Whereas after a closer second read, I can understand why Cote feels irritation…I think that sometimes over the past weeks, months, we (myself included) are responding to the Scott Walters that mac refers to

“I used to take issue with Scott when he was actually slandering New York artists”

rather than responding to the Scott Walters who is actually in the room blogging with us at this very moment…

There seems sometimes to me to be the need to defeat Scott by alot of the gang. that his silence or accquience would somehow validate those of us in NYLACHI. And rather than further inquiry into what he is actually saying, there can be a tendency to focus on how contentious he once was or alot of justification about intent vs results when it comes to the media side.

It is very telling to me, that the people who seem from their response to be the least in disagreement with Scott was AT themselves…

“Your concerns about expansive coverage for theatres across the country, regardless of urban proximity, are valid and something we struggle with in every issue. “

It seems to me, that whatever Scott was saying to AT was heard…and now a bunch of us are trying to flash a yellow card at Scott even when his opponent conceeds his point has some substance.

That being said, I also agree with Mac in that the NYLACHI folks on the blogs (most of them) have just as hard a time with, the struggle, as other artists in other areas.

I’d also add that what bothers me about the tone is exactly what’s coming out here… a combative attitude towards New York. As if guys like me, or people like Sarah Hart, are purposefully disenfranchising smaller markets.

The fact is…L.A., Chicago, New York…are centers of media, commerce, and three of the largest cities in the United States. As far as I understand, American Theatre’s offices are based in New York. It’s not conspiracy that makes them, therefore, exceptionally represented in the coverage.

We are all on the same side, guys. This alarmist, us vs. them rhetoric is what I reject. It creates unnecessary distrust and reduces the level of discussion. Take Scott’s comments about David Cote as a key example.

So if you believe that discussion can be too New York Centric… just talk about your region. Louder. More often. I’ll listen. I want to know. But telling me (as in a New York artist) to keep quiet or stay out of it or that I’m somehow oppressive… what does it achieve? How does it, actually, change the subject?

But if you GET a convertible can we ride in it?

And are you saying I’m not scrappy and soulful? (I assume nerd still holds)

“Theater juggernaut” is hilarious, especially when imputed to a bunch of piteously struggling NY artists. I know that as a NY theater blogger, I’m supposed to somehow belong to some group of cruel cool kids from an ’80s movie that all the scrappy soulful nerds from around the country are rebelling against, but I sure don’t *feel* like a handsome blonde bully in a convertible most of the time, or ever.

Actually, “theater juggernaut” is hilarious in any context I can think of.