Difference between revisions of "BEAD and other hashtags"

Revision as of 23:55, 7 October 2019

The background to #BEAD

During our time at Stanley Halls while the Old Fire Station was being rebuilt, the box office under manager Caroline Beckett introduced online ticket sales via Ticketsource. With the ease of online booking for members of the public, audiences for SLT shows increased and in many instances sold out, particularly those in the limited space available in the Upper Hall. As a result, members who had been used to being able to walk up on the night and buy a ticket on the door missed several shows. In response, in 2017 publicity director Bryon Fear started a campaign in the SLT members Facebook group using the hashtag #BEAD to encourage members to Book Early (to) Avoid Disappointment.

Variants and adaptations

Theatres are full of people who love wordplay, and it wasn't long before creative alternate versions appeared.

• The first, and most notorious, was Tom Watts's #ANALBEAD (Act Now And Let's Book Early, Avoid Disappointment)

After seeing Anna Rubincam's Father Of Lies, Charlotte Benstead posted:

• "I confess it's taken me all night to come up with this suitable hashtag but you Really Oughta See Anna Rubincam's Yarn - ready drum roll - #ROSARYBEAD it's so wonderfully atmospheric and beautifully played out"

During the run up to The Night Heron, in which he was appearing, Tom Watts went to town with these posts on the group:

• "ATTENTION: Night Heron opens on Tuesday next week. Please #BEAD. Please don’t #BLAST (Book Late And Stress Tom)"
• "Last chance to avoid #BLAST guys. Please #BEAST (Book Early, Avoid Stressing Tom). Better yet please #BEQUEATH (Book Early, Quit Upsetting Everyone At Theatre Headquarters)"

In response Caroline Doyle posted:

• "Or just CASTS - come and see the show"

No doubt there will be more...

External Links

• The SLT members Facebook group