Volunteering or recreating?

When you commit to working on a community theatre production, are you volunteering or recreating?
We don't generally expect that volunteers should have to pay for the privilege of donating their efforts to the community.
On the other hand, as the user-pays principle permeates every facet of our society, recreation has been commoditised and we're paying more and more for it.
How would you counter an argument that community theatre companies are providing recreation opportunities not volunteer services and as such members should be paying fees commensurate with membership of a health club?
Cheers
Grant

I'd counter that argument by saying that as the majority of "us" appear to be either "dirt-poor" or at best less than financially well-off then amateur theatre would be very much the loser!
who started this idea?????????????
As to what we are, well a lot of both .

Where'd this one come from Grant?
When you commit to something, anything, there must be a certain amount of volunteering otherwise you're simply lying to yourself.
In terms of theatre, and certain other pass-times (and employments for that matter) there is also a percentage of Creating not so much re-creating.
There is also a portion of Giving when you commit yourself, be that the giving of yourself in terms of hard work and time, and/or financial. I don't see it as "Paying for a Privilege." More "Supporting a Cause."
As regards to the Recreational aspects of you posting, Well yes, Local Theatre is providing a Recreation of sorts, but not so much for those involved as for those watching.
I'm not sure where you are heading in terms of Helth Membership Fees. To my knowledge, they are really high. Local Theatre Membership fees aren't that much are they?
Jeff "For the Experience" Watkins

Jeff Watkins wrote:
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> Where'd this one come from Grant?
Some time back i reported on the comments of ex-Festival of Perth director, David Blenkinsop to the Graduate Dramatic Society - try a search for Blenkinsop and you'll find the post.
My recollection is that Blenkinsop told the Grads' committee they were kidding themselves if they thought that what they were doing was voluntary work. In his view, the staging of plays at an amateur level was purely and simply recreation - no different to belonging to a health club. As such, members should expect to pay very substantial fees for the privilege of being able to undertake this past-time or hobby.
> As regards to the Recreational aspects of you posting, Well yes, Local Theatre is
> providing a Recreation of sorts, but not so much for those involved as for those
> watching.
Certainly, from an audience point of view, watching a show constitutes recreation or leisure and they pay for it.
But is being directly involved in producing the show recreation or voluntary work?
Why am i making the choice black or white, rather than allowing that it might be a bit of both? Read on...
> I'm not sure where you are heading in terms of Health Membership Fees. To my
> knowledge, they are really high. Local Theatre Membership fees aren't that much
> are they?
Exactly.
Activities undertaken at health clubs yield personal gratification and no direct benefits or enjoyment to the rest of the community. As the activity is practically entired self-centred and no enjoyment passes beyond the person undertaking the physical activity, it's easy to say "user pays" and charge a fortune for health club memberships.
In the meantime, participants at the local theatre company are a having a great time producing shows. Meanwhile the theatre company is claiming that what they are doing should be subsidised because it is voluntary work. But is it?
Where do you draw the line? Plenty of influential people are prepared to say, like Blenkinsop, that the distinction between voluntary work and recreation is not blurred in community theatre. That the people directly involved are gaining more enjoyment than the audience, therefore it is recreation and you should be paying for it.
I've seen the training and activities the State Emergency Service volunteers undertake; it looks like great fun. Are they recreating or volunteering?
Cheers
Grant

Hi guys!! Long time reader, first time gossiper!! Not that this is gossip, more like some quite serious and fascinating discussion.
Up until the beginning of this year I was involved in every one of Kwinana Theatre Workshop's productions as well as Theatre Studies at UWA and the occasional Grads and UDS show. My devotion to community theatre astounds my mates and frustrates my out-of-theatre friends, who could never find me because I was always in a little black box somewhere. I worked hard on the productions I did, to better the show and learn new skills. Making mates came along with it as a bonus. I think I was volunteering at that stage.
I am rushed in this message due to the fact that tonight I have fulfil the ever joyous position of Front of House Manager for my local theatre group's Xmas show. I have been too busy all year to really get in and act, stage manage, or tech any shows and my participation level has gone to zip - or rather to the level of FOH (for every show!!) I miss my friends in the group and always "volunteer" for FOH duties.
But I do this for a few reasons, 1) I get to see my mates on stage and behind the scenes doing their best to bring a form of "recreation" to the audience, myself being one, that turn up. 2) I feel guilty that my services have been directed else where this year and my time and (little amount of) skill cannot be "volunteered " to them anymore. 3) And it is in fact the time before and after the show, chatting, catching up, and laughing about the nights mishaps that I enjoy most. I do recreate in amateur theatre therefore more than volunteer now a days.
I feel a little confused on this question but find it an interesting dilemmak around tonight and get some opinions. I'll get back to you.
I think though that regardless the desire to receate or volunteer - both facits occur. It's kind of like the chicken or the egg, either could come first and each person decides (until God comes along and gives us Her/His answer!)
Thanks for the chat,
Kerry-Anne

Thankyou Grant. That clarified a few things. Now I can carry on with full intent.
Recreation is a pass-time, something you do when you feel like. Very little commitment required (unless on orders from the Doctor *GRIN*.)
Voluntary is a commitment on behalf of an individual. It may be enjoyable for the person in some small measured way, but it is in now way Recreation in the comparison Grant has discussed. Recreation is Solely for ones-self. Firefighting, Surf Rescue, Community Care, Charity Drives are hardly for one individual, and neither is Theatre.
A voluntary service is a team environment which benefits a large number of people both within the team and with-out.
Recreation is self-full. Voluntary work is self-less.
Recreation is taking. Voluntary is giving.
Jeff "Give or Take" Watkins

I hope we are not pigeon holed by the term of volunteering - meaning amateur.
Because I think I don't have that attitude, what I do have is a sense of when I do it from the heart and if I have volunteered to perform a task or assist others with a need.
We have a situation that is evolving here, where we have Friends of the Theatre used to perform functions, which otherwise would have been done by some one who is paid, this is disguised in the form of -
if they did not do this .... the place would close or we could not put this type of performance on (crap)
I have had a go about this before.
However, I was asked by the local Community Senior Citizen Club to help backstage at our performing arts centre - So I volunteered, after checking and getting the go ahead from the Centre management, in this case I was a true volunteer as I was assisting the Senior Citizens as they would have gone without a extra tech, because of the costs. I do get upset when volunteers or FOTs are used and abused to line the pockets or prop up empires at Pro-venues.
Now on the other hand I don't regard it as being a volunteer at our local Community Theatre - I am a pro (however I am paid)
As for recreating - what or who are we recreating that pro's do not?
As for Mr ..... what's his name -----
isn't it nice to look down from lofty heights and crap on ........regardless
Joe McCabe

hey joe...long time no hear..
did you get my last email????
talk to you soon...and hope you are well