Amateur Theatre Backstage Volunteer

[Andrew C]

We suffer lots of similar issues, and have tried many of the above suggestions (except free beer!). We do expect the cast and director to turn in for the get-out however bad their hangovers are! We have the luxury of owning the venue so this happens on Sunday morning (at a civilised 10AM) and typically lasts 'til noon-one o'clock when if required I open the bar... Even if the cast are total numpties who don't know which end of a hammer to hold, they can sweep, carry stuff or make tea, the moral support is the bit that really counts.

 

The current biggest problem is one individual who thinks he is "the chief setbuilder" and does his best to p!ss me and others off by hiding keys to the chop saw etc.

 

Life would be dull without these challenges!

[Ynot]

I find the offer of free food helps, certainly when I'm working for free I don't like going out of pocket buying take away to feed me whilst working late evenings or long days.

Same goes for transport.

Hmmm...

Not sure I'm totally with you there.

If you make a habit of freebies, then you'll get caught out at some stage - people think they're due for something even when they may not be.

I'm more than happy to stand a drink for anyone who goes out of their way, and will dip for a round every now and then, but the crews I work with don't expect anything for their volunteer labours - because let's not forget that's what it is - voluntary. You start supplying lunch for a fitup crew every day for a week (as some of ours can be with anything up to a dozen guys at a time) you'll find a pretty big dent in your pocket book sharpish!!

Occasionally, maybe, for a job well done, or as a treat once in a while.

 

I can sometimes take exception to people moaning about costs - membership fees, take-out food, costume fees for the talent, rehearsal subs etc, etc. But what those who whine seem too easily to forget that as am-drams, this is their hobby. No-one's ever told me that a hobby should be free!

If your hobby's playing football, you need to buy the kit (read costume), many clubs I know end up in the pub after Sunday morning matches, they have subcto the club. You go fishing, there's tackle to buy, bait, and licenses. ANY hobby has it's costs, so why do I find so many theatre amateurs who resent spending what in the great scheme of things is probably not a whole lot....?

[Pete]

There's a difference here between those who's hobby it is, and those who are doing a favour for someone who's hobby it is.

 

E.G.

 

Regular amdram members-it is THEIR hobby why should you have to bribe them?

 

Really in the sticky stuff need another lampy,noiseboy,chippy- Then it might be time to buy a Chinese and beer!

I don't mind doing the odd favour,but if it's going to cost me money (Like I'm going to have to get a cab home cause its miles away),then I've got to think about it first. If I've had a laugh though,I'm quite willing to stand a round myself!

 

(Ramblings Over)

 

Pete

[J Pearce]

I can see what you are saying Tony, perhaps it is related to the regularity of show dates.

Also I'm not saying EVERY meal. One after the end of the rig (often takes up to 4 days for some of the shows I do), one for run crew only during the run, and some pizza for derig.

Though the head of technical I often work with in Luton is MD of an electronics company, so has a bit of money to spare.

 

Also, it seems that in Luton only the designers are members of the amdram group. Usually the rigging crew and run crew will be brought in separately. (There's a general pool who do pretty much every group, with different people designing).

[Ynot]

Regular amdram members-it is THEIR hobby why should you have to bribe them?

 

Really in the sticky stuff need another lampy,noiseboy,chippy- Then it might be time to buy a Chinese and beer!

Ah, but we're actually talking about attracting new volunteers and keeping them as a regular thing.

NOT "Oh sh1t! Who can we ask at the last minute because we didn't bother to sort a lighting tech in advance" ....!