Earn & Invest 716: Should You Invest in What You Love? w/ Ken Davenport
Mar 16, 2026
Ken Davenport, Tony Award–winning Broadway producer and author known for Kinky Boots, discusses passion investing in theater. He compares shows to startups and sports-team ownership. Topics include who typically invests, crowdfunding and ticket sizes, deal structures and returns, risks and nonfinancial perks like backstage access. Practical tips on finding producers and doing due diligence are covered.
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Broadway Shows Function Like Startups
- Treat every Broadway show as a startup: a new product trying to penetrate a market, which explains high risk.
- Ken points out theater offers additional ROI forms like access, involvement, and artistic impact beyond cash returns.
Ken’s Journey From Community Theatre To Producer
- Ken’s theater path began at age five in community theater, led to NYU Tisch, and upward through stage and company management to producing.
- He launched his own shows in 2004, running every role from salesline to payroll to learn fast.
Know Typical Investment Minimums And Accreditation
- Expect to be invited into an LLC as an accredited investor; typical entry today is often $25,000–$50,000, with some off-Broadway opportunities at $10,000.
- Davenport recommends asking producers for flexibility and never investing more than you can afford to lose.
