Liverpool University Drama Society

Committee

Owen Scrivens - Co-President
Alex Morris - Co-President
Alexa Taylor - Treasurer
Grace Kelly - Co-Secretary
Nicky Barry - Co-Secretary
Sarah Nevitt-Harris and Ellie Stephenson -Co-Social Secretaries
Naomi Workman - Co-Publicity & Marketing Officer
Alex Millward - Co-Publicity & Marketing Officer

If you would like to contact the Drama Society please email us at info@liverpooldrama.com.

INTRODUCTORY MEETING Q&A

For anybody who was unable to attend the Introductory Meeting, we have listed answers to a few questions that came up, which you may be wondering yourself:

Q. I missed the introductory meeting, can I still audition?
A. Yes of course you can! You won't be penalised for missing the meeting (we realise there's a lot going on this week!).

Q. Can I audition for more than one play?
A. Yes you may audition for as many plays as you like and you won't be put at any disadvantage.

Q. Do I need to be at the auditions for the entire length of time they go on for?
A. No, the times listed for auditions are the times that the directors will be available to audition people. As an auditionee you just need to come in for a short drop in audition which should take around 10-30mins (depending on the queue) at any time between the listed audition times.

Q. Do I need to come to both days of auditions?
A. No you only need to drop in once over the two days of auditions.

Q. Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?
A. No, scripts will be provided by the director conducting the auditions.

Q. If I get in, how often are rehearsals?
A. It depends entirely on the size of your part and the director - bigger parts will need to be at more rehearsals, but a good rule of thumb is around 2-4 nights per week. The society is all students, so rehearsals are done at times that don't clash with lectures (i.e. between around 6pm and 11pm) and should be flexible enough to allow other commitments (though as performance dates get closer, expect your time in rehearsal to go up!).

Q. Can I be in more than one play?
A. Easy tiger! Leave some parts for the rest of us! While it has been done on the odd occasion, we'd strongly advise directors against this. If you get call-back auditions for more than one play, we'll ask you to write your preferred play down in a sealed envelope following your call-backs. The directors will then meet to finalise their casts and if you're talented/lucky enough to be on two directors cast lists then we open your envelope and you'll be given your first choice of play/part cast in - so you won't miss out.

Q. What's a call-back?
A. A call-back audition is 'round two' of auditions for those people whom the director would like to see again, normally with a view to deciding who to cast in close-run parts. If you get a call-back, be pleased, it's a good thing! If you don't get a call-back, don't despair as it may be the director is already sure of his/her decisions.

MINUTES

Please feel free to view the minutes of any committee meeting. If you have any comments, suggestions for discussion at a meeting, or you would like to be a guest at a meeting to discuss an agenda please email info@liverpooldrama.com and entitle your email "FAO secretary".

Committee Meeting Minutes – Thursday 01 May 2008

Present were Mark Rawle and Sarah Ritchie (co-presidents), Owen Scrivens and Liz Ford (co-secretaries), Harriet Clay (treasurer), Alex Morris (co-publicity and marketing officer), Laura Astin (social secretary).

• Handover to new committee discussed
o Mark to sort out access to email account
o Ongoing events such as LUDAAs, Edinburgh mean that handover is not practical for certain roles and should be left ‘til September
o Attempts will be made to give everyone on the committee access to edit the liverpooldrama website but the guild website cannot be edited by the new committee until September as they need to be trained.
o Sarah Ritchie to handover role to Alex immediately as she new role.
o Facebook group admins to be changed over to the new committee on September 01 2008
o Sarah and Mark to discuss presidential handover with Jonny and Paddy

• New Constitution
o Old constitution discussed, to be used as a template for new constitution if it can be located
o If not we will start afresh
o Our 2nd meeting of the new term in September we will dedicate to the constitution.
o We will have Christmas 2008 as a provisional deadline for completion of the new constitution.
o Initial thoughts on important areas for constitution included:
 Principles of Drama Soc
 Membership – entitlements
 Officers – roles and duties (also to be published on the website with photos and contacts of current officers)
 Meetings – what and how often?
 Special circumstances – such as dealing with problems and complaints
 Relations with the Guild/other parties

• Plan for 2008/2009 Discussed (See 'About' section)

• Pitches discussed including:
o the deadline for term 1 pitches of 23rd May 2008
o The content of the email to be sent out to all members regarding pitches
o Email to be drafted by Sarah and Mark
o When to interview potential directors – the following week after deadline. It was noted that the Treasurer will be absent but contactable for the interviews.

• Events
o The Halloween Ghost Tour
 How to run this event was discussed, it was decided that the opportunity to run/be involved in the Ghost Tour will be sorted in meetings/workshops next term.
 The event will receive support from the committee to make sure it is seen through.

• Fresher’s Fair will be discussed as soon as possible with both publicity and marketing officers present at a committee meeting.

Typed by Liz Ford (co-secretary 2008/2009) 03/05/08

Committee Meeting Minutes Monday 24th November 2008

Present: Harriet Clay (treasurer), Sarah Ritchie (president), Owen Scrivens (secretary), Laura Astin (social secretary), Elizabeth Ford (secretary), Mark Rawle (president)
Alex Morris (publicity & marketing) – from 7pm (late)

Apologies: Ciara Clifford (publicity & marketing)

Absent: Chris Neary (technical officer)

‘Sticky Floor’ improvisation comedy troupe (Owen):
Have been approached as an independant group from LUDS and asked to perform for World Aids Day event and Hope University event.
All present are in agreement that as ‘Sticky Floor’ is given no money from LUDS for budgets etc they will be able to manage their own finances as they see fit, they will be financially independant from LUDS.

Barrister Society (Sarah):
Sarah has been approached by the ‘Barrister Society’, who have requested we provide a public speaking/confidence/improve workshop for their members. Sarah to forward appropriate contact details and information to secretaries to action.

Workshops (Owen):
Workshops to be fully reinstated next term.
Schedule for specific workshops will be produced by Liz and Owen after feedback received from society members (by Christmas).
Christmas workshop will be planned for Monday 15th December and will be advertised by email, website and facebook.
Sticky floor workshop will be next term due to feasibility of dates.
Workshops will be better organised and will aim to get current and new members involved.
The finished schedule will be advertised on facebook, the website, via email and on poster (to be constructed by Alex Morris). Reminder emails will be sent before each workshop.

Christmas Shoestring (Mark):
?Venue.
The Engine Room at LSU is an available possibility.
Mark to continue liaising with Halls Committee Rep re: indoor venue at Halls of Residence and investigating other venues.

Winter Jamboree (Harriet):
Tuesday 2nd December.
Sticky Floor will perform providing adequate performance space and facilities are provided by the Guild.
Harriet has attended a meeting with Paul Barber (Guild Activities Coordinator) where issues with the previous Jamboree were discussed.

Pitches (Sarah):
Sarah to send email for pitches ASAP. Deadline for pitches set at 5th December. Meeting for pitches will be held 12th December. Example full pitch will be sent to potential Directors after the 5th December to help them prepare for the meeting.

Properties and Set Management (Owen):
Need to catalogue props and set recognised.
A props and set manager will be appointed next term for this task.

Finances (Harriet):
Society currently being charged for unknown purposes, losing money from account. Grant money of around £2000 agreed by Guild has not been provided. Harriet given Paul Barber (Guild Activities Coordinator) contact details to resolve this issue.

Performing Arts Ball (Harriet):
31st January 2009.
Separate account will be set up for this event, which all performing arts groups will access. Harriet to liaise with Roger (Guild Finances) re. this.
Held at the Adelphi Hotel, buffet included, Vegetarian option will be required – Laura, Harriet and Sarah to discuss Vegetarian option with Adelphi staff.
Tickets cost £16 to non-members. The society will subsidise tickets for members to a bargainous £12 (which almost gives you the money back for joining).
There will be a ticket deadline of around a week before the event to avoid last minute alterations and the event will be advertised from at least the start of next term. A provisional poster will be produced by Alex Morris.
The after-party will be held in LSU engine room, there is a possibility of Southern Comfort promotions at the after-party.
£12 tickets will have the LUDS logo printed on them.
Laura gave apologies for not attending ball meetings due to unavoidable work commitiments.

Business for those not present (Mark):
Discuss roles of publicity and marketing officers when both are present. President to contact absent technical officer.

Society merchandise (Alex):
Hoodies decided on.
Issues raised with suitability of last years merchandise; inappropriate colour, writing embroidered out of proportion to logo, new logo which is more representative of society selected by all committee members from several designs by Harriet.
Alex Morris to make the logo on photoshop.
Will say “drama” on back of hoody.
Members will be able to add extra writing to their hoody under the logo if they wish.
Sarah will liaise with Ciara about getting quotes for merchandise.

Communications (Mark):
All committee members taught to use mailing system by Mark Rawle. Liz to send email reminder to all relevant committee of how to use system.
Website needs updating but none of committee have skills to update the old fashioned program.
All committee to discuss with IT contacts the feasibility of creation of a new website with a mailing system and current mailing list attached. Possibility of payment for whoever builds the website.
For now, current website will be altered by Liz to look less cluttered and show more recent picture.
This issue will be f/u at meeting next term.

Constitution (Liz):
Constitution meeting scheduled for Wed 3rd Dec 7pm. Harriet will be unable attend but will send her contribution via email.
All committee members will write a short piece on their role.
Liz will write about special circumstances, Harriet will write about communications with the Guild and other societies, Sarah will write about membership entitlements, Owen will write about the Principles of LUDS, Laura will write about committee meetings. The equal opportunities mandate produced by the two Presidents will be incorporated.
Mark will produce a ‘Production Package’ for Directors to help new directors know what needs to be done/delegated when producing one of our main plays and what sort of deadlines it is wise to stick to. He will incorporate this into the constitution.
The constitution will then be discussed and finally produced after the meeting on 3rd Dec and thus in time for our deadline of Christmas 2008.

Any other business (Mark):
Scrivens is to stop snorting derogatively when things are suggested.
Mark is to go home and play on ***** ** ********.

Typed by Liz Ford (co-secretary 2008/2009) 25/11/08