Yea, I agree, that sucks - note the many phases of planning. Still what do you advise the quick and hack or long term and optimum solution? Life is often not fair or optimum in realistic outcome. Is it better to attempt to get what one can for while one suffers with what one has, or to do the best with what one has with what they have and attempt to set the place up for future generations a better way? Sure, the joy is in part in making magic now and such a joy includes having it now, but it's also the policy of any of the
stage to have one's efforts - I think also have a pay off in the long term for the place one gives ones blood to after time.
Realistically, this place just is not going to go all optimum in any near future short of an influx of funding. My intent is to stop the bleeding and start the breathing. First look to what one has and ensure it won't fail. Than by both little steps and long term programs ensure it gets what is needed. Can one see the magic of a scene by way of boarder lights and
foot lights? Perhaps given a quality moment within the scene no matter what supplements it. First however one must ensure what is there will function safely and even given currently what is breakered can be controlled. This as opposed to no matter how much side light or trees added, it does not ensure what will still be needed to depend upon overhead will function.
A key thing in getting more is some sense that one can take care of what one has. That's more my intent. Stabilize what one has first than figure out what you need next in having it as next goal. Make the list of all the wish list than prioritize it in getting often small gains but noble goals accomplished.
Yea, the five even ten year plan is terrible to have to figure out and attempt to get moving. On the other
hand, it's realistic and a goal that won't happen in getting moving until having started in motion. Being a visionary for what need get accomplished is at times just as important as accomplishing short term needs to the extent available. This especially given a budget.
It's not saying in the mean time that magic cannot happen with boarders and
foot lights, much less perhaps rentals of gear to supplement the look from what's provided when it otherwise for the mean time will not prove useful. All that the
point leads to is some goal of long term plan balanced with short term needs. This is the best balance I would think.
First secure the gear one has in making it safe and viable for use. Than by way of priority, work on either short term rentals of gear until one can afford one's own if cheaper in the long run, or suffer
thru what one has for now in buying one's own at least medium range if not very good gear dependant upon the overall plan.
Still and most important is the planning and goals for the space. Short of this plan, one can buy as much gear or even crap as one wants and it still will not make neither art any better or a great performance space in a technical way than it might have in having to perhaps deal with say boarder lights another year.
Not fair for active show usage, on the other
hand those with moving lights at their own school, how many given all they could ask for are dealt with the
hand of planning the next generation of the theater and it's improvements. Given the chance to study budget and what next much less ten years from now is best to work on acquiring for the space?
Perhaps as opposed to a let down in tech program, those with less advanced programs are given an opportunity they can instead study - this by way of ten year plan and in general budget and planning in a more in-depth way.
In the end also if the talent and design is there, it does not matter if an inventory of
foot lights or moving lights, magic has always been and will always be created on
stage. I think first make safe what you have than move on by way of planning from there in the long term.