Where are you all?

There is usually a drop in postings on this site during the Christmas period, and it picks up again in February. This year though, it feels as though nobody at all is posting - even us regulars seem to be posting less and less. Where are you all? I know I've been a bit busy (but then I'm always busy, and still manage to post)... is it simply busy-ness, or is it that people don't have anything interesting to say? Or perhaps we need another controversy, like Blackbox etc, to come along... Don't tell me there's nothing going on out there - there's plenty!! ... So I offer up a topic of question - I'm currently helping a girl get into puppetry, by introducing her around the place, inviting her to view rehearsals, sending her info, etc. It's the first time I've done something like this (though it does fit within my normal activities of helping fellow theatre people), and I'm just wondering how many people go out of their way to help newbies - and how many people have been turned down/accepted by those they admire/ask for help. Any comments? Na

I've noticed and I've only been a member for a while. Speaking for myself I've been busy with the Adelaide Fringe since mid Feb and have only had a few brief moments to log on and comment, moments I have used. Here's another one. Mentoring! I've done a lot of it over the years and I do believe it is a great way to learn the industry. I've helped a number of people get started who have gone on to quite good technical careers. I find however as I get older that I have less patience than I used to have. It's probably me (I won't follow the easy path and blame the manners and attitude of young people today.) I find it more and more irritating to have to slow down and explain things that I do automatically. Having said that mentoring someone gives you a great opportunity to re-examine your own practices and techniques and remember how to do things properly. Introducing people around? Yes, if you are comfortable that what that person does will reflect on you (both positively and negatively). many years ago a person who I admired helped me out quite a bit with advice and support and I have never forgotten. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

I have to agree. It's very difficult to take the time to slow down; but of all the techies I've met (since I do mostly tech stuff), the ones that I liked the most were the ones who did take the time. And actually, they only ever explained something to me when they needed an extra pair of hands, and the task needed to be done was basic. Eg. I learned how to fade lights up and down using a computer program I'd never seen before. Very basic, but it allowed me an opportunity to learn, and the more experienced tech to get on with focusing the lights. The people that I often didn't like were the ones who didn't bother to take the time to teach me; I've actually found this detrimental to my performing roles in companies/venues, because if you don't know something, many higher-ups think your not experienced enough to do the job (therefore giving the task to someone with more experience, usually the person who could have taught you in the first place). I actually think it would be better if we had more work placement (type) opportunities. Of course with all companies, they are happy to have vollies (volunteers) come along, but are often dumped into more admin/clean-up jobs. If we as an industry offered more in-depth placements, with more creative input or opportunities, it would probably encourage more mentorship from pros, and more learning from students... That's my opinion anyway. Of course, it's also up to the person you're mentoring to take every opportunity they can to learn - some things are obvious to you, and not obvious to the person learning. (I had to explain the term 'spruiking' last week, forgetting that most newbies/emerging artists don't know it!) ...Right now I am waiting for a phone call from an international puppeteer whom I've admired, and just happens to be in town... til tomorrow. I met him momentarily last week (just long enough to say hi and give him my number)... I'm not one for introducing myself to other people in my industry - I'm pretty much a 'keep to myself' type - but this is one opportunity I didn't want to miss. I don't think he will contact me, but on the other hand, I did everything I could to try and meet - and learn - from someone more experienced than I am. More mentorship is all I can say! :idea: The Prompt Copy Store www.store.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne Treading the Boards www.treadingtheboards.thepromptcopy.com

The amount of people who do work experience programs - whether through schools or other sources - and want to take a place in a company of some sort for the program is amazing. But not many companies take people and when they do, like you mentioned Na, they usually get the jobs of filing, cleaning up etc because no one is willing to take the time to teach them anything useful. I can bet we all know how to make a coffee. Why spend a week doing something you already know? It's completely pointless. I for one spent the month before my work experience ringing around, emailing etc trying to find a company (i will not mention names) but no one was willing to give me anything - except for one who were sorry but they already had three work experience kids there that week and couldn't really take more on. So I ended up teaching yr5 students how to do long division - the exact opposite of what i was wanting to do (I would rather have spent the week making coffee for people in an office or photocopying useless documents). Just my experience. But there needs to be something there to support and nurture the newbies of this industry otherwise it may just fade away into history. ~ Tari The Writer is a child forever listening at the keyhole of the adult world.

When I was at uni, I was smart enough to think way ahead and organise my work experience early (we're asked to do two weeks of work experience at Swin with a local theatre company). I worked with Arena Theatre Company, but spent much of my time helping them clean out their storage room; I also got to see them rehearse for a new touring schools show. It wasn't the best experience I've had, but it was by no far the worst. My worst was travelling all the way to Sydney (I'm in Melbourne remember) to do one week with the people who run Cleo, etc. I think I was actually with the House and Garden publication... Anyway, I was doing less than nothing. I did photocopying for two days straight. They actually literally told me that there was nothing for me to do - not even filing did they have left. Meanwhile the entire department was busy editing, writing, etc. I ended up going home after a couple of days, because it was such a waste of my time. (Just so I'm clear; the entire dept. and work experience coordinator for the mag knew that I had travelled from Melbourne specifically for the experience. No one in Melbourne who runs a publication was even remotely interested in taking on board a work experience girl who was not associated with a school or university - I had done a correspondence course). I think work experience in general is considered to be a huge waste of time for both the students and the companies. The students want to learn, and the companies find the students 'get in the way' of doing their normal everyday business. So the companies don't bother to teach you anything. That's why a mentorship is more useful I think, because then one person sits down and actually makes the time and effort to make the relationship work. A one-on-one experience is more fruitfull I've found. The Prompt Copy Store www.store.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne Treading the Boards www.treadingtheboards.thepromptcopy.com

I haven't been around lately because I had a log in problem and I've been up to my neck in High School Musical rehearsals- we've just been informed we're the Australian Premiere. Anyway. The other thing that might influence people with how much they 'teach' work experience kids is the amount of kids they'd get through that only want to be a celebrity one day- don't realise how deep the industry is or how much work is involved. Just think of how many application forms must go through a theatre or a production group that are probably just because this person wants to be famous, not really work in the industry full time for the rest of their life. A few of these kids and the motivation to teach flys away. It's been similar in my drama class at school. The amount of people who have taken it over the years because they think it's a bludge. It really annoys me when I have to work with them, because they won't work (not to mention they're not usually creative) and they rely on me to carry them through the assesment. Then they drop out half way through the year. _____________________________________________________________ Currently working on: "The Ultimate Broadway Musical" The Three-Person, Audience Interactive, Little Bit Of Improv, Mini-Musical event of 2007.

I'm still around.

:-)

Although really struggling to keep up. I've been busier and busier with family. Then work just took a major upturn... even had to drop my very singular directing commitment this year.

We're currently ahead on traffic compared with this time last year, but it's not by a great deal.

Reality is: there's a lot of competition out there at the moment. There's more than ever to choose from if you're looking for australian theatre sites and not too picky about being barraged by spurious adverts (mind you, there's plenty of spurious comment here from time to time!). Sadly few sites syndicate their content: no new or event feeds!  So you end up visiting dozens of sites trying to keep up with everything.

I've got a few ideas for trying to draw this all together a bit more, but it will take a fair bit of funding and I've a seven figure sum web project underway for work, too!

Next March is the tenth birthday of the site - yes, ten years check it out - so it would be good to have something in place by then.

Cheers
Grant

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Director, actor and administrator of this website

Well done Labrug - 01st in something! :)