This is a question that really has significance to me, because for every show we balance the budget with the show with the space with the need to show our audience and our larger community (made up of either very big theatres or very small ones) that we may be small, but we don't think small.
Only one of our sets thus far has been huge--Hamlet--but it was balanced by the fact that it, rather than rent, of which we paid none, could be our largest expense. And as much as the set designer/td happened to hate being responsible 100% for its design and implementation (both roles being filled by the artistic director of the company) in the end, it fit the show, solved problems, and looked huge.
And, in a way, we looked a little larger ourselves--more than just a company in their first season with their third show.
I don't think the problem is money, I think it is entirely in attitude and talent. If you can say to a designer: okay, you have $500, make it work, I want that designer to say back to me: I relish this challenge. I haven't yet had the designer give me lip over budget (well, Hamlet's set designer got a little testy) or limitations. There is an understanding that if a theatre is young and small, money is an issue and limited.
It's like this: you may be poor. Do you think "I'm poor, boo-hoo" or do you think "I have challenges, but I'll be damned if anyone looks at me and sees a poor person."
We may be a small theatre, but hopefully you can't always tell.
You're right about seeing the lack of money as a blessing not a curse, but your post seems to come from a place of anger. Why is that?
Travis Bedard
· 2 years ago
I was going to quote the parts of your response that I loved... but it turned out to only be leave out a few pronouns so I'll sum up by saying: we're speaking the same language so far as aesthetics. (though you and C. think considerably bigger than I do... go you guys!)
You're right about seeing the lack of money as a blessing not a curse, but your post seems to come from a place of anger. Why is that?
Overstated frustration mostly. I am so tired of listening to folks whine about the lack of money, lack of respect, blahblahblah. I'm really tired of the victim mentality and overcompensating.
RLewis
· 2 years ago
While you're not wrong, you're point is not new. I worry that a bigger issue is that the theater community keeps reinventing our wheel: http://www.ratconference.com/theater1.htm <... they say, "originality is lack of information."
All Comments
Only one of our sets thus far has been huge--Hamlet--but it was balanced by the fact that it, rather than rent, of which we paid none, could be our largest expense. And as much as the set designer/td happened to hate being responsible 100% for its design and implementation (both roles being filled by the artistic director of the company) in the end, it fit the show, solved problems, and looked huge.
And, in a way, we looked a little larger ourselves--more than just a company in their first season with their third show.
I don't think the problem is money, I think it is entirely in attitude and talent. If you can say to a designer: okay, you have $500, make it work, I want that designer to say back to me: I relish this challenge. I haven't yet had the designer give me lip over budget (well, Hamlet's set designer got a little testy) or limitations. There is an understanding that if a theatre is young and small, money is an issue and limited.
It's like this: you may be poor. Do you think "I'm poor, boo-hoo" or do you think "I have challenges, but I'll be damned if anyone looks at me and sees a poor person."
We may be a small theatre, but hopefully you can't always tell.
You're right about seeing the lack of money as a blessing not a curse, but your post seems to come from a place of anger. Why is that?
You're right about seeing the lack of money as a blessing not a curse, but your post seems to come from a place of anger. Why is that?
Overstated frustration mostly. I am so tired of listening to folks whine about the lack of money, lack of respect, blahblahblah. I'm really tired of the victim mentality and overcompensating.
<... they say, "originality is lack of information."