So, this is sort of an old topic, now, but I thought you guys might like an update.
I've been CCing the producer on all my e-mail correspondences with my trouble staff member, and finally got all the information I needed...from the producer. So not her job.
Then I started getting e-mails from this woman, demanding that I change nomenclature in my e-mails, reports and paperwork. I mean, we're talking stuff as petty as, "Please don't ever refer to the theatre as
the Name of Theatre. It's just Name of Theatre." Or, "Change your "Front of House" category in your rehearsal reports to Admin." I'm dealing with a show with 50 quick changes, delicate timing on light and sound cues and an occasionally temperamental actor (though I love him, so it's ok), and she's worried about three letter words?
But this week, I finally put my foot down. Tuesday, three of the five people involved in the show, including my two Apprentice/Crew, were late, and only one called. I put in my rehearsal report a reminder to call me if you're running late, with my phone number and instructions for them to program it into their phones.
Wednesday, I got an e-mail from Trouble Lady, who is head of the Apprentice Company, telling me that SHE knew that the crew would be late all this week due to other jobs, and they didn't need to call me. They’d get there as soon as they could.
Astonished, I e-mailed her back, just before rehearsal (CCing the Producer) responding that yes, they do need to call, as a great deal of the work this week is teaching the backstage track. If they're going to be five minutes late, we can wait. If they're going to be 45, we can do something else constructive with that time. Either way, I need to know. I told her that I appreciate that she's the head of the Apprentice company and is trying to protect their interests, but they're also my crew, and need to follow the same rules and procedures as anyone else involved in the production.
During rehearsal I got a call from her, telling me that she got my e-mail and I needed to call her back on my next break and we needed to have a
conversation. I didn't really want to go tattling to the director and producer, but now she was crossing the line, and I had a quick conference with my director, who kindly offered to call her back and have the
conversation for me. I told him no, I need to defend my own authority.
When I did call her back, she didn't answer.
Next day, I got an e-mail from the Producer I'd been CCing. She totally agreed with me, that I need to manage my staff as I see fit, and to let her know if I have any more issues.
Trouble Lady barely spoke to me when I went to the office yesterday to print a report.
I'm hoping that putting my foot down, and being unafraid, nay eager, to have that
conversation with her will make her realize that I'm through being trifled with and I will not have my authority in the rehearsal hall usurped. Though, from reports from other people in the theatre lead me to suspect that she's just going to be sneakier in her attempts to undermine me. I'm not the first to have power struggle issues with her, apparently.
But now, I've gone from faintly annoyed and disgusted by childish behavior to quite angry. Since I'm in communication with EVERYONE on a daily basis, I don't think there's much her backstabbing can accomplish. And I'll be on the lookout.
Geeze, as if theatre wasn't hard enough!