This information came across my desk this evening and I felt compelled to share. I don’t venture Off-Off Broadway as much as I would like, but I do feel I need to pay more attention to what’s happening in theatre outside of the Broadway realm. Here goes…
The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation presents the findings of “Demographic Study of Off-Off-Broadway Practitioners”. The study, conducted during September 2007 through February 2009, recorded and analyzed the specific population characteristics of the artists working in New York’s Off-Off-Broadway theatre sector.
Some of the highlights include:
• 85% of the OOB population holds a college degree. This is 58% higher than the national average.
• 86% voted in the 2004 presidential election. This is 22% higher than the national average of 64%.
• 68% of respondents are age 21-40
• 53% of respondents are female
• Income level of Off-Off-Broadway artists is near the national average, and slightly below the NY state average
• 91% of respondents live in New York City
“These reports help to shed light on the Off-Off-Broadway community and the significant contributions it makes to New York City’s cultural environment,” says Shay Gines, Executive Director, New York Innovative Theatre Foundation. “The demographics report in particular looks at the individual artists that make up the community and shows them to be highly educated voters who are involved in civic and community activities.
It provides measured data to back up funding requests in this sector. It allows us to identify and leverage our strengths when negotiating for resources or advocating for the needs of this important arts community. It is proof that an investment in the Off-Off-Broadway community is an investment in NYC.”
Ben Hodges, Editor in Chief, Theatre World publications comments, “As an archivist and a theatre historian, I understand the importance of this kind of study. It is immediately useful as well as historically significant. It simultaneously elucidates the value of the Off-Off-Broadway community while creating an historical record for posterity of Off-Off-Broadway.“
Very interesting stats, but “income” requires clarification. Most people working Off-Off hold down some kind of “day job”. It appears from The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation’s report that they’re actually making a decent (or near-decent) living by pursuing theatrical careers.