southhampton university

[benweblight]

does anyone have any experience of the southhampton university facilites/venues

this was all I could find:

http://www.soton.ac.uk/~stagesoc/106.0.0.1.0.0.html

[Stu]

Ben,

What do you want to know? I have a friend who's at the uni and I might be able to find out some info if you specific.

Stu

[benweblight]

er, what are the venues like apart from one I linked to, any other techincal info would be helpful also, as I may be doing modualar 2004 there (electronic music, 'modular synthesis')

[Stu]

Well I shall try and find out some info, but I can't promise.

 

I'll post back sometime next week.

 

Stu

[benweblight]

thanks, all help appreciated

[alqueenan]

Hi Ben,

 

I'm the tech director for one of the societies in Soton Uni Students Union that uses the venues on campus. There are several - I'll list the main ones here and you can let me know which you want to know more about:

 

(in size order)

Boldrewood A

Nuffield Theatre

West Ref (Garden Court)

Education Theatre

Arts H

Arts J

Nuffield Studio

 

Al

[benweblight]

which ones have inhouse equipment we could hire out?

[alqueenan]

None of the venues have any dry hire equipment. There is a section of the Students Union that can dry hire, though - try phoning the switchboard (023 8059 5000) and ask for Robin in Ents at the Students Union.

[benweblight]

so whats the link I put at the top of the page about?

[Andrew C]

There is a hire charge for using the kit in Arts H for a show.

 

Does what it says on the tin...

[benweblight]

None of the venues have any dry hire equipment.

????

 

also would inhouse crews interefere with us?

[merlin24]

also would inhouse crews interefere with us?

 

You have to learn to be a bit more subtle than that.

This just sounds plain rude...

If you are in someone elses venue they have every right to keep an eye on you.

[Stu]

also would inhouse crews interefere with us?

More than likely. Venue Tech's (such as myself) would perhap say you can't rig there, can't move/recolour that, this blocks a fire exit, thats a H&S risk etc etc, are you using a Hazer/Smoke machine etc

 

Venue Tech's don't say these things for the sake of it, you have to remember they know the venue and the rules of it far better than yourself...

 

Stu

[benweblight]

I dont mean in that way, I mean for actual performance, I always negotiate with inhouse crew if possible

[alqueenan]

also would inhouse crews interefere with us?

You'll find that most places have at least two inhouse guys walking around scowling at visiting technicians, mate - it's probably not that endearing to suggest that they're "interfering" with you. In truth, they're probably just checking to make sure you haven't blown yourself or any equipment up. Don't upset them though; it's their venue and you could almost certainly learn a lot from them if you can stay friendly.

 

As you've obviously gathered, Arts H is run by the University's Stage Technicians Society, StageSoc. In booking Arts H, you go directly to the people who run StageSoc and you'd probably get told quite clearly what you can and cannot do during the walking tour before your getin. They're pleasant, friendly and quite knowledgeable people who are as keen to see a show be successful as you are, but within H&S (and just plain sensible) limits. Plus a lot of loving care and unpaid hours went into refurbishing Arts H so to see it being wrecked by some muppet would be very unpleasant for them.

 

As for the other main venues:

 

Nuffield - contact them directly, they're self-contained

Boldrewood - contact StageSoc (it's not theirs but they know the booking drill better than any other single group of people)

West Ref - University's Conference department