Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1999 - 38

* Long Term Plan
The most effective way to obtain funds from management is to create a long-term vision and business plan for a facility. Nothing

makes management more agreeable than knowing just how much
money has to be budgeted for audio over the long run. This is how
they manage the overall facility and sound must dovetail with this.
For example, in 2001 they need to commit $40,000, in 2002 it will
be $60,000, and so on.

Consider working on this document \\~tll your facility manager so you present an integrated report and a united front.
In setting operating budgets for a facility, contingency funds
are included to deal \~th such items as roof leaks, danlaged
equipment and so on. Sound systems repairs or renovations that
have to be paid from of tlle facility contingency are an indication of
poor planning on the sound department's part and will not endear
management to the cause.

* Conclusion

Simply having a plan in writing can
have a lot to do with whether or not
it ever comes to fruition.
It is important to realize that facility mangers understand

things like carpeting, roofing, wall finishes and mechanical HVAC
systems. They know what are appropriate budgets for maintaining
these systems. The same is not true for sound systems. A business
long-range plan goes a long way toward improving this situation.
Simply having a plan in writing can have a lot to do with
whether or not it ever comes to fruition. The goal is for your
plan to become an approach that senior management is aware of
and buys into. It can focus an entire organization.

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A business plan can focus an organization on the needs and ben-

efits of technology improvements. The act of writing down a plan
encourages the author to think through his or her long-range
plan. A written plan pro~des a good means for others to consider
and comment on the proposed initiative. So, while written and formalized plans may be foreign to production and operations personnel they are a proven method of getting things done in a
business environment. By taking a page from tlle business management textbook, proactive indi~duals can be more effective in
acquiring the systems they need. Part of this effectiveness will be
found in working more appropriately \~th management by giving
them the information they need for long range planning.
On the next few pages, you will find a detailed example and analysis of a sound systems plan prepared for
the Vancouver Orpheum Theater. It illustrates many of the ideas of
long-range planning presented in this article.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1999