Natasha - seems like micromanagement
Polina - decide on certain points people control and then control a certain section
Tom - agrees
Will - specific colours are not the EM’s area, but the bigger picture is
Not where lights are rigged, but the logistics of rigging a light
Changing a colour doesn’t affect everyone in the room, but the actual rigging does
For a sound example, if an act requests another mic, they should get it, but if a sound person is taking their own initiative then they should consult the EM
Lucy - the EM should pass on information; take information the act gives you and pass it on to the relevant people
Stage plans should be passed on to crew members etc
If they’re doing a sound check, the sound person should be in charge
But if it’s outside of a sound check, then the EM should be consulted
The EM is not there to make decisions in specific areas, especially if they know nothing about that area
For big events, an EM needs to know about what is happening so that everyone can present a united front and be professional
EM usually talks to bigger acts through another person
Adam - is there for bigger events to make sure we can focus on doing tech
Act management should not fall to the EM, that should be a separate role, unless it falls under the DoES’s role
There should be an accountability chain
Natasha - the EM should be a logistical person
A head of stage-crew type person
Not where they do the things, but they are more central
Have list of things that need to get done, delegate them, and then help to get the things done
A structured but fluid plan, with the EM easily accessible and central
The head sound and EM should confer in each individual instance and decide based on who’s working
Adam - we need a specific person who can be accountable
The building puts a lot of weight on the person who signs the form
You’re volunteers until you sign a form, then you are responsible
Paul - we are unique in that we do not have a paid Technical Director here with a final say
Spencer
Paul - so you’re saying that EMs are not only being informed, they’re being asked
Spencer - no, the EM should only be asked outside of the agreed time periods for the specific sections
Paul - the only allocated time we have is soundcheck, so are you saying outside of soundcheck?
Spencer - no, we have time periods where we’re rigging lights so when the ladders are out then that’s usually during time we’ve set aside for light rigging for example
The EM and sound/lighting and projection people should confer and set aside time for each section, which can obviously overlap, but during that section the different section leaders are responsible and should have the final say, but outside of that time the EM should have the final say
Paul - What happens for full building events like at halloween? Where should the EM be?
Spencer - I do not think that there should only be one EM for all those different spaces. I think there should be a different EM for each individual event (provided it is big enough)
Will - sounds like a Production Manager’s job if we have multiple simultaneous, connected events happening
Lucy - professional theatres would give responsibility to the people in charge of the different sections before doors open and then after doors open the Stage Manager gets the power
Paul - the duty manager is responsible for the whole building
Adam - they have been asked to listen to Ents
Polina - do we have enough people to have such complicated structures of different tier EMs?
Paul - yes, but your point is very valid
Spencer - the tier system would only be used for bigger events, where different venues are in use
Lucy - the EM is trusting their team by signing the health and safety form because they cannot be there for every single light being rigged
Paul - should it be the responsibility of the people who made the decision, or the EM because they knew
Lucy - the EM should be checking different sections before the event starts to make sure everything has been done properly and safely
Paul - summary
Majority is aware there is a responsibility that needs to be assigned
Are people in agreement that the EM always has the authority to stop something / always has the authority?
If one area wants to do something, at what point can they make the call, and who’s responsible
We can have PMs and multiple EMs for bigger events
We are voting on whether the EM has to be asked for something to be done because it is a serious role
Ask vs tell
Before doors, is the EM responsible, and do they have final say and do they have to be asked about all decisions or do the individual section managers have the say for their areas and have to tell the EM and are section managers responsible for their own areas?
After doors - same question
Is the EM the person in charge throughout the whole chain?
Same thing goes for PM Is the EM responsible?
What say does the EM have before and after doors?
Not voting on this today
We are not responsible for changing the health and safety form - that’s Phil’s responsibility