“It takes a village.”
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While the number of core staff at the Manning Entertainment Centre (MEC) is three, theatre manager Jeremy Miller is quick to point out the success of the venue comes down to the work of many.
The MEC is up for the national Australian Performing Arts Centre Association’s (APACA) 2016 Drover Award for Performing Arts Centre of the Year award, which will be announced in Melbourne tonight, September 1.
“The award is about the operation of the place and that means everyone from the volunteer bar staff and ushers, communications, HR, IT and tradies who play a part,” he said.
Nominations are made by professional producing companies who undertake large-scale national tours rather than venues nominating themselves.
“It makes it all the more special that touring groups looked at us and decided to spend their one vote on us.
“It’s really encouraging that the little things we are trying to do are adding up to something.”
It is five years since Jeremy took on the theatre manager role in Taree.
“When I got here I was following Mike Collins, who was incredible. He really brought a soul to the Manning Entertainment Centre.
“As anyone coming into any new job I had a role and that was to make sure we had the resources in place to be best entertainment centre we could be.
The theatre is run by MidCoast Council and Jeremy said he recognised resources weren’t going to be increased.
“That was fine, it’s just about allocating the resources you have as effectively as you can.”
That meant a change to the staffing structure and moving the technical crew for lighting and sound to a casual roster.
“Now we have a good casual pool of nine casuals who do lighting, sound and stage management at a professional level.”
Helen Knight came on board as the audience development and sales co-ordinator to focus on marketing and Chris Tippett went into the role of production manager.
“We have professionals looking after different elements of the theatre.”
The theatre aims to make the experience enjoyable and easy for touring groups.
“The feedback we are getting is that our technical staff is on the ball, our staff is accommodating and if they are looking for a suggestion for somewhere to eat dinner or if they are having a day off the staff is always happy to suggest activities.
“We’re trying to be ambassadors for the town.
“One touring band, who I won’t name, had such a great time they came back to the Manning Valley to stay for the weekend without telling anybody.”
“We also have great equipment (we are really lucky to have council’s support to buy great equipment), including our sound and lighting desk which helps to do the job more efficiently.
“What used to happen is the touring company would turn up and have to set up the lighting and sound. Now they just arrive with a USB with the settings ready to go and plug it in.
“We see touring producers tend to come back.
“The first time they are here they tend to be a bit nervous as it is a small town and they don’t know what to expect, but they walk in and meet the technical staff and say, this is great!
“Chris and the technical team do their thing as well as it can be done.”
As production manager, Chris is always looking at ways to improve things and will look at other venues and how they do things and pick the best bits, or come up with his own plan.
In fact it is common practice for the staff to sit down together and discuss a show after its conclusion.
“Even if a show has been great we always talk about how we can make it better next time and what we should put in place to make that happen,” said Jeremy.
“It could be something really simple or something really big. It’s an attitude of constant improvement that the whole team has.”
What we want is a show that is compelling enough for people to get out of their tracky dacks...
- Manning Entertainment Centre theatre manager Jeremy Miller
When it comes to sourcing touring productions for the theatre, Jeremy said half the time the touring show will contact them and the other half they have to chase.
“There are a couple of marketplaces where you can meet the producers, even online. Some companies we can chase for three, four or five years.
“Pitching, nagging and schmoozing is all part of it.”
The theatre also has a formula for what they think will attract an audience.
“We look at what’s been here before and what’s worked. We have a detailed spreadsheet of how it went, whether it made money and the audience feedback on it.
“We might see something touring and think that it is kind of like that show that did well here, or we look to see how the show went on tour.
“Sometimes it is about the people and the quality of theatre involved, for example a director and a star act who have worked together before and have presented some fantastic shows.
”There are so many things competing for people’s attention. What we want is a show that is compelling enough for people to get out of their tracky dacks and away from Netflix.”
Another big factor in the success of the Manning Entertainment Centre is the volunteer ushers and bar staff.
“Every time we open the doors for a show there are eight to 12 volunteers here and I’m conscious that most of the volunteers were here before I got here,” said Jeremy.
“Some helped build the place 28 years ago.”
Jeremy sees himself in more of a caretaker of the theatre while the volunteers are the conscience.
“They are the voice of the community right there – and they will tell me if they agree or disagree with any decisions being made. They are also getting honest feedback from audiences.
“Any council run venue has to be community focused because that’s what you are there for.”
Customer care is a big part of the role of a volunteer at the Manning Entertainment Centre.
“It’s important we’re doing things other venues might not be doing.
“Here someone shows you to your seat and if people need a little help the volunteers will take you by the arm and take you to your seat. People with prams and walkers are accommodated.
“To us at the MEC, you are coming to our house and we want to treat you as our guests and we hope you feel we are going the extra mile,” Jeremy said.