Minutes: 2nd November 2009

STaG Open Board Meeting

2^nd November 2009

In attendance: H. Sloan, A. Blundell, R. Jones, S. Gregson, P. Mannion, M. J. O’Neill, J. Dyer, K. Nesbitt, T. MacKay F. Andrew, E. Burckhardt, A. Ralston, L. Fenwick, T. Eaton.

Also present: C. Felstead.

Agenda

1. Peribanez Post-mortem/Reflection
2. Finance Update
3. Studio Board Rep
4. STaG Nights
5. Workshop Fridays
6. Proposals
7. Chillout
8. Clean-Up
9. AOB

1. Peribanez Post/mortem/Reflection

General congratulations to all involved in Peribanez, despite having only four weeks to produce the show. Publicity was praised; possibly the best STaG has seen in a good few years [unofficial claim]. Lots of problems that were made were to do with the length of rehearsal time, but this will hopefully be corrected/avoided with more planning from H. Sloan and the Board. Other points that were flagged up:

• Need for a Production Manager on G12 slots, to assist the production team in a variety of ways, where necessary.
• All members of the production team should be aware of their duties before the rehearsal period begins.
• If there is a short rehearsal period, we should have more guidelines/deadlines for directors.
• The publicity team and the director of the show need to sit down and decide exactly who is in charge of what, and decide how publicity will be executed.
• It was suggested that we have a set of warm-up exercises in the Director’s Pack, so that we can be viewed as a more professional company. Lots of debate surrounding this. P. Mannion and H. Sloan are going to look over the Director’s Pack and make it work.
• ‘Ask for help’ policy should be put in place.
• Next set of proposals, the board is to bear in mind that it would be good to produce a ‘bums-on-seats’ show, but not to compromise the artistic integrity of the society.

2. Financial Update

S. Gregson had some financial updates to share with the Board.

Dracula – has made, at present, a net loss of £927. This is due to them not receiving the production fund. H. Sloan “doesn’t want to hear about it anymore.”

I Don’t Live Here Anymore – made a £338 loss, but that is good and with a grant next year, we should be able to make a profit.

Freshers’ Week – made a loss of £77

Peribanez – appears to be making a loss of £376, but this was to do with the programming of the show at Hallowe’en.

Membership Fees – has made £397 so far…

3. Studio

It was agreed that A. Blundell will be the Board Rep on all Studio plays.

4. STaG Nights

The STaG Nights Get-In is 10am – 6pm on Monday 9^th November. Any help from anyone would be appreciated. The launch party is at Initial Itch next week, so please remember about that also. Everything in the STaG Nights bucket of fun is going well.

5. Workshop Fridays

The first session of Improvised Teatime is Friday 6^th November and the first session of PlayGroup is Friday 20^th November. Improv will be ran by Ben Watson and F. Andrew and PlayGroup will be run by A. Blundell, with L. Fenwick, running the first session. All is going well.

6. Proposals

The next G12 slot proposals will be the Monday before Easter. This date is Monday 22^nd March, giving a 8-week rehearsal period, including the Easter holidays.

7. Chillout

It was suggested that there will be a STaG Room social on Monday 16^th November, as we have discovered that if we open the bar we make £70. F. Andrew is going to plan this exciting social event, with board games and booze.

Please remember to get directors to bring their casts to Socials.

8. Clean Up

There will be a STaG Room clean-up on Tuesday 3^rd November, 12 – 3pm. All hands on deck. S. Archibald is to be given an ultimatum on his property being removed from the STaG Room.

9. AOB

M. J. O’Neill – is going to experiment with various forms of new publicity, i.e. more facebook advertising, less posters – trying to find the correct balance.