I heard somebody comment that one of the remarkable parts about Roger Ebert's blog is the overall quality of the comments left on his blog.
Even when he writes about controversial topics like health care, generally the commenters are well informed and have intelligent things to say.
Compare that to many other blogs, particularly those that cover hot button topics. Those blogs often quickly fill up with idiots who let the racism, sexism and overall ignorance fly off the keyboard and onto the screen.
Ebert has the sort of audience most people dream of. Interesting. Aware. Ready to engage in debate.
That's the sort of audience most of us in the arts would kill for.
The kicker, of course, is that sort of audience has to be earned.
All of us, in the arts, ultimately get the audience we earn.
Ebert earned his audience by writing his ass off and demonstrating his passion and knowledge for movies on TV.
If we want the sort of curious, intelligent, passionate audience that builds a business (of any type) you have to earn them.
You earn them by making the strongest artistic choices possible, building the deepest relationship possible, making promises . . . and keeping them.
If your audience is apathetic, not willing to take a chance, etc. remember:
THAT'S YOUR FAULT.
Because all of us get the audience we earn.
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