I am the Tech Director for our high school. We are almost finished building our set. In fact we turn it over to the cast Monday!

My problem is getting the crew kids motivated to work. I have tried the "kick em in the butt" speech. I've tried the "rah rah rah you're doing great" speech, and I've even tried the "I'm frustrated yet still very proud of all the work" speech. This is the first year I've had the problem to this extent.

I am at a dead loss as how to get them to work. They all like being there, they just don't want to work. This will be alot of work for them during the scene changes and I really would like to keep them motivated. Heck, I'd settle for "what can I do today?"

Anyone worked with teenagers have any ideas? I'd love any input.

Thanks,

Aimee

Have you tried begging and pleading?  *G*

Are there one or two who will work?  Make them Crew Heads and see if they can motivate their peers.  I have worked with teens who have volunteered as stage crew for our community theatre and sometimes I have to ask the parents to motivate their kids.  Otherwise I do a lot of 'please and thank you' and have even run 'scene change competitions' to see how fast each team can change a scene (quietly and unobtrusively, of course).  Maybe offer a pizza wrap party.  Food is a good motivator for teens.  Good luck.

Besides the point system, which sounds a good idea . I have found it better a couple of ways, depending on the size of the crew, split them up equally into teams, you can appoint a team leader on a skills basis or whatever. I usually look for a pecking order that exists normally in the group or the laziest of the Ringers.

Designate each team by a generic name or theatre task/department. Competition will kick in automatically between groups. &/or appoint ASM?s for certain functions, because of their empirical knowledge - don?t appoint your favorites &/or allowing them to choose their own, this is always a cause of strife - the odd one out or the one who?s a pain in the backside, is a good bet.

I  think the scene change competion thing might be a good thing to try! They do seem abit more excited now that the set is done, but it certainly was like pulling teeth to get it there. This production has just been terrible with "laziness". We just seem plagued by it.  Yes, in the past food has always worked with them, surprised at myself for not thinking of that myself.  Thanks so much , I'll try that on Monday!

Aimee

I encountered the same problem two years ago.  That year I started keeping track of points.  I would also have an updated grade available at the start of every week.  Considering that our tech crew's only grades were participation, some otherwise brilliant students were dismayed that they were earning a C or D.  It did change the motivation.

One other note:  I gave them the first week to decide the job really wasn't what they wanted to do.  After that time, no drops without an F.  I also require my entire running crew (whether it be costume, make-up, lights, sound, or deck crew) to help build the set.  Since we rent our theatrical space, our light crew basically runs the board.  The theatre's insurance does not allow our kids on the catwalks.  So making them help with the set makes them feel part of the crew and gets the job done.

If nothing else works, cancel a rehearsal and pull the cast in (last-ditch effort).  They usually care enough about a show by the last few rehearsal weeks to show up and work.

Same here, except that we were required like...30 weekend hours, and it was a good chunk of our grade....

Smit