Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Directing your boss?

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jenkins
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Joined: 1/31/11
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Topic: Directing your boss?
Posted: 12/01/11 at 8:48am

By nodding my head enthusiastically to the idea of a fund raiser, suddenly I am now directing my boss in a show. Though I've worked professionally for years, I'm new to this theatre and to community theatre. I realize I must proceed with caution or hit the unemployment line - any advice from anyone who has btdt?

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JoeMc
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Posted: 12/02/11 at 1:06am

G'day Jenifer I'm sure if you have a quite word with your boss first, that this is theatre & your not wearing gloves. I'm sure if he is worth his salt, he will enjoy the role reversal

What happens on the boards, stays there

Like him your playing out a role!

Edited by JoeMc - 12/02/11 at 1:09am

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

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Majicwrench
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Posted: 12/02/11 at 1:12am

At first I thought, "I haven't BTDT, I shouldn't say anything" and then I realized I have directed my WIFE a couple of times. And we are still married.

So, since I have BTDT, I would say just treat him with respect, just like any other actor. Most people in leadership positions can deal well with learning new things and following "orders" and he may even get a look at a side of you he didn't know about. Go for it!

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TonyDi
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Posted: 12/02/11 at 7:27am

On the reverse side - I knew of an actor in our community who was the director of the state's legislative research commission - a major position in state government. He was in a few shows I ran lights and sound for and always found him to be an excellent actor. He used to come to all my shows and always was effusive with his praise and how he liked the work I did. THEN I had the chance to cast and direct him as Norman Thayer in On Golden Pond. The critic stated - and I paraphrase - that "....Hellard had some mighty big shoes to fill doing the role Henry Fonda had done in the film....but Hellard's performance not only equaled Fonda's but rivaled it as well"!!!

Well I said all that to say this - it wasn't a year later and he became MY BOSS. Now I have to wonder if it wasn't because of the work we did on OGP or not - but I hope it was because he saw whatever qualities that allowed me as the director to do my job he hired me for just as I would doing theater - without worrying that he was some big state government official - I treated him equally, fairly, giving him what he needed and wanted to bring TO THE STAGE what got him superb reviews and wonderful audience accolade. He gave me a new career too...so I was eternally grateful. Even THEN after he became my boss - as DIRECTOR of The Legislative Research Commission of my state, he eventually got hired to do the Chataqua summer shows developing his own character and script BUT HE ASKED ME to watch him and give him directions - even when he was MY boss as director or LRC.

I like to think he became my friend but I always respected him first as an actor when I didn't work for him, then as my boss when he did become my boss. Actually I have high praise for him that he gave me a new career and took care of me as an employee that started in theater - developed into a working relationship, but mostly a friendship. And neither of us over-stepped any boundary defined by any of the positions in which we found ourselves. Matter of fact after he became my boss I also worked with him in theater on numerous occasions not as director but in other capacities. HE was smart enough to leave the job on the job and do his theater things as an actor without using his position in the workplace to effect anything. He was a true gentleman.

Trusting that YOUR boss will do the same and leave the job on the job without it effecting anything you do outside is all you can hope for. There HAS to be mutual respect (there was in my case) and if he's worth his salt as Joe said - then you'll have a great experience and even perhaps if you treat him as you would with any actor you direct, with respect, the help they may need to perform at their peak, well just maybe you'll earn added respect for treating him like the actor he apparently WANTS to be in addition to cementing a continued good working relationship where the mutual respect with him as boss and you as employee can flourish at the same time.

Good luck with it. As Majic says - he may see a side of YOUR personality that appeals to him as a boss or employer. Who knows. Just don't let it create angst for you when it's YOUR job and what you were hired to do as director. Hoping you and he can leave the job on the job!!

TonyDi

Edited by TonyDi - 12/02/11 at 7:30am

"Almost famous"

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falstaff29
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Posted: 12/04/11 at 7:34pm

People are different, and this sort of situation might not always work out as well as these anecdotes suggest. Not EXACTLY the same, but I know that I'm always reluctant to cast board members in my shows if they audition--not that I do anything "wrong" as a director, but their very presence can still have a (as the courts call it) "chilling effect" on my ability to do my job. The best way to deal with directing a boss you don't want to direct is not to cast him. Sad but true.

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B-M-D1
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Posted: 2/22/12 at 10:55pm

I would never cast anyone that I worked with, boss or otherwise. Too many conflicts of interest and the relationship is different. I keep work and theatre entirely separate worlds. I'm not even Facebook friends with any of my co-workers.

Dying is easy, comedy is hard.

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jenkins
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Joined: 1/31/11
Location: United States
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Posted: 3/16/12 at 9:18am

Thanks all for the advice. I actually hadn't cast my boss, she came attached to the show, and she was terrific. She took all direction as a professional, even when she didn't agree, and the show was a success.

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Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Author	Message
jenkins Player Joined: 1/31/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Topic: Directing your boss? Posted: 12/01/11 at 8:48am
	By nodding my head enthusiastically to the idea of a fund raiser, suddenly I am now directing my boss in a show. Though I've worked professionally for years, I'm new to this theatre and to community theatre. I realize I must proceed with caution or hit the unemployment line - any advice from anyone who has btdt?

	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 12/02/11 at 1:06am
	G'day Jenifer I'm sure if you have a quite word with your boss first, that this is theatre & your not wearing gloves. I'm sure if he is worth his salt, he will enjoy the role reversal . What happens on the boards, stays there! Like him your playing out a role! Edited by JoeMc - 12/02/11 at 1:09am
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

Majicwrench Celebrity Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178	Posted: 12/02/11 at 1:12am
	At first I thought, "I haven't BTDT, I shouldn't say anything" and then I realized I have directed my WIFE a couple of times. And we are still married. So, since I have BTDT, I would say just treat him with respect, just like any other actor. Most people in leadership positions can deal well with learning new things and following "orders" and he may even get a look at a side of you he didn't know about. Go for it!
	IP Logged

TonyDi Celebrity Joined: 9/13/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 12/02/11 at 7:27am
	On the reverse side - I knew of an actor in our community who was the director of the state's legislative research commission - a major position in state government. He was in a few shows I ran lights and sound for and always found him to be an excellent actor. He used to come to all my shows and always was effusive with his praise and how he liked the work I did. THEN I had the chance to cast and direct him as Norman Thayer in On Golden Pond. The critic stated - and I paraphrase - that "....Hellard had some mighty big shoes to fill doing the role Henry Fonda had done in the film....but Hellard's performance not only equaled Fonda's but rivaled it as well"!!! Well I said all that to say this - it wasn't a year later and he became MY BOSS. Now I have to wonder if it wasn't because of the work we did on OGP or not - but I hope it was because he saw whatever qualities that allowed me as the director to do my job he hired me for just as I would doing theater - without worrying that he was some big state government official - I treated him equally, fairly, giving him what he needed and wanted to bring TO THE STAGE what got him superb reviews and wonderful audience accolade. He gave me a new career too...so I was eternally grateful. Even THEN after he became my boss - as DIRECTOR of The Legislative Research Commission of my state, he eventually got hired to do the Chataqua summer shows developing his own character and script BUT HE ASKED ME to watch him and give him directions - even when he was MY boss as director or LRC. I like to think he became my friend but I always respected him first as an actor when I didn't work for him, then as my boss when he did become my boss. Actually I have high praise for him that he gave me a new career and took care of me as an employee that started in theater - developed into a working relationship, but mostly a friendship. And neither of us over-stepped any boundary defined by any of the positions in which we found ourselves. Matter of fact after he became my boss I also worked with him in theater on numerous occasions not as director but in other capacities. HE was smart enough to leave the job on the job and do his theater things as an actor without using his position in the workplace to effect anything. He was a true gentleman. Trusting that YOUR boss will do the same and leave the job on the job without it effecting anything you do outside is all you can hope for. There HAS to be mutual respect (there was in my case) and if he's worth his salt as Joe said - then you'll have a great experience and even perhaps if you treat him as you would with any actor you direct, with respect, the help they may need to perform at their peak, well just maybe you'll earn added respect for treating him like the actor he apparently WANTS to be in addition to cementing a continued good working relationship where the mutual respect with him as boss and you as employee can flourish at the same time. Good luck with it. As Majic says - he may see a side of YOUR personality that appeals to him as a boss or employer. Who knows. Just don't let it create angst for you when it's YOUR job and what you were hired to do as director. Hoping you and he can leave the job on the job!! TonyDi Edited by TonyDi - 12/02/11 at 7:30am
	"Almost famous"
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falstaff29 Celebrity Joined: 9/17/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 155	Posted: 12/04/11 at 7:34pm
	People are different, and this sort of situation might not always work out as well as these anecdotes suggest. Not EXACTLY the same, but I know that I'm always reluctant to cast board members in my shows if they audition--not that I do anything "wrong" as a director, but their very presence can still have a (as the courts call it) "chilling effect" on my ability to do my job. The best way to deal with directing a boss you don't want to direct is not to cast him. Sad but true.
	IP Logged

B-M-D1 Walk-On Joined: 2/06/12 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 2/22/12 at 10:55pm
	I would never cast anyone that I worked with, boss or otherwise. Too many conflicts of interest and the relationship is different. I keep work and theatre entirely separate worlds. I'm not even Facebook friends with any of my co-workers.
	Dying is easy, comedy is hard.
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jenkins Player Joined: 1/31/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Posted: 3/16/12 at 9:18am
	Thanks all for the advice. I actually hadn't cast my boss, she came attached to the show, and she was terrific. She took all direction as a professional, even when she didn't agree, and the show was a success.
	IP Logged