EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING A KTC VICE PRESIDENT, BUT WERE TOO SCARED TO ASK

By Julie Hall

Hey there you! So, YOU’RE the new Vice President of the Kean Theatre Council? I can tell. Look at you with that glint in your eye, the hopeful bounce in your step. You’ve got all this VP/Artistic Director hoopla under control, right?

WRONG!

There’s a lot to being the Veep that you may not realize yet. Lord knows your predecessors didn’t and it lead to many tears, late night phone calls to old friends wondering where life went wrong, and of course getting to know a mister Jack Daniels a little better.

Woah, woah! Where are you going? Get back over here, kid! The first rule of Vice President is:

Always maintain a sense of humor.

This job is going to be rewarding, but it’s also a tough position to be in. You’re going to get to see all sorts of new sides to your classmates – sometimes in good ways and sometimes in ways that if murder wasn’t illegal…. You’ll also be the middle person between the students and the staff (in the department and outside it). Prepare yourself for the ever awe-inspiring ways that the two rarely align in total agreement over pressing issues. Everyone is going to be looking to you to keep the artistic and practical sides of the production going – this is a full time job without the great insurance plan…or any pay…no parking spots either. The only way you’ll make it through is to be able to laugh and take the impending blunders, cast coups, and financial headaches with the mentality that the show will go on and soon it’ll all just be stories to tell at the bar.

The second rule of Vice President is: Assert yourself to your peers.

As stated above, you’re going to be getting to know your classmates in a whole new way. Outside of Second Stage activities, you’re chums, old pals, goofy theatre students. Inside ANY Second Stage activity you’re coworkers, you’re the Artistic Director and everyone else needs to be directed, guided, and assisted in order to make this show happen. This could prove to be an awkward transition, but make sure that transition is noted. You don’t have to be over lording, just firm in the face of conflict. Be confident in your words, young VP. Keep things moving forward and on schedule. You’re an in charge super fly kung-fu mofo and you must act accordingly.

The third rule of Vice President is: Assert yourself to the faculty.

Move into the third rule with caution!! There is a big difference between respectfully asserting your needs to the faculty and acting a fool. I find edible treats of the sweet variety are especially effective in the bending of iron wills.

Also, advice on how to deal with Student Org:

The sooner you submit something the better. Going into the office the day you need 200 in petty cash with only end in tears and misery for all.

If you do have to spring business on them do it in the most humble way possible. Getting an attitude will only end in tears and misery for all.

Stay on them!!! Please God Jesus don’t just tell them what you need done and expect it to happen. It will only end in tears and misery for all.

***KEEP PRODUCTION STAFF AND FACULTY INFROMED OF ALL HAPPENINGS†

WITHIN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS!!!!***

†Happenings include both events and changes within the production process, as well as any 1960s inspired performance-based art. While you should keep the staff informed of the former, it’d be totally punk rock to spring the latter on unsuspecting audiences at any time.

The fourth rule of Vice President is: Plan ahead.

This starts from day one. Sit down with the submissions and go over them carefully. Ask yourself:

Is the script one that can feasibly be done in the allotted time? Is the budget reasonable? Do we have enough students to fill the casting/production needs? Are the people involved with the perspective production reliable?

After the show is chosen, sit down with the schedule and plan your life around it. When can you do homework? Find holes in your schedule for dealing with Student Org (whole days if possible!). Let your work know when you’ll need days off ASAP. Closer to show time hound professors to make sure they’re around for tech and shows. Budget coffee and donuts for dear Karen. Plan on attending all production meetings and a few rehearsals to make sure things are running smoothly. Plan even more to find time for just sitting. In time the beauty of silence and nothingness will become apparent and a necessity. Most VPs reported doing a daily routine of hot yoga, an all liquid diet of kale smoothies, and visiting a witch doctor in the VE basement once a week. Most of these VPs were able to avoid any long term asylum stays – positive results if I say so myself!

A VP’s Survival Kit:

A heavily used calendar. The phone numbers of everyone involve with the production (including faculty and Student

Org). Snacks for long days. Comfortable slippers for longer days in meetings and rehearsals or tech. A constantly up-dated To-Do List that exists somewhere other than in your head. Humor and good relations with everyone involved.

We’re all going to have our own styles for going about all of this VP stuff, but these are the essentials to keep in mind. To get philosophical: hopefully the reason you’re doing this is to work with your peers to create something really beautiful that is solely our (the students) doing. Second Stage is where we can show off our talents and what we’ve learned. It’s also a place to not just work, but to come closer with our classmates and to have a good time. Don’t forget that.

Outside of Second Stage

Working with council members can be tricky, but as said before: assert yourself and keep up good humors. Keep in mind compromise isn’t a bad thing and that you’re all in this council together.

If you decide to plan events keep your ideas realistic and delegate to volunteers. Can’t do it all, my friend! Finally, all of the meetings with Student Org aren’t so bad and they usually serve food. The first rule of another paper that should be written is that, “Artists never turn down free food.”

Go forth!