Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Keeping Track of Props Inventory?

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Propsnerd
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Topic: Keeping Track of Props Inventory?
Posted: 3/03/10 at 6:35pm

Our med-large community theatre group will be moving into a brand new theatre this year(!). As the resident theatre company, we'll have our own rehearsal/storage space, including a generous area for props. We've decided to use the move as a opportunity to revamp how we deal with props, and that includes computerizing our props inventory. I've googled and searched as creatively as I can but haven't come up with much beyond general inventory software.

So...what do you use? Any suggestions for free or almost free software? Anyone made their own database with Microsoft Access or something else? All thoughts and suggestions about going from paper to computer are welcome!

Thanks in advance.

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JoeMc
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Posted: 3/03/10 at 9:18pm

Maybe this topic on the AACT public board forum may help;-
http://www.aact.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1149712324/2#2
It's great your getting a new venue to play about with & applying the basics of the 5 P's. Thumbs%20Up

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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Propsnerd
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Posted: 3/03/10 at 10:06pm

Thanks, JoeMc. I'm outside the U.S. so the AACT board is new to me. (Now I know what I'll be up to tonight!).

I see you used Excel with your groups (the inter-group cooperation sounds like a terrific idea. Too bad it didn't work out.) We toyed with using Excel---it was so tempting because it's so easy to set up. In the end decided we wanted database capabilities that went beyond Excel---entering items via form, having a search pull up all items in a category w/pics, check-in and checkout etc. We've been leaning toward creating something from scratch in MS Access. It sounds like we're on the right track going that route.

I'd love to talk with anyone who's created such a critter. I have a couple of "what the heck did you do about this" questions and any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated.

And yes, we're all very, very excited about the new digs. Aside from the obvious new playground equipment, it's giving us an opportunity to make some organizational/procedural changes.

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JoeMc
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Posted: 3/03/10 at 10:36pm

Where abouts is your theatre locate?
From you the mention of 'dis' in your post, I assume it is British.
Unfortunetly I'm not young enough to know everything about about software.
However the question of a 'props & resorces database comes up regularly localy, especialy with our Theatre Association ITA [a.k.a 'Aunty Ita'].
But the same old problem of inter group windging pops up each time.
Anyhow toi toi toi chookas on your endeavours.

Edited by JoeMc - 3/04/10 at 9:06pm

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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Propsnerd
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Posted: 3/04/10 at 12:07pm

Canada.

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JoeMc
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Posted: 3/04/10 at 9:22pm

G'donya!
I have asked around & most mobs tend to use MS Acess as you sugested.
You could check out a Pohmy [British] site that could also help.
http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?act=idx
The sugestion there seems to be similar, that of using MS Acess as a good way to go.However you could do a search on the Blueroom there may be something I haved missed.
The winter games was great - well done Canada, especialy in the hockey! Wink

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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Propsnerd
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Posted: 3/15/10 at 5:44pm

Thanks, Joe. Microsoft Access it is. We're on our way.

And yes,

the games were a blast, and we were pretty proud of our puck pushers that day!

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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup

Author	Message
Propsnerd Walk-On Joined: 3/03/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Keeping Track of Props Inventory? Posted: 3/03/10 at 6:35pm
	Our med-large community theatre group will be moving into a brand new theatre this year(!). As the resident theatre company, we'll have our own rehearsal/storage space, including a generous area for props. We've decided to use the move as a opportunity to revamp how we deal with props, and that includes computerizing our props inventory. I've googled and searched as creatively as I can but haven't come up with much beyond general inventory software. So...what do you use? Any suggestions for free or almost free software? Anyone made their own database with Microsoft Access or something else? All thoughts and suggestions about going from paper to computer are welcome! Thanks in advance.

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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 3/03/10 at 9:18pm
	Maybe this topic on the AACT public board forum may help;- http://www.aact.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1149712324/2#2 It's great your getting a new venue to play about with & applying the basics of the 5 P's.
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

Propsnerd Walk-On Joined: 3/03/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/03/10 at 10:06pm
	Thanks, JoeMc. I'm outside the U.S. so the AACT board is new to me. (Now I know what I'll be up to tonight!). I see you used Excel with your groups (the inter-group cooperation sounds like a terrific idea. Too bad it didn't work out.) We toyed with using Excel---it was so tempting because it's so easy to set up. In the end decided we wanted database capabilities that went beyond Excel---entering items via form, having a search pull up all items in a category w/pics, check-in and checkout etc. We've been leaning toward creating something from scratch in MS Access. It sounds like we're on the right track going that route. I'd love to talk with anyone who's created such a critter. I have a couple of "what the heck did you do about this" questions and any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated. And yes, we're all very, very excited about the new digs. Aside from the obvious new playground equipment, it's giving us an opportunity to make some organizational/procedural changes.
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 3/03/10 at 10:36pm
	Where abouts is your theatre locate? From you the mention of 'dis' in your post, I assume it is British. Unfortunetly I'm not young enough to know everything about about software. However the question of a 'props & resorces database comes up regularly localy, especialy with our Theatre Association ITA [a.k.a 'Aunty Ita']. But the same old problem of inter group windging pops up each time. Anyhow toi toi toi chookas on your endeavours. Edited by JoeMc - 3/04/10 at 9:06pm
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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Propsnerd Walk-On Joined: 3/03/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/04/10 at 12:07pm
	Canada.
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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 3/04/10 at 9:22pm
	G'donya! I have asked around & most mobs tend to use MS Acess as you sugested. You could check out a Pohmy [British] site that could also help. http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?act=idx The sugestion there seems to be similar, that of using MS Acess as a good way to go.However you could do a search on the Blueroom there may be something I haved missed. The winter games was great - well done Canada, especialy in the hockey!
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

Propsnerd Walk-On Joined: 3/03/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/15/10 at 5:44pm
	Thanks, Joe. Microsoft Access it is. We're on our way. And yes, the games were a blast, and we were pretty proud of our puck pushers that day!
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Topic: Keeping Track of Props Inventory?( Topic Closed)