Notes from the September 12, 2011 Meeting

Many thanks to Rob Raas-Bergquist for taking notes last night. We covered a lot of ground in an hour, with the upshot being we believe the forums are valuable, are planning another tentatively scheduled for October 23, and the projects launched at the August 1 meeting are still moving forward. Individual project notes toward the end - forum discussion up front. As always, if you have questions or suggestions, email me. - JJ

You'll have to excuse my scattered notes, I was trying to capture as completely as possible all the points that were made during this meeting. Feel free to peruse at your leisure.

Seattle Theatre What’s Next: Follow up meeting 9/12/11, 7:00

In attendance: Rob Raas-Bergquist, Jim Jewell, Peggy Lee Gannon, Brandon Ryan, Karen Lane, Dani Prados (called away), Tyrone Brown.

Upcoming Planning Session

I have heard a lot of interest in continuing these forums, and also want to give project leads a chance to report progress and recruit more volunteers. So, we're having an informal planning meeting on Monday September 12 at 7pm in Room G at TPS. Facebook event link below:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163130450435702

Drop me a line if you have questions or suggestions.

Community Resource Network

OK, one more, and then I'm closing the laptop.

Rob Raas-Bergquist and Shane Regan have gotten a fantastic start on setting up a Community Resource Network for sharing props and costumes. I've only had time to scan this doc, and I'm really impressed. Read and share comments - they are looking for input.

Community Resource Network

Final thoughts before leaving for NoCal

Just wanted to share a few thoughts before I ditch town for a few days of much-needed rest.

First of all, I want to thank everyone who came out on Monday night, because it was incredibly energizing to share space with such smart, passionate artists. And I want to thank AJ for letting us come and play in his beautiful West of Lenin space.

And, I say play, because it was fun. I laughed, I gave an "amen," I may have done an Arsenio fist pump because I'm that old. But, the most important thing was that we got to work.

That's really why I tried to bring this meeting together, and was so happy with how it went. If something is important, if it has value, we do it. We take the same positive, generative, proactive, can-do spirit that gets every one of our productions on stage and we apply it to the art of business.*

Before I leave, I'm going to shoot a bunch of author invite to this blog around. Please use it to organize for as long as it is valuable, post info and contacts for projects, but let's get these projects a life and home of their own as soon as possible. Our aim isn't to build a new structure, but better use what we have.

Much love to everyone in this crazy, wonderful community of artists - see you next week!

JJ

* - props again to Tyrone Brown for bringing this phrase into the discussion.

Local Playwright Initiative

There was a fair amount of interest in this at the forum and even more at the pub afterward. I originally floated this idea after the Outrageous Fortune discussion last spring.

You can get the original, loosest, highest-level proposal here. Lots more to be talked about at a first meeting - I really believe this kind of vertical-integration is important, and will require being very clear and specific on respective costs and values to potential participating orgs.

I guess what I'm saying is - it takes a leap of faith. Many of the best things do.

I've got a list already - I'll pull together a first get-together after I return to Seattle next week.

The Space Committee

The issue of performance and rehearsal space availability was mentioned time and again on Monday. There are a lot of issues on the table - using the venues we have, finding new space, non-traditional spaces, and working with the DPD. The notes below are the starting point as forwarded by Dan Tarker, Roy Arauz and Aaron more. As always, either reach out to the directly or email me if you want to get connected with the project leads.

Here is an off the cuff mission statement. We'll refine it as we move forward.

The mission of the space committee is threefold:
• To talk with independent theatre companies about their challenges and needs in regards to securing rehearsal and performance spaces.
• To connect with current theatre venues offering rental spaces to theatres for rehearsal and performances in order to learn what their issues are and how to support their business models.
• To build relationships with non-traditional or alternative spaces (store fronts, office buildings, schools, etc.) to learn how independent theatres can secure these spaces at an affordable rate.
• To develop a mechanism to deliver this information and help independent theatre companies secure space for their performances.
• To investigate possibilities surrounding developing a theatre space that can be shared by a number of independent theatres in a cooperative manner.

The PROJECTS!

I will endeavor to get individual posts for each project up before I head to NoCal tomorrow, but for now wanted to make sure I shared what made it to the big list on the wall on Monday. As always email me if you need help connecting with a project you are interested in.

Note, too, that I am just writing names on as they appeared on the list - help me sort out any mistakes or make important adds.

Committee to re-launch the Fringe Festival
- Jake Groshong
- Beth Raas-Bergquist

Advisory committee to connect with other festivals
- Sarah Grosman
- Maridee Slater
- Dani Prados

Coordinated Lobbying Efforts
- Jose Amador
- Andy Fife (we only added him because he and I have discussed this briefly - you aren't on any hooks, Andy, but important to that discussion)

Hive launch
- Maridee Slater
- Renata Friedman
- Dani Prados

Short Takes on Art/PechaKucha
- Carl Sander
- Jim Jewell

Local Playwright Initiative
- Jim Jewell
- Tracy Vicory-Rosenquest
- Meghan Arnette

Holes Not Drills - Marketing Meeting Re-Launch
- Jim Jewell

Seattle Public Schools Venues
- Craig Bradshaw

Community Resource Network (prop/costume sharing)
- Rob Raas-Bergquist
- Shane Regan

Coordinating Volunteers for TPS
- Can someone please remind me who took this one on?

The Space Committee
- Aaron Moore
- Dan Tarker
- Roy Arauz

If you have taken a lead on a project and I didn't list you, or you have updates, please email me. And, as I mentioned, I'll be adding single posts with as many project details as I have today.