Comments on: Socialism, Party of One?

By: Travis Bedard

Travis Bedard — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:03:07 +0000

Sorry for the long delayed response. Forgive my speaking off the cuff… my understanding of European socialism was that it was implemented piecemeal, not wholesale. That's what I get for slapping my world politics together willy-nilly…

I think the resource sharing is underway, just under publicized. I think that you're dead on with the idea that we're all moving forward on our projects with our heads down (and that we're all behaving like startups) I just really want to head off the burn out.

I think the New Work badging is a FANTASTIC idea.

By: Travis Bedard

Travis Bedard — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:03:07 +0000

I think the New Work badging is a FANTASTIC idea.

By: tthomas48

tthomas48 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:04:52 +0000

There are many non-totalitarian socialist regimes. Most of Europe comes to mind. It would definitely be much easier if we were truly socialist and put money into a pot from which peons could be hired, thus supplying a steady stream of peons. Until we can figure out how to get that large pot of capitol, though, I think we're stuck with the current system.

What we have is the problem with any business startup. We're all trying to build our own products and we're heads down.

That said, I think the idea of a New Works Austin label that we've been discussing in the Melon Grant talks is great. There's a desire to produce quantity over quality due to the high cost of re-marketing your name with each show. We've discussed having some sort of New Works marketing label that would make it easy for audiences to find New Work without having to know every little theater company in town.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:28:11 +0000

Well, I agree with your assessment of why this model of practicing theater wouldn't work, largely because the artists lack the time or resources to make it happen. I was referring to your last statement that “the only socialist regimes on earth have been totalitarian.”

Um… what about western Europe, which seems to be doing just fine. Socialist Democracies are rad!

By: Travis Bedard

Travis Bedard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:26:17 +0000

Where am I off? That's not a snark response, I honestly would like to know… half the battle and all.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:17:30 +0000

As a socialist, I'm not really certain what you're describing really fits.

By: Tony Adams

Tony Adams — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:11:38 +0000

Why it's worth their time is a tough one. What do they get out of it for their time? If you can convince someone of that, you can get them in a room. I think that's the first step.

Letting people who aren't willing to help out of the group in another tough one.

I think Guy Kawasaki's rules for innovation can be very helpful for things like this.