HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE OPERATIONS SERVICES

SAFETY

• Recommend changes or improvements to enhance safety. 
• Create policies and procedures to control security and access of the theatre. 
• Develop customized operational policies and procedures that improve personal safety, protect property, and mitigate liability.
• Create customized signs, warnings, notices and handouts. 
• Compile a safety manual. 
• Generate a safety inspection roster and timeline. 
• Engage professional independent theatre technicians, inspectors, suppliers and/or subcontractors as applicable. 

ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS

• Create user application forms covering areas such as technical equipment requirements, production schedules, crewing.
• Create forms for users to fill out for the theatre management, and for the theatre management to impart essential information to the user. 
• Create systems for correspondence and collaboration with employees, theatre users, and administration. 

SCHEDULING

• Optimize the use schedule in order to best provide for the needs of the variety of groups that use the theatre. 
• Improve the theatre scheduling system, by instigating mandatory Production Meetings in order to ascertain prospective users’ specific time needs and space requirements. 
• Develop a system to track prospective users, the year’s users, the current month’s users, upcoming month’s users, past month’s users; noting the production schedule, running order of each day, the technical needs and tracking production meetings and their outcomes. 

TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS

• Organize technical equipment, recommend specific and secure functional equipment storage locations. 
• Recommend a list of consumable equipment stock in anticipation of the needs of the users of the space. 
• Design, hang and focus a functional “Rep Plot” (a standardized lighting system which is versatile for performances from plays and musicals, to concerts, to speakers, which allows for show-specific flexibility within a reasonable time frame). 
• Provide documents that give event users an at-a-glance overview of your theatre’s systems for quick reference and easy use. 

FINANCIALS

• Review existing budgets and suggest areas for cost savings. 
• Make suggestions for essential expenses. 
• Research and recommend a competitive fee schedule for renters. 
• Other financial analysis based on production needs and requirements. 

OUTREACH and BRANDING

• Theatres (even school theatres) need to develop an image (brand) in the community. Familiarity breeds ownership, pride and a sense of belonging within the community. 
• Develop a website which will provide information such as: technical specifications and inventory, rental rates, availability at-a-glance, application information, policies and procedures, and other information that is often requested by users and/or often needs to be conveyed to users. 
• Increase branding that will stand for professional, state-of-the-art facilities, which will be an integral part of the community. 
• Marketing to community groups. 

EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT

• Provide technical support to increase the efficacy and safe operations of the theatres. 
• Create a crew schedule to satisfy appropriate technical needs for events. 
• Organize training and certifications for theatre technicians, students, staff and other users of the space. 
• Assess the pros and cons of a professional staff versus a teacher/student run theatre.

EDUCATION

• Train school staff on the function of the space. 
• Train student stage crew on the proper procedures and protocol of running a show and working together as an efficient technical team. 
• Develop a Tech Theatre Club or class. 
• Hold technical workshops for students and/or school staff. 
• Provide information on educational standards, learning goals and career development. 

SUCCESSION

• After working with you and your staff to optimized the operations of your theatre, we can help you with the interview process to find a Theatre Manager/Technical Director and technicians for your facility.