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Amateur expenses


karl

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I suppose by twenty odd you mean more than twenty productions a year? That's not a hobby that's a job.

 

Considering a couple of rehearsal attendances, get in, technical, dress, performances, get out, you must be looking at ten days min per production.

Hmmm...

Not necessarily.

 

In my younger days, when I had the time (and the energy!) I would likely also get involved with 15 or 20 week-long amateur shows, although the average would have been 7 maybe 8 days per show. Of those, I'd only be involved with anything more than tech/dress for a small handful - the rest I'd turn up as a jobbing crewman and do what I was told by the SM. All of that on top of the day job.

 

These days, as a venue manager (still amateur and still a volunteer!) I get involved in all too few actual shows (maybe 5 or 6 decent shows last year) but have a hand in all those that come through our doors in some way (just over 40 events on stage last year and looking likely to beat that this year).

 

And yes, it often feels like I have a second job - just a shame I don't make money out of it!! :)

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I do a few one days shows where I turn up in the morning, rig, rehearse, perform, bump out then go home.

Back to the topic. One of the techniques that I use is to charge for 1 or 2 x par 64 bubbles (or globes as we call them in Australia). I reason that they should pay for at least one so that if one blows I am not out of pocket. Most peaople find this to be a reasonable argument. I also point out that while we may not blow a bubble (is that the correct phrase for UK?) this week, the wear and tear from this show may cause one to blow next week. This method also allows me to purchase spare bubbles and provide a receipt to the show.

 

When building scenery I carry a range of screws hinges etc which I use on the show as required. I will then buy 500 x 30mm screws and charge it to the show even though I will only use maybe 50 of them. Next show I will buy 40mm screws, then 20 x hinges and so on. I often get asked for the rest of the screws back to which I reply "I can return them with the bill for all of the other parts that were used from my kit if you like". They usually realise at this point that they have got a really good deal - which they have as they have paid for 500 screws in bulk instead of 20 packs of 10 screws of different sizes.

 

As another side of this topic, I often do shows completely for free if I feel that they are working with a small budget with limited ticket sales and the show is of benefit to the community (i.e. other people doing it on a completely hobby basis). These are often the shows that I get the most out of.

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