Are there too many of us?
Tue, 29 Aug 2000, 04:38 pmWalter Plinge21 posts in thread
Are there too many of us?
Tue, 29 Aug 2000, 04:38 pmHi Thespians,
I have been pondering this quite alot lately. Could some of the problems which are plaguing some amateur/community theatre groups (eg: inadequate venues, low audience attendance, financial struggles) be occuring because there are too many of us?
Two or three groups could merge into one which would:
1. Increase the membership.
2. Increase the pool of skills, ideas, abilities etc.
3. Increase the audiences.
4. Allow the clubs to pool finances and resources towards upgrading or establishing a venue.
These new groups could be re-named to save any arguments and managed initially by a committee consisting of members of each group's current committee. Since many Community Theatre people are not necessarily involved with the club closest to them, I can't see location being a problem. People will travel almost anywhere to be involved in a show that interests them.
Why should three groups keep struggling when as one group they may thrive?
Does anyone agree?
Cheers,
Gill
I have been pondering this quite alot lately. Could some of the problems which are plaguing some amateur/community theatre groups (eg: inadequate venues, low audience attendance, financial struggles) be occuring because there are too many of us?
Two or three groups could merge into one which would:
1. Increase the membership.
2. Increase the pool of skills, ideas, abilities etc.
3. Increase the audiences.
4. Allow the clubs to pool finances and resources towards upgrading or establishing a venue.
These new groups could be re-named to save any arguments and managed initially by a committee consisting of members of each group's current committee. Since many Community Theatre people are not necessarily involved with the club closest to them, I can't see location being a problem. People will travel almost anywhere to be involved in a show that interests them.
Why should three groups keep struggling when as one group they may thrive?
Does anyone agree?
Cheers,
Gill
RE: In reply ...
Sun, 3 Sept 2000, 01:29 pmWalter Plinge
Hi Indi,
These replies to your questions are just my thoughts and in no way am I saying that I know what's best. I most certainly don't. I do think that there are so many great things about amateur theatre in Perth but I get irritated by little things like playing to an audience of ten in a horrible cold hall and am always pondering ways to combat this.
Q 1: Why would the merging of clubs increase the quality of productions?
I feel that with a larger group of people a club/director would have more options. As an example, if a club has only a few members who are experienced and keen to do sound and they are all unavailable a director needs to look elsewhere. More often than not several shows are running at the same time and most of the known and respected technical people are otherwise engaged. This probably sounds horribly elitist and not in the spirit of am-dram but... this may mean going with a beginner. I know that everyone has to start somewhere but chances are, without guidance, the quality of their work will not be as high.
I operated the sound for Cabaret (due to nobody else being available) and one guy who reviewed the show on this website said he only disliked three things about the show, one being a mistimed sound cue! (That's what you get for letting the choreographer near the sound desk).
Q 2: Why would the merging of clubs increase the resources available? Surely they would be the same resources - only pooled together.
When I wrote this I was referring more to the theatre itself. For example, a club is kicked out of their venue but has all that a theatre requires (seating, front of house furniture, lighting equipment etc). Another club is given an old building to do with as they wish but they have little money and limited resources to set it up as a theatre (as they have been using a community hall up until now). I just think that it would make sense for these two groups to merge.
Q 3: Why would the pooling of resources increase the number of seasons?
Unlike Anthony I am not particularly for more seasons, just better patronised ones!
Cheers, Gill
Insert smiley face here!
These replies to your questions are just my thoughts and in no way am I saying that I know what's best. I most certainly don't. I do think that there are so many great things about amateur theatre in Perth but I get irritated by little things like playing to an audience of ten in a horrible cold hall and am always pondering ways to combat this.
Q 1: Why would the merging of clubs increase the quality of productions?
I feel that with a larger group of people a club/director would have more options. As an example, if a club has only a few members who are experienced and keen to do sound and they are all unavailable a director needs to look elsewhere. More often than not several shows are running at the same time and most of the known and respected technical people are otherwise engaged. This probably sounds horribly elitist and not in the spirit of am-dram but... this may mean going with a beginner. I know that everyone has to start somewhere but chances are, without guidance, the quality of their work will not be as high.
I operated the sound for Cabaret (due to nobody else being available) and one guy who reviewed the show on this website said he only disliked three things about the show, one being a mistimed sound cue! (That's what you get for letting the choreographer near the sound desk).
Q 2: Why would the merging of clubs increase the resources available? Surely they would be the same resources - only pooled together.
When I wrote this I was referring more to the theatre itself. For example, a club is kicked out of their venue but has all that a theatre requires (seating, front of house furniture, lighting equipment etc). Another club is given an old building to do with as they wish but they have little money and limited resources to set it up as a theatre (as they have been using a community hall up until now). I just think that it would make sense for these two groups to merge.
Q 3: Why would the pooling of resources increase the number of seasons?
Unlike Anthony I am not particularly for more seasons, just better patronised ones!
Cheers, Gill
Insert smiley face here!
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