I set up cabaretlive to try to foster a cabaret community, initially in Sydney but as it grows, around Australia.
Cabaret is one of my favourite art forms and I am also an erstwhile cabaret performer.
Too often have I taken friends to cabaret shows only to have them say to me, “I didn’t know what that was going to be like but gee it was good”. How do you get people to see a show or performer they may not have heard of, when there is such a plethora of choice for your entertainment dollar and, equally importantly, time?
Cabaretlive is meant to be a place where venues can list what is on, perfomers can link to their personal sites and audiences can see what is on and where, and then turn up a YouTube clip of the performer and decide whether to see it.
There is an opt in sign up where you can register your email address to receive regular updates. This will also include special cabaretlive events where we will have a table that you can join and meet like minded folk.
Anyway, one thing I forgot to say is, what is cabaret? Cabaret is many things, and it would be great to hear what people think it is for them. For me the wonderful thing about cabaret is the interaction and intimacy between the audience and the performer; it is the breaking down of the imaginary fourth wall that exists in theatre, bringing audience and performer together into the one room at the one time.
I have also provided links to the sites of my cabaret performing friends around the world, mainly the US. New York is for me the spiritual home of cabaret and I have studied there and met some wonderful performers who have become wonderful friends. They are people whose shows I can recommend if you ever get the chance.
Robert Green