INDUSTRY SERIES

Def. (noun) 1. a series of workshops, discussions, pitches, site visits and other activities examining issues in the theatre industry, usually held in conjunction with a significant theatre festival 2. an opportunity to stimulate dialogue, networking, exchange and collaboration 3. bigger than ever

MAGNETIC NORTH/PACT INDUSTRY SERIES PROGRAMMING
2008 Magnetic North Industry Series sponsored by Arts Management Systems

Magnetic North presents the much anticipated Industry Series, curated this year in collaboration with the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. Together we are offering sessions on a wide range of topics relevant to all performing arts practitioners. With colleagues in attendance from across Canada and guests from around the world, the Industry Series will inspire, challenge, and reveal our vibrant future practice.

Tuesday, June 10
1:00pm – 2:30pm Keynote Speaker
Richard Laermer is CEO of RLM PR and co-author of Punk Marketing (PunkMarketing.com). A playwright who has been produced Off-Broadway, his writing on theatre has been featured in the New York Times and, as a critic, for the alternative weekly New York Press. His outlandish, though logical speeches about marketing have wowed audiences at keynotes for organizations and genial gatherings such as this. He lives in New York and La Quinta, California. His hobbies include judging a book by its cover, studying the future, and rewriting his bio. Granville Island Stage

2:45pm – 4:45 pm (choose from 5 sessions)
Perfect AD, Perfect GM Succession planning. Is there such a thing as perfection? How do we find our future leaders? What personality type is the best fit for your theatre and what skills do you need if you’re cast in these roles? Join Artistic Directors Mieko Ouchi of Concrete Theatre and Marcus Youssef of neworldtheatre for an interactive exploration of what to take into account as you plan for succession and success through a perfect fit between Artistic Director and General Manager. Remember, this is a team sport... Revue Stage Sponsored by Gateway Theatre

Making our Theatres Greener From the shop to the office to the building itself, models for theatre with a future. Responding to a challenge from his son to be more environmentally responsible in the workplace, Ron Morissette launched a research project called ECO-SCENE, with the goal of creating the best on-line source for environmentally friendly theatre production techniques. Ron will introduce his website, and share methods for decreasing the impact of all aspects of theatre production. He will be joined by a representative from the Great Canadian Theatre Company who will describe the environmental aspects of their new building and the establishment of a staff-led initiative to make the entire company greener. New ideas, techniques and a frank assessment of the challenges still to address; bring your own tips. Arts Club Rehearsal Hall Sponsored by CITT/ICTS( Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology/ Institut canadien des technologies scénographiques)

Closing the Deal Ensuring that great opportunities aren't lost due to old habits, weak paradigms and weary practice. Ever wondered why just when you thought the deal was as good as sealed, it all went awry? Have you been surprised when your friendly verbal agreement is suddenly a figment of your imagination, and you're all on your own, with a show, but no place to go? For all the deals that almost happened and the agreements that magically slipped through the cracks, there was a human dynamic at work that facilitated failure. Guided by Master Joker David Diamond of Vancouver's Headlines Theatre, who will draw on the participants’ own expertise, this session will delve a little deeper - beyond the contracts, schedules and budgets - into the whys and wherefores of the negotiating relationship - its successes, its failures and some ideas about how to recognize and overcome what is really blocking your way. Granville Island Stage Sponsored by SHAPE (Safety & Health in Arts Production & Entertainment)

You’re Going to Play... Where?! Join a crew of daring theatre makers who choose to present their work in the most unlikely places. We go off the beaten track to several locations, starting on Granville Island then riding trolley buses to lower mainland destinations that have been home to some of Vancouver’s most exciting and novel theatre. Sherry J. Yoon of Boca Del Lupo will be joined by Kendra Fanconi of The Only Animal, and other local and international practitioners of site-specific theatre. Hear about why and how some of the most stimulating and innovative theatre can happen outside the strictures of traditional venues; artists and presenters alike are welcome to get on the bus.
Meet the Trolley outside Performance Works. Limited seating: sign up for a spot at the Festival Hub

Each afternoon join Industry Series sponsors Arts Management Systems for a look at their wares and services. They will be available for one on one consultations and group demonstrations of their box office, development, and theatre administration software systems.
Granville Island Hotel

Wednesday June 11
1:00pm – 3:00pm Artist Pitch Sessions
A chance to see who is doing what from across the country – eight projects ready to go, looking for partners and presenters. This year featuring: 2b theatre company, Invisible Atom Imago Theatre, The Baroness and The Pig Nightswimming, City of Wine The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Don Juan Pleiades Theatre, Shakuntala Rough House, Tiny Apocalypse Screaming Weenie Productions, Lounge Tara Cheyenne Performance, Nick and Juanita
Granville Island Stage

3:15pm – 4:45pm (choose from 5 sessions)
Making Art with Artists Drawing inspiration from challenge in multidisciplinary collaboration. Multidisciplinarian Camyar Chai will be joined in conversation by composer Veda Hille, video artist Tim Matheson and Volcano’s artistic director Ross Manson. They will discuss the challenges to our creation process when we’re working with artists using strikingly different methodologies. Are other approaches to scheduling and contracts an impediment or an inspiration? Is it possible that compromise can offer the gift of a whole new approach? Do any of the old ways still apply? Some questions, examples and room for everyone to participate. Revue Stage

Good Neighbours are Good Business Establishing and maintaining professional theatre companies in smaller communities isn’t easy. Your relationship with your local community can be the key to success or the cause of failure. We convene a conversation with some theatre makers who have built solid relationships that have seen them through. Join Simon Johnston of Gateway Theatre (Richmond, BC), Marilyn Logan of Theatre Orangeville (Ontario), Ted Price of Theatre North West (Prince George, BC) and Pam Halstead of Ship’s Company (Parrsboro, NS) and learn how they have used their unique circumstances as an asset for their theatres and a support for their art. Arts Club Rehearsal Hall

Other(ing our) Theatre - Immoderator Vicki Stroich hosts a performative event with contributions, both live and by video from d’bi.young.anitafrika, Audrey Dwyer, Sharada Krishnamoorthi, Tanya Marquardt, Weyni Mengesha, Sonja Mills, Yvette Nolan, Beatriz Pizano, Elyne Quan, Diane Roberts, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Michelle St. John, Christina Starr, Adrienne Wong and others. Our speakers will tell brief tales about something that almost stopped them on the road that brought them here today. And then, in the spirit of optimism, we’ll look at why they stayed on course instead. With a promise to entertain, provoke and alter your consciousness. Granville Island Stage

Raves, Rants, Pans and Pundits Join Playwright and sometime CBC radio critic Sharon Pollock as she animates a discussion on the role of contemporary theatre criticism. Participating practicing pundits include Jerry Wasserman of the Vancouver Province, Janet Smith Arts Editor of the Georgia Strait, J. Kelly Nestruck of the Globe & Mail and other arts writers as they explore time honoured themes around the place of the critic in the theatre community... or outside of it? There will be time for questions from the floor, but no fisticuffs. Arts Club’s Upper Lobby

5:00pm – 6:00pm Special Guest Speaker
Welcome Odile Gakire Katese, founder and director of Arts Azimuts Festival at the University of Rwanda in Huwe, Rwanda. Ms. Katese will speak about her festival, which had its first edition this past January, and her plans for next year, which will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. Ms Katese will talk about theatre and its role in her country as they rebuild a cultural community and a nation.
Granville Island Stage

Thursday, June 12
1:00pm – 3:00pm Presenter Pitch Sessions
A look into how and why shows are programmed, with an eye to demystify the process for producers. Featuring Intrepid Theatre’s Uno Festival, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Eastern Front’s Supernova Festival, The Theatre Centre’s Free Fall Festival, Judy Harquail representing three key Canadian Presenters' Networks: CCI, APA and BCTC, Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre and Budapest’s Kortars Contemporary Drama Festival. Granville Island Stage Sponsored by the British Columbia Touring Council

3:15pm – 4:45pm (choose from 5 sessions)
Play Creation for the World Can you make work especially for the international stage, or does it just happen? With Julie Ellen of The Playwrights' Studio, Scotland and Kelly Thornton of Canada’s own Nightwood Theatre. Together they will consider whether or not it is possible to consciously create work specifically for the international community. Will the best work always find its way, regardless of how it was developed? This conversation will look at strategies for playing internationally from the artistic side of the equation. Revue Stage

How did you do it? Sharing audience success stories Packed houses are not solely the result of compelling productions. Target marketing, ticket pricing, loyalty programs, consistent values, and creative use of the internet can all play a role in your audience growing, and then returning to your venue. Join us in conversation about how these and other elements of marketing and audience development work for Craig Morash of Lorraine Kisma Theatre for Young People, Dana Sullivant of the FUSE program at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Del Surjik of Persephone Theatre, Bethany Wilson of the Victoria Symphony and others. They will share their experience of innovative approaches to inspire your team next season.
Arts Club’s Upper Lobby

Travel Plans? Think about it... Creating to Tour When you're first developing your show is also a perfect time to consider touring possibilities. Mary Vingoe, founding Artistic Director of Magnetic North, knows a thing or two about the demands of touring original work, as do Eva Cairns of Catalyst Theatre, Denyse Karn and Scott Burke of In Good Company and Ker Wells of Number Eleven Theatre. They will illustrate the challenges of creating with touring in mind, how they met or failed them and what we can all learn by using a touring mindset from the very beginning. Granville Island Stage

The New Impresario Does a new generation need a new aesthetic? A look at presenting when the word theatre just might not say it all. Hosted by Franco Boni of the Theatre Centre, joined by Lynanne Sparrow of Theatre Junction, Michael Rubenfeld of SummerWorks, Craig Hall of Rumble Productions, Michael Clark of Workshop West and Cathy Gordon of Block In One Spot. A lively discussion about the challenges of presenting when there is more passion and will than resources, and it’s quite possible that your audience doesn’t even know you exist yet! Making work happen at the turn of the century: a close look at how it’s going. Arts Club’s Upper Lobby

Friday June 13
10:00am – 11:00am Tour the PAL Facilities
The Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) Vancouver is a B.C. not-for-profit charitable society, created to provide quality affordable housing and support for seniors in the performing arts and allied professions. PAL Vancouver enriches the cultural life of our city by supporting the health, well-being and continued creativity of our performance pioneers. Join us for this guided visit of the building’s theatre, rooftop garden and residential spaces. Meet at 581 Cardero Street, downtown Vancouver

Social Networking Sessions - Where all the real work happens.
Monday June 9, 3:30 - 5:00pm on a mini-cruise of False Creek
Tuesday June 10 , 5:00 - 6:00pm at the Performance Works tent
Thursday June 12, 5:00 - 6:00pm at the Performance Works tent

What better way to end a day of intense discussion than to gather with your colleagues for a drink and some snacks before the evening's shows. Make plans for your upcoming tour; approach that artistic director you've always wanted to talk to; begin your next great collaboration. This is where ideas become reality... don't forget your business cards.

sponsored by CAEA (Canadian Actors’ Equity Association)

All programming subject to change and adaptation.

Download the Artist Pass Order Form

Download Industry Series Schedule

Check Schedule for Details.