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 Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Theater Administration :Money Talk |
 Topic: Help please!( Topic Closed) |
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gracie
Walk-On 
Joined: 4/04/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
 Topic: Help please!Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:52am |
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I used almost all of the entire set which was used for the previous production, and requested (in writing) that they leave all of the set pieces as-is. That way, if I needed any other lumber for building, I simply had to take something apart and I would have lumber to use. The previous show director (also a board member, as am I) is insisting that my show pick up half of the cost he incurred for the set. Not only the lumber, which I don't have a problem with...But he insists I must pay for half of the paint as well! That, I do have a problem with.
We repainted the enire set from the all black he had for his production of Grease, to all jungle for Disney's The Jungle Book.
At our previous board meeting he had made the comment that our show would be paying for half of the set costs of his show and I kind of remember agreeing (I'm also the secretary, so I was busy trying to catch up on my recording of the minutes at the time). When he said set, I took that to mean lumber. I would just put it down to lack of communication/misunderstanding, but he has been a total a**, not just about this, but to others about various things.
Any suggestions on how to deal with this?
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B-M-D
Celebrity 
Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346 |
Posted: 7/15/08 at 9:40pm |
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Well that's just nuts. If it's all for the same organization what does it matter? At my CT we try save lumber from previous production if we can and reuse it if not the next production then perhaps some other production. It doesn't matter what production paid for it because in the end it's the CT itself that's paying for it and it all balances out in the end anyway. The same for the paint. The less we need to spend on paint and lumber the better. Don't get me wrong we spend the money when we need to and rarely compromise on production values.
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BD
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
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JoeMc
Celebrity
Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832 |
Posted: 7/16/08 at 2:05am |
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How long before this drongo graduates from Kindergarten?
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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
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mary051756
Lead 
Joined: 1/31/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 47 |
Posted: 7/16/08 at 8:09am |
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Why not bring it up to the Board and have them decide - and if they go with his version...find another CT that's normal!
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“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” EMERSON
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MartyW
Celebrity
Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555 |
Posted: 7/16/08 at 11:44am |
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Bottom line is always, the bottom line.. Do they have seperate accounts? or is this just directorial bragging rights on how much thier show made/vs cost... ??? Remind them maybe that its all the same money no matter where the blame/credit goes? And after that, I have to agree with joe, tell them to grow up.
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Marty W
"Till next we trod the boards.." |
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jaytee060
Star 
Joined: 1/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 63 |
Posted: 7/16/08 at 2:34pm |
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[QUOTE=B-M-D] If it's all for the same organization what does it matter?
Of course it matters. Why should you're shows production costs help pay for another shows paint. Would you pay for a dress made for an actress in his play when you had an all male cast for yours? No way Jose ! And I don't care if he is the president of your board, what he is asking is just not right. And I would certainly think that any slightly intelligent Board of Trustees would tell him so.
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"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"
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JoeMc
Celebrity
Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832 |
Posted: 7/16/08 at 7:45pm |
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Paint is a consumable, like many other materials, if they can be reused or utilised for other shows, it's a bonus resource to the theatre group.
I have produced set pieces such as revolves, flats, rostra & what have you. For a specific production, yet have reused many times over for a myriad of shows.
One that comes to mind was the first 18' revolve, that the particular group took issue with, as being a total waste of time & money. Funnily enough that was about 20 years ago & they still are still using it today for at least a couple of productions a year. At the time the only way I could get it through committee to spend the money, was to justify it on the bases of it being used for two later productions. Probably not a good example, except should those other productions reduce their budget to pay a fee for utilising it? Much the same with the stock standard flats, painted black & used as fixed legs [wings]. So the production I produced them for should actually be very cost effective, as they would have paid for them selves about 20 times over. So in fact now it cost nothing & my budget should be reduced accordingly, every time their used? It is good for my ego, but a pain in the R Send for for anyone to account for it!
Why not every production that uses gel & lighting actually pay out of their budget, for a proportional fee of the replacement costs. [actually this is not that bad an idea!]However this is house all keeping & the theatre budget. Same as toilet paper & soap.
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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
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belle
Star
Joined: 9/12/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 75 |
Posted: 7/16/08 at 11:36pm |
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You can always play the "if it's not written down, it didn't happen" card. Secretary is a very powerful position. I think I would "forget" the side conversation about who pays for what since it didn't make it into the minutes.
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B-M-D
Celebrity
Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346 |
Posted: 7/17/08 at 9:09am |
I'm not an accountant so perhaps from a bean counter's perspective it does matter. The point is some other production is continually and either directly or indirectly going pay for another production's use of materials. It goes with the territory. There's not a CT in my neck of the woods that starts from scratch as far as use of materials is concerned. There's always the legacy of a previous production associated with the current one.
Then again I don't pay attention to my budget anyway. Sometimes I'm over sometimes I'm under. But my productions make money despite my less than desirable budgetary skills. But I suppose that's a whole 'nuther discussion.
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BD
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
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jcf0mtr
Walk-On
Joined: 7/07/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Posted: 7/22/08 at 2:29pm |
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Tell the dweeb that you are using the lumber - painted or not, and if he wants you to pay for the paint, have him send you an invoice. When it comes in, turn it over to the board for approval since it is an expense overage. If the board has any common sense, they will laugh at it and tell the dweeb to get a life. If the board doesn't support you, get out of there as fast as you can because the insanity probably is contagious.
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Joe
Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts |
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