[NEohioPAL]WARNING: The Economy Stinks!

[Richard B Ingraham]

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Just to put one more viewpoint into the mix.  

I have to agree here with Martin's comments.  I personally have been
affected by two of the "closings".  I was slated to design sound for both
"Raised in Captivity" at Dobama and "Three Tall Women" at Ensemble.  Not
only were these two shows that I was looking forward to artistically, but
believe it or not, I try to make a living as a Freelance Sound Designer. 
With the loss of these two shows, I'm now left wondering how exactly I
will be "paying the bills" in April.  But I certainly don't hold the
administration of either of the two theatre companies responsible.  Yes
it is their job to see to the financial obligations as well as the
artistic obligations of the theatre company, but the old saying of "you
can't get blood from a turnip" comes to mind.  Plus we're all human, and
we all make mistakes.  I certainly make mistakes in some choices for my
sound designs on occasion.  (shock!, Horror!!  :-))  So I certainly can
not expect a theatre's administration to make "no" mistakes, especially
given the current financial situation, that Martin points out so well.

To answer one of the questions from Kato Buss...Yes I'm sure the local
theatres do depend at least somewhat on ticket sales from the "general
public" to fulfill their financial goals.  What percentage of their
overall season budget is actually based on "projected" ticket sales
varies from theatre to theatre.  Just as no theatre company, with the
exception of a small handful of "for profit" Broadway type shows, depends
totally on ticket revenue to keep the bills paid, I'm sure none of them,
with maybe the possible exception of educational theatre (like college,
or high school programs), depend solely on public and private grants and
gifts to cover their expenses.  Even with my limited knowledge of
"marketing and ticket sales" I can see the lower ticket sales, a problem
that has been going on for some time now, long before a war in Iraq, 911,
etc.  Although I'm sure these events certainly haven't made the task of
working around slumping tickets sales any easier.

One gut reaction to Ms. Eisenstein's comments.  While it would be great
if the theatres that are dark could "open their doors" to other
organizations or production companies, keep in mind that even that will
cost money, even if your just doing a simple reading.  Just to do a
simple reading, you need to turn on lights (at least work lights, but I
guess you want something a little less "ugly" than some work lights), the
audience will need to use the rest rooms, lobby lights will be needed,
etc.  All this costs money, somebody would have to pay for the
electricity, water, etc.  If these companies can not afford to produce
the rest of their seasons, I don't think they should be expected to
"house" other companies, unless the guests are able to pay for the
incurred expenses.  But that's probably just the Department Supervisor in
me, left over from my days at The Cleveland Play House, and I certainly
don't speak for any of the theatres in question.  :-))

Sorry if I've put anybody to sleep.  This is just a subject I've been
thinking much about lately due the circumstances.


Richard B. Ingraham
Free-lance Sound Design/Engineer/Technician
RBI Computers & Audio
email at: RBIngraham at juno.com
http://www.rbicompaudio.20m.com         
http://www.mp3.com/rbiproductions



On Fri, 21 Mar 2003 15:25:11 -0800 (PST) Martin Friedman
<martinfriedman98 at yahoo.com> writes:
The theatres in Northeast Ohio who have had to cancels shows or parts of
their seasons, I'm sure, are terribly dishearted and distressed at their
decision. I can't believe that Ms. Casey or Ms. Colombi or Mr. Levin are
very happy right now.  I believe we owe them, and the other theatre
producers/directors who have provided us with theatrical opportunities
over the years, a great debt gratitude. 
Yes, we love to hate their choices of casts and plays and interpretations
but they are there for us 'theatre people.'  
We do need to attend the theatre this weekend and next weekend. But we
also need to understand where these producers and directors are coming
from. 
Martin Friedman, Ph.D. Lakeland Theatre/ John Carroll Unviversity 
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<DIV>
<DIV>Just to put one more viewpoint into the mix.  </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have to agree here with Martin's comments.  I personally have =
been=20
affected by two of the "closings".  I was slated to design sound for =
both=20
"Raised in Captivity" at Dobama and "Three Tall Women" at Ensemble.  =
Not=20
only were these two shows that I was looking forward to artistically, but=20
believe it or not, I try to make a living as a Freelance Sound Designer.&=
nbsp;=20
With the loss of these two shows, I'm now left wondering how exactly I will=
 be=20
"paying the bills" in April.  But I certainly don't hold the =
administration=20
of either of the two theatre companies responsible.  Yes it is their =
job to=20
see to the financial obligations as well as the artistic obligations of the=
=20
theatre company, but the old saying of "you can't get blood from a turnip" =
comes=20
to mind.  Plus we're all human, and we all make mistakes.  I =
certainly=20
make mistakes in some choices for my sound designs on occasion.  (=
shock!,=20
Horror!!  :-))  So I certainly can not expect a theatre's=20
administration to make "no" mistakes, especially given the current =
financial=20
situation, that Martin points out so well.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To answer one of the questions from Kato Buss...Yes I'm sure the local=
=20
theatres do depend at least somewhat on ticket sales from the "general =
public"=20
to fulfill their financial goals.  What percentage of their overall =
season=20
budget is actually based on "projected" ticket sales varies from theatre to=
=20
theatre.  Just as no theatre company, with the exception of a =
small=20
handful of "for profit" Broadway type shows, depends totally on ticket =
revenue=20
to keep the bills paid, I'm sure none of them, with maybe the possible =
exception=20
of educational theatre (like college, or high school programs), depend =
solely on=20
public and private grants and gifts to cover their expenses.  Even =
with my=20
limited knowledge of "marketing and ticket sales" I can see the lower =
ticket=20
sales, a problem that has been going on for some time now, long before a =
war in=20
Iraq, 911, etc.  Although I'm sure these events certainly haven't made=
 the=20
task of working around slumping tickets sales any easier.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>One gut reaction to Ms. Eisenstein's comments.  While it would be=
=20
great if the theatres that are dark could "open their doors" to other=20
organizations or production companies, keep in mind that even that will =
cost=20
money, even if your just doing a simple reading.  Just to do a simple=
=20
reading, you need to turn on lights (at least work lights, but I guess you =
want=20
something a little less "ugly" than some work lights), the audience =
will=20
need to use the rest rooms, lobby lights will be needed, etc.  All =
this=20
costs money, somebody would have to pay for the electricity, water, etc.&=
nbsp;=20
If these companies can not afford to produce the rest of their seasons, I =
don't=20
think they should be expected to "house" other companies, unless the guests=
 are=20
able to pay for the incurred expenses.  But that's probably just the=20
Department Supervisor in me, left over from my days at The Cleveland Play =
House,=20
and I certainly don't speak for any of the theatres in question. =20
:-))</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sorry if I've put anybody to sleep.  This is just a subject I've =
been=20
thinking much about lately due the circumstances.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Richard B. Ingraham<BR>Free-lance Sound=20
Design/Engineer/Technician<BR>RBI Computers & Audio<BR>email at: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:RBIngraham at juno.com">RBIngraham at juno.com</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.rbicompaudio.20m.com">http://www.rbicompaudio.20m.com</A=
>         =20
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.mp3.com/rbiproductions">http://www.mp3.com/=
rbiproductions</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On Fri, 21 Mar 2003 15:25:11 -0800 (PST) Martin Friedman <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:martinfriedman98 at yahoo.com">martinfriedman98 at yahoo.com</A>&=
gt;=20
writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px =
solid">
  <P>The theatres in Northeast Ohio who have had to cancels shows or =
parts=20
  of their seasons, I'm sure, are terribly dishearted and distressed =
at=20
  their decision. I can't believe that Ms. Casey or Ms. Colombi or Mr.=
=20
  Levin are very happy right now.  I believe we owe them, and the =
other=20
  theatre producers/directors who have provided us with theatrical=20
  opportunities over the years, a great debt gratitude.=20
  <P>Yes, we love to hate their choices of casts and plays and =
interpretations=20
  but they are there for us 'theatre people.' =20
  <P>We do need to attend the theatre this weekend and next weekend. But we=
 also=20
  need to understand where these producers and directors are coming from.=20
  <P>Martin Friedman, Ph.D. Lakeland Theatre/ John Carroll Unviversity=20
</P></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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