estimated lengths of various projects

[naharnahekim]

I'm putting together an operations manual for a theater and item I would like to include is a chart of time estimates for the various projects that are done on a regular basis in road houses. This chart will partially be for my immediate superior (an administrator with no stage craft experience), but mostly for rental clients (read: dance recitals) so when they ask for something I can show them the chart and see if they really want to invest that time (read: Money).

My format so far has been as follows: Project - how long it will take - steps involved.

Here's what I have so far, Is there anything anyone else would like to add to the list?

Rehang an electric - 1 to 2 hours - Hang instruments, Circuit, Re-weight batten, patch and focus

Hang a single instrument - 15 to 30 minutes - Hang instrument, Circuit, Re-weight batten, patch and focus

Hang, a complete plot - 8 to 10 hours - Hang instruments, Circuit, Re-weight, patch and focus (Requires crew of 3 at minimum)

Refocus an instrument 5 to 15 minutes

Re-gel a wash 20 to 30 minutes

Program a cue 5 to 15 minutes

Move a piece of soft goods - 30 to 45 minutes - Bring in the batten, re weight, transfer soft goods, load weight on new batten (Requires Crew of 3 at minimum)
)

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by naharnahekim

I'm putting together an operations manual for a theater and item I would like to include is a chart of time estimates for the various projects that are done on a regular basis in road houses. This chart will partially be for my immediate superior (an administrator with no stage craft experience), but mostly for rental clients (read: dance recitals) so when they ask for something I can show them the chart and see if they really want to invest that time (read: Money).

This is all well and good, but you make it sounds as though doing any of those things in your list is a hardship for you and your crew. Reading that makes me feel like it is less about you concerned about how much money a client spends and more about how much work you have to do. Sure, you need a way to give a good estimate of how much things will cost, but you don't want it to sound like it is a hardship. I suppose it could just be the way you posted it, so take all I say with a grain of salt.

[DaveySimps]

I did not take the phrasing as it is illustrating a hardship on your crew for each task. I like the idea of having such a document, if used appropriately. We do a lot of events like you in a road house enviroment. It can be difficult to convey to clients what it takes to complete a task, and why it is not instantaneous. Since they, usually, do not have any technical knowlege such a document would be a good start. I would imagine if you had adminsitration that was clueless as to what it takes to do certain things, it would become inreasingly valuable.

You might want to consider a section on how long it would take to lay a marley dance floor. Some sound items might also be useful, like setting up a pair of monitors, or a stage full of mics. I am not sure how useful that would be for the particular shows you do.

~Dave

[Sean]

Originally Posted by naharnahekim

I'm putting together an operations manual for a theater and item I would like to include is a chart of time estimates for the various projects that are done on a regular basis in road houses. This chart will partially be for my immediate superior (an administrator with no stage craft experience), but mostly for rental clients (read: dance recitals) so when they ask for something I can show them the chart and see if they really want to invest that time (read: Money).

My format so far has been as follows: Project - how long it will take - steps involved.

Here's what I have so far, Is there anything anyone else would like to add to the list?

Rehang an electric - 1 to 2 hours - Hang instruments, Circuit, Re-weight batten, patch and focus

Hang a single instrument - 15 to 30 minutes - Hang instrument, Circuit, Re-weight batten, patch and focus

Hang, a complete plot - 8 to 10 hours - Hang instruments, Circuit, Re-weight, patch and focus (Requires crew of 3 at minimum)

Refocus an instrument 5 to 15 minutes

Re-gel a wash 20 to 30 minutes

Program a cue 5 to 15 minutes

Move a piece of soft goods - 30 to 45 minutes - Bring in the batten, re weight, transfer soft goods, load weight on new batten (Requires Crew of 3 at minimum)
)

Um, if this is for client budgeting purposes, you should probably include labor costs (as in, how many people would they be paying for a complet hang).

--Sean

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by Sean

Um, if this is for client budgeting purposes, you should probably include labor costs (as in, how many people would they be paying for a complete hang).

Labor COSTS or Labor CHARGES? Hopefully there's at least a 100% difference.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Labor COSTS or Labor CHARGES? Hopefully there's at least a 100% difference.

huh?

hmmm... I suppose it would depend if you're posting the actual labor rates (such as IATSE pay scale), or rates+premium.

--Sean

[derekleffew]

My point was that what a facility charges an outside client for labor should not be the actual cost of the labor, but must also include overhead and profit (even for non-profit Performing Arts Centers).

Which is why a client will end up paying $100 per hour (or more!) for the Local 1 guy being paid ~$30 to focus lights at the Javitz Center in NYC.

edit: Sorry, bad example. It looks like IBEW Local 3 does ALL electrical work in the Javitz Center. Change the above to McCormick Place, Chicago, and IATSE Local 2.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

McCormick Place, Chicago, and IATSE Local 2.

IBEW has to circuit your lights there, but the IA guys can hang and focus them! (Stupidest thing in the world).

[soundman]

Originally Posted by Footer4321

IBEW has to circuit your lights there, but the IA guys can hang and focus them! (Stupidest thing in the world).

And the teamsters bring you the lights from the trucks. Alot of people that have to play nice together for a smooth event.

[seanandkate]

Re-weight a batton after hanging a single instrument? What are you hanging?? A bank of Pani projectors?? I might change that to hang / RE hang and instrument. Just to discourage the "Oh, did I tell you to hang it there? I actually need it THERE" factor after load-in. And charging for programming a single cue seems a bit petty -- I figure that they are already paying for an M.E. are they not? Or is this all before load-in? You might also want to include the costs of laying the dance floor. How about a package that estimate what a typical dance show requires as a tear sheet for new rentals?