HELP
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Other Topics
Forum Discription: For everything else
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3378
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 11:46am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: HELP
Posted By: sonshine
Subject: HELP
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 12:15pm
| My name is Tracy Carson and I am in a huge quagmire. I started a theatre group (sonshinedramaministry.org) anyway, in our first play I was involved in every aspect of the production. I was producer, actor, costume designer, etc. In our next play, I decided to take not take on so much and took on the role of producer which meant in my mind that I didn't need to be in so many rehearsals. Well that was a mistake, I was soundly critized for that. I am wondering from your view who should attend rehearsals? |
Replies:
Posted By: imamember
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 12:38pm
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Our producers rarely attend full rehearsal. I see ours maybe once or twice a week and never for the entire 3 hours of rehearsal. They should be out pimping your show! Getting buts in seats, helping in other ways. Getting on teh radio or public access. Hanging posters, finding a sponsor, something. They stop by occasionally to talk with the director to report and to find out what else can be done. |
Posted By: sonshine
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 1:19pm
| That is exactly what I explained to everyone. They seem to think I should be at every rehearsal. They seem not to understand the roles of people in theater. I wonder is there a manual I could send them to and have them read? |
Posted By: ClintonHammond
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 1:27pm
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Seems to me that just about every theatre ends up writing their own manual, to suit their own individual cases... But if you find one, please, do share! Sounds to me like you have a raging epidemic of something that's very common in community theatre... "But-you-did-it-all-for-us-before-why-won't-you-keep-doing-it-now"itus... Some people, no matter how much you try to teach them to stand on their own two feet, would still rather hang off your back instead. ------------- 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. |
Posted By: sonshine
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 2:25pm
| It is really hard to take too. I am trying to do more to raise funds so that we can apply for a 501c3 ( I know I should have done this first but I thought it is best to go on withourt a board and 501c3 and get volunteers. I was so wrong for me to do. I don't think I deserved to be yelled at for a mistake that I admitted I made. But you are so right. |
Posted By: ClintonHammond
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 2:45pm
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No one really deserves to be yelled at, for the most part... But in any group, there are going to be those who mostly only bellyache about how things are done, and those few who are actually doing the work. And the poeple who bellyache will bellyache no matter what you do. Nowhere is that more evidence than in community theatre. How to deal with it? I find it's best to shut them out of your mind, and get on with doing what you choose to do, and let them go pound sand. You'll never win them over (Often they're not worth winning over), and you'll never change their minds... It's pointless to even try. Your emotions are your own, and they cannot touch them (unless you allow them to) Be the ducks-back that the water of their unfounded criticism runs off of. And well, the best response to ever critic is "Well, if you don't like how I'm doing this, you're more than welcome to do it your damn self!" Then tend to scatter like frightened geese after that, leaving you to get on with the work at hand. ------------- 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. |
Posted By: sonshine
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 3:49pm
| Thanks foir your comments, I really need them. I was so ready to throw in the towel because these negative people were the only ones who volunteered. It sounds like you are saying that I need to concentrate on being a producer, fundraising and getting new volunteers and starting over again. |
Posted By: ClintonHammond
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 4:16pm
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Umm... that was not really what I was saying Sonshine... well, not directly anyway... I guess the gist of my advice (Ha! My advice and $1.50 will get you a small cup of really lousy coffee) was to concentrate on doing the things that you enjoy doing, and "Illegitimati Non Carborundum" (Bad Latin for "Don't let the bastards grind you down") "negative people were the only ones who volunteered" One trick with those kind of people is to give them just enough rope to hang themselves... and then stand back and watch them kick. (Figuratively of course.... I'd NEVER advocate hanging anyone... not me... no... never... honest! LOL ) Getting new volunteers is a process that aught be on-going, never ending... And if you crack a good formula for how to do it, and can bottle it, you'll make millions! :-) ------------- 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. |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 4:27pm
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I don't understand what part of being a producer would require you to be at every rehearsal. I've never known a producer to attend every rehearsal - what would they DO? Obviously, somebody has to be in charge of a rehearsal in terms of physical building and scheduling...unlocking, locking up, turning on and off lights, tidying up after rehearsal, etc. Usually that is designated for the stage manager, assistant director - or the director. Have you asked these people who want you at every rehearsal what they think your DUTIES should be at these rehearsals? |
Posted By: sonshine
Date Posted: 8/22/08 at 4:31pm
Oh, thanks for the further explaination and encouragement. 
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Posted By: sonshine
Date 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.
 |
Posted By: ClintonHammond
Date 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." ------------- 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. |
Posted By: KEB54
Date 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. ------------- KEB |
Posted By: jayzehr
Date 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. |
Posted By: sonshine
Date 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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Posted By: whitebat
Date Posted: 8/27/08 at 7:33pm
| 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. |
Posted By: sonshine
Date Posted: 9/18/08 at 12:33pm
| 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. |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date 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:-
http://www.communitytheater.org/articles/index.asp - http://www.communitytheater.org/articles/index.asp
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.html - http://www.aact.org/people/index.html Also check out the 'resources' page on Starting a Theatre group;- http://www.managementhelp.org/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htm - http://www.managementhelp.org/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htm I 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! ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: Cravens
Date 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. ------------- Tracy www.longmonttheatre.org |