Catch ’em young

clipped from www.artsjournal.com Here's what we know: Current audiences are old and rich. Current audiences like safe programming. Younger audiences are more likely to support adventurous work. Younger audiences don't tend to have a lot of money. What happens when the old audiences die off? Will there be anyone stepping up to the bat to replace them?  Not if the people who are young (and poor) now don't get into the habit of seeing theatre.  Now.  While we're still young and poor.  There are people who've never seen a play before, and might be curious, but aren't going to spend $70 to try it out.  Movies are cheaper and more exciting.

This woman's writing about theatre, but the same goes for concerts.

And why stop with young people who have discretionary income – the 20-somethings? Why not begin earlier? I was hooked on theatre (especially), ballet and concerts because when I was a kid my mother worked out it was cheaper to take me with her than to pay for a babysitter. I suspect that's no longer the case.