Planning a theatrical play is not just about producing art. It is about affecting the lives of those who will watch it. It is about giving them the emotions, the awe. With all these things, you can certainly say that theater arts is actually a noble pursuit—something that will remain beautiful and inspiring. However, organizing the production is not always easy. There will always be a lot of factors that will come into play (no pun intended). And if you miss these things, chances are there will be disasters that will come your way. This is why a production has to employ people that have a background in logistics and planning.
If you are producing a theatrical play, one important factor that you need to look into is the budget. Everything depends on it, which is why the people in charge of it should be careful and organized. If it is your first time to be assigned in the budgeting and logistics department of a production, here are some of the things that you need to keep in mind:
Mind the biggest expenditures
When dealing with the budget of the production, among the first things that you need to ensure is that you have already covered the biggest expenditures. The directors and the actors should be on the list; their salaries and their stipends should be accounted for. Other than the directors and the actors, you have to take into account the technical requirements, which include the performing arts venues in MN and the lights and sounds. See to it that you have a budget for these things while securing the funding of other requirements.
Be conservative with your projections
A theatrical production is very much like a business—or it is a business in the creative discipline. And because it is a business, you need to make sure that you will earn money. Before you go into such details, you want to come up with a projection. But make your projections conservative. If it is too high and not too realistic, you will be disappointed by the outcome. Base your projections on tested metrics, such as the attendees of the last runs.
Seek more sponsors
You are looking to have a grand production, so you must make sure that yours actually have a wide range of sponsors. Do not just settle for what you have right now, as they can only provide so much. Seek other sponsors that show interest in investing in your artistic endeavor. Large museums, corporations with leaning towards the arts, and private individuals can be great sources of funding.
Have a backup plan
Do not just depend on your plan A. You must also have a plan B. Your plan B is your contingency pan that will keep your production safe in case some unexpected incident happens. Items, such as savings and insurance policies, are measures you may want to adopt.
Planning the budget of a theatrical production can be challenging, especially if the play actually has a lot of details and sets to cover. But when you plan the budget, you need to be practical. You may need to come up with alternatives to avoid spending a lot. You should also make sure that there is a contingency plan.
