The Backstage Badger

Budget

Budget is a word that comes up a lot in theater. It is noticed quite early that the budget is never enough. There is never enough money in the world. Sometimes the budget has to be redistributed because it is mainly a costume show. For example Millikin University just did Cinderella and by golly it was a costume show. I know our Costume designer that it still was not enough. There were places that could have had fancier fabric it was just not affordable. Things will be cut because of the budget. It is just a fact of reality. There can be a magnificent idea but it takes money to make it happen. This is when priorities are made. With Cinderella we thought well what will the audience expect? Things that most people expected: glass slippers, carriage, grand staircase, and magic that will create a fairy-tale. We delivered except to be honest there are not pumpkin shaped carriages out in the world. We decided on renting a white carriage that was drawn by our beautiful horses (not real horses) but ones that looked so amazing with the wired inside and the white fabric on the outside. They looked magnificent. There were things cut because of time and because of money but we pulled it off. It had what it needed and we worked with the budget to make it a reality.  

Topics to discuss

Readers I was wondering if you could give me some help on deciding what topics to discuss in my feature article. I was thinking that I could discuss researching the era that the prop is in. This is very important because you can compare the object you are considering to others from the era. I also thought that I could talk about deciding the importance of the prop actually being authentic or it just looking so. This is something to consider especially when thinking about budget. If it is just suppose to look authentic because the space isn't too intimate then the small technicalities of the differences between a fake and the real thing wouldn't be noticed. This can make your life so much easier, for fake is easier to find and cheaper. Then if it is suppose to be authentic, then how can you be sure? I was thinking I could discuss checking the history of the object. I also want to discuss props shops, and if they are reliable.
If you have any suggestions I would love to hear your feedback!

Future Feature on Researching Props

I am going to do a feature on researching for the props you are going to use in a production. It will be kinda a how to from experts who have more experience then me. I think it is always great to see how the professionals do it so that you can replicate the system they have in your own works. Props aren't suppose to stand out to the audience. The actors are suppose to be the main focus. The props help tell the story but shouldn't be noticed. If the prop is not time period or doesn't fit in the scene it can take the audience out of the world of the show. This is why it is great to research the time period and place. When you know what is going on there at that time it helps put the world in place that you are going to help create as a props master.

Ideas for features

I was just brainstorming about feature ideas to write about on here that would interest the student in theater.

Here are some ideas:
Film vs Theater props
Prop shops and the authenticity  of the the time period that the props are suppose to be
How to conduct research for props needed in a show
What specialties are good to have in the props profession examples: making food, guns, certain time periods

So true

Quotes from experts

“There are sacrifices and you will not often work a 'normal’ schedule, as each show will have different demands. You might consider going into educational tech theater, where the hours can be more regular,” said The University of Montana.

I threw this quote in because of my friend who went into education because of the more regular hours and to have a permanent home. I think that education is an excellent option, especially after being in the field for awhile.

 “If you want a "traditional" life, where you go in a 7am and home by 5pm, this aint for you. Also, if you want to live in a certain area of the country, this aint for you. If you want the home life, you will end up going to where the work is,” said Footer.

This quote is from someone in the field. He is expressing the way of life that will soon be mine. I think that this is what my friend was trying to express to me before I went off to college. There needs to be a lot more effort into relationships to be able to work a crazy schedule and to travel. A lot of professional teachies don't have a husband or wife or kids. 

(http://www.umt.edu/theatredance/designtech/career-in-technical-theatre>.

http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/general-advice/8076-economically-safe-pursue-career-technical-theatre.html>.)