From: Angusson-AT-aol.com
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 13:20:00 EDT
Subject: Re: PUPT: Festival update comments and considerations.


Dear Joyce, and others,

As our friends and colleagues begin to wend their ways home from what one 
hopes was a fabulous fest in Seattle, let me add to my earlier irrational 
ramblings and thus sink deeper into a self-made quagmire of misunderstanding. 
  Will I ever learn? 

Joyce. Thanks for the clarifications. I do understand that these festivals 
are a complex machine and that "we" are trying to devise the best possible 
system for operating a fest and making as many people happy with the results. 
 Not always possible, I know.  My only hope is that the fests are happy 
occassions for all who attend.  My concerns are raised only to make the 
process easier,  and, if possible, remove those stumbling blocks to which I 
alluded earlier.  No doubt in my mind that we are ALL for the same end.  I 
certainly will get my "come-uppance" soon, as I plan to get involved with our 
regional in Boston.

Workshop/Performance choices.
I recall the UNIMA '80 International fest in D.C. I helped Gayle Schulter and 
others handle tickets not only for the events but the performances.  It was 
"interesting" to say the least, granted the scope of opportunities offered to 
our large audiences.  If memory serves, this central box office allowed for 
unwanted or unused tickets to be returned for others to use or exchanged for 
another event. Everyone had been given tickets in their fest package for the 
events they asked to see. With tickets for each event, determined by the 
number of spaces available, I think the logistics  at a smaller fest might be 
simplified. I say might. 

To pick up on what Rosemary suggests:  ALL of the INFORMATION must be 
available up front to all who plan to attend, and that at the fest site, it 
MUST be clearly repeated for all to see. We've all have had to deal with the 
irate customer who simply DID NOT READ the information provided.  I think 
it's fair to suggest that these UNHAPPY folks (with whom, sadly, I identify)  
must look to themselves for much of the blame.  If the fest committees make 
it a point to ask themselves the same questions that everyone else will ask, 
and send it out, then, for the most part they are off the hook and need not 
make any apologies. 

I understand that Universities, etc., want the money up front. I also 
understand that for them as for us at Fairfield, it was a business. We tried 
to put a "human" face to it as well. Not always done, I'm afraid. My little 
incident at UConn may have been a misunderstanding and that's perhaps why 
Bart wanted to handle the fest through the Puppet Program. But UConn admin. 
was insistant. 

I'd like to make a few general and greatly UNINFORMED assumptions. I'm sure 
the info is out there somewhere. 

That most festivals come close to being sold out. (Thin ice here?)

That most people who initially sign up for a fest do get there. 

That the fest committee rarely gets "stiffed" by attendees. ( I don't see, 
according to your post, Joyce, how they could, with a deadline for payment 
balances, etc..)

That the fest committee projects the number of possible attendees based on 
theatrical, housing and workshop accommodations, and contracts with an 
institution based on that number, and that even if there is a shortfall on 
registrants, based on that number, the fest only pays for services rendered. 
(More thin ice?)

I'll also assume that the PofA loans a festival committee some monies to get 
things rolling.  To bind the contract, so to speak. 

Late charges/withdrawal penalties. 
I understand that late charges are imposed to get folks to register early.  
That the fest committee needs a certain amount up front to conduct business 
with the university. It probably varies with each institution.  But late 
charges are not part of that "seed" money.  
Seems to me if you are late because of bad habits and/or you had to wait 
until the very last to commit to the fest, you may be shut out of some 
workshops or performances.  THAT should be the penalty. It's a crap shoot. 
Doesn't matter what the circumstances are: it's a given. If you are late, you 
may miss out. 

The withdrawal penalty still bothers me too. Above, I do ask if (assume that) 
the institution does NOT charge the fest for unused "spaces." If that's not 
the norm, what's the point. 

I'll repeat that we must welcome the membership and newcomers with as few 
hurdles as possible to participate in these events.  

Thanks ALL,  again, for getting through this.

Best,

Fred


 


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