Minutes: 19th November 2012

Minutes of STaG Board Meeting, 19th November 2012

The STaG Room, 62 Oakfield Avenue 5:35-6:25pm

In attendance were H. Allan, A. Cameron, Jack Cameron, A. Ciupka, N. Donald, W. Foote, M. Godden, C. Goldstone, S. Linsley, A. McCallum, Sophie McCormack-Gow, A. Rutherford, R. Tildesley, Z. Williams debs
Apologies from  

Pending actions from previous Minutes

• NSDF budget - looks viable, exact numbers required
• Trip cheque - to be sorted tonight
• SWG3 website - already on website
• Secret Santa - to be done tonight

Agenda

1. FS Proposals
2. SN
3. HB
4. Improv
5. NW
6. Publicity
7. Social
8. External Events
9. Trip
10. Secret Santa
11. AOB

1.  Found Spaces Proposals

1. One Proposal - dealing with the trauma of being an Holocaust survivor.  A gallery space would be ideal, but a studio space (not stag room) would also be suitable.  The actors would be introduced to the topic and asked the do some research on the historical circumstances behind the play.  The venue could possibly be The Citizens' Theatre, which M. Godden has already scoped, or else there's a gallery in Partick.  Lighting and installation involves four projectors, hopefully lighting the whole room.  The audience would move around the space, which would be laid out like four exhibitions involving dialogues and then monologues in front, with 12 actors.  However the set-up is very flexible and, as with the excerpts chosen, dependent on the venue; M. Godden would be happy to find a venue before Christmas, with help from A. Cameron [ACTION: Mabs & Amy].  Various Board Members suggested asking acquaintances for photos and information from trips to Auschwitz.  To reiterate, the dates are 28-29th January, although a 3-night run would be preferred for smaller audience sizes.
2. A vote securing this production as the first FS was unanimous.
3. Board Rep - A. Cameron [ACTION: Amy].  S. Gow also took up the post of SM.
4. The current lack of movement regarding the MainStage (and the two NMS productions) is slightly concerning; these shall be plugged more, for example in the Writing Group [ACTION: Catherine].

2.  STaG Nights

1. This went exceedingly well, and the Post-Mortem is to be held in two weeks' time.
2. Anonymous Feedback - A. Cameron is to send the form to cast and crew, after having received it from A. Rutherford [ACTION: Aidan & Amy].
3. Money - to be collected from A. Rutherford's abode [ACTION: Rob].
4. Newsletter - all belongings/items are to be cleared from the STaG Room and cupboard by Wednesday, in anticipation for the next social [ACTION: Harriet].
5. Wood glue is required to fix R. M. Barbour's wooden hand; S. Gow kindly offered to bring some in [ACTION: Sophie & Zoë].

3.  History Boys

1. Full run-throughs are now in progress, and mostly just practising and polishing is now required; it seems very promising.  The Tech is on Sunday, and props are now being used.
2. Venue - some of the play has been re-blocked, but not much more can be done until a venue trip.
3. Tech - sorted, and K. Milligan has also joined the team.  £175 was spent on the P.A. system, etc., however no lighting gear is needing to be purchased.
4. Door Rota - this has been sorted.
5. Tickets - everyone please book!  So far we have sold half of Tuesday, four fifths of Wednesday and all of Thursday.
6. Chairs - more chairs were suggested to expand capacity.  However it was suggested that as currently with 100 chairs there are several obscured viewpoints, the likelihood of returns at the door should be plugged instead.
7. Rehearsal Rooms - mostly due to Thanksgiving, there seem to be very few available spaces!  M. Godden shall look into The Wellington Church (fee required), the Kings Theatre (free student rehearsal spaces), the performance studio at the university, at the Conservatoire or at all events in A. Ciupka's sitting room [ACTION: Mabs].

4.  Improv

1. Performance this week; come along!
2. Entry Fee - being in the QMU, it seems that we cannot charge an entry fee, however a suggested donation of £3 is to be implemented.  This should be confirmed by a phonecall to T. Pennock [ACTION: Sinead].  However as STaG is not spending anything on it, it would be more a good fundraising opportunity than requiring to cover its costs.

5.  New Works

1. Emailing has commenced; 2 judges confirmed, Rob Drummond has given no reply as yet, and S. Gow shall forward Kieran Hurley's contact details (as First-Year Theatre students still receive his university email address) [ACTION: Sophie].  Douglas Maxwell also expressed an interest last year but was unavailable; a new batch of potential judges shall be contacted soon.
2. Blurb for Newsletter - to be sent to H. Allan [ACTION: Catherine].

6.  Publicity

1. HB - the director did a huge amount of postering last week; nevertheless, please may Board Members take some to distribute elsewhere, for example in the Round Reading Room and Charles Wilson Building [ACTION: All].
2. HB - Tuesday is the day above all to be pushing, as the most tickets are left then; this show is shaping up to be a great one, so it deserves to be well-plugged!  It seems like the active publication of STaG Nights on Facebook was a central part of its popularity; please continue sharing [ACTION: All].  There is no trailer.
3. Cover Photo - A. Rutherford is to send S. Linsley the original photo [ACTION: Aidan].
4. Schools - this email is to be forwarded to A. Cameron, Z. Williams and M. Godden [ACTION: Sinead].

7.  Social

1. Refreshments - to be bought before the social on Friday by M. Godden and W. Foote [ACTION: Mabs & William].  M. Godden suggested bringing some homemade mulled wine to share at the Christmas Social [ACTION: Mabs].
2. Christmas Social, Santa Costume - to be dug out of the cupboard.
3. Tree - S. Gow is able to bring a small one, otherwise Zoë or J. Gilvear may be able to contribute [ACTION: Sophie, Zoë, Jenny].
4. Fancy Dress - Christmas-themed if willing!
5. Decorations - volunteers at 6.30pm on Friday to help set up would be much appreciated; W. Foote is to send a text as a reminder [ACTION: William; All].
6. HB Fundraiser - 8pm on Wednesday [EVENT].  W. Foote and R. Tildesley should come early with the moneybox [ACTION: William & Rob].
7. Basin - after throwing out the item left from the previous social, A. Rutherford kindly volunteered to buy a new basin for I. McArthur.

8.  External Events

1. Inter-Uni Competition - 3 SN plays were selected by the Board to be potential candidates for York; each director shall be emailed if they would be interested [ACTION: Amy]; if all agree, then they will be asked to re-propose and a vote shall decide.  The selected play may need to be extended to fulfil the whole 45 minutes required.  The dates again are the 10th December (deadline) and the week of 11th March (performance) [EVENT: Inter-Uni].
2. NSDF - SN plays again would make good candidates, as this runs too close in timing to NW, MS2 and 'The Investigation' (FS).  One of the other pre-suggested titles should attend; A. Cameron is also to mention this opportunity in her correspondence [ACTION: Amy].  The date for a performance to be judged is 15th February, 2 weeks after the proposal deadline, and the performance itself is 23-29th March [EVENTS: NSDF].  The judging performance would be opened up as a standalone event open to the public, as opposed to taking the place of a NMS.

9.  Trip

1. A. Cameron to take the minibus test next week; H. Allan shall book one [ACTION: Harriet] and E. Igelström shall be chased [ACTION: Aidan].
2. Cheque - required tonight for the housekeeping costs [ACTION: Rob].

10.  Secret Santa

1. This was administered and partners chosen.  The limit of gift cost is £5 [ACTION: Santa].
2. M. Godden is to give D. Hahn her name [ACTION: Mabs].

11.  AOB

1. Signatures - change after HB.
2. QMU Review - of HB has been queried, although they would like a complimentary ticket.  A. Ciupka is to forward S. Linsley's email address [ACTION: Alex].

Due to HB rehearsals, there will not be enough members available for a meeting next week; therefore the date of the next meeting is Monday 3rd December, 5:30pm in the STaG Room.

Meeting adjourned.