Good advice Mike!

I fell in to a similar situation, as Slick! When I move back to Perth. I answered a call for help! From a local group, to design a kitchen sink drama set for them. The group membership, was mainly from the blue rinse set, with little or no idea of stagecraft, only what they had gleaned, from blundering along, from show to show & setting in concrete, their own home grown methods, over some 40 years. However I must have stood still in one place too long, because they clobbered me, into rewiring & updating the electric?s in the whole of the theatre - I was happy to donate my time & most of the materials. The only hiccup was they expected it to be done, while they were rehearsing their next production -?Jack the Ripper?, which was to be done, as an English old time music hall production. I was asked, while I was doing the electric?s, if I would direct their next musical, latter on in the year, which I did! However most of the cast only knew of me, as the sparky fixing the theatre up! The first of the blocking rehearsals, I ended up with at least 10 other Directors, on stage, from the oldies in the cast. Like you I rarely shout or raise my voice, but this lot started to get right up my nose!

So at the next full cast rehearsal, I pulled the pin, on the proceedings. Telling them all, to squat their bums, on the seats. I had planned to go off, at them, like a raw prawn in the sun. But they all sat so quietly, like stunned mullets. I started to goldfish & became lost for words! Luckily I was a standing next to an open props basket, with walking sticks & a dance cane protruding. Not thinking I picked up the dance cane & blurted out, "This is the ?talking stick?!" I then went prattled on & baffled all the old crusty thespians. Who had challenged me previously, by dropping a heap of techie terms, into my opening waffle. I could see the strained looks on their faces, as their ego?s had stopped them airing their lack of theatre knowledge! [they say, Ignorance is bliss. No it?s not - it is heaven!] I then proceeded to explain the magic of the ?Talking Stick?! [which is steeped in the American Indian & Celtic cultures] Where by, no one is allowed to speak, unless they are have the talking stick. Also they can say whatever they like without any fear of any reprisals, because it is the stick, that is doing the talking. The stick is then past on to others in turn, & interjectors are told off, by the holder of the stick, at the time. It took, in all only about 20 minutes, for them to get the hang of it & after an hour we got back to the rehearsal. From then on if anyone had any suggestions to make on how show should be directed. I referred them to the talking stick sessions, that were to be held after every rehearsal, from now on. Invariably most of the would be Directors, forgot what they wanted to say by the time, the session came about!

Also as I was the sole arbitrator, in the sessions, I could pass the stick on to someone else, if they got out of hand!

I don?t say this will work in your situation, but I use this method quite a bit, even at boisterous committee meetings!

Chookas 

Hi,

I have been reading this thread and feeling for you. I agree with Mike. It sounds like you are doing a great job. Hang in there. With everything that you are doing it has to get better. I have one other little trick that I have used that might help. Tell them up front you have three (or however many) points that you want to cover. If it is going to be a long list, pass out candy. Then they have something in their mouths while you're talking. (Okay, I taught elementary school for years, but you would be surprised how many adults warm to that old trick.) Count off the points as you talk. Then ask for questions, not suggestions. You would be surprised how many people can't form a suggestion into a question when asked. Then move on. They feel included, and you have had a chance to get your job done.

Good luck. Let us know how it all turns out.

Linda

Good for you. I was wondering how things turned out.

Linda