Wednesday 13 May 2009

Looking over the work I have done for the Project

The SU night was a really good fund raiser for our project, it was tiring but a lot of fun. Plus I am very glad that we did not do a Car Boot Sale for fundraising as there is a lot to organise, when we look at the things you have to do, and it seems to much to do at a short space of time, these are the things you have to think about when organising the Car Boot Sale:

First of all the venue:-
You need a good surface to park on.
Good pedestrian access
Don't be next door to another one or somewhere where there is competition

There are cost implications.
You have to book and pay for the venue up front.
If not enough people turn up you LOSE money.
Look for the competition and see what they do.
Look for the right area to do it.
A very rich area off the beaten track is as good a near town centres/big housing (therefore people therefore buyers) estates.

IS A CAR BOOT SALE THE RIGHT THING TO DO?
Would collecting stuff to sell at other boot sales be better?
Would one or more of the schools you are working with let you have the venue for free?
If they do their own car boot sales probably not.

Next Advertising:-

What can you get free?
What does the competition do?
Would handouts do the job or would somebody walk around with a bill board.Handing out leaflets at other car boot sales to sellers and buyers is a good start (remember if you are asked yours is bigger and better!).
Poster in cars! If any one you are working with will put a poster in their car "Best Ever Car Boot Sale" , etc.
Would the schools you are working with hand out leaflets to pupils at the school and/or put up posters?
Could you run more than one?
Can you put up posters at Uni?
Some student might like to clear out their things and raise some cash.
Big posters near the site a few weeks in advance gets in some business. (you might upset the local council if you leave them up for 2 weeks but might get away for a weekend and take them down again)

Money:-
What do the competition do?
What do they charge?
Do they charge admission for buyers or ask for donations?
Have a look at what is happening nearby, visit a few car boots sales
Can you get items donated for you to sell at your own (free) pitch.
You will need change on the day! Lots of people turn up with £20 notes to pay for the pitch (they want you to provide them with change for their buyers).

Bookings:-
Keep a list of vehicle reg's and names.
No booking without CASH in advance
If more than one number published for booking keep in touch with each other
Each taking 50 bookings for a place that only takes 70 cars is not good.
Commercial booking i.e. burger vans should pay more!
Make sure the people who own the venue don't mind them being there.
Make sure they don't dump rubbish.R
Receipts given should state that you accept no responsibility to any damage to their property when they are on site.

On the day:-
You will need volunteers to collect money when people turn up and direct them to where you want them to park.
Make sure EVERYONE knows how much to charge (keep the money safe), how the cars are going to get to where they park, how much space each pitch is allowed and how cars are going to leave.
Make sure no one dumps rubbish for you to clear up.
You will end up with some litter so take some bin bags with you.
Make sure nobody who books a pitch loads up items that belong on site and takes it/them with them when they go!!!!
If you have taken the money then it has to go ahead what ever the weather!
Your helpers need to be there all the way through to the bitter end whatever!!!!

This seems like a lot of problems to organise the Car Boot Sale!

Chiswick House

Thinking over the logistics of Chiswick house, I am finding it really annoying that there are works going on in the Gardens, I have a huge worry that the builders will still be making a lot of noise whilst we are performing, plus there is a problem with the Cricket club playing a game when we are doing our evening pre-show, I just hope that we are going to be able to move the pre-show some where else in the park, just in case we have a problem with not being able to do it on the cricket pitch.

Also thinking about the route of the performance has been a little of a problem throughout the time we have been doing this performance, as we wanted to have the Water Nymphs by the Ionic Temple, but with the trouble with that, is that the Temple will still have scaffolding over it when we are performing. Also, we are not going to be able to cross the main bridge over the stream. So we have to let the audience walk down the long path down beside the stream, so we have to make sure they stop every now and then when they are on the way to the fountain bridge. But I like this new route, as we leave the house right up to the last minute during the performance. Which I think is a really good idea! But throughout the route design it has been changed so much, as much as the storyline throughout the rehearsal period. As the Milky Magician was to stand at the water fountain bridge to let the audience into Kalku, but then he has been moved up to the main bridge, but the audience do not cross the bridge.

Thinking about the show.

Looking over the past few months of rehearsals and workshops with the schools, it has been a really worth while time. When looking at the workshops with the children it was a really good experience. As i have done a little bit of work in schools before this project, in Theatre In Education but even with the experience from that course you still get very surprised at the children, as they are so different from each other. It was incredibly hard to go through the workshops as the children can really throw you off your game. You have to be very good at improvising on the spot in front of the children, as some of the children really do come out with the most funniest and disturbing things. But it is great doing the work with them.

The rehearsals have been an experience as it has been over 3 years since I last acted in a piece which has a real director. Following the directions of the the directors is very hard as I really wanted to do my own thing in the rehearsals. It is also harder when you are a smaller character as you are not really used that much, so you do not know when you are next needed in the rehearsals and with that you do not know how the whole of the show is going until the technical/dress rehearsals. The only way I have really found out about what the show is doing is because I am in the design team for the show, so I have to be kept in the loop for the props, set and costume for the show, which is one way of keeping up with the performance.

The show being around the corner, is really exciting and worrying as well, as I do enjoy doing my scene but it is thinking that I will muck up on the day, plus i have not really seen the whole of the show, without breaks in between the scenes. Which I am particulary looking forward to, as then I will feel part of the group and it will be great! Bring on the show I say! We will Knock them down!