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Business and House Management. Day Four. Programs. The program has long been used to INFORM the patrons about the show they are seeing, and it can be used to EDUCATE your audience as well.
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Business and House Management Day Four
Programs • The program has long been used to INFORM the patrons about the show they are seeing, and it can be used to EDUCATE your audience as well. • These publications should represent your show well because while the patrons have memories of the performance in their heads, it is the program they have in their hands. • It should look PROFESSIONAL, not just some piece of paper copied on the old faithful copy machine.
Parts of a program The parts of a program that are absolutely necessary are • the TITLE • the PLAYWRIGHT • the LEGAL INFORMATION required by the publishing company • the CAST of characters • the scene SYNOPSIS • the artistic STAFF • the production CREW
Parts of a program • the director’s NOTES, if desired • your theater POLICIES • special THANKS • and any other things like ADVERTISEMENTS, BIOGRAPHIES of the ACTORS and CREW, a HISTORY of all the plays your theater has ever presented, next year's SEASON, etc.
Designing a program Designing a program takes time. With the help of your computer it is possible to create a TEMPLATE which can be used repeatedly. Notice that each piece of paper actually makes FOUR pages in the book. These are called QUADRANTS. A program is built on a sequence of quadrants. That means the number of pages in the program will be multiples of four even if you end up with a blank page on the back.
Designing a program It's never a good idea to have a blank page in the MIDDLE of your program. To avoid this you make a MOCK PROGRAM identifying what will be on each page. This should include your ADVERTISING, if you are selling ads.
Designing a program Once you have the mock program set up, it's time to start keyboarding each page into your computer. Use landscape format, and put TWO PROGRAM PAGES on each page as you type. Be CONSISTANT with your font, font sizes, borders, and margins. And PROOF READ the program, use SPELL CHECK, and proof-read the program again.
Designing a program The number of programs you print up should be enough to cover sell-out crowds EVERY NIGHT of your show. Extra programs can be given to the cast and crew as SOUVENIRS, can be used in future classes as EXAMPLES of how to set up a program, and can used to help show potential ADVERTISERS what the program looks like.
If you are working with a professional print company, you will find that it is necessary to prepare your program even earlier. Discuss this with your printer way in advance so that you will know the deadline, and what FORM they prefer to get your program. If you provide CAMERA-READY copy or ELECTRONIC FILES for the printer, it will expedite the turnaround time and reduce cost considerably.
Camera-ready copy is a good, clean, high quality, high contrast print of each page which goes in the program. It is the exact SIZE as it will appear in the program, and requires NO ALTERATIONS of any kind. Electronic files can be given to the printer on a CD-ROM OR OTHER ELECTRONIC FILE.
Theatre policies You must also be clear about your theater policies. Help your audience to understand THEATER ETIQUETTE. That’s why all professional theaters include theater policies in the program, and make pre-show announcements about turning off CELL PHONES AND PAGERS, unwrapping HARD CANDY before the production starts, and the restrictions of RECORDING the performance in any way, including PHOTOGRAPHY. This is ILLEGAL, as well as DANGEROUS to actors when they walk from a camera flash into backstage darkness.
Theatre policies Remember that specific WARNINGS must be also given if strobe lights, chemical fog, gunshots, or smoking will occur onstage during the performance. It is not enough to convey that information with an ANNOUNCEMENT, it needs to be in the PROGRAM as well. Having it in print will help to enforce the RULES. Training your house manager and ushers to enforce the policies is a must, but first you must agree on the rules for your theater space.
Acknowledging your PRINCIPALS, the SUPERINTENDENT, other ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, and the SCHOOL BOARD can’t hurt. Thank the CUSTODIAL and MAINTENANCE staff too.
Including the HISTORY of your theater's productions is a way of showing that the theater arts have long been an important part of your school. To develop this list may take some time, but the YEARBOOKS and the LIBRARY usually have the documentation you need to complete the task, and once it is done, it's easy to update
advertisements Advertisements in a program are usually divided into FULL page, HALF page, QUARTER page, and sometimes EIGHTH page sections. Inside covers, and the outside back cover are usually more EXPENSIVE. Make your order form the same size as the ACTUAL PAGE in the program, and divide the paper into the DIFFERENT AD SIZES, so the advertiser knows exactly how big the ad will be.
advertisements Ordering info should include: • the NAME of the salesperson • the NAME and CONTACT INFO of the person placing the ad • the SIZE of the ad and the PRICE • EXACTLY how the ad should READ, in the HANDWRITING of the person who is ordering the ad, or CAMERA READY art.
Ordering information, cont. • the manner of PAYMENT (CHECKS are preferred) • a CONTACT NUMBER AT THE SCHOOL so the person placing the ad can call to verify that this is a legitimate means of advertising • and a RECEIPT that can be given to the person placing the ad.
