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« on: Aug 25, 2009, 05:38 pm »
I have worked in similar situations and have come up with some things that helped. A lot of them have already been suggested but I'll still include them.
1) start on time all the time! even if someone has to stand in for the person missing or work on other scenes with the people you have or have the actors do warm ups. Basically make it look like they have missed out on something when they walk in.
2) at the first rehearsal I give the please be on time speech, here is my number if you are running late, please check the public transportation's website to see if there are any scheduled delays etc. Some times actors don't think and you have to give them step by step instructions. (I actually had an actor tell me she was going to be late for the Saturday rehearsals because the trains didn't run on schedule. I said well then you could leave earlier or you could check the MTA's website and see if you can take a different route. She responded with "Oh that's a good idea!")
3) On the sign in sheet I have a column for them to write the time that they arrived. that usually works after the first or second time. Some times they avoid writing the time so if I know they were late I write "LATE" in that column. that helps as well.
4) If those things haven't done the trick yet (usually there is one person that still doesn't get it) I take that person aside and ask what happened why they were late and if it is something that can be avoided I help them come up with a solution.
hope that helps