Production
You’ve mapped it all out, set your goals, and gathered your resources. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and bring your vision to life. Welcome to the production phase, where the real magic happens!
Rights and Copyright
One of the many questions you should ask yourself when putting on a show is “Do I have the right?”
By this, we mean the right to put on the performance, the right to use the music, the right to use any images, designs, choreography, etc. Basically, the right to use anything in the production that you didn’t create yourself.
Royalties
A royalty is a payment made to the rights holder for the permission to use their property — this is usually the creator of the artwork.
An artist may negotiate this payment themselves with the producing company, or royalties may be negotiated through the Professional Associations and Unions they belong to. Professional Associations and Unions may also set standards for what the royalty rate may be.
Resources for Finding a Space
Whether you are holding auditions, looking for rehearsal space, hosting a play reading, or looking for a venue to put on your production, you will need a space! Here are some great tools and platforms for finding space across Canada.
Posting and Finding Auditions
An incomplete list of audition boards, casting sites, and resources. Find your next audition or post your next opportunity!
Production Supplies and Rental
The supplies and equipment needed for a production always vary on the scope, scale and type of production that you are putting on. A theatre venue may own most of the equipment you need, but there are times when you may want to include specific equipment that they do not have and so, you may need to buy or rent equipment. Below is a list of places that either rent or sell equipment for your performance.
City Permits
When do you need one?
You need a park permit when planning a public performance in a public space. This permit needs to be on site in hard copy form with someone from your organization every night during your run.
Special Occasion Permits (Events with Alcohol)
There may be times where you will want to serve and sell alcohol at your performing arts event or show. In Ontario, a SOP is required any time alcohol is offered for sale or served anywhere other than in a licensed establishment (such as a bar or restaurant) or a private place (such as a private office or home). You must have a Special Occasion Permit (SOP) issued from the LCBO in order to legally serve alcohol at your event.
Timeline
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.
Rehearsals
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
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.
Programs
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…
Tour Planning
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.
Tour Funding
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).
Presenters
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).
Technical Rider
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.
International
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.