Now. Here. This. Original Cast Recording?

[capnkidd]

Looks like they're drumming up support to take it to the studio.


Wishful thinking?

[CATSNYrevival]

Considering that they've raised almost ten thousand on the first day, I think they'll have no problem raising the money they need.

[dtzumbrunnen]

I want to start a Kickstarter to raise $5,000 for me to donate to this Kickstarter.

[TotallyEffed]

I saw the lab of this. How much did it change when it became a "full" production?

[ahhrealmonsters]

For the love of Sondheim, not another Kickstarter campaign. Soon Broadway producers are going to be Kickstarting to raise money for shows.

[CATSNYrevival]

^Wah? That already happened.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Oy gevult.

[CATSNYrevival]

Still, this project already raised 30,000 in such a short time. I bet they'll get the money they need.

[bk]

Certainly the creators will make more money from Kickstarter than from the show itself - a cast album of this size would and should not cost more than $20,000 tops. I've done many off-Broadway albums and none EVER cost more than that. So, they'll clear fifty grand and I guess that's nice for them.

[capnkidd]

Huh.

I shouldn't be surprised. They have such a ... devoted following from their [tos] fans. I didn't think that would carry over so powerfully. I stand corrected. Looks like they'll make it and then some.

In their case, it does make sense. They're giving their fans a chance to pre-purchase something they were going to buy anyway.


eta: "Certainly the creators will make more money from Kickstarter than from the show itself - a cast album of this size would and should not cost more than $20,000 tops. I've done many off-Broadway albums and none EVER cost more than that. So, they'll clear fifty grand and I guess that's nice for them."

"Certainly", bk? You're absolutely positive that the creators will be clearing $50,000, just b/c none of your similarly sized recordings ever cost more than $20,000? That strikes me not only as cynical, but presumes they have the same standards as you, not to mention they probably don't have the same kind of recording set-up available to them that you have. I don't think we can just assume they'll be making money off the kickstarter.

[CATSNYrevival]

^The number was a little low, I thought. I believe Kurt Deutsch mentioned in an interview one time that Broadway cast albums usually cost anywhere between $200,000 and $800,000. Sometimes more.

Obviously this is a much smaller operation, but I still would have guessed a number closer to $100,000 rather than $75,000.

[ClydeBarrow]

So if I pledge $500 and get a Skype chat with Jeffy, I wonder if there are limitations on what we can do for 15 mins...

[capnkidd]

I'm thinking his director might have something to say about that.

[ghostlight2]

They had a great start out of the gate, but maybe they ran through their built-in fan base already? Donations have slowed down considerably from the first few days. Still, I think that CATSNYrevival is right. They will probably make their goal.

To answer TotallyEffed, it changed a lot, both visually and in content. Too long to go into here. It was recorded for TOFT, btw.

It's always surprised me how divided opinions are about the [tos]/N.H.T. people. Seems you either love them or hate them.

[TotallyEffed]

What is TofT?

[ghostlight2]

Lincoln Center films many broadway and off broadway shows for archival purposes. Now. Here. This. was one of them.
TOFT

[ClydeBarrow]

There were definitely a lot of changes between the lab and the full production. I will say I much preferred the "mystery box" element that joined it together rather than the general museum thing.

[bk]

Folks can think what they like - I know the reality. No cast album in history has ever cost 800K. Where do people come up with these figures? Most BROADWAY cast albums cost around a quarter of a million to $350K depending on cast size and band size.

Here the math is very simple - how many people in the cast? How many musicians? If the answer is under five for each the math is REALLY easy. Add to that the day to record and you have it. However, if someone WANTED to spend 75K on a 20K album it would be very easy to do - take three or four days to record, pay everyone above Broadway scale (which is what they make per eight hours on a recording day), take a month to mix, do a thirty-two page booklet, pay everyone REALLY top dollar - sure.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change - huge hit show, small cast, small band - cost? about 16K to record and mix and another couple thousand to package. One of the biggest money-makers we ever did.

[ghostlight2]

"However, if someone WANTED to spend 75K on a 20K album it would be very easy to do - take three or four days to record, pay everyone above Broadway scale (which is what they make per eight hours on a recording day), take a month to mix, do a thirty-two page booklet, pay everyone REALLY top dollar - sure."

God, take some time to do it right, make a really good product and pay everyone well in the process? What a horrible idea!

I think the OP had it right. Possibly they just have higher production standards than you do. Just because it can be done on the cheap doesn't mean it needs to be.

In any case, you've now posited a second scenario. Your first implied they were making money off the kickstarter. Your second, that they're too lavish. What's wrong with taking the time to craft a product well and making sure that the participants are properly compensated?

[shob]

Bump.

I'm hoping they meet their goal. SO close.

Help 'em out?

[GottaHaveAGimmick]

Looks like the goal is met and the CD recording will happen. Good for them!!!!!