Technical and Production Managers

[TaliaS]

Hello,

 

I was wondering if there are any Technical and/or Production Managers who wouldn't mind answering some questions on the roles and responsibilities of TMs and PMs.

This is part of of my research for my course and I would appreciate any time anyone can spare to answer the questions.

 

Thanks,

 

Talia

[moose]

hey guys and gals,

 

am currently doing a research project for uni. so am asking for some help on the following questions (any response appreciated!)

 

what do you think the roles and responsibilties of a tech manager are?

 

what do you think the roles and responsibilties of a production manager are?

 

what do you think the difference between PM's and TM's are, where does one end and the other begin

 

cheers

 

moose ;)

 

changed the font sorry bout that no for future!!

[Bryson]

Two very similar (identical, perhaps?) Topics Merged.

Topics placed in the right forum

Very vague topic title lost in the merging process (thank god)

Post about text sizes removed now it's been done.

What a busy lttle moderator I am...

 

Anyway, I've already PM'd my views on the matter to Grid Monkey, who I suspect is on the same course as you moose... So unless they feel like sharing, looks like you've been pipped to the post as far as I'm concerned...

[MikeR]

So unless they feel like sharing, looks like you've been pipped to the post

praps not particularly helpful.

Confused but then who am I to comment on moderation.

[Bryson]

So unless they feel like sharing, looks like you've been pipped to the post

praps not particularly helpful.

Confused but then who am I to comment on moderation.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Please note anything in italics is me as a moderator, and anything not is me as...well...me. I reserve the right to be grumpy, especially when the same question is already asked. I cannot help but note that neither of you were any help either... ;)

 

Ok, ok. Moose will be reieving a copy of my PM to Grid Monkey too. If anyone else on that course wants it, I give my express permission for them to copy it from one of those two.

 

Better?

[sam.henderson]

Would it not be possible for Bryson or one of the other 2 to post the contents of the PM into this thread to save people getting bombarded with PM's and then all interested can read it. Or is it personal or something?? If so, apologies.

 

Sam

[Bryson]

Will do, although it appears that I didn't keep a copy of it....

 

So Grid Monkey will have to send it back to me, as long as they don't mind sharing thier research.

[MikeR]

I cannot help but note that neither of you were any help either...

on the contrary I contacted Grid Monkey via PM shortly after the original post was made. I will be sending some stuff over again via PM soon enough. PM because I didnt see the need to pollute the forum with my own grumpy ole fart witterings and at that point in time no one else had shown any interest in developing the thread.

[TaliaS]

Dear All,

 

Thank you to all of you who have replied.

 

Don't worry, I will share your wise words with Moose who is indeed on my course. If we all turn up to the tutors with the same answers, it's their damn fault for setting us this work ;) (although I am enjoying the research actually!)

 

-Moose ring me if you want info as internet is down at mine and can only check every few days. I also met with tech manager of Tricycle theare who gave me really good answers (and booked me for a fit up. result!!!). I'm presenting my research as a power point presentation, but with sheets printed for the display board and making a model.

 

cheers,

Talia

[no1techie]

grid_monkey

 

What course is it that you are doing and what uni are you at because I have applied to study technical and production management.

 

adam

Dear All,

 

Thank you to all of you who have replied.

 

Don't worry, I will share your wise words with Moose who is indeed on my course. If we all turn up to the tutors with the same answers, it's their damn fault for setting us this work  :D  (although I am enjoying the research actually!)

 

-Moose ring me if you want info as internet is down at mine and can only check every few days. I also met with tech manager of Tricycle theare who gave me really good answers (and booked me for a fit up. result!!!). I'm presenting my research as a power point presentation, but with sheets printed for the display board and making a model.

 

cheers,

Talia

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[paulears]

I don't mind Bryson being grumpy.

 

(rant about to start)

 

I've always filled in questionaires, answered questions, given opinons every time people have popped up on this and other forums and asked for help.

 

My grump is what people do with it once it's been given.

 

From a uni point of view, research is worthless unless you can cite the source, and on a reasonably open forum like this, you have no idea who the source is, no idea if it is based on experience or not, and no idea if it will hold up under scrutiny. Of course, in many cases, the words just get stolen, and submitted as their own work.

 

In my travels around the country I've seen utter cr*p off the net submitted as fact, but the worst happened last year. I was looking at some work done by an 18 yr old and realised the words were MINE! They had been knicked off an old web site of mine and used as part of work under someone elses name.

 

My point is that research is hard, and asking other people on the net to do it for you is a cop out (or just lazyness). primary research is not quick and easy - I remember talking to people for an hour and spending 4 hours typing it up!

 

I don't blame you lot totally, probably more the lecturer who doesn't give a damn how you get it. He probably assumes you haven't read it either.

 

Technical Manager - Production Manager? I would assume that whatever Brysons given you, you could have worked out for yourself anyway. I don't see why he's now faced with having to copy the text and send it to more and more people. Good job he's a nice bloke - but you do have to ask - Who is doing all the work here? Seems like Bryson is. He also got a couple of comments about his not being more helpful, and as he mentioned, those people didn't bother to contribute much.

 

So - hands of Bryson, and moan at me

 

Rant over

Paul

[TaliaS]

Can I just clarify what I am doing with your answers.

I will NOT and I do not condone lifting people's words and using them as your own. Everything used in my presentation will be quoted and the source will also be stated using the MLA format (more so for books).

 

All the answers that people have given me are just opinions as to what they think THEIR role and responsibilities are. Not only will they be quoted in my presentation, but they are also for my own personal research in order to better my development as a Technical/Production manager.

 

I have spent hours at the library pouring over the Production Manager text books (such as Peter Dean) and anything I use from them will be quoted.

Once I have gathered all my sources and information I will make my own definitions and determine what I think is the role and responsibilities of a Technical/Production Manager.

 

Cheers,

Talia

[moose]

Hey

 

I just want to back talia up on her response, our research is to ask peoples opinions, as suggested to ask people on forums what they thought, we are NOT lifting peoples work and as mentioned WILL be quoting not presenting work as our own, yes we have to put forward our own idea but thats already been done.

 

we were simply asking people for their ideas for a uni project, not out for people to do our work or to get peoples backs up

 

cheers to the people that have helped

 

moose <_<

[Alastair Noonan]

Dear All,

 

I am the 'lecturer' who set the work. Just for clarification, I do care about where the research comes from and I certainly assume that students read it. Not only that, it is important that they assess and evaluate the information to gain a broad understanding of the landscape of the theatre world. When students come to us they are wanting to work in a field which is little known about in the world of conventional education or careers advice. If there is anyone posting who remembers going to a careers advisor and being told "I'd recommend a job in theatre", them I'd like to shake them warmly by the hand and congratulate them. It was certainly not my experience. The students were from Central School of Speech and Drama, we offer specialist theatre practice courses to degree level. As well as all the other courses ( Production Lighting, Prop Making, Scenic Art, Stage Management etc etc ) we offer Technical and Production Management. When students arrive at Central they often do not have an awareness of the wide and subtle variation in roles, responsibilities and titles they will encounter in the professional world particularly in this area and should understand if they hope to gain a job doing what they want. Even if that information is that sometimes there is no difference. I feel strongly that an older generation of practitioners, such as myself, learned about theatre by doing it; but I wish I had had more access to some specific information when I was younger which would have helped me to do things the right way. At Central we try to give this information to students to allow them to be the kind of informed and imaginative professionals we should have working in theatre in the future. To gain the ability to do this it is important that students also gain the skills needed to gather information for themselves so they can continue to develop themselves after leaving college. If I were to just pass on my knowledge this would give students insight into the areas I have covered in my career alone. Whilst this may be relevant to some, there are others who wish to work in areas outside my experience. The ways of collecting this information are manifold, books, the internet etc but of vital importance is speaking to practitioners. Without this it is extremely difficult to get a true insight into the roles and methods of work in many areas of theatre. Message boards are one potential, and obviously accessible, way of doing this but I would hope that they are finding their way through this confusing area and what may or may not be appropriate.

Talking to practitioners also assists students in creating their own links with industry as well as receiving feedback on their own practice. Since taking the job at Central I have been amazed at the way industry practitioners have supported students I have been responsible for, both myself and the students are grateful, this help is essential. The purpose of this post is not to berate but just to balance and thank those practitioners who have helped, continue to help and will hopefully help in the future and to ask for your patience on occasions when it seems as if there is 'yet another student' asking the same question, 'cos there almost certainly will be as long as we have people who want to work in theatre.

 

Thanks again,

 

Alastair

[Christopher_M]

Speaking personally, I have a lot of time for resourceful students who want to progress their academics and learn more about the industry. Indeed, I think that getting into the entertainments industry is less about textbooks and more about being "out there". As an employer I would far rather have nine parts enthusiasm and one part knowledge and it is great to be around that enthusiasm. If there are people who want to advance themselves and have the cahonas to pick up the phone and get on with it, I will respond where I can.

 

Equally, I have been on the recieving end of very rude and pushy students who think it is their right to yabber on when you are in the middle of some event with no thoughts for the time pressures and stress you may be under (the answer THERE is to get out and be a runner for an event, even if you do it for free! - learn about DOING the event, not just reading about it).

 

There is, in fairness a shortfall between academia and industry. In previous times this would have been addressed by apprenticeships perhaps, but there seem to be few initiatives nowadays that bring students into industry. Two years ago I was at ILMC and this topic came up for debate. I offered my services (my experience basically) to a London college and it was never taken up (an to my knowledge they still dont have any industry representation on their particular course). OK, being the ILMC it was live music, but whether it is theatre, coprprate, concert touring or whatever, the principles are the same. I also appreciate that as an employer in the entertainements business, if we are to have a pool of qualified and experinced people for years to come, we in industry have to contribute.

 

Probably no easy answer to the two students involved in this thread - keep at it; some people will be helpful and some wont be. Don't resent them if they are not - sometimes things are so busy there is little time for anything other than surviving the day/week/gig.

 

;)

 

Christopher