Online Workshops with the Stars

It does seem like a lazy, sloppy cash grab organised on the back of a napkin. The communication around it has been so poor and unprofessional.

Carrie sneered down at stage schools/professional training, continually boasts about the lack of time/effort she puts into her roles and clearly hasn't looked after her own voice or put any effort into learning to act or dance. Now she wants to put on her own online training for beginners?

But what is it? What are the learning outcomes? How is it being tailored to every age? What knowledge are these "beginners" going to leave with? What are they actually willing to guarantee paying customers?

It just comes across as a themed session with singing and a limited Q and A session for the lucky few customers who get to ask a question. "That'll be umpteen pounds please as we want the mansion and luxury lifestyle that Tom Fletcher has for seemingly as little effort as possible."

It'll probably be a success if they continually piggyback off genuine talent/stars as they have done with the Oz themed one, although embarrassing that Oliver has picked (a very politely worded) fault with the promo already.

Disclaimer/Clarification: in saying "genuine talent" - Joel has got to where he is off his own back. Carrie has continually been stuntcast, last did panto in Crawley, had to have tickets given away for free to her own show and had hissy fits when not being entered into an award she's not eligible for. In all seriousness, what can she teach someone about working their way up in a tough industry, always striving to be their best and remaining professional? Her former co-stars are having marvellous careers now - she'd be wise to get them involved.

Goodness, this influencer culture is so greedy and grasping. When trying to part people with their money, please put meaningful effort into it!

Yeah exactly, there is nothing about it that says workshop. It sounds like an online lecture. Even the questions have to be sent in ahead of time.

I just don't think some theatre people live in the real world and understand what some things are. Its very amateur hour.

I think they will be on a cut of the ticket fee?

I've not heard this expression before - is that what ladidah was referring too? I did try looking it up but couldn't find a definition in this context.

Re the performers taking a cut of the ticket fee, that doesn't seem very fair, especially for a new 'business'. I'm sure that's standard practice and all above board and I'm not suggesting otherwise but it's risky if it doesn't sell well, especially if the performers can't back out.

I'm sure it will sell out now Carrie's doing the Gogglebox, however it's a lesson in due diligence and checking social media numbers vs actual engagement.

Thank you for taking the time to explain that. I've learnt something new today!

I do agree with everything you've said.

I think the whole thing does appear to have been approached with a lazy entitled arrogance that's a little baffling and doesn't match reality e.g. Carrie not selling out her owns shows etc.

I think fans should be treated with respect - particularly if someone 'famous' (for lack of a better word) wants to extract/obtain money from them, which Carrie and Joel do seem to want to do as evidenced by their own actions.

I just had a look at Lucie Jones' academy and WOW the difference is incredible! It's really well presented, the aims and objectives are clear and Lucie has approached this as a business woman with knowledge of her industry and what delegates will want from a paid for class. I don't think Lucie has endorsed Carrie and Joel's "workshop" and I can see why!

Carrie and Joel should be thoroughly ashamed and embarrassed by their 'efforts', although I don't think realism and self-awareness are in their repertoire. Their fans should actually be insulted by the tripe they try and serve them in exchange for a hefty price.

Yeah from everything they have said themselves these are zoom lectures/webinars. Nothing workshop about it, workshops mean interaction and learning together

I don't think they can. It really does come across like "let's get money off fans" was the primary greedy objective. Everything about it had been so sloppily put together and as stated before even Oliver was very quick to pick fault (quite rightly) with the advertising.

Agreed. Although the believing their own hype is interesting as it's ultimately so self-destructive. Carrie has always reacted badly and unprofessionally to any criticism and has always seemed to want to control the narrative and control what people say about her. Praise, is of course absolutely fine. Anything else? How dare you!

My daughter was a fan and just wanted Carrie to acknowledge one of her comments but she was always so afraid of wording something 'wrong' and Carrie publicising her displeasure with the apparent goal of trying to set other fans on her. There's no way my daughter could have coped with that so I'm obviously glad she's stepped away from that toxicity now.

Deliberately trying to cultivate an echo chamber, whilst it's obviously ego-boosting, it means Carrie believes her own hype and doesn't have to try to better herself in any way.

The result? A poorly rolled-out business with a confusing and messy business model that can't hold a candle to other attempts e.g. Lucie Jones. Boasting about the lack of effort put into roles. An inability to act, dance and a voice that has deteriorated over the years and now seems the odd one out in panto as she yells above her peers. Her former co-workers, who don't insist on controlling what others say, can't rely on stunt casting and don't rest in the comfort zone of praise have gone from strength to strength.