Producing House - Action Meeting

On day two of the BSIDE topics were prioritised, converged and action were suggested by participants. Action groups then met to discuss ways forward. The following is one of the prioritised topics. For more information about the BSIDE Forum and format see the forum "About BSide".

Title: What Does a Producing House for NZ theatre look like? Action Group Meeting

Related Topics:

• Do we understand who we are making theatre for?
• Is the purpose of New Zealand theatre being realised?
• What can be done to foster and empower creative producers?
• Momentum.
• Is there a need for a space (web and/or print) dedicated to Wellington theatre for telling potential audiences what we are doing and/or planning?
• How can we share the love? Information and support for artists.

Suggested Actions: This was a list written down by various participants prior to discussion.

• Have a mission, vision, purpose, core values
• Develop infrastructure and strategic plan to “hang” projects off - a successful business model - the professionalism of the industry.
• What is the business model?
• Open a dialogue with RFO"s, CNZ and international agencies - how can we mutually benefit each other?
• Challenge and change the attitude of what the sector will value. Will you pay for golden resources?
• Think differently - what haven"t we got? What is philosophically different from anything else that currently exists?
• Look at possibility of extending practitioner support programme into production house.
• Internships/mentoring.
• Internships to overseas models/secondments for producers/artistic directors.
• Find location to supply rooms for skills/needs of theatre practitioners.
• Link in with enterprise New Zealand and existing business development services - explore existing avenues for support that could help resource the producer"s house.
• Develop a business plan, integrating existing funding resources that could be drawn on.
• Integrate a virtual, web-based arm to resources from start so that it"s a nationally accessible resource.

ACTION GROUP MEETING

Convenor: Anna Cameron

Participants:

Discussion and Recomendations:

Questions:

• Is the producing house a resource for the sector or does it produce?
• Specificity of its role and function?
• How does the house service the diversity of the sector?

List of potential purposes of producing house (in discussion):

• Lift the profile of the role of producer.
• Challenge understanding and acceptance of what a producer does.
• Champions producers and educates the sector.
• Builds a brand for New Zealand theatre.
• Supports a variety of companies.
• Identifies and develops potential (touring etc) for great new work.
• Provides skilled resources for development of companies/individuals/work.
• Produces the producers.
• Shares and manages risk.
• Provides touring expertise.
• Mentors producers and provides professional development for sector.
• Identifies new and potential producers and supports different levels of producers.
• Effective dating agency.
• Enables people to manage their own skills.
• Supports creative ideas.
• Supports clear specialisation between business and art.
• Makes use of existing resources.

What makes producing an awful job?
(Discussion)

• Other people"s expectations of what the producer will do.
• Lack of access to resources - having to re-invent the wheel = exhaustion.
• Lack of respect and understanding from other creatives.
• The us/them situation.
• Being held ultimately responsible when it"s not clear that that was your job in the first place.
• Working in an under resourced environment.
• Blurring of professional and personal commitments.
• Lack of career path and professional development opportunities.
• Lack of acknowledgement of skills.
• Goal setting is difficult - lack of aspiration/inspiration within the role/environment.
• Role definition is lacking.
• Making hard calls and being resented for it.
• Uncertainty/non-sustainable as viable career/lack of recognition.
• Not getting paid.

What are the good things?

• Being in control.
• Seeing something through with clear objectives.
• Making people smile from great new work.
• Being involved from the start.
• Being acknowledged for creative endeavour.
• Satisfaction from skills used appropriately within creative partnership.
• Knowing what people need.
• Realising a show.
• Being able to create your own JD.
• Freedom of choice.
• Creative Role.
• Problem solving capacity.
• Holding the big picture in your head.
• Dreaming & Scheming.
• Inspiring people.
• People getting paid.