27 June 2005

An Invitiation

| Nickamc
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INVITATION

This is an invitation to attend the inaugural meeting for the

Canberra Awards for Performing Arts [working title]

These awards will be targeted at small budget theatre productions and emerging artists and youth. It is proposed that the awards will include not only traditional theatre, but also dance, circus, physical theatre and music.

On Tuesday 28th June at 7pm we would like you to join us at the Belconnen Community Centre in Meeting Room One to discuss the development of these awards, and get some input about what YOU believe the awards can do to fill current gaps in providing encouragement to participants in amateur theatre.

Thanks,

Elena Kirschbaum & Nick McCorriston

0407 267 239

Elena_kirschbaum@hotmail.com

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I’m going to try again, simpler this time…

Let us assume that production costs are pretty much locked in (which I’m guessing they are). So, to break even, you still need to bring in about the same amount through the box office. Right?

So, if we take your suggestion and remove the concession prices, and charge a single flat fee, that single flat fee is going to fall somewhere between the full price and what the concession price would be, isn’t it?

Which would mean that pensioners would be paying more than they would with a concession.

Admittedly, I still don’t get what’s so massively unreasonable about a $15 ticket.

Pensioners demand a special price for themselves rather than just a low one?

That’s an option that is adopted by a lot of companies (two of the shows I mentioned had no concession prices).

However, this does mean that two parts of the audience are lost:
1) Pensioners – who tend to be as reliable an audience as you’re likely to find – once they like a company, they’ll come back time and again.
2) Students and young people – who are pretty much your future audience.

So, having dumped your most stable audience and your future audience, what are you left with?

Wonsworld, I’d suggest doing away with concession prices and going for a lower flat fee.

but that’s just my 2c

Wow, I didn’t even know this site existed until just now! Hi, I am Elena Kirschbaum, organiser of this little stirrer!

I would love to set a few things straight!

What we are trying to establish here is not at all competition for the CAT Awards. The market that we are looking at is completely different. We are looking at targeting the ‘fringe’ acts, basically, quite exactly, the kinds of arts practises that are not already covered by an existing awards program. In fact, we are so far away from competition with the CATs that I have been attempting to negotiate a partnership with the CAT Awards. I think it’d be great if we could be the CAT Fringe awards. Actually, at the meeting someone suggested that we call ourselves the kittens.

We are hoping that these awards will mean something more than the paper they’re written on. By making these awards completely accessible and the awards night a free event, we are hoping that they really will raise the profile of theatre in canberra and be making a little off centre and ‘fringey’ it will attract a different crowd than the regular theatre-scene crew. We also aim to have some awards with real prizes to assist and develop new and emerging work, such as free theatre space and other things to really help these people out.

And to clear up a few rumours, I think the CAT Awards are great. I have never been eligible for an award, so I’m not doing this out of spite. I actually attended the award ceremony last year with two friends who were both nominated for awards. I got to go to the cocktail party, and drank a few too many mimosa’s and had a great night (and almost tripped up the stairs)!

We are planning to hold another meeting in around three weeks time because so many people who wanted to come along couldn’t make it. I will make sure I put the details up here when we have a date. If any of you would like to send me your email addresses then I can send you the notes from the last meeting and an invitation to the next. Whether you are for or against the idea it’d be great for you to come along and share your opinion.

Thanks for all the great feedback! Keep it coming and bring it along to the meeting!

– Elena Kirschbaum.
elena_kirschbaum@hotmail.com
0407 267 239.

(Goodness, was that long enough?!?)

“as for theatre prices, if it costs more than a movie ticket then the cost base needs re-evaluating”

John, if you could suggest ways of doing this cheaper (which is the only way I can see of ticket prices being lowered) then I am all ears.

The company I am usually associated with (Supa) does offer concession rates for pensioners, students, groups as best we can (as I am sure do the other amatuer companies).

We generally budget for productions to cover costs NOT for profit and without various forms of sponsorship/reduced rates/discounts the various companies get, it would be very hard for any of us to survive.

Well there’s a lively debate going on here without me and I hope you can all get closer to seeing eye to eye at the end of it.

for my 2c competition is good, bring on more local news and events websites.

as for theatre prices, if it costs more than a movie ticket then the cost base needs re-evaluating. if you can work a niche at higher prices then well done but, as with awards ceremonies, it’s a competitive entertainment environment out there.

Good to see there’s more frustrated actors out there other than me ie. all of them.

LG – it was the inaccuracies in her view of the CATs that gave that impression. Nothing to do with you.

These awards are being presented as an alternative to the CATS. The information given regarding the CATS was false. Maybe spite wasn’t the best word, but there seems to be an agenda behind these new awards.

My full rant and problem with the whole thing (for what it’s worth)…

The Canberra Theatre community is not big enough for one awards contest-let alone two.
On a long enough timeline everyone can win a CAT award if they try (despite them stretching the boundaries to rural australia)-it will be the same with any other awards contest presented. Because everyone CAN win an award, everyone probably will- or the opposite, the same people will win the awards every year. Canberra Theatre is just not big enough and the talent is not varied enough for it to be any different. Everyone will have an award and the awards will then become meaningless. The theatre community is so small and interconnected that all it amaounts to is a giant theatrical circle jerk that means absolutely nothing outside of canberra. That is what the CATs represent at the moment – how is this new awards scheme going to be any different?

What people should be doing, rather than patting theatre on the back (it gets enough of that already) is working on getting ticket prices down, more non-theatre people onto the stage (Canberra theatre is cliquey- everyone in it knows that) and more non theatre going people into the theatres to watch. This will not be acheived by giving out pieces of paper that you have assigned a meaning to.

gaaah….end rant. For the record, My name is Arran McKenna and I’m a frustrated actor. hahaha. I’m also miffed I missed the meeting last night.

Only one of the amateur theatre companies in Canberra pays musicians, and way below Musicians’ Union award rates. The others all have volunteer musicians.

With lighting, the major lighting contracting company to local amateur companies supplies goods and services at a significantly reduced rate. There is no union involved.

The “A” in “CATS” is for “Area” – not “Amateur”, otherwise there would be doubt cast on paid directors who have won the best director award.

Set Construction, Rights (royaties), Costumes and Properties are all paid for at the same rates regardless if you are a Amateur or Professional group.

Theatre Hire may be given at a slighlty reduced rate (depending on where you perform) BUT it is still staggering amount for an Amatuer company trying to make ends meet.

These shows may be amatuer in that the actors, msucians and backstage crews do not get paid BUT everything else is the same as if you are a school show playing in the Street Theatre or Sydney Theatre Company.

Ticket prices are a reflection on what it COSTS to put these shows on NOT on expected profit (which is usually ONLY enough to keep you going for one more show). But still we survive.

Sousaphone-Guy11:50 am 29 Jun 05

In the interests of facts, the majority of amateur musical theatre companies in town (SUPA, Phoenix, Queanbeyan Players, G-String) have never paid their musicians. Their prices vary, but reflect other costs, like theatre hire, rights etc etc. And lo and behold, market forces appear to work – and so they survive.

Can I point out that I bagged out the CAT awards, not Esquire? I don’t have any thing to do with the new awards, I just happen to know and support the people who are organising them.

Esquire have not said anything awful about the CAT awards, and have not in anyway been spiteful.

Please don’t let MY bagging of the CATs influence your impression of Esquire.

The more I read the comments the more it seems these awards are being made out of spite.

I don’t care much about any of the awards nights but I like local Theatre and do not think it is overly expensive. Last week I watched Vin and When in Rome – and both were excellent. I just visited CAT webpage and it is very impressive. But what I hate is when people (Esquire) bullshit and mislead people. Perhaps you should ring the CAT people and check your facts.

Chris Di Donna, pleased to make your one sided aquaintence busybee.

The rule of the marketplace states that the crappier, uncompetitive and more unneccessary awards show will wither and die, given there is an actual demand. Say ‘bring it on’ and have impetus to make your show bigger and better than the other.

Condemning it as unnessary while it is unborn is monopolising for your own glory. Fucking prima donnas!!

As for lighting and musos getting paid, WTF happened to ‘amateur’? I’d do that shit for free if the show was good. Unfortunately, I have a young family that needs my time first. Sorry.

I’ll also back the comment about high ticket prices while I’m at it, they put me right off. And now I know who to blame for that too so thanks.

And also someone involved in the CATS, obviously.

Let’s get it straight Esquire. All I want you to do is get your facts right

The actual joining fee for the COMPANIES are:
If you have one show it is $55.00..if you are putting on more than one show and want them all entered (whether it be 2 or 22) the total cost is $77

The end of the year gala evening is not always $45.00. This ticket is not expected to be paid by the company but is usually paid by each individual. Last year all nominated people got a free ticket plus a cocktail party pre show.
And as for your comment about nominated people not attending the awards where on earth did you get that idea? All of this scuttlebut going around is quite incredible. Nominations come out long before tickets are on sale, consequently the box office has no idea who has been nominated and noone has ever had their nomination cancelled because they are not at the
awards evening. This doesn’t happen at the Oscars or the Tonys and the CAT Awards are modelled on these Award nights.

As to who I am..I don’t know anyone else who has come forth and given their real name..I just happen to be someone who is interested in theatre, and get my facts correct

I know the meeting went well and I look forward
to the results

Esquire, I’ll talk to you about it next time I see you (and let you know “who” I am if you haven’t already worked it out). Glad to hear the meeting went well. Sorry I couldn’t make it.

Busybee, you need around 150 in total to hav any chance of winning an award. 50 for each show (or 77 for 2 or more) let alone having to pay 45 to go along to the ceremony. I apologise, my adding skills aren’t up to what they used to be, it seems it’s more around the sum of $100. And, if I’m right, if you don’t attend the awards, your nomination gets cancelled?

I’m not here to bag the CAT awards. They do a great job servicing the needs of the older theatre community in Canberra and the surrounding regions. All I’m saying is it’s not something myself or my local artistic peers seem interested in. We want to work with local theatre, youth art outlets and other young people in the community to create a fun, free awards show that everyone can get involved in. It’s thats simple.

Cheers for the kind words Lurker.

The meeting last night went very well, and we’ll be informing you all of the results very very shortly.

busybee, pull your head in. Esquire have posted something important to them on this site. It doesn’t give you (and who the hell are YOU anway????) the right to attack them.

They are good people who are trying to do something good for the community. If you don’t like it, shut up about it, or go to the meeting. Stop hiding behind the anonymity of the net.

To add to the plugs for various local theatres:

– “Season of Keene” is running at the street until 2nd July – Costs $12/15.
– “When in Rome” is running at Theatre 3 (the Rep theatre) – $27/22.

Anything else I’ve missed?

John – from what I’ve gathered, both musicians and lighting crews have a comfy enough union relationship that they must be paid, otherwise they don’t work. Which is why most amateur musicals are tipping the $30/$40 mark.

On the other hand, the plays only have to pay the electricians. So, for example, King Lear (which, yep, I’m in) costs $15 per head. A

nd there’s a fair bit of that kind of theatre – the “just the actors, ma’am” stuff is usually wandering around the $15-$20 mark – not too unreasonable, surely?

Oh, and so I don’t entirely plug myself – “Loot” has extended for two more performances on Thursday and Friday this week – only $15 (cheaper than a movie any day except Tuesday…)

Esquire get your facts straight before rushing off and causing trouble. The entry fee for the Cat Awards is NOT $150.00 it is $55.00 for one show and $77.00 for more than one show.
Where do you get your information supplied from..you cause trouble..get it right before sprouting forth

On the subject of quality reviewing, I can safely say the reason this site doesn’t have more to say about local theatre is the price of tickets.

I understand why the prices finish where they do but for cutting edge scripts I’d say go it shakespeare style and kill off the sets and props.

If I want to watch Mamet all I care about are the actors and what they have to say.

my 2c

Not bitter, just poor. We’ve never participated because we don’t have the 150 or so bucks it takes to enter our shows in the CAT awards.

Perhaps those pushing for these new awards have been unsuccessful at previous CAT awards. Just bitter!

Ok, well the reason we are putting this forward is not to be an all serious, all encompassing Awards show for local theatre. We feel there’s a gap in the local theatre community, in that alot of local, low budget theatre isn’t getting recognised because we can’t afford to enter the CAT awards (yes, you have to pay to enter), and we feel the fringe performing artists (circus performers, movement theatre etc.) are getting ingored because we don’t fit into this view of Canberra Arts.

in no way would we try and compete with the CAT awards. These awards would be more about encouraging participation and originality in Canberra amatuer theatre, rather than awarding individuals which is more of the CAT awards angle.

If you think you’ve got something to say, positive or negative, please come along. Don’t feel liek you’d be the only one disagreeing with it Azza, I have much respect for your opinion and would love to see you there.

I really hope you’re joking Sousaphone – I really do

and Wons – you agree with me more than you’d like to admit 🙂

Sousaphone-Guy3:27 pm 27 Jun 05

In the same sense that there is no restriction on the number of local groups putting on shows, there should be no restriction on the number of Awards groups.

Bring them on.

The CATS are not very impartial though, are they? I mean, hey, lets give all the awards to titanic! It’s crap, but it’s serious, so it must be art! If it’s not serious, it’s not real theatre. If we don’t know the people in it, we aren’t going to give it a prize. I think not. I am all for a nice refreshing unspoiled new group.

LG, who does actually know the people who are running this, but are behind it anyway.

its not often that I do this… but I must agree with Azza on this. The Cats already take in the youth theatre and emerging artists (although the circus is kinda out there by itself). And as a result of the current “youth” and “school awards” section of the CATS (for play and musical and variety) they tend to go on well into the night.

The question that you need to ask yourself is … why do you need to do it all again?

I may consider coming and saying my piece – but I fear I may be viewed as the grouchy negative guy in the corner. Seems you guys are keen to get the awards going whereas my view is we need no more awards full stop. I believe they’ll do nothing but create a false goal to strive for- much like the CATS.

More awards aren’t going to help youth theatre – public awareness, bums on seats and people being able to give good crisicism is what will.

Gah…see! Do you want someone saying this stuff at your meeting?

Just what we need – another group awarding the performing arts. We already have the CATS awards who are doing a splendid job. Why can’t these people work with groups who have been there, done that! More drama queens!

Well, it’s not that there shouldn’t be awards for Amateur Theatre. It’s that there’s already awards for ’em – why do we need a second lot?

Sorta like Australian Film – having the AFIs and the IF awards means there’s one awards ceremony too many.

Well we’re having the meeting, azza, to discuss the need of another local awards (this one mainly for youth theatre, emerging artists and other such ignored performers such as circus), so maybe you wanna come down and express your views in person?

If you aren’t interested, just ignore it! Same as I do with the boring sports posts.

Another group of awards for theatre and performance in canberra?? Do we need this?

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