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 Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Other Topics |
 Topic: HELP( Topic Closed) |
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sonshine
Lead 
Joined: 3/23/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 33 |
 Posted: 8/22/08 at 4:46pm |
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Me either. I guess my first mistake was not letting them know how much work commuity theater is. I had a budget for starting and by the time the second play the small budget was gone and I began to focus on getting sponsors and selling ad space in our programs (which I had sold some) but for these people, they wanted me to have all the money they wanted upfront.
No matter how often I kept explaining to them the fundraising is a continual part of theater, they saw this as a failure on my part and began to complain that I didn't put enough flyers up, get in newspapers enough. Now keep in mind we have almost no budget, but that was ok because I busted my but calling people and asking them to buy tickets and putting flyers everywhere. That is where all the critism of the producer being at every rehearsal came in. They came from a church background and are used to everyone being there all the time. I even took the time to print out a list of duties for them-but it seems they just wanted to blame me. Some of it I deserve (asking cast members to help tickets) but most I didn't (trying to raise money, not being at every rehearsal).
It is hard right now because of the hurt, but I will learn and move on.
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ClintonHammond
Player 
Joined: 7/28/08 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 28 |
Posted: 8/22/08 at 4:48pm |
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Sonshine... I find it even makes a good personal mantra....
"wateroffaducksback... wateroffaducksback... wateroffaducksback...." Maybe it'll help you through trying times as well! I'll say good luck even if some superstitious people think it's bad to say... As a good friend of mine said quite some time ago, "Luck will very often save a man, if his courage holds." |
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Without actors, a techie is a person with a list of marketable skills.
Without techies, an actor is just a goof, emoting alone in the dark. |
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KEB54
Celebrity 
Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227 |
Posted: 8/22/08 at 5:38pm |
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My experience has been that the director is in charge of the artistic side of things and the producer is in charge of everything else. In most places I work, the director is hired by the board and one of the board members serves as the executive producer (for wont of a better term) and several other board members act as associate producers (again, my term). They handle the financial side, publicity, front of house, securing rehearsal and performance space, assuring the staff is filled out, and assuming all administrative duties, etc. Good producers work with the director to facilitate the director’s needs. IMHO a producer at rehearsal is not a good thing. That’s when I worry about hearing things like, “our audience won’t like that’, “we can’t do that”, “that needs to be changed”, etc. Your people should be happy the producer isn’t at rehearsal. |
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KEB
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jayzehr
Celebrity
Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537 |
Posted: 8/22/08 at 6:28pm |
Two questions: 1) Do you have a director? 2) You use the term "in" rehearsals--does that mean you're also an actor in this second production? In my view if there is negative energy on a production it is the responsibillity of the leadership (be it producer and/or director) to be aggressive in doing something about it. It's easier said than done, of course, but what you need to do is identify the problem(s) and take care of it. Yes, the producer shouldn't have to be at all rehearsals but if you're "the man" and you obviously don't have a director who is holding down the fort for you attitude wise maybe you need to be there until you have things settled. |
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sonshine
Lead
Joined: 3/23/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 33 |
Posted: 8/25/08 at 12:03pm |
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You asked "Have you asked these people who want you at every rehearsal what they think your DUTIES should be at these rehearsals? "
Yes, I have and that is their problem they want me to sell ALL the tickets, all the advertising space and still be at rehearsals. It is said because they are so ready to jump all over me. Either I do too much (i.e. making decisions) or I don't do enough. There is just no pleasing some people.
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whitebat
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Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137 |
Posted: 8/27/08 at 7:33pm |
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Our CT has never had a "Producer" as such. But our directors have had a tendency to take over the whole show. Are you having production meetings? I would suggest having about one a month, and more closer to the performance. Has the director communicated his/her overall vision for the production to the costumer, people working on sets, etc? We have a lot of problems because nobody is really sure what the director wants from a production. I don't think you would need to be at any rehearsals until closer to the performance.
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sonshine
Lead
Joined: 3/23/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 33 |
Posted: 9/18/08 at 12:33pm |
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I don't either. These people seem to want to critize me when we don't sell out, don't have all the expensive items they want. I am wondering if an orientation will solve this problem or just create more.
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JoeMc
Celebrity
Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832 |
Posted: 9/18/08 at 9:18pm |
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G'day Tracy!
There is quite a bit on theatre management, on the home page of the Greenroom site:-
Have a look also at the AACT site, they have a lot of info, that may help?
This gives some insight to the various theatre positions;- http://www.aact.org/people/index.htmlAlso check out the 'resources' page on Starting a Theatre group;- http://www.managementhelp.org/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htmI don't know any comeatre group here, that actually have a 'Producer' position.
This is deemed to be covered by the elected Commitee & carried out by them as a whole.
Maybe you need to start delegating &/or assigning bods to fill each job function. Which is also a good way of introducing new member/volunteers.
Share the load as fast as you can, break the group down into 5 or more sections. Such as FOH/PR, Wardrobe, Technical & so on. At the same time use their ego's & give them a job, they are suited for. Make them feel important & part of the team.
To do this you need to bring matters to a head, let them blow their bags & surface at an open forum. See how many put their hand up to share the load - you might be surprised!
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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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Cravens
Player
Joined: 11/03/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Posted: 11/03/08 at 4:35pm |
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Our producers are only there a few times a week, if that, more during set building, because of the the money issues. I agree each theatre sets up thier structure differently. It also depends on the show and it's needs. |
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Tracy
www.longmonttheatre.org |
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