Money is a measure of what matters.
I’ve been to so many shows where some lady from a committee stands up and says “Thank you for supporting live entertainment.” It makes me squirm.
First: Good things support the audience
If you are making good anything that matters, it’s worth more money than you’re charging. Entertainment is not a whale that needs saving. It’s Free Willy ( $153.6 million at the boxoffice ). Maybe Free Willy isn’t your fav, but it’s valuable to the audience.
Make something special and edifying to enough people and you don’t need support. It’s nearly impossible to make good stuff by the way, but isn’t that the point?
Second: This phrase has the opposite effect
I don’t like the Avengers or Free Willy, but they don’t thank people for support. When you see an Avengers movie, everything points to the Avengers being awesome. Every interview with the cast is pointing toward, “obviously these are huge awesome movies that everyone likes.” The behind the scenes are like “look how much stuff we put into this that you don’t even notice!” Every optic is about how great and valuable the movie is.
When you are told “thank you for supporting” you’re being told this is not valuable to you, but you did it because you’re a good person. The problem with that as a motivator is that it sucks. People already generally think of themselves as a good person. If you don’t have a public way of showing how good the person is, it doesn’t help them personally. People are driven by selfish goals.
So you’re starting or wrapping your performance by saying “This is not really that good, so sit thru it.” What’s this do for people’s appreciation for what you do? How do you think this helps with word of mouth? I don’t even understand how it feels good to say it. You’re sending more people to see the Avengers.
Third: it’s general
This phrase acts like the performing arts in general need to be preserved. They don’t. Most stuff isn’t very good. Don’t lump it all in together. That doesn’t help anyone and it’s only good for what you’re making if what you’re making is below average.
Snickers Satisfies
How would you feel if snickers said “Thank you for supporting candy bars”