Author Topic: COMMUNICATION: Daily rehearsal report notes  (Read 14184 times)

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KMC

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Re: Daily rehearsal report notes
« Reply #15 on: Feb 01, 2009, 01:17 pm »
I see nothing wrong with distributing reports to the actors or the actors having access to the reports if that's how you choose to do business.  Yes, there will be things in the report about the actors, but there shouldn't be anything they don't already know and there shouldn't be anything you haven't already said to the actor mentioned.  

I can see how it could potentially create conflicts or drama, but it's nothing that can't be resolved ahead of time with a bit of proactive management!

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MatthewShiner

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Re: Daily rehearsal report notes
« Reply #16 on: Feb 01, 2009, 05:55 pm »
I actually find that most regional theaters have the notes in too wide of a distribution - I am pretty sure we when had to stop running them off and could just add people to an e-mail list, it became easier to add the gift shop manager, the rental manager, etc, etc.

The last thing I want to do is censor my production report writing, but I at times do find myself editing and reediting a note of (somewhat) confidential nature or that is just a delicate nature.  For example, recently, in a performance a report, a mis-entrance was noted, and then someone from the LX department, seeing the actor, made a joke to him about the missed entrance.  It was all a good nature ribbing, but it did warrant an e-mail that the information in the report should be considered confidential.  Noting actor's lateness (to leave a paper trail), frustration with a prop not working, etc, etc, etc, are all sort of COMMON notes, that perhaps should not be read by everyone in the cast and should not be discussed - at not posted on the call board (if we did that, I would have two reports).


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Amie

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Re: Daily rehearsal report notes
« Reply #17 on: Feb 01, 2009, 09:15 pm »
Yes, Matthew's response was more of my concern. 

There are issues I have in my reports that might either alarm or embarrass cast (or crew) members and sometimes, I simply don't want the cast to be aware of issues that would cause them to lose focus, etc.

However, my original comment was about the ONE report distributed and thoughts about that. And I agree: if required to CC casts on reports, they'd get a separate report.

It's just an interesting point of discussion, because it really can go either way depending on your company, how you write reports, the type of production, etc.





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“This whole creation is essentially subjective, and the dream is the theater where the dreamer is at once: scene, actor, prompter, stage manager, author, audience, and critic.”

Bwoodbury

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Re: Daily rehearsal report notes
« Reply #18 on: Feb 02, 2009, 01:42 am »
Planet Mike, I'm interested to know what sort of venue you're in. How do you traditionally distributed info to the shops if not in the report?

planetmike

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Re: Daily rehearsal report notes
« Reply #19 on: Feb 02, 2009, 08:20 am »
Planet Mike, I'm interested to know what sort of venue you're in. How do you traditionally distributed info to the shops if not in the report?

This is a community theater, the staffing (crew and cast) and the rehearsal and production venues change with every production. This is my first time working with the group. The director is also making her debut. We've now worked it out. Rehearsal reports are going to the director, company president (who is also set builder now), producer, costumer, props person, and the music director. Now that I've seen how the group works, I understand better about what they're looking for in the reports. The director also knows now that I'm not trying to usurp her authority by talking with the costumer and prop person about potential issues.

Amie

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Re: Daily rehearsal report notes
« Reply #20 on: Feb 02, 2009, 12:08 pm »
"The director also knows now that I'm not trying to usurp her authority by talking with the costumer and prop person about potential issues."

^^  She is probably just not used to an effecient stage manager. ;)
~ Amie ~

“This whole creation is essentially subjective, and the dream is the theater where the dreamer is at once: scene, actor, prompter, stage manager, author, audience, and critic.”

Libby

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Re: Daily rehearsal report notes
« Reply #21 on: Feb 02, 2009, 05:53 pm »
I have never heard of a company posting the report notes or giving them to the cast. I actually think most SMs I know go out of their way for the cast to NOT read the report. I find it helpful to print out the rehearsal report at the end of the night (as well as the daily) and leave them both on the director's table (Many directors I know seems to not read all the notes from the email). A standard rule of thumb is to always put the report under the daily and the sm team is always knows never to just leave one out to avoid prying eyes reading, sometimes, sensitive material.