left me with major trust issues. As much as I love his work, I have little faith he will ever come through with this album. His disappearance with no explanation or apology is frankly just plain rude. Incredibly, though, we are all still talking about him and waiting on the edge of our seats for him to release new music. People still have hope, even more now that he made an appearance and appeared on another artist's track. For his sake, I hope he does not leave us waiting much longer. I envision a surprise release, much like Beyoncé did in 2013. Now that would be a good publicity stunt.

Until next time!

Kathryn

What I'm Becoming As I Grow Up

Forewarning: this is going to be a warm fuzzies post.

This weekend, I had what I would like to refer to as a "College Moment." No, I am not talking about any crazy parties or wild adventures. Sunday I met with a group Sunday to work on a project for my Topics in Drama class. My classmates are undoubtedly taking the course as a general education credit or tag requirement rather than any real interest in drama. Me being the resident college theatre dork, it is incredibly interesting to see how they approach the text. It gives me the opportunity to see how far I have come as a student over the course of my collegiate career.

Filed under: Capstone Ideas

So far, I have taken Play Analysis, World Theatre History I and II, and Acting I and II, among other major-specific courses. All of these include critical thinking of dramatic literature, research based on the play, playwright, and the world in which the play takes place, and what it takes to be able to give a believable performance. I spent last semester engrossed in the world of Molly, a sassy anarchist that is the imaginary lover of a homebody named Beane (Love Song by John Kolvenbach) as a part of my scene study intensive. Before that, I researched the history of Greek tragedies and analyzed Euripides' Medea and its relationship with modern feminism. I learned the acting traditions from around the world, including Sanskrit theatre and Japanese Kabuki. Of course, I have also had my fair share of challenging language, from Shakespeare to doggerel prose from the Middle Ages.

Sitting with three classmates from different majors in an otherwise empty classroom, it hit me just how much I have learned. Looking at Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, a play written in 1592, seemed completely natural. I understood the language, was familiar with the societal context and allusions, and was able to suggest solid acting tactics to my friends without seeming too pretentious. I concede that none of this would have been true, or even possible, a year ago. Reflecting further, I have realized that I also identify every lighting unit that I see on television or at events, can do simple programming from learning to operate a lighting board, and am respectably savvy when it comes to basic electrical work and carpentry thanks to my work in the Freed Center scene shop.

I always said that I wanted to work in theatre when I grew up. Though I am still very young, "real" adulthood is looming closer every day. It was nice to be able to reflect and see I am actually realizing my dreams. All of my tuition money and late nights studying are paying off! As Sophomore Slump hits hard and my schedule becomes even more overwhelming, this College Moment came at the perfect time. I am extremely proud of the work I am doing and I know it is preparing me for a future in which I can successfully do what I love. As everyone else is going through hard times as well, consider this a reminder that you chose this path for a reason and you are smarter and stronger for it. I am proud of you, and you should be too.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Time Is (Soon To Be) Irrelevant

Twitter has recently announced that they are leaning towards changing their interface to an algorithm-based timeline rather than the traditional reverse chronology. Facebook fans are familiar with this setup; the dashboard is set up in such a way that posts are displayed in order of relevance based on an algorithm. Twitter, on the other hand, is set up so that users read status updates as they are posted, starting at the bottom and scrolling up for the most recent posts.

Twitter has been making several changes as of late, including changing "favorites" to "likes," displaying popular posts whether or not the user is following that person and allowing longer direct messages. However, these changes have met a variety of reactions, few of which are positive. 

One of the milder reactions to recent changes...

Personally, I am not a fan of the algorithm option. On Facebook, I find it confusing and, frankly, annoying. I have always been a fan of the way that I could follow an event as it was happening on Twitter and the idea of that changing is quite upsetting. To me, it seems like Twitter is sacrificing efficiency for the sake of boasting that it is "high tech" or "innovative" with relatively no input from their users. I am sure that, if Twitter had reached out and asked whether or not users prefered the chronology versus an algorithmic interface, fans would have preferred them to stick to what they already had.

At the end of the day, if something is not broken, there is no reason to fix it.

Until next time!

Kathryn

For more information: The Verge Buzzfeed Heavy

Real-Time Chapters 13-14

There is no "I" in "team" unless you risk making the team look bad.

My favourite thing about these chapters was the concept that companies had to trust their individual employees to have good judgment when it comes to social media and real-time communication. To me, it seems obvious that a company should allow its employees to use social media because of the real-time demands of our ever-changing market. Given a clear set of guidelines, employees should be trusted to be responsible enough to engage with customers without stepping out of line. I think that this would add to company morale and ensure customers that there were real, caring people working for them, rather than something automated or mechanical. 

Specialists in social media analytics are essential for the growth of any modern company. Huge numbers of complaints and praises are shared every day through Twitter and Facebook. With analytics tools, it is easy to see what people are saying and respond accordingly in a timely manner. This gives businesses a competitive edge against their less savvy competitors. There is no room for being old-fashioned in today's expanding industries. If companies want to be fresh and cutting edge, they must be willing to take risks and explore new tactics. Honestly, I think this discussion is another example of this book becoming dated- it is hardly a question anymore whether or not a social media presence is essential to businesses. Those who resisted change have been left behind.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Real-Time Chapters 10-12

The things that stood out most to me in these chapters were the ways companies reached out to their customers throughout their transactions. Having a personalized hotel visit adds a sense of luxury and makes you feel as if you are a valued customer. Receiving benefits for participating with a hashtag or other form of media branding peaks interest and raises awareness of the company. Companies need to realize that every person they come across has the potential to be a customer or has been a customer in the past, meaning that they should treat them with the utmost respect and consideration. This sort of treatment will stand out to people and make them remember you as a pleasant experience.

At the local independent coffee shop that I used to work at, we were instructed to greet everyone upon arrival and to thank them as they left. Believe it or not, even these small gestures stood out as something that made our store more likeable compared to the other two locations in our area. Our emphasis on customer service and providing a pleasant experience earned us die-hard loyalty and raised company morale. To this day, I brag about how much I love that job, even though no one in Ada knows what River Road Coffeehouse is. At home, everyone I meet seems to have a story about how nice the employees at River Road are. Even as a small family-owned business, the way we take care of our customers sets us apart from anyone else in the region.

I will always love Del Monte for this funny tweet to my boyfriend!

Social media is one of the best ways to reach out to potential/past customers even when they are not physically with you. Having a well-maintained and responsive social media presence ensures that people will recognize and remember you, for better or for worse. Nowadays, experience sells more than a product does, so it is important to take initiative and begin your experience early.

Until next time!

Kathryn

I Am Not a Dancer

For the second time this school year, I volunteered to understudy for a guest artist dance show. A week ago today (so on Jan. 23), three members of Ballets with a Twist arrived on campus. They auditioned campus dancers in the morning, announced the cast around noon, and immediately began rehearsing. Over the course of four days, thirteen Ohio Northern University dancers learned a nine minute long professional dance piece to be performed on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31.

ONU dancers performed a piece called Champagne in the cocktail-themed show.

I came to ONU with only a few months of formal dance training under my belt. However, I fought to become a dance minor so that I could have priority for class scheduling and try to catch up to my peers, many of whom have been dancing for several years. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, the theatre arts department here is very good about bringing in guest artists to train with. In this particular case, Ballets with a Twist came in to set a piece using a combination of their company members and ONU dancers, then performed an entire show from their repertoire.

Though I was not cast at the initial auditions, I volunteered to understudy for the performance, meaning that I would be a part of the entire rehearsal process and be prepared to take the place of another dancer if circumstances required me to. Luckily, the artistic director and choreographer of the company, Marilyn Klaus, was so impressed with my eagerness to learn that she added me to the piece. I did the exact same thing for the fall semester of 2015 when the Taylor 2 dance company made a similar visit.

From these experiences, I have learned an incredible amount about myself and the world of dance. The visiting company members that helped to set the piece were incredibly kind and helpful, praising my strengths and helping me improve upon my weaknesses. Every day before rehearsal, we would have a 90-minute warmup based entirely on technique. The fresh perspective worked wonders for me; I began to feel things in a completely different way than I ever had before and benefited from it. One of the company members, Aengus Ortiz, told me that I was "dancing with a whole new body."

Though I am far from considering myself a dancer, I love the experience of working with professionals and having the opportunity to suck up as much information from them as I can. Of course, I also benefit from it as a resume builder and a networking opportunity. The company is based out of New York City, an artistic hub. I befriended several of the dancers, including one who actually offered to help me find an internship at the PR firm that she works for when she is not touring.

Despite the late nights of rehearsal and my aching feet, working with the Ballets with a Twist company has been an incredible experience. I think it might be within my best interest to volunteer to understudy for every dance show that comes through Ada until I am skilled enough to finally be cast the first time around.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Social Justice and the Media

Wednesday, it was announced that Ferguson, Missouri reached an agreement with the Department of Justice concerning the city's police force. This story follows up on the riots that took place in late summer 2014 after the death of Mike Brown. His death began a social media revolution concerning police brutality and its relationship with racial discrimination. After images of Brown's body lying in the streets went viral, Ferguson residents began protesting. The city's police force reacted violently with riot gear and tear gas, causing uprisings that lasted over two weeks. Since then, several other cases of unwarranted police brutality against people of colour have been brought to media attention, sparking social justice reactions such as the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Protesters in Ferguson

The recent social media attention on police and blacks is a great example of the way that technology has changed the way we think. Personally, I find it terrifying to think that police brutality has been going on for decades with little to no attention. Without social media spreading news like wildfire, we may never have been made aware of such a daunting issue in our society. Social media changes the way that we think- whenever something is happening, people jump to take a picture or video and post it to whatever platforms they prefer. This means that there are numerous first-hand accounts being shared with the world in mere moments. Suddenly, people can not get away with the same things that they did before. Like Kasy said in her recent blog post, Big Brother is watching.

It blows my mind how social media has been turned into such an influential tool for news and grassroots movements. The United States are still reeling from Brown's death and more examples show up every day, all thanks to the immediate access to information. Issues that have been hidden for years are very suddenly being brought to light. The world is changing as quickly as technology is, with new ways to communicate discovered every day.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Additional information regarding Ferguson's agreement with DOJ: NBC New York Times USA Today

Real-Time Chapters 6-7

The power of social media is undeniable. Nowadays, we think in hashtags and memes rather than headlines. Reading these chapters, it was fascinating to evaluate the shift in technology for the marketing and PR world over the past decade. Even this book, which was published in 2010, has become outdated in its commentary on social media platforms. For the author, Twitter was just beginning to take hold as a real-time tool. Nowadays, Twitter is the be-all-end-all for immediate information. One of the interesting examples the book used was President Obama's real-time response to a different politician's statements. Nowadays, presidential candidates live tweet debates, responding to statements within mere moments.

Twitter and other social media are also powerful tools for crisis management. When tempers run high and gossip is in the air, people can use social media to make immediate responses, often alleviating the situation almost immediately. Recently, music stars Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj got into an argument on Twitter; Minaj posted that she was upset with the way that the Video Music Awards were going, Swift replied thinking that it was about her, Minaj assured her that it was not, and Swift swiftly apologized. At the end of the day, because of the real-time problem-solving, it became a non-event.

Remember to apologize; it's the nice thing to do!

Businesses should take a lesson from Swift and Minaj, quickly dispelling any harsh feelings or negative energy in a real-time fashion.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Flying High in Freed

Being a theatre major often puts me in interesting situations. This past week, I spent most of my time in the air.

ZFX Flying Effects brought a variety of flying equipment and three flight instructors to campus and set up in the Freed Center for the Performing Arts for five days. Over the course of those five days, students had opportunities to operate all of the mechanisms, fit and fly in several different harnesses, and choreograph scenarios that are common in film and theatre. Personally, I preferred operating travel ropes and flying in a somersault harness, meaning that I had the mobility to perform flips. I also had the unique experience of flying in the "Billy Elliot" harness, which is fit for young boys in the musical "Billy Elliot," and running the stock choreography from that particular scene.

ZFX is known throughout the world as one of the leading Flying Effects organizations. Being able to work with their professionals and learn the basics of their equipment is an incredible resume builder. In the future, if I choose to audition for shows such as "Mary Poppins," "The Wizard of Oz," or "Peter Pan," my flying experience gives me a competitive edge. In addition, it was extremely fun, and I feel as if I got a full body workout from pulling ropes and stabilizing myself in the wires. 

Despite its small size, the Ohio Northern University theatre department continues to impress me with the guest professionals that they bring in and opportunities that they offer. Theatre is a kinesthetic art that requires practice to fully experience, something that our unique classes offer. Now when my friends at well known universities such as Carnegie Mellon or Cincinnati Conservatory brag about their programs, I can one-up them with all of the master classes and experience that I am getting. As always, I am proud to be a polar bear.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Theatre in the Age of Social Media

It is no secret that I am a little bit obsessed with the new Broadway musical, "Hamilton." Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and inspired by the biography by Ron Chernow, the show is based on the life and works of founding father Alexander Hamilton. It has been coined as the first hip-hop musical, heavily influenced by musicians such as Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, Busta Rhymes, and Destiny's Child. The cast album, which has 46 songs and is nearly three hours long, is incredibly dense with quickly-rapped and shockingly cerebral verses. It has been praised not only for its technical brilliance, but its accessibility to mainstream audiences.

Alex Lacamoire, who orchestrated "Hamilton," often answers fan questions

"Hamilton's" mainstream success comes largely in part from the cast and crew's interaction with fans. Miranda especially is quite the Twitter fiend, coining hashtags like #Hamiltunes, #YayHamlet, and #Ham4Ham, as well as revealing fun facts about the show and constantly interacting with fans. His #Ham4Ham campaign has been especially influential; each show has a ticket lottery in which fans can enter a drawing for front row seats that would only cost them $10 (i.e., to see "Hamilton" for a Hamilton). Miranda began providing free entertainment on two-show days, utilizing guest stars from the Broadway community and other performers, which he called Ham4Ham Shows. Each show is filmed and posted on YouTube for fans all over the world to see, gaining hundreds of thousands of views.

"Hamilton's" social media presence has been met with unprecedented mainstream support. The show practically markets itself, with tickets being booked out months in advance to audiences that include celebrities such as Beyoncé, Jimmy Fallon, and President Obama. However, the demand for tickets from the general public makes it hard for even the biggest names to find seats. Theatre is notorious for being a pastime for the old and rich; "Hamilton" breaks down all barriers by being modern and responsive. In essence, it is real-time theatre, where fans know that they will be given quality content and thoughtful responses without having to wait. It is my hope as a theatre lover that future shows will learn from this and allow for a more inclusive Broadway community. As my generation begins to take the reigns, I dream that we will create new, exciting, and experimental content like "Hamilton." Theatre is an interactive art, and frankly, it is foolish to ignore the possibilities that lie within the social media backchannel and expect continued success. "Hamilton" is, pun intended, absolutely revolutionary.

Until next time!

Kathryn

Real-Time Chapters 1-5

Ditto @ United Airlines

These chapters reminds me a lot of the Meek Mill vs Drake beef that went down this past summer. Just like United Airlines waited far too long to comment on Dave's sudden fame, Meek Mill posted his rebuttal two diss tracks too late. To me, it seems obvious that companies (or in this case, rappers) should respond as quickly as possible or risk ruining their reputation forever. Nobody cares about something once it is over, and nowadays, news is old almost as soon as it is discovered. Like Taylor guitars and Calton cases, Drake took advantage of the spotlight shed on him by Meek's initial ghost-writer accusations by quickly producing responses that earned him respect and gained him favor with the general public. Because the argument was largely based on Twitter, the conversation surrounding it was largely real-time. This immediacy raised the stakes dramatically. In the eight days that it took Meek to write his own song, there had already been thousands of memes made condemning him. His slowness cost him his reputation, and by the time he did respond, it was practically irrelevant; the rest of the world had already rallied behind Drake. It is essential for companies to learn from this. Unless they want to suffer their own scary hours, they must be able to respond in real time.

Adopting a real-time mindset is practical for everyday life, not just PR and/or marketing. Success stories are always about people that took risks and were able to live in the moment. Just like ER doctors must react quickly to save a patient, even if that means taking a risk and foregoing planning or procedure, it is essential for organizations to make snap decisions to keep themselves alive and in the game. Even Fortune companies will not last forever. My generation is nearing the age of takeover in the business world, and the generation behind us will continue to challenge us for better strategies and response times. If big companies are not careful, they will be overtaken by those with savvy social media and PR teams.

A bit of a side note: I am not a fan of the narrative style of this book. It is my opinion that the author refers to his other books and his writing process for this one more often than is necessary. There are also some common grammar mistakes that were a bit off-putting, e.g., using "light years" as a measurement of time rather than distance (page 36). It distracts from the message that the material is trying to convey. Of course, I may just be too picky.

Until next time!

Kathryn