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NYTimes.com: Broadway survives on the suspension of disbelief: Actors lose themselves in roles, audiences accept characters singing in mid-pratfall, and investors put millions of dollars into shows knowing that few ever turn a profit.
I feel bad for Producer Ben Sprecher. I feel as though this article makes it seem like all the blame should fall on him when it is trying to say that this could happen to any producer. Then again, I don't understand how this producer could say he had "Researched" this guy when in reality he really did not. I for one would not be able to put the need for 4.5 million dollars on a person who I didn't actually research. With that said, apparently this can happen to even the smartest of people.
This is an interesting article, only from the fact that it from the point of view of someone you don't often think about in an issue like this. Often the story is about the swindler not the victim. I feel badly for Ben Sprecher because it honestly worked hard to produce this play just to have someone under his "hiring" turn on him and lie about finanaces. However I do agree with Mr. Bertone's statement about the process in which he hired a man in charge of 4.5 million dollars. If I was hiring someone in charge of procuring that amount of money, I would do a federal background check at the least. Not just a simple Google search. (2)
This is the most depressing--although effective--headline ever. I like how one of the fake investors apparently DIED of MALARIA, and he didn't just die of malaria, but he did so right before writing a check. I'm sorry, but that is hilarious. Does anyone else think that this publicity might actually help Rebecca get off the ground? How many potential investor had heard of Rebecca before this fiasco? How many have heard of it now? My guess is many, many more. The publicity from this unfortunate event might end up being the link that causes an investor to become interested in the show.
As I was reading this, I found myself thinking, "Why didn't Ben Sprecher see the signs?" but then I realized, "Why would he?" Ben was obviously trusting of this investor who seemed so interested in his show; it's unfortunate that there are enough awful people in the world that make it so that we can't trust people to be who they say they are. I wish that the previous allegations against Mr. Hotton had been addressed sooner- if they had, Ben Sprecher wouldn't be in the mess he is now in. I appreciate this article for showing Ben's side of things- it seems as though he was being attacked early on but I'm glad the truth is coming to light. He made an honest, understandable mistake in not researching this investor further before doing business with him, and shouldn't have to suffer more than he already is for making a simple mistake.
4 comments:
I feel bad for Producer Ben Sprecher. I feel as though this article makes it seem like all the blame should fall on him when it is trying to say that this could happen to any producer. Then again, I don't understand how this producer could say he had "Researched" this guy when in reality he really did not. I for one would not be able to put the need for 4.5 million dollars on a person who I didn't actually research. With that said, apparently this can happen to even the smartest of people.
This is an interesting article, only from the fact that it from the point of view of someone you don't often think about in an issue like this. Often the story is about the swindler not the victim. I feel badly for Ben Sprecher because it honestly worked hard to produce this play just to have someone under his "hiring" turn on him and lie about finanaces. However I do agree with Mr. Bertone's statement about the process in which he hired a man in charge of 4.5 million dollars. If I was hiring someone in charge of procuring that amount of money, I would do a federal background check at the least. Not just a simple Google search. (2)
This is the most depressing--although effective--headline ever.
I like how one of the fake investors apparently DIED of MALARIA, and he didn't just die of malaria, but he did so right before writing a check. I'm sorry, but that is hilarious.
Does anyone else think that this publicity might actually help Rebecca get off the ground? How many potential investor had heard of Rebecca before this fiasco? How many have heard of it now? My guess is many, many more. The publicity from this unfortunate event might end up being the link that causes an investor to become interested in the show.
As I was reading this, I found myself thinking, "Why didn't Ben Sprecher see the signs?" but then I realized, "Why would he?" Ben was obviously trusting of this investor who seemed so interested in his show; it's unfortunate that there are enough awful people in the world that make it so that we can't trust people to be who they say they are. I wish that the previous allegations against Mr. Hotton had been addressed sooner- if they had, Ben Sprecher wouldn't be in the mess he is now in. I appreciate this article for showing Ben's side of things- it seems as though he was being attacked early on but I'm glad the truth is coming to light. He made an honest, understandable mistake in not researching this investor further before doing business with him, and shouldn't have to suffer more than he already is for making a simple mistake.
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