Out of the Blue

Matt Goldman shares how Blue Man Group intersects with the attractions industry
By Jeremy Schoolfield

Matt Goldman didn’t grow up going to theme parks—but his son sure will.

Goldman, co-founder of Blue Man Group, was the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s General Managers and Owners’ Breakfast. He focused on what he’s learned about the attractions industry since Blue Man Group opened a permanent show at Universal Orlando Resort in 2007.

“ Up until a few years ago, I knew very little of your strange and wonderful world,” he told a capacity crowd. “We have a lot more in common than I realized.”

Goldman found common ground with theme parks through the eyes and emotions of his 5-year-old son. He related one story of his child’s reaction after spending a day at Legoland California: His son called it “the best day of my life!”

“That’s what we’re all shooting for—to have your parents and your kids come together in a passionate and exciting way,” Goldman said.

That kind of response has fed back into the Blue Man show, as well. Goldman said he’s been pleasantly surprised at how much energy the theme park demographic brings to the shows at Universal—even if, for some, it’s their first experience with top-level live theater.

The original Blue Man lives his life looking for “game-changing moves,” and taking Blue Man Group into the theme park environment was certainly one of them. The next one is “Mind Blast,” a large-format 4-D Blue Man Group movie for distribution in museums and science centers starting in 2011. Next year, Blue Man Group will open a permanent show aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Epic ship.

Goldman said the ideal for theme parks and Blue Men alike is to do “good work”—producing a product of the highest quality that also helps the public good in some way.

“ These words define our organization,” he said. “We like to be brain-enriching, longlasting, beautiful, funny, technologically innovative, cool for all ages, emotionally powerful, game-changing, respectful, creative, wide appeal, exciting, positive, and musical.”