Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: High School Alum Troupe needing advice

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padfoot13
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Joined: 5/23/05
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Topic: High School Alum Troupe needing advice
Posted: 5/24/05 at 10:48pm

Hi!
I'm a member of a troupe (the some one from the Play Suggestions board). We're recent grads/current high school students hoping to put on a play this summer to raise funds for the high school arts (music, drama) departments. We would really like to do the Man Who came To Dinner. It looks like our cost will be:
Books: $650 (can that be right?)
Royalties: $50 per night, 2 nights, $100 dollars
Set: I HAVE NO CLUE
Publicity: ?
Rental: We're planning on using the HS auditorium, which is $35 dollars a day and an extra $15 for lighting/sound.
Plus, the custodian has to be there, at a cost of $20 per hour.

So, by that, we'd really have to practice somewhere else, because we cannot afford to practice there. Does that seem steep? I think so, but I don't have any experiance in these fields.
What have I forgotten?

The auditorium seats about 400 I believe, and many would come, but I doubt that we'd have an entirely full house.

Thanks for the help,
Padfoot

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Linda S
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Posted: 5/24/05 at 11:58pm

Hi Padfoot:

I did a quick look. You are looking at a cast of 15 men and 9 women for a total of 24 in the cast. Scripts are $6.50 each.Your scripts will cost you $156 plus shipping. Royalties are $60 per performance. Sets and props and costumes for this show, because it is period and because of the dictates of the script, will be challenging and pricey. I'ld say $1000. Publicity minumum will run you about another $1000. That should including advertising, and printing of posters, programs and tickets. A straight show at my theater with a unit set and simple props and costumes usually comes in with a budget around $5000. You have taken on a quite a project.

Hope this helps. Good Luck.

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Shatcher
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Posted: 5/25/05 at 12:00pm

The rental fees youv'e quoted are pretty good. Keep in mind that at a high school they have to cover the cost of the space and staff. Keep in mind the cost you have may not cover things like new gel for lights, storage of sets and costumes and cleaning of the theatre after you leave. Little extras like these can add up fast.

Also you might check to see if the school has alums who can help you. Maybe someone you went to school with is now working for a printing company or hardware store and would be willing to donate some of the things you will need. You may also be able to rent or borrow a lot of the props and costumes you need. Offer them an add in the program in exchange for their donations. follow up all donations with a letter so the person or business can write off the donation.

Best of luck!

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Linda S
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Posted: 5/25/05 at 1:58pm

Hi Padfoot,

I had another couple of thoughts. Along with the custodian our local high schools require that we also hire a police officer. You might want to check on that too. That can be a big expense. Also, ask if the school requires you to have insurance. I seem to remember when we used the high school stage they asked to see our policy. (FYI: We only used our high school stage once. It was too expensive.)

I agree with Shatcher. Your rental is really good. We pay $1.25 per seat plus a fee for utilities. We pay about $1500 per run of a show. Lots of places are a lot more.

I would like to offer a suggestion. If you can, talk to someone who does shows at the high school regularly. Ask them what their experience and expenses were. They will have insight into some of the hidden costs like cleaning and storage that you might not have thought about.

Again, I wish you luck.

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Gaafa
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Posted: 5/25/05 at 10:52pm

After all the whole production is to assist them, not that I know much about Alumni - if that?s what the ?Alumn? means?

The school should be a shareholder in this, as it?s for their benefit in the end!

G?donya for wanting to do this, unfortunately it generally becomes a situation of;-

?you do all - they do nowt!?

Put it to them & see how you feel afterwards - I?m sure they won?t tell you to rack off, as they will need you all on board in the future. If they do or hum ?n har a lot - At least you will know where your group stands, before they risk getting into debt & having to swallow more ?bitter alum? on the schools behalf.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Kathy S
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Posted: 5/26/05 at 8:36pm

Advertising can be one of your biggest expenses, or you can do it "on the cheap". There are lots of ways to cut expenses. If you have someone to take photos of your cast at work and write articles for the newspapers in the area, usually you can get some good free publicity that way. Think of the many different angles you can write about. Sometimes local radio stations need somebody to interview and you will have an interesting story to tell about your high school alumni theatre group. Print advertising is expensive and so is paid radio advertising, but that isn't the only way to go. Posters don't have to cost much and neither do "table tents" -- by that I mean the little stand up adverts that go on restaurtant tables -- they are small and attractive so people read them while they wait for lunch. I think $1000 is a pretty high estimate for advertising, but it depends on where you live and what kind of rates you have to pay.

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Topic: High School Alum Troupe needing advice( Topic Closed)

Author	Message
padfoot13 Player Joined: 5/23/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Topic: High School Alum Troupe needing advice Posted: 5/24/05 at 10:48pm
	Hi! I'm a member of a troupe (the some one from the Play Suggestions board). We're recent grads/current high school students hoping to put on a play this summer to raise funds for the high school arts (music, drama) departments. We would really like to do the Man Who came To Dinner. It looks like our cost will be: Books: $650 (can that be right?) Royalties: $50 per night, 2 nights, $100 dollars Set: I HAVE NO CLUE Publicity: ? Rental: We're planning on using the HS auditorium, which is $35 dollars a day and an extra $15 for lighting/sound. Plus, the custodian has to be there, at a cost of $20 per hour. So, by that, we'd really have to practice somewhere else, because we cannot afford to practice there. Does that seem steep? I think so, but I don't have any experiance in these fields. What have I forgotten? The auditorium seats about 400 I believe, and many would come, but I doubt that we'd have an entirely full house. Thanks for the help, Padfoot

	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 5/24/05 at 11:58pm
	Hi Padfoot: I did a quick look. You are looking at a cast of 15 men and 9 women for a total of 24 in the cast. Scripts are $6.50 each.Your scripts will cost you $156 plus shipping. Royalties are $60 per performance. Sets and props and costumes for this show, because it is period and because of the dictates of the script, will be challenging and pricey. I'ld say $1000. Publicity minumum will run you about another $1000. That should including advertising, and printing of posters, programs and tickets. A straight show at my theater with a unit set and simple props and costumes usually comes in with a budget around $5000. You have taken on a quite a project. Hope this helps. Good Luck. L.
	IP Logged

Shatcher Celebrity Joined: 2/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 251	Posted: 5/25/05 at 12:00pm
	The rental fees youv'e quoted are pretty good. Keep in mind that at a high school they have to cover the cost of the space and staff. Keep in mind the cost you have may not cover things like new gel for lights, storage of sets and costumes and cleaning of the theatre after you leave. Little extras like these can add up fast. Also you might check to see if the school has alums who can help you. Maybe someone you went to school with is now working for a printing company or hardware store and would be willing to donate some of the things you will need. You may also be able to rent or borrow a lot of the props and costumes you need. Offer them an add in the program in exchange for their donations. follow up all donations with a letter so the person or business can write off the donation. Best of luck! S
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 5/25/05 at 1:58pm
	Hi Padfoot, I had another couple of thoughts. Along with the custodian our local high schools require that we also hire a police officer. You might want to check on that too. That can be a big expense. Also, ask if the school requires you to have insurance. I seem to remember when we used the high school stage they asked to see our policy. (FYI: We only used our high school stage once. It was too expensive.) I agree with Shatcher. Your rental is really good. We pay $1.25 per seat plus a fee for utilities. We pay about $1500 per run of a show. Lots of places are a lot more. I would like to offer a suggestion. If you can, talk to someone who does shows at the high school regularly. Ask them what their experience and expenses were. They will have insight into some of the hidden costs like cleaning and storage that you might not have thought about. Again, I wish you luck. L.
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 5/25/05 at 10:52pm
	After all the whole production is to assist them, not that I know much about Alumni - if that?s what the ?Alumn? means? The school should be a shareholder in this, as it?s for their benefit in the end! G?donya for wanting to do this, unfortunately it generally becomes a situation of;- ?you do all - they do nowt!? Put it to them & see how you feel afterwards - I?m sure they won?t tell you to rack off, as they will need you all on board in the future. If they do or hum ?n har a lot - At least you will know where your group stands, before they risk getting into debt & having to swallow more ?bitter alum? on the schools behalf.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 5/26/05 at 8:36pm
	Advertising can be one of your biggest expenses, or you can do it "on the cheap". There are lots of ways to cut expenses. If you have someone to take photos of your cast at work and write articles for the newspapers in the area, usually you can get some good free publicity that way. Think of the many different angles you can write about. Sometimes local radio stations need somebody to interview and you will have an interesting story to tell about your high school alumni theatre group. Print advertising is expensive and so is paid radio advertising, but that isn't the only way to go. Posters don't have to cost much and neither do "table tents" -- by that I mean the little stand up adverts that go on restaurtant tables -- they are small and attractive so people read them while they wait for lunch. I think $1000 is a pretty high estimate for advertising, but it depends on where you live and what kind of rates you have to pay.
	IP Logged