Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: storage

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Nanette
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Joined: 8/01/06
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Posts: 399

Topic: storage
Posted: 12/17/09 at 11:29am

As our b.o.d. refuses to pay for storage, EVERYTHING (flats, props, costumes, lighting, sound equipment, etc.) has been stored in my home for the last 3 years. No one came up with any storage solutions and, as the director/President, it was either store it here or pitch it all after each production and remake everything for each show.

Would it be out of line for me to request of the board to weatherproof one of our outbuildings (an old hogshed - it needs a new roof and doors) to make that theatre storage? Opinions please.

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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75director
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Posted: 12/17/09 at 12:22pm

Doesn't sound out of line at all. What I would do in your case is present them with a list of options with dollar signs attached.

Option A: Weatherize the shed for $x

Option B: Rent storage space for $x

Option C: Charge a rental to the organization for storing stuff on your property, including enough in the rental to eventually repair your shed for $x.

Option D: "I am no longer able to store organization equipment on my personal property" thus requiring everything to be rebuilt for each production cost of rebuilding items that can be stored for each show in a season $x

If it were me, I'd opt for paying for storage. From a board point of view what's to say (and I'm saying you'd do this by any stretch btw) the organization fixes your shed and then you decide in a year or two to stop doing stuff with the theatre. You got a repaired shed for free and the organization is back where they started.

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KEB54
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Posted: 12/17/09 at 12:43pm

I totally agree with 75director. Great approach.

Obviously I am not familiar with your Board or your community, but most communities I know of, including very small ones, have some sort of free storage that can be accessed. It could be unused space on the second (or higher) floor of downtown businesses.

Getting the access is the key. That is why Board make-up is so important. You want to have Board that has connections in the community. It should not be made up of strictly theatre people. The mayor, a banker, business people, lawyer, etc should have a seat at the table. Even if they can't make all the meetings it's good to be able to call them to action when needed.

KEB

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Topper
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Posted: 12/17/09 at 2:03pm

Don't forget to include insurance costs in your estimate of storing THEIR stuff on YOUR property.

Best of luck to you.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Nanette
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Joined: 8/01/06
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Posts: 399

Posted: 12/28/09 at 8:09am

Thanks for all the imput! Great ideas and suggestions. :)

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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B-M-D
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Joined: 11/03/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 346

Posted: 12/28/09 at 10:30am

All good ideas AND give them a deadline as to when it has to be removed from your property and that you'll chuck if it's not removed. That should get their attention. And then leave it with the next trash pick up if it's not removed by the deadline.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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

Author	Message
Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Topic: storage Posted: 12/17/09 at 11:29am
	As our b.o.d. refuses to pay for storage, EVERYTHING (flats, props, costumes, lighting, sound equipment, etc.) has been stored in my home for the last 3 years. No one came up with any storage solutions and, as the director/President, it was either store it here or pitch it all after each production and remake everything for each show. Would it be out of line for me to request of the board to weatherproof one of our outbuildings (an old hogshed - it needs a new roof and doors) to make that theatre storage? Opinions please.
	In a world of margarine, be butter!

	IP Logged

75director Celebrity Joined: 8/19/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 122	Posted: 12/17/09 at 12:22pm
	Doesn't sound out of line at all. What I would do in your case is present them with a list of options with dollar signs attached. Option A: Weatherize the shed for $x Option B: Rent storage space for $x Option C: Charge a rental to the organization for storing stuff on your property, including enough in the rental to eventually repair your shed for $x. Option D: "I am no longer able to store organization equipment on my personal property" thus requiring everything to be rebuilt for each production cost of rebuilding items that can be stored for each show in a season $x If it were me, I'd opt for paying for storage. From a board point of view what's to say (and I'm saying you'd do this by any stretch btw) the organization fixes your shed and then you decide in a year or two to stop doing stuff with the theatre. You got a repaired shed for free and the organization is back where they started.
	IP Logged

KEB54 Celebrity Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227	Posted: 12/17/09 at 12:43pm
	I totally agree with 75director. Great approach. Obviously I am not familiar with your Board or your community, but most communities I know of, including very small ones, have some sort of free storage that can be accessed. It could be unused space on the second (or higher) floor of downtown businesses. Getting the access is the key. That is why Board make-up is so important. You want to have Board that has connections in the community. It should not be made up of strictly theatre people. The mayor, a banker, business people, lawyer, etc should have a seat at the table. Even if they can't make all the meetings it's good to be able to call them to action when needed.
	KEB
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Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 12/17/09 at 2:03pm
	Don't forget to include insurance costs in your estimate of storing THEIR stuff on YOUR property. Best of luck to you.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 12/28/09 at 8:09am
	Thanks for all the imput! Great ideas and suggestions. :)
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

B-M-D Celebrity Joined: 11/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 346	Posted: 12/28/09 at 10:30am
	All good ideas AND give them a deadline as to when it has to be removed from your property and that you'll chuck if it's not removed. That should get their attention. And then leave it with the next trash pick up if it's not removed by the deadline.
	BD "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."
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Topic: storage( Topic Closed)