Stage Managers and Production Creatives, Would you Google Hangout to Network?

Published by Caron Lyon, February 16th, 2015

Google Play hosted this Hangout (above) with Steven Spielberg and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Google+ is ideal if you want to host events with an online dialogue and interact with fans its a great starting point solution. This particular event was to promote Spielberg’s upcoming film, Lincoln. Five lucky people got to actually ask questions and chat with Gordon-Levitt and Spielberg. Three used their personal computers, while two others joined from Times Square–where the Hangout was also broadcast.

With key industry conferences, events and networking opportunities being in major cities it is inevitable that new initiatives start here too. As an event organiser and stagemanager, I understand the attraction of holding events in hi profile venues. As an audience developer, livestream producer and excluded audience member I also understand the frustration experienced by those who don't live so close to these presigious hubs or would like to attend events that they aren't actually working on.

In October last year I was invited to create an online audience experience for the Nordic Nations's annual conference Arts and Audiences being held in Reykjavik, Iceland by the host organisations Audiences Norway and the DCAI (Danish Centre for the Arts and Interculture. For Arts and Audiences we used many social technologies in the final event delivery, but Google Hangout holds the engagement potential I think can make attending ‘in the cloud’ worth while.

Both organisations had worked with me previously as they are partner members of the Audiences Europe Network where I have been a digital audience adviser and content producer since 2011.

They wanted to engage both audiences as entities in their own right. One attending at the venue and one not able to attend the venue in person but wanted to take part. To be there or not to be there, that is the question.

We held meetings prior to the event for the blogging and social media team. This is hangout (below) was attended by the bloggers. Each blogger was representing one of the Nordic countries so a face to face meeting was not an option.

We ran a Google Hangout as a mutual digital meeting space, "live lounge"

We also discussed running participatory discussions, talks and workshops using it as a digital breakout space.

Future Equity events

So what is this all about? I want to attend the Free 2015 Stage Management Training events via Google Hangout. I am hoping to convince Equity to actively run their Google+ profile (EquityUK's Google+ profile) and run a hangout in parallel to each event taking place in Guild House. Google's Hangout facility can host up to 10 connections at a time. With one connection used by the venue to host and one for the guest speaker we had an audience capacity of 8 connections. I say connection because one computer connection can be watched by a room of people or by a lone viewer.

Who else would be interested attending via an 'in the cloud' Green Room?

EQUITY: Free Stage Management Training

Equity is running a series of Equity/ SMA Brunch sessions, their free* programme of professional development for stage management members. The first event is today - Monday 16th February and I would like to have been there, Equity Organiser Paul Fleming is scheduled to be telling us all we need to know about the Sub Rep Agreement (the Pink Book and accompanying contract) and answering questions. It would have been great to have been able to attend online, but also to have met other members not able to travel to London in the hangout "digital green room". Integrating this aside technology would be no problem for multi-tasking stage managers attending the event 'on the ground'.

Future Events

Mon 2nd March - Tax, NI, Pensions and Welfare Benefits - Alan Lean, Equity

Mon 13th April - Accounting and Book Keeping

Mon 18th May - Touch Tours and Access - Lucinda Harvey, SOLT/UK Theatre

Mon 1st June – UK Theatre/ BECTU Get-in and Get-out Guidelines

Jul - None scheduled

Aug - None scheduled

Mon 7th September - West-End and Commercial Theatre Agreement, Equity

Mon 12th October - Risk Assessments, Touring and Site Specific - with ABTT

Mon 9th November - Employment Law (Worker vs Employee), Equity

Mon 7th Dec - TBC

Each session is held between 13:00 and 15:00 at Guild House, Equity, London WC2H 9EG. The training, which has been popular and widely appreciated by members, aims to inform, bring you up to date and help you in your professional lives, whilst offering a sharing experience and networking opportunities for new entrants and experienced pros alike.

As sessions are confirmed and more information is available Equity's SM committee will update the News page on the Stage Management Section of the Equity website - http://bit.ly/EquitySMnews

* Sessions are free to Equity and SMA members, £10 for non-members. All sessions are jointly run by Equity and the SMA. To book please email: admin@stagemanagementassociation.co.uk and tell us which session(s) you would like to book for.

Equity’s Stage Management Constitutional Register keeps Stagemanagers informed. If you want to be on this register or would like to read more about the register then please follow this link