[SML] Show Budgets Question

[Bruce Bennett]

$3,500 CDN is what the local community theatre in a smaller city
outside Toronto uses for plays with another $2,500 per show (averaged over
a 5-show season) for promotion and marketing.
Small department budgets are on top of this.
250-seat theatre, all volunteer, big costume and props inventories, been
around for 80+ years, with most revenue going into maintaining the building.
Increasing rights costs and changes in audience demographics, along with
variable production quality, led to a reduction in the number of
performances per show to 8 from 11.
Your show budgets seem thin to me.
Bruce

On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 6:50 PM Riter, Andrew via Stagecraft <
stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:

> Hi Dan
>
>
>
> I’m not in the same boat you are, so I can’t compare numbers.  (I’m in a
> rental house on Campus)
>
>
>
> However, another way to read your budget is that you are given $18,000 for
> your entire department (including office supplies, not including faculty or
> staff wages?).  How you spend that money is up to you.
>
>
>
> (cut office supplies, don’t bring in bottled water to the office . . . .
> that sort of cost cutting).
>
>
>
> As a sign to your Powers That Be, start producing smaller shows (less set,
> less actors/costumes; change the musical out for another play).
>
> Have someone (since you already do everything) do a Go Fund Me drive /
> bake sale to raise funds.  Sometimes “shaming” can work (but consider all
> possible negative outcomes).
>
>
>
> Contact the creative writing department on campus (?), see if they want to
> go in on a play development workshop (a night of 1 acts:  no rights to pay
> for).
>
>
>
> Other than showing the PTB the excel sheet that Rights have increased by
> x; lumber increased by y; fabric/costume rentals increased by z; labour
> costs outside of TAs or free student labour has increased by zz; and
> comparing that to other similar sized programs, offering to start cutting
> portions of the program is the next (drastic) method of getting their
> attention.
>
>
>
> Good luck.
>
>
>
> *Andrew M. Riter*
> Assistant Technical Director, Head Lighting Technician
> Chan Centre
>
>
> Phone 604 822 2372
> andrew.riter at ubc.ca
>
>
>
> *From:* Stagecraft <stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net> *On Behalf Of *Miller,
> Daniel via Stagecraft
> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 20, 2021 10:37 AM
> *To:* Stagecraft Mailing List <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> *Cc:* Miller, Daniel <Daniel.Miller at dwu.edu>
> *Subject:* [SML] Show Budgets Question
>
>
>
> [*CAUTION:* Non-UBC Email]
>
> Good morning!
>
>
>
> I am a university professor running a one-person theatre department. I
> produce three plays a year including a musical. I have had the privilege of
> doing this at this university for 15 years now. As we all know the costs
> for royalties and the costs for building materials has increased a great
> deal over the last couple of years. However, my budget has remained the
> same for a decade. I have asked for increases to the budgets, but
> administration believes the budgets I have for each production is
> sufficient. I need your help. Can I get your feedback? Are my budgets
> sufficient?
>
>
>
> These budgets are for ALL aspects of a show from royalties, to props,
> sets, publicity, etc.
>
>
>
> Here is my budget……..
>
>
>
> Fall Show………$3500.00
>
> Winter Show……….$3500.00
>
> Musical……….$11,000.00
>
>
>
> BTW – Any items needed for the department such as office supplies or
> equipment repair/replacement, etc. also has to come from these budgets as
> well.
>
>
>
> Is this typical?
>
>
>
> I look forward to your replies on this matter.
>
>
>
> Daniel
>
>
>
> *Daniel L. Miller*
>
> Director of Theatre
>
> Associate Professor of Theatre
>
> 1200 W. University Ave. | Mitchell, SD | 57301
>
> 605-995-2710  | www.dwu.edu
>
> 605-290-0641 (cell)
>
>
>
> Input | Responsibility | Relator | Intellection | Achiever
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
>
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