Other Topics: Rental in a City Owned Performing Arts Center

Rental in a City Owned Performing Arts Center

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=3565
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 11:31am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Rental in a City Owned Performing Arts Center

Posted By: mayo66503
Subject: Rental in a City Owned Performing Arts Center
Date Posted: 10/28/08 at 9:12am

Our 51 year old community theatre is negotiating a lease with a city owned performing arts center. The vision was that the performing arts center would be the "home" of the community theatre as well as a presenting organization that brings in other events and programs. Are there other community theatres out there who have had to negotiatie this kind of "partnership"? If so, would you please share with us the major issues you had to include and resolve in your lease negotiations?

Thank you!

-------------
Carolyn

Replies:

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 10/28/08 at 2:43pm

Haven't searched for it yet, but I'm pretty sure there was a thread on this a while back (might have been the Aact board...)

-------------
Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 10/28/08 at 2:49pm

Our city has tried to wrap our CT into a community arts center numerous times over the past 15 years and we have declined each and every time. One of our biggest concers is our autonomy. As soon as you join an arts center you give up sections of control over your group. I have seen it with two of the local cts in our area. They were used for leg work and PR (and their patron list) to promote the new venue and were soon pushed to the back burner once the venue was up and running. Their stage time is seriously limited. Their artistic vision is hindered (what type of shows can be produced). Where they once had whole control of their independent self, they soon became the red-headed step child of a much larger parent organization. My suggestion would be to look for outside space before selling off the soul of your group to a business (OK, maybe that was a bit harsh, but there is passion in my concern).

-------------
Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 10/29/08 at 6:16am

I agree with Patrick!

Unless they give you a 'peppercorn' lease of one peppercorn/year only, than count your fingers after you shake hands on the deal.

It's primarily not the actual City councillors, but their flunkies they appoint. Who invariably will keep moving the goal posts, to protect their jobs - that will be the cause of any problems.

Unless your mob is made an actual stakeholder, they will use & abuse your group relentlessly.

We have been going thru this for last 5 years, while they have been refurbishing the venue, only to find the promised budget for the new equipment, has been lost 7 they haven't found it yet. So we went for a State Government grant & got $40 000 for equipment, which they promised to support $ for $ for $. However while the equipment is vested in the theatre group, they want to acquire it all & hang on to their contribution as well.

They have more spikes than a hedgehog & are quite adept at wearing steel plates, to guard against getting a kick in the backside.

Councillors will come & go, but the Departments will remain for years & eventually grow cobwebs.

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

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 10/29/08 at 9:32am

A CT I have worked with also walked away from such an offer. Once we met with them and found out all the little details (we'd have to change our name to reflect their property; we'd be employeed by them; they'd have the final say in our work; etc.) we walked out the door. They simply wanted our reputation and our member list.

-------------
In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: Spectrum
Date Posted: 10/31/08 at 7:30pm

I agree with all of the above AND you can be sure it will be a SHARED venue, so all sets you build will have to be movable because your "partners" could (and will) come to you three days before your show opens and tell you the stage needs to be cleared for a business presentation (or some such event) tomorrow. Their attitude is 'Your show doesn't open until the day AFTER our event, so what's your problem?' All too often they just don't understand theatre and frankly don't care, especially if they can make an extra buck with this last-minute rental. I, too, recommend finding an alternative solution. Good luck with whatever you do.

-------------
Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.