A growing collection!

Sean B | 06/10/2007 - 11:31

Today's topic for discussion in my blog is the growing collection of theatre odds and ends at my house.

Time for me to release another blog I think- if you've noticed I try to do so when things get slightly heated on the forum or when things get slightly to repetitive, I feel it's nice to have a relaxing breath and talk about something theatrical again- but not about a show or a review, but theatre in general.

So odds and ends-
Background to this post:
I've now self produced two shows- one in school and onbe out of school. For that we built some set, had lots of costumes and props. As such we went out and 'bought and built'.

So far none of my productions have gone on longer than a week so we use the set during rehearsals and then during the show and then it gets packed up, and stored in the storage room at my house- just in case we ever do the show again, or could possibly use the set/costume/prop for another show.

My 'bits and pieces' have slightly grown to a small to medium stash. The bigger set pieces from 'Frank The Plucker' were stored by school, because school paid for the wood, so that's worked out to be a good solution.

Now however I am moving downstairs as it's being redone for my 18th birthday, and all our storage is going to disappear. We need to find a new spot for the props and costumes and set- and I can tell you that spot will pretty much be able to take what we've got and nothing more.

So does this mean I can never put on a show again? Or will I have to share my bed with 6 rubber chickens, a collection of gold CD's, protest signs, and 90's Boy Band jackets? Plus whatever else gets added to the collection!

...It won't be comfortable that's for sure.

SO I've been thinking (it's something I do a lot you see) am I obsessive compulsive- should I maybe just 'dump the junk' after a show is done, or is there reason to me 'collecting'. (Na you could probly mention that site here Smiling )

I suppose I could fork out some money and build a shed on the propety to start storing pieces which would work.

But for now- what do you do?
Do you store the stuff you collect? Do you collect things from show's you've been in in general? (I know I do...aside from the shows I've put on I also collect bits and pieces from other shows. I have all my costume from HSM (but that's coz I paid for those) I have streamers, little props and things etc) Do you have a storage facility? How do you store your theatre bits and bobs? And do you keep them for momentos, for further use or for another reason all together?

Join the discussion, tell me what you think!

Sean

Sean B's blog | email this blog | 487 reads

This year, because of my

Author: Na
Date: 06/10/2007 - 11:45

This year, because of my show, I re-'worked' my room. I now house all of my company's stuff (we took turns storing it, to make it fair on everyone) and have:

Two metre wide benches in my room (no desk, and my room is small, with a single bed, bookshelf and a couple of smaller cupboards), one which currently houses my giant lego city, the other I use as a desk/storage space. I have bought about ten 48 litre containers, in which I now store various materials for puppet-making as well as a bunch of puppets.

My wardrobe (which, for annoyance sake, is inbuilt in the room, and makes things the room even smaller), is half full with these containers and other random stuff (stilts I made at uni, one container full of theatre programs and scripts from shows I worked on... etc) and my clothes.

Plus, there is a very small couch/padded seat that I retrieved from garbage dumping at Arena Theatre Co. that I have no space for anymore and now lives in the lounge of my house.

My storage system is better now: everything I don't use often (old puppets, scripts and programs) are in my cupboards, which is less accessible; all my containers with puppet materials (foams, cloth, sewing materials, repair kit, tools, etc.) are stacked in corners of my room, which makes it very accessible. All the containers are labeled, and like items are stored with like items (all purple materials are with greens and blues, red materials are in another container with yellows, etc.)

I like to keep stuff from shows I've worked on, because it not only makes a good record for my CV, but also for sentimental value. I also may have little nicknack-type souvenirs from shows.

I guess I'm a little different, since I'm not an actor, and for the most part don't get the chance to leave all the responsibility of set/etc. to someone else. And that my work requires me to keep materials not only that do come in useful, but also stuff that most other people would find no use for.

... So yeah... I know exactly how you feel. I need to get myself a workshop... or move out...

I say - keep everything that you can use more than three times (or, like old clothes, get rid of anything you haven't used in the last year), keep everything expensive (I have some rolls of lighting gel I never use, but it's worth quite a bit), keep as much as you can of sentimental value. But ultimately, you've got to be brave, and just cull every now and then.

(PS. The site you are thinking of is www.collectZing.com. Collectors unite!... or "I don't hoard, I collect" Eye-wink )

Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs

Puppets in Melbourne
www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

My puppets
www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

Love the new tag

Author: Sean B
Date: 06/10/2007 - 11:52

Love the new tag line!
____________________________________________________________
Currently working on:
A nice break before jumping into my next project.

Thanks! Sticky Apple

Author: Na
Date: 06/10/2007 - 12:00

Thanks!

Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs

Puppets in Melbourne
www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

My puppets
www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

I have a double garage in

Author: Logos
Date: 06/10/2007 - 15:37

I have a double garage in my back garden which has a complete set of 3 metre flats stored init plus my tools and various other pieces of scenery and props. It is full.
Along the back of the house we have a fully enclosed verandah about 6 feet wide. This has a small corridoor about 18" wide down the middle of it. The rest is taken up with furniture and props and various odd items like 70 cushions. At the end of the verandah is a room about 10 feet square which is more or less full of lighting and sound gear. I have enough to equip a small theatre.
My study has bookshelves of theatre books along two walls and a cupbord full of scripts it also has bits and pieces of equipment I am working on (restoring or repairing).
In what should be our spare bedroon we have costumes. I don't know how many. I don't want to know how many.
I ned to move to a house with attached warehouse. Ot find my own theatre.

Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au

Or turn your house into a

Author: Na
Date: 06/10/2007 - 16:17

Or turn your house into a theatre Smiling

Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs

Puppets in Melbourne
www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

My puppets
www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

I would but I don't have a

Author: Logos
Date: 07/10/2007 - 07:29

I would but I don't have a room big enough. I could do open air in my back garden I guess in the summer.

Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au

Oh, an open air theatre

Author: Na
Date: 07/10/2007 - 11:03

Oh, an open air theatre would be nice for an intimate environment. But not very practical.

Funny, every person I meet in Melbourne who works in theatre says they want to open their own venue. (Me too, actually, but at the rate I'm going... never going to happen)

Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs

Puppets in Melbourne
www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

My puppets
www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

I dont hoard!

Author: Tari-Xalyr
Date: 07/10/2007 - 09:39

Seriously between teaching, theatre and writing, my parent's are getting sick of my stuff everywhere! It wasn't that much until the end of last year when my collection suddenly grew! I've taken up all the shelves in the study, the shelving in my bedroom and my wardrobe with writing gear -scripts notebooks etc.

My dad built me a little shed down the back, behind the large shed, so I can store all my theatre and teaching related objects.

I dedicated one week of my uni break last semester to cleaning everything up. I went out and bought about 15 plastic tubs on wheels - 8 of which have been used, and the others are prep for the following shows.

They're filled with costumes, props, objects I may never use but did cost a bit more then anything else, bits of sets. I have boxes of books and plays. A rack of costumes, both mine and other. A box of programs, photos, sound effect discs etc.

And it'll only get worse. . . .

~ Tari

The Writer is a child forever listening at the keyhole of the adult world.

Oh, I'm glad I'm not the

Author: Na
Date: 07/10/2007 - 11:04

Oh, I'm glad I'm not the only one Smiling

I wonder what it would be like if everyone in Australian theatre got together and put all their stuff in one place. It would probably fill up a very large arena, like the MCG or something.

Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs

Puppets in Melbourne
www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

My puppets
www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

That is a frightening

Author: Logos
Date: 07/10/2007 - 11:15

That is a frightening image. The MCG full to bursting with theatre stuff. I need to go and lie down now.

Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au

Imagine all the Les Mis

Author: Sean B
Date: 07/10/2007 - 12:40

Imagine all the Les Mis barricades!

Rotating stages are another thing I quite often see some of the bigger amateur companies trying to rent out. I get the feeling a lot of companies invest in their own revolving stage to do Les Mis and then never really get to use it again.

My smaller prop box is out in the garage- but my items still tend to be show specific. Simply because we were planning on doing a school showing of 'Boy Banned' so all those props and sets were kept seperately.

I think if everyone merged there would never be need for making new props, sets or costumes! Let alone anything else.

And Na add me to your list of person wanting to own a theatre. I think owning a theatre would be handy because then I wouldn't have to pay theatre rental fees and would have a space to perform and rehearse my shows. That's my basic thought behind that.

You could always knock a few walls out Tony. Eye-wink
____________________________________________________________
Currently working on:
A nice break before jumping into my next project.

"I think owning a theatre

Author: Na
Date: 07/10/2007 - 12:55

"I think owning a theatre would be handy because then I wouldn't have to pay theatre rental fees and would have a space to perform and rehearse my shows. That's my basic thought behind that."

The main reason people don't end up creating their own venue is: purchasing a suitable place (ie. near public transport, being able to have decent parking for audiences, having access for set installations, etc.), the cost of sound proofing, various licences (ie. booze sales, etc.), cost of equipment (sound, lighting, etc.), safety and fire hazards, audience seating, payment of crew (lowest MEAA rates are about $20 p/hour), upkeep, repairs...

Trust me, hiring out a venue is ten times easier than running one.

Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs

Puppets in Melbourne
www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

My puppets
www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

Yeah... But there's always

Author: Sean B
Date: 07/10/2007 - 12:56

Yeah...

But there's always tattslotto...

And dreams....
____________________________________________________________
Currently working on:
A nice break before jumping into my next project.

Yeah, or marrying someone

Author: Na
Date: 07/10/2007 - 13:04

Smiling

Yeah, or marrying someone rich

Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs

Puppets in Melbourne
www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

My puppets
www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

Or marying someone with a

Author: Sean B
Date: 07/10/2007 - 13:49

Or marying someone with a theatre!

...who is also rich.

Problem solved!
____________________________________________________________
Currently working on:
A nice break before jumping into my next project.

Oh what do you know found a

Author: Sean B
Date: 08/10/2007 - 10:07

Oh what do you know found a box lying around the house last night, opened it and what should poor out- all the things I'd collected from my 3 school plays, programs, tickets, photos, a script, congratulations cards!

All came spilling out, into my other drama mess of worksheets from school. I was trying to find a booklet that a question sheet referred to for my coming drama SAC but alas no we had not been given the booklet. So my room looked like a bomb hit it with both drama and school production bits and pieces everywhere...

Lucky Mum didn't come in.

Performance exams start today for VCE students, best of luck to all performing that read this.

Sean
____________________________________________________________
Currently working on:
A nice break before jumping into my next project.

Chookasi for the exams!

Author: Na
Date: 08/10/2007 - 10:30

Chookas for the exams! Man, it's eight years ago since I did my VCE... I'm old! Sticking out tongue

Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs

Puppets in Melbourne
www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

My puppets
www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

I've got children who did

Author: Logos
Date: 08/10/2007 - 12:55

I've got children who did their SACE more than eight years ago.
All the best Sean and all your friends.

Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au

Thanks Guys! It's scary

Author: Sean B
Date: 08/10/2007 - 16:32

Thanks Guys! Smiling
It's scary knowing how close they are...and then kind of not, because it's exciting that soon I will be moving on to the next phase.

OH GOSH! Amongst all the theatre stuff where am I going to leave the momentos of my school life!
____________________________________________________________
Currently working on:
'Locked In' a short play based on a real life experience
'...'- it's currently untitled, but it's another full length play
'The Migrant' my drama solo
'The Lazy Creati

re owning theatres

Author: Neville Talbot
Date: 08/10/2007 - 23:46

Hey guys,
it's no surprise that Mr Macintosh amongst others owns the theatres his shows are in. (and I saw on the history of broadway series repeat last night that Cats, Les Mis, Miss Saigon and Phantom between them have grossed almost 8 BILLION--with a 'B'-- dollars in box office. More than Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Titanic and some other major blockbuster movie combined...)

The truly wealthy producers often do in my experience.
So if there's anyone with that entrepreneurial passion...

of course, over here in perth you need to probably go for the smaller market!

Nev

It's the simple things stupid...

Mind you, the guy that

Author: Logos
Date: 09/10/2007 - 08:20

Mind you, the guy that wrote "Not Now Darling" Ray Cooney owned the Comedy Theatre in Panton Street London for a while and was reported as saying that owning your own theatre is a short cut to bankruptcy.
D'Oyley Carte (spelling?) became as rich as Gilbert and Sullivan though. (He owned the Savoy.)
Disney buys the theatres it uses for it's shows and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group owns a couple as well.

Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au

I get the feeling when your

Author: Sean B
Date: 09/10/2007 - 08:31

I get the feeling when your group becomes 'big' enough it's not hard to shed a few dollars on the aquiring of a theatre for your shows.

I love the story of Avenue Q...it starts off as a joke, runs off broadway, on broadway and then gets picked up by 'Mr Mackintosh' and now runs in one of his theatres in the West End.

It's almost like a fairtytale isn't it, to be picked up by one of the biggest producers in the world.

Hmmm wonder how much stuff Mr Mackintosh has collected over his theatre journey....aside from the very nice statues given out at awards nights. I wonder if he has a Les Mis barricade somewhere!
____________________________________________________________
Currently working on:
'Locked In' a short play based on a real life experience
For more details visit:
www.freewebs.com/lazycreationsgroup

I doubt he keeps anything

Author: Na
Date: 09/10/2007 - 09:22

I doubt he keeps anything personally. It's probably like any other big venue - they have a warehouse of reusable stuff, but they probably don't keep all the little things. (Except for perhaps, awards and stuff Smiling )

Sticky Apple Legs
www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs

Puppets in Melbourne
www.thepromptcopy.com/pip

My puppets
www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

The Les Mis barricade is

Author: Logos
Date: 09/10/2007 - 08:36

The Les Mis barricade is still in use on the West End and likely to be for a while.

As a sideline. In the UK it is common to hire sets for musicals rather than to build your own. It actually often works out as slightly cheaper and you don't have the storage problem.

I remember once a company hiring in a set for something and on the back of a whole lot of the flats was stencilled the name "Cameron Macintosh". So I guess that Mr Macintosh's sets get sold to hire companies.

Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.www.tonymoore.id.au

A growing collection!

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