Ok this turned out to be a longer post than I had originally intended, but I thinkit worth all the reading. -van
I have to agree with Footer. In used to TD for a summer arts camp called YMA. During the first two week session was primarily
Orchestra.The "tech" crew was a group of kids that were taking the technical
theatre elective. I got them for one 45 minute session a day. They would sign up on the second day of camp and by the fourth day of camp I had to produce the first talent show. An average of 12 - 15 acts that might be anything from chamber music to jazz trio to interpretive dance. Unfortunately, for me, I had sort of built up expectations of much higher production values than some of my predecessers. < I have a hard time saying no> To the
point, yes there is one, from the moment i started recruiting for the class I stressed a
point that I truly beleive in. I would tell the kids right up front "This is your show, the other kids might get to particioate
in one or two of the talent shows, but you get to perform in every one. If the show sucks it's your fault and if the show is fantastic it's you're fault." In the day and a half I had to prep them I'd dole out responsibilities, authority and pride in a job well done. Remember when handing out responsibility you have to
hand out authority. Make sure you let the other kids know that they have the responsibility to accomplish a task and the authority to do what's neccessary to get the task done. I have several wonderful stories about kids I thought would be the worst trouble makers or the ones I thought would never "get-it" who turned out to be some of my best students. I have to brag on "my kids" I wasn't just asking them to move around
props I had them changing scenes, making cues sheets, doing sound set-ups runing the light board ,sound-board, writing cues and even running
flies. Stick with it. I'm assuming you're a student the same age as the rest of the kids running the show, that's not an easy posistion to be in. You don't have one of the advantages I had, being the adult comming from a posistion of authority with years of expirience behind me, but you can use your age and social connection with your peers. Create a sense of "gung-ho", "all together". Whatever you do don't approach them from a stand
point of, "Because I'm the SM and I said so !", that'll kill ya dead in the water. In the words of Douglas Adams and
The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxie", "Don't Panic!".
In the words of Larry Ash, "F--- it, just have fun !"
Good Luck, Have Fun.
Let us know hwow things turn out.