Read this article from Forbes.com. Wow did that article ever make me think. The author says that 'stage performers' are on the decline and then lists; magicians, jugglers, clowns and dancers. That tells me the author has no idea what he or she is talking about because for one, I don't know any clowns that do stage acts.
The market for full time dancers is pretty small also though on the rise due to shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Americas Got Talent. Jugglers on the other hand are very adaptable to stage and non-stage events. You can find jugglers on cruise ships. comedy clubs, Las Vegas Revues and more. Then you have magicians. The majority of magicians who do stage acts is probably not all that big. Granted the illusionists do stage acts. But magicians are found doing trade shows, hospitality suites, corporate banquets, restaurants, festivals, cruises, schools, and on and on.
The number of full time performers in any of those fields is small. The number of jobs in those fields is also fairly small compared to those of retails, or restaurant or other kinds of regular 9-5 jobs. There are also far more part time performers doing the magic, juggling and clowning sides of things. Did the author factor in full time vs. part time? Did the author know there was a difference?
Is the author aware that traditionally in a down economy the one area that sees the least amount of loss is entertainment? I have a friend who is a balloon twister. He works 7 days a week and usually has several gigs per day and turns down work. On the other hand I have a friend who is a hypnotist who moved to Las Vegas and has trouble getting work. But that is largely due to their being a HUGE amount of performers in one place. I have another hypnotist friend who travels the country and he's as busy as he has ever been.
In the end, for the writer of the article to say that 'technology and movies' are the culprit for killing the jobs of stage performers is just not accurate. Movies and television did seriously damage the live performing arts venues back in the 1920s and 30s. The live performing venues like Vaudeville theaters and Nightclubs almost completely vanished. THAT was the time you could use the excuse of technology and movies. However, smart performers adapted and changed with the times as they continue to do today. Performing arts is a highly specialized field, its never going to be something that the masses go into for an occupation. But at the same time, live entertainment always survives. People still go to concerts, the theatre, performing art centers, fairs and festivals and the like. They also see performance art in many other non traditional places like shopping malls, outdoor events and so on.
Live performance art is not the same as a typewriter or video rental stores. Watching a performer on an ipad or on the internet, is no different than watching them on TV because its a recorded viewing. But people will still go see live performances whether they be theatre, concerts or whatever. It will always be here.
One other point to be made. Entertainment is not just a product of the US. Good entertainers can and do travel all over the globe presenting their shows. By the way, I read this article this morning, in between doing two stage shows. Oh the irony.
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