Skylight Opera Protest: Social Media Brings Down The House

I want you to watch this video because it represents the true value and power of social media.

Jamie Johns, former resident music director of the Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee, WI, speaks at a rally on the front steps of the Broadway Theatre Center, home to the Skylight.

Jamie has initiated an intense social media campaign in support of artistic director Bill Theisen who was fired abruptly and with no discussion with the staff on how his firing would effect the Skylight Opera Company.

In return, Jamie Johns was fired for his outspoken role against the firing of Theisen.

Jamie’s campaign has two aspects:
1. Reinstate Bill Theisen as artistic director.
2. Remove Managing director Eric Dillner, who is accountable for the firing of Bill Theisen.

And right now, it looks like Jamie is winning.

He is utilizing his many connections via email, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. All of this is also giving him a great deal of press in other local publications:
Skylight Opera staff cuts bring protest – The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
and:

Skylight/Theisen; updated 5 p.m. Thurs. 6/18 – JSOnline

Jamie and his supporters are using Twitter quite effectively, as seen here:

skylight opera – Twitter Search

His Facebook Page:

Bring Back Bill Theisen to Skylight

currently has 279 members. And his personal Facebook page is flooded with supporters.

And the response of the Skylight Opera? NOTHING.

Jamie Johns has taken the social media platform and developed an incredibly powerful, totally local campaign.

There are two things to learn here:
1. Social media, without a doubt, gives you an amazingly powerful platform.
2. Doing nothing about this as a company can literally destroy you.

(As an aside, Jamie Johns is a dear friend of mine. Any link love, Tweets, Diggs, Stumbles or whatever your fancy, would be tremendously appreciated.)

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