Hep to you all

You know I've read all these posts before...wannabes write about how they want to get into the industry, the professionals write back about how it's not that easy, and try to give advice without getting too frustrated at the monotony and repetition of it.

I am interested in setting up a website, that combines all the best features of theatre informational sites out there...the problem with this forum is just that, this is only a forum. What if there were a site that had every bit of info about theatre? What if you wanted to know how to set up your own company, and didn't know how to do it, or wanted to find out what amperes are, or where to find a script? And most importantly, what if you wanted to find a job, or read about a company, or post your own thought, comment, question or publicity material?

And all on the one site. No more wondering where to find all this info.

The problem is, that this the only obvious site out there for theatre in Australia. And most of the posts here are for unpaid or amatuer work. No wonder so many wannabes post here. There's no other information out there to point them in the right direction. Most theatrical information is limited to those in the know.

And maybe, instead of telling people not to post here, there should be a large sign on the homepage saying "For more information about jobs in the theatre industry, check out the following sites/magazines/whatever."

I run a weekly newsletter to my friends in the industry, which has jobs, news, info. It's Melbourne based, but it is free and is sent via email.

And I say, anybody who wants to recieve this newsletter for FREE, please email me, and state that you want to recieve it (for legal reasons, due to new spam laws, I must have written permission to send you anything. Please. I get fined ONE MILLION if I don't have your permission)....

and in the meantime, if anybody is interested in my website idea, and have suggestions on what should be on it, or want to help set it up...please email me.

Na
rrseams@yahoo.com

Dear Na,
I was interested in the newsletter that you run and i would appreciate it if you could e-mail it to me. I'm from Sydney and so i'm not sure if there is any material relating to here, however i would still be interested in browsing through it.
Thank you, Kavita.

I was intending to set up a website like that. However, with school and such, never got around to it.
I also would be interested in your newsletter, though, like Kavita, I live in a different city *cough*Perth*cough*. Not sure if there would be anything relating but hey, why not?

~ Kay
thinkinggal@hotmail.com

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Geez, I just realised my post says hep!

Anyway, both you and kavita need to email me personally, so that i can make sure i've got your correct email addresses, as well as written permission.

I am trying to expand my list, so the more states i include the better.

You should also email me with your interests, so that i can put in ads relevant to your skills and goals.

Thanks,

Na

There is a really good website around similar to what you are suggesting here. It is Melbourne based but has heaps of information on both National and International levels. Also has a database of available jobs etc.

http://www.artshub.com.au

However I am all for the idea of a website for beginners. I specialise in webhosting and webdesign and would be able to help you out for a small fee, or you could overcome that by asking advertisers to post on your site.

Anyway if you are interested in my services you can send me an email: greg@mpea.com.au

This offer goes out to all persons on this site, we specialise our services on the performing arts industries and are happy to help you out.

Cheers

Greg

na wrote:
> I am interested in setting up a website, that combines all
> the best features of theatre informational sites out
> there...the problem with this forum is just that, this is
> only a forum.

OTOH the best thing about this site is that it isn't only a forum.

:-)

> What if there were a site that had every bit of
> info about theatre?

Information resources like this are probably beyond the capacity of any individual and likely beyond the capacity of any commercial concern - unless they're only going to cater for a narrow range of interests.

> What if you wanted to know how to set up
> your own company, and didn't know how to do it, or wanted to
> find out what amperes are, or where to find a script? And
> most importantly, what if you wanted to find a job, or read
> about a company, or post your own thought, comment, question
> or publicity material?

mmm... something structured like this?

http://web.theatre.asn.au/

Try this address:

http://web.theatre.asn.au/test1/home/_edit

login: demo
password: test

and click on the green Edit Contents button.

Don't forget to click Commit once you've saved.

Preview your efforts here:

http://web.theatre.asn.au/test1/home

> The problem is, that this the only obvious site out there for
> theatre in Australia. And most of the posts here are for
> unpaid or amatuer work. No wonder so many wannabes post here.

So let's correct that.

:-)

I've spent the last couple of years getting 600 people up and running using this system to manage tens of thousands of pages of content.

Still quite a bit more work required to get going, but most of it will be in lining up and managing contributors and contributions. But the advantage is that it's an eminently scalable solution. Works with one or one hundred contributors. Quality assurance can be managed at several layers. And we have all the advantages of a community-based calendar of auditions, productions, workshops and other activities, a register of companies, magazine style contributions AND a forum.

:-)

Anyone interested?

Cheers
Grant

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Yeah, Greg, I already subscribe to that website. What I am suggesting is a more all rounded site - Artshub does not utilise it's forums as well as this page does, and it also is not theatre specific - it's for all arts areas.

Na

Yes, that's all well and good. But this has mainly amateur theatre (community theatre) discussions - not once have I found an ad for a paying job on this site...As a professional theatre worker, I find that there isn't enough information on this site, or any of the others.

I don't believe that the information out there can't be collated. I have much of it myself, and I don't believe that professionals out there can't contribute info that they have, even if they are busy.

My newsletter has gotten my friends and colleagues lasting jobs, and all know they can come to me for info, even though I am by no means the most informed professional out there. It's because they know that they can come to me, and I can source the info.

I do commend your (and others) work on this site. I am simply suggesting that there could be more information provided on the net.

Na

>
> Yes, that's all well and good. But this has mainly amateur
> theatre (community theatre) discussions - not once have I
> found an ad for a paying job on this site...As a professional
> theatre worker, I find that there isn't enough information on
> this site, or any of the others.
>
> I do commend your (and others) work on this site. I am simply
> suggesting that there could be more information provided on
> the net.
>
> Na

Hi there,

This site is the best of it's kind in Australia. It is completely unique both in it's popularity and the extent of it's resources. However, it is and always was, a community theatre website for Perth. Thats the way it started. The reason it is now as extensive as it is is that Grant did such an amazing job with it that in terms of finding auditions, shows, contacts and for discussion to it's target audience (community theatre), it is second to none.

You simply will not find a public website where directors post and ask for actors, or producers ask for directors. That is what agents are for. In terms of getting the contacts to agents and producers, well we can all do that if we try but I very much doubt an agent is going to supply contact details so they can be flooded with the kind of "make me star" emails this board has been flooded with lately.

(And, I now find as I return to the board, death threats. Whoever you are, don't think this sort of thing isn't taken very very seriously. Don't think for a second that various civil rights violating post Howard pieces of legeslation don't give the Federal Police the right to hunt you down if you persist with these posts. And it doesn't matter how old you are.)

Personally I am amazed we have all had the privilege of being able to acess such an amazing resource as this board for so long. It has everything people in Am-Dram in Perth need in one spot. It is not an egaggeration to say that the fact that this commmunity is as vibrant as it is is due in very large part to this board. We don't thank Grant enough.

Thanks Grant!

That having been said, we now appear to have some problems. Being flooded with young actors is a major one. There may have to be a discussion about what to do.

Boy, I think there has been a major lack of info on my part.

Again, I am not denigrating this site, or any others. As you say, the jobs are found by getting agents. But for those who are not actors (like me; I am a technician and have just started my professional career), and those who are actors and have not gotten an agent, there is not much information out there.

Am I also not suggesting that this site (or any others) are not useful. But having spent much of my time asking a zillion people for information on insurance, tax and/or admin areas, trying to collate information for other people, and trying to collaborate/find/talk/introduce myself to those in the industry, it is difficult.

If I need information I have to go find someone in the know...and yes, that is generally how it's done.

Maybe I am trying to say, that we need to change how it's done. I only know a handful of professional people, who have neither the time nor the inclination to give me advice, and I am willing to spend the time and effort on a site/magazine/service which can provide a multitude of answers - not just jobs.

I am sick of spending hours trying to browse libraries, books, sites and people's minds, for information that exists out there somewhere, but nobody can find.

This is not some sort of continuous argument about the usefullness of this site or any other, nor is it a denigration on the efforts made so far. It is simply my experience, and others around me, who have all had the same problems.

Yes, it is up to the agents, yes this site was established with the amateur community in mind. All I am saying is that most new and emerging artists these days have access to the internet, and since this is one of the few theatre sites, I wanted to make a suggestion or start a conversation, in one of the only places to do so online.

I have made this comment on all other Australian theatre sites, and often I am told that the information exists on that relevant site, and that the industry is not set up for something that I am suggesting.

But when I mention it to other new and emerging artists (technicians, actors, designers, directors, etc), they have all agreed that my idea is a good one, because they simply do not know where to look for the information required - not just jobs, but answers about lighting, sound, insurance, publicity, reviews, everything. There is no singular site for this, which is definitive in it's information - I have to check at least 10 sites and 5 magazines for all the questions to be answered. All I want to do is collate the information in one simple to find, easy to read place.

I am sure I will be told once again, that this site (and others) have this in mind, and are continuing on their way to do so. I see a niche in this market, and I just wanted to get some idea of how well recieved my idea would be.

Maybe I'm wrong. I don't know. All I know is that I have many friends and colleagues who don't have agents, can't get agents (because they are technicians or designers, etc) and don't have the money or the time to find what they need.

na wrote:
>
> Boy, I think there has been a major lack of info on my part.
>


Hi na

No, I think you've been reasonably clear. I think we've not quite read your message properly?

I'm sure I don't need to reiterate the good things about this site and why we like it.
But here are some things that DON'T quite happen...

Often, good accurate information is posted here which no one will even see. This is because the front page (where only the three most recent posts in each forum are featured) scrolls by so rapidly due to many other conversations (some tediously repetitive).

It's not particularly convenient to search for information in past posts, even if you know it's there somewhere. This is probably responsible for many of the repetitive topics.

Information, in general, is not organised in any coherent fashion. Someone posts some great information about getting an agent, for example...but it's under the subject heading of the previous post, "13 year old want fame". Under the same thread you're likely to find general anecdotes, one liners, questions that lead us to a totally different topic, someone advertising their latest show, a couple of pointlessly antagonistic posts, and me making smartarse comments about their spelling errors....

I reckon it would be a great idea to have something like a 'Frequently Asked Questions' page, or some way of grouping information so it can be searched for by a hierarchical index....and also kept UP TO DATE. The information could be separated, where relevant, into pro or am sections, but I have a feeling there won't be a lot of need to separate the kind of information people would be searching for. (Things like 'where do I buy stage make-up' or 'what's the latest info on scripts that are now in public domain'..etc)


This sounds to me what Na is proposing..?

Either we could use a completely new section added to this website (Grant's last post sounded like he has some good thoughts in this direction, but simply lacks the time & manpower); or perhaps we could have a prominent link to the site Na's thinking of creating? I reckon the first option would be great because not only would it improve this site, but it would capitalise on the existing prominence and popularity of this existing structure...but it needs a vision - and a volition.

Cheers,
Craig

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