I was at a dinner theatre last Sunday. We had three grandchildren with us and I wanted them to understand how it all worked. I explained to them that the actors and actresses were also the waiters and waitresses. As it happened one of our servers was the Artistic Director for another theatre in the area. She had been through a most interesting transition. A transition concept that should work for all of us in the new economy.
Actors and actresses are often unemployed and even when working most do not make much. Waiting on tables is a workable side job. Being a bank teller would not be. Flex schedules is a must. This lady when she became an Artistic Director expected to not have to wait tables. That was Stage 1.
Then she determined that by waiting on tables she could become a better artistic director by keeping in practice creating experiences. That was Stage 2.
Then by waiting on tables at this dinner theatre she was a part of the creative collaboration community that was there. Again she became a better artistic director as a result. Stage 3.
I think there will be a stage 4. Separately we will deal with that stage.
Somewhat related is that I have noticed that generally stage performers are better servers than professional servers.
In the new paradigm of sustainable, low fixed cost business there are often no titles and no hierarchy. Overhead is reduced because everyone is either serving a customer or is serving someone who is serving a customer. There are no other jobs.
David Sneed
Actors and actresses are often unemployed and even when working most do not make much. Waiting on tables is a workable side job. Being a bank teller would not be. Flex schedules is a must. This lady when she became an Artistic Director expected to not have to wait tables. That was Stage 1.
Then she determined that by waiting on tables she could become a better artistic director by keeping in practice creating experiences. That was Stage 2.
Then by waiting on tables at this dinner theatre she was a part of the creative collaboration community that was there. Again she became a better artistic director as a result. Stage 3.
I think there will be a stage 4. Separately we will deal with that stage.
Somewhat related is that I have noticed that generally stage performers are better servers than professional servers.
In the new paradigm of sustainable, low fixed cost business there are often no titles and no hierarchy. Overhead is reduced because everyone is either serving a customer or is serving someone who is serving a customer. There are no other jobs.
David Sneed
No comments:
Post a Comment