I was recently informed that the name of our theatre is highly praised locally, all because of a little thank you!

This may be one of the most important posts to hit this entire board, no matter what the category or topic.  Thank you, Nanette! 

First and foremost, there are so many levels to Nanette's message.  Certainly, the thank you itself stands out.  People go on and on about the lack of volunteers and the subsequent "need" to pay someone to do something volunteers have done in community theatre for decades upon decades.  Do you think Nanette and her theatre will have to ever pay someone again to come in and do hair?  Imagine what a simple "thank you" note would do for your volunteer retainment if every volunteer for every show got such a note from someone in a leadership position whether that is the director, the tech director, a board member, etc., etc., etc. 

Let's broaden this out really far and talk about the public image of your theatre.  When anyone associated with that business sees or hears the name of Nanette's theatre, there will be a smile, a warm fuzzy feeling that will come to mind.  I can't think of any business, from global to local mom and pop operation that wouldn't just do about anything to get that kind of response in the public eye.  Even if these students don't  -- or didn't --  fit the typical "theatre goer profile", they sure might now!  Every time they talk to someone about their experience with Nanette's theatre or even if the idea of theatre comes up randomly, they're going to have something very positive to say.  Darn!  The impact is almost immeasurable! 

Let's go back to  the issue of volunteer recruitment.  Too often, we wait for people to come through  the door and say they want to help.  Or, we send a press release out saying we're going to have an "open house" for volunteers and then we really believe they're going to break the doors down!  No wonder so many people in community theatre think they have to pay people to do thing!  Volunteer recruitment is a very pro-active and intensive process that must take place at all times and at all levels of your theatre.  Nanette went to a beauty school -- which, by the way, might also be able to offer make-up artists, as well -- to recruit volunteers to do hair.  Let's apply this in other environments:  local commercial art and design schools for promotional material; local art training programs for scenery painters; local business school for box office personnel (or even local banks who have experienced money handlers -- their tellers!); local music school for musicians; local tech school for techies; and on and on.  It's all about building good partnership(s).  And good partnerships have something in it for everyone -- you can't be greedy!  Couple such partnerships with experienced volunteers you already have and you end up with a mentoring relationship.  And you may also end up with a truly dynamic volunteer development program!

Once again, Bravo Nanette!  Bravissmo!! 

I was volunteer coordinator and the resident front of house manager for a theatre in my area for a couple years.  When I stepped down I got quite a few calls complaining about my replacement.  She never THANKED them when they would show up, didn't send "thank-you" cards out and treated them like they were 4 years old.  Something that I always thought was second nature and a common practice apparently does make a huge impression and can really make a difference in a good volunteering experience.  I never really put much thought in getting thanked, etc, as I don't do theatre for the praise.  Until I recently directed a show and (for the first time after about 20 some shows) my bio was ommitted from a program, my name was never even thought to be put on a poster as director, and I didn't get any "thank yous" from the organization did I realize how important that can be.  Cast members actually brought it all up to me as they were really upset FOR ME!  To this day that organization doesn't realize how hurtful that ended up being (even after I brought it up in my post mortem and several cast members mentioned to the BOD after the show closed)