Slime Tutorials!!
As a fan of musical theatre, I've watched a fair few slime tutorials. For those not in the know, slime tutorials are the term used for bootlegs, videos of Broadway shows filmed discretely from the audience. This term is used so that people can find it without YouTube flagging it as illegal. These unofficial recordings often spark passionate debates online. Some call them disrespectful, others say they're lifelines. I would say it's a mix of both, and while they are complicated they are far from evil. Let me be clear: I’m not saying we should encourage illegal recordings. I understand the concerns from performers, creators, and producers, bootlegs can bypass copyright laws, violate performers' privacy, and undermine the integrity of a live experience. But here’s where the conversation gets murky: we treat the viewers of bootlegs as villains, when in reality, many of them are just passionate fans who lack access. Musical theatre, as it currently exists, is painfully exc...