Well – some of you will say that my negativity towards the venue caused it… But – I would disagree. Nothing was pre-rigged when we got here, and we had to argue to get them to start rigging something resembling our rig after explaining that just because we have the show in the desk doesnt mean that we can just use their lights where they are.
On top of that – the venue manager is just plain difficult – it is part of our contract we are provided several things – including a phone line, we have had to argue and argue for all this crap.
For those of you that haven’t been following – I am in the Moncrieffe Theatre in Bundaberg, Queensland Australia.
If you are a produciton manager, lighting designer, producer, director, friends with somebody associated with theatre, walked past somebody who might have seen a play once or live on the planet earth – can I please emplore you to make sure that you tell everybody you know not to bring a show to this venue.
The venue itself if a projection theatre, which is fine – there are many multi purpose venues around, but here – the sight lines are crap. If you can get past this – it is an ok venue. The problem is and has always been (yes – I have been firmly screwed here before) the managment.
Managment and technical staff have absolutly no regard for performances / hirers using the venue, in our case the venue has purchased the show – and they are still making their life difficult. I am torn between to mind-sets.
Firstly, fuck ‘em – they want a shit show – fine – they get one. If they can’t be fucked making sure it looks good – not my problem.
Secondly – I am here to make sure the integrity of the show is high and that there is no disripute brought to those involved in the show, the producer, lighting designer, director etc
This is where I am stuck at the moment, if we get too close to curtain and I am not happy – I think I will pull the show – I can not allow this to be fucked over by some lasy fucking venue who just can’t give a shit and goes out of their way to make our lives difficult.
