Unit 6 – Production Roles Differences

Alex Boakes

PMD 1

Production ManagerWhat does a theatre Production Manager do?

The Production Manager ensures a project is delivered on time and on budget. They are exceptional problem solvers and forward-planners - often having to strategies for every conceivable pitfall!

A typical day involves emails and telephone calls, dealing with queries, productions meetings and going get ins and get outs if on tour. Production Managers tend to move on to bigger productions and work for bigger venues as they develop their skills and experience.

The Average Salary of a production manager is £35,000 - £55.000 a year

Responsibilities of the production Manager:

Oversee and coordinate all aspects of physical production and the production process.Supervise and oversee all production staff and crew.Organize and manage production design and scheduling and set rentals.Provide cost estimates on designs submitted and account for commitments and expenditures in budgets for materials and labor in scenic, stage, lighting, sound and special effects, capital equipment and other special projects.Establish technical schedules and coordinate all activities related to theater productions including scenery construction, property construction, painting, maintenance and improvements.Organising rehearsal props, sets and costumes.Preparation of all show paperwork.Video and music management and production for rehearsals and performances.Develop equipment and procedures for stage effects and changeovers.Coordinate and oversee the installation, maintenance and inventory of technical equipment and facilities.Assist in contracting dancers, choreographers and designers.Facilitate communication between designers, directors and staff.Maintain supervision of theatre use.Manage carpentry, electrical and property staff.

The Production Manager generally is responsible for budgeting, scheduling work, and coordinating the various production departments. The Production Manager is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the production are completed within budget, according to the designer's and director's wishes, and in time for the first public performance.A producer at work The Production Manager oversees the cost effectiveness and planning of the entire production process. Responsibilities may include any or all of the following:Securing the rights to present the play from the royalty house or publisher-agent.• Budgeting• Deciding date, time and venue• Forming a production team• Production meetings• Scheduling rehearsals and performances• Setting the rehearsal venue• First call• Rehearsal process and preparation• Financial accounting of the show's expenses and revenues

Having found the property and bought the rights, the producer starts by putting together a production budget--the cost of finding and rehearsing the creative team, cast and orchestra; designing and making the scenery costumes and props, installing them all in a theatre; and marketing the results. He will then decide on the capitalization of the project--that is, the production budget plus a contingency fund to sustain the show until it is on its feet. In some theatres, he also determines how many weeks it will take to recover the production costs at varying levels of business.

However, the single most important responsibility (after securing the rights to the production) is the development of a highly motivated and collaborative production team, which includes all those in charge of the various areas of the production--director, set designer, lighting designer, costume designer, musical director, publicist, choreographer, technical director, stage manager, etc. Finally, it's a good idea to be familiar with the roles and responsibilities of the other key players in mounting a production., so be sure to view the other job descriptions in this series.

My research on a professional Production Manager

Alan Meggs

Production ManagerProduction Co-ordinatorLocation : East Sussex

Education1980, Dance (ballet, jazz, contemporary [Graham technique], historical. Drama. Voice.Arts Educational Schools

PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE Production/Stage Manager Brighton Rep TheatreBrighton Fringe FestivalProduction Manager Kent Sporting Legends

University of KentProduction Manager/Company Manager I Love You Because Landor Theatre ‘What’s on Stage’ Theatre Goers Award–Best Off West End Production 2007Production Co-ordinator Jermyn St 10th Anniversary GalaCriterion TheatreProduction Co-ordinator Le Beaujolais 50th Birthday PartyCorporate EventStage Manager Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus The Dome BrightonStage Manager Barclays Bank

Corporate VideoStage Manager FSA

Corporate EventStage Manager TheatreMAD Christmas Concerts St Paul’s, Covent GardenCrew Chargehand/ Dep automation/ Phantom of the Opera Her Majesty’s TheatreDep ASMWardrobe Technician/Swing Dresser Disney’s The Lion King Lyceum Theatre

DIRECTING EXPERIENCE

DirectorThe Other WomanShepperton and Sunbury Arts FestivalDirectorJasna Ivir and FriendsTheatreMAD Late Night Cabaret Assistant DirectorThe Betrayal of Nora BlakeJermyn Street Theatre – Observer Musical of the Year 1998Assistant DirectorJackie, A Satirical ComedyQueens TheatreAssistant & Resident DirectorChess, The MusicalUK and European ToursResident DirectorBeauty and the BeastUK TourResident DirectorSummer HolidayUK TourCo-DirectorBeing Alive, AIDS GalaKings Theatre, Glasgow Assistant Director/ChoreographerViva O CarnavalLilian Baylis Theatre

CHOREOGRAPHIC/MOVEMENT EXPERIENCE

ChoreographerNational Lottery Live Summer Holiday CompanyChoreographerGMTV – Get Up and GiveSummer Holiday CompanyMovement DirectorGay School MusicalAbove the Stag Movement DirectorThe Lunatic QueenRiverside StudiosMovement DirectorThe Ministry of PleasureTheatre 503Assistant ChoreographerDirecto En La NocheRTVE SpainAssistant ChoreographerHot City Dance Co.Italy and European tours

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONConversational knowledge of Italian and SpanishCommittee Member for TheatreMADArtist in Residence (Drama), Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, AylesburyChaperone LicenceCRB CheckedEFAWECDL Level 2

TELEVISION AND VIDEO EXPERIENCEDirecto En La Noche (RTVE Spain)Kate Robbins Show (Granada TV)BAFTA Awards (Granada TV)Cliff Richard – VariousFreddie Mercury – The Great PretenderDairy Box ChocolatesSpitting Image – Peter and the Wolf(Emmy Award Winner, 1994)plus various film and photographic work

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCEPerformer for over twenty years, including:

Angst (London Clubs, David Essex UK Tour)London Baroque Dance Theatre (UK Tour)Time, The Musical (Dominion Theatre)Scrambled Feet (Lilian Baylis Theatre)

About meAn all-round theatre and dance facilitator with the ability to work across a vast range of disciplines. This allows me to see a production as a complete unit from inception to performance from every angle, enabling me to pre-empt problems and have practical solutions.

I have a background in the performing arts at all levels and a vast knowledge of music and dance both classical and contemporary. I bring a depth of experience that ranges from small scale touring to mainstream commercial theatre.

Additional SkillsMember of the International Dance Council UNESCO (16962)Committee Member for TheatreMADChaperone LicenceCRB CheckedConversational knowledge of Italian and SpanishEFAWECDL Level 2

I got this information from : http://www.stagejobspro.com/uk/view.php?uid=347472