Production Management

When is the best time to produce your show? An important consideration when planning your event is what other cultural events are happening at the same time. Is it beneficial for you to schedule your production during the Fringe festival, or immediately before or after it?

Do research into other performances that may be opening or running at the same time as your production. Understand that if there is a higher density of productions, that might require more attention on your part to let audiences know about your show.

A well-organized rehearsal period will help ensure everyone on your production feels productive and efficient. You want to have a clear plan of how each person on the team is going to use the allocated time to bring the production to life. First rehearsals often set the tone for the entire process so you want to prepare as much as you can for a joyful and fulfilling rehearsal period. Structure frees up the brain and the heart to enable the creative process!

Front of House (FOH) encompasses all aspects of the audience experience before, during, and after your performance, including the comfort and safety of each of your audience members. The Front of House team will be led by the Front of House Manager - this role may be filled by an employee of the venue or you may be hiring a Front of House Manager to work your production specifically. The FOH Manager is directly responsible for the comfort and safety of the audience and works directly with the Producer, the Stage Manager, and all FOH personnel to ensure that the transitions from pre-show into the performance, possibly in and out of intermission(s), and transitioning out of performance go smoothly, stay on schedule, and consider the needs of the audience, the production team, and the venue.

Most shows have a theatrical program or playbill of some kind, as (generally speaking), people like to know something about what they are about to see, or want to read more about it after they have seen it. In North America, programs are usually included with the price of admission, in the UK, programs cost an additional fee. Here is what a program may include, but is not limited to…

Land Acknowledgements recognize the original caretakers of these lands and waterways as a verbal confirmation of an ongoing relationship with the stewards of this place, past, present and future. They are personal declarations and works in progress. There is no right or wrong way to acknowledge land.

You’ve just produced a great show and would love more audiences to see it. Touring can be a great way to do that. It can also continue the life of the work, and sustain the livelihood of everyone on your team for longer than one run.

Funding for tours can come from various sources. The main ones are federal (the Canada Council for the Arts) and provincial (example: the Ontario Arts Council and Ontario Foundations). 

Having a presenter usually means that a company and/or venue has booked you to perform your show in their space (or in a space they provide), and they are paying you a guaranteed fee and/or a split of the box office for that performance. You and your presenter will negotiate the necessary terms to execute the performance successfully. This will include but is not limited to: required production elements, technical considerations, travel requirements, sleeping accommodations, hospitality, marketing, and so forth (more on that below).

Your tech (technical) rider is a very important document that should be generated at the end of the tech period, and it should reflect the technical requirements of your show. This is not only an important archival document, but you can also use it to introduce potential presenters to the technical requirements of your show when you’re considering a remount or a tour. Your rider will help them understand if they have the right resources to present your show in the most successful way possible.

There are specific considerations to take into account when touring across borders, whether you are presenting in a festival, or planning a multi-stop tour.

There are many opportunities for Canadian artists to present their work abroad.