• CUESMT10B - Organise and facilitate rehearsals

CUESMT10B
Organise and facilitate rehearsals

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to coordinate the overall rehearsal process for live productions/events. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application

Coordinating rehearsals is typically the role of a production manager or stage manager in conjunction with a producer or director.

The core of the job involves setting up the logistics and communication channels to ensure rehearsals run smoothly. It entails preparing essential documentation, liaising with cast and crew, and locating and preparing rehearsal venues.

This unit has linkages to a range of other stage management units, and combined training and/or assessment with those units may be appropriate, e.g.:

CUESMT11B Create, update and use production reference documents

CUESMT12B Analyse performance outline/script.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Select and secure rehearsal venue

1.1. Determine requirements for rehearsal facilities through liaison with relevant personnel and analysis of production documentation

1.2. Develop accurate and complete specifications for rehearsal venues to facilitate the research process

1.3. Research potential rehearsal venues using appropriate information sources and research methods

1.4. Assess suitability of venues based on comparison of services against specifications

1.5. Complete a risk assessment on potential venues and integrate findings into selection and planning processes

1.6. Negotiate and liaise with personnel from potentially suitable venues to ensure requirements can be met and to address any potential problem areas

1.7. Provide clear and accurate briefings on venue options to relevant colleagues, including recommendations and rationale

1.8. Confirm venue arrangements accurately in writing when the selection process is finalised

2. Coordinate physical elements for rehearsal

2.1. Measure and mark up the rehearsal facilities according to the production design/specifications

2.2. Organise all required physical elements in accordance with rehearsal schedule and daily requirements

2.3. Arrange appropriate and timely transportation of physical elements at the rehearsal facility in accordance with production specifications

2.4. Ensure that physical elements are correctly set-up, checked by relevant colleagues and are operating in according with design specifications

2.5. Monitor the set-up to ensure that occupational and public health and safety requirements are adhered to

2.6. Advise relevant personnel and performers of the nature and limitations of physical elements

3. Create and distribute rehearsal documentation

3.1. Correctly identify the information and documentation required by all those involved in rehearsals

3.2. Circulate relevant, current and accurate information to relevant personnel in a timely manner

3.3. Develop schedules in accordance with provisions in the relevant award and enterprise agreements and budget

3.4. Amend schedules and production documentation as necessary to reflect any required changes and distribute to relevant personnel

4. Facilitate communication during rehearsal

4.1. Deal with creative and technical participants in a tactful and sensitive manner and take into account any cultural or language differences

4.2. Communicate with creative and technical participants regularly throughout the rehearsal process in an open manner to maintain positive working relations

4.3. Broker the resolution of any technical problems by facilitating discussions between performers and technical crew

4.4. Take appropriate action to meet requirements of creative and technical participants

5. Participate in rehearsals

5.1. Participate in rehearsals, providing technical assistance as required

5.2. Monitor rehearsals and stage manage, if required, in accordance with the production requirements

5.3. Calculate and record performance timings for use in production documents

5.4. Participate in production meetings or post-rehearsal note sessions to identify any production problems and resolve with the minimum of disruption to the rehearsal process and budget

Required Skills

Required skills

communication and conflict resolution skills in relation to the types of issues that arise during rehearsals with various stakeholders

literacy skills sufficient to conduct research and develop complex documentation

Required knowledge

different types of rehearsal venue requirements for varying types of production

information sources for venue information

features and requirements of typical venue contracts

overall knowledge of technical and artistic elements of the production

roles and responsibilities of those involved in the rehearsal process

the possibilities and limitations of staging and technical rehearsal elements

differences between the elements used during the rehearsal and the actual production elements

relevant industrial awards for performers and technicians, particularly in relation to scheduling rehearsal times

relevant occupational health and safety legislation and regulations, particularly in relation to the set-up and safe operation of a rehearsal area

content and format of production documentation

Evidence Required

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

ability to source and oversee the set-up of an appropriate rehearsal venue which meets the production needs

ability to effectively communicate and resolve conflicts in the context of production rehearsals

knowledge of the technical aspects of the rehearsal process.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

The assessment context must provide for:

practical demonstration of skills through the sourcing and set-up of a rehearsal facility for an actual production, plus the facilitation of the rehearsal process

interaction with and involvement of a production and performance team involved in the rehearsal process.

Method of assessment

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess practical skills and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

direct observation of the candidate working within the rehearsal context

review of schedules and other production documentation prepared by the candidate

evaluation of report completed by the candidate on the management of rehearsals, challenges faced and how these were overcome

written or oral questioning to assess knowledge of industrial awards and occupational health and safety legislation and regulation

review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the job performance by the candidate.

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment of this unit requires access to:

potential and actual venues where rehearsals could realistically take place

physical production elements

relevant industrial awards

relevant occupational health and safety regulations.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Rehearsal facilities may be:

hired from another organisation

located at the actual production/event venue

located off-site from the venue

part of the organisation's facility

Relevant personnel/technical and artistic production team may include:

all technicians, e.g. sound, lighting

artistic director

assistant stage manager

choreographer

designer

designers

extras

non-regular performers

performers

production manager

staging personnel

technical director

venue management

Rehearsals may be conducted:

in a totally independent space

in the actual performance/production/event space

Physical elements required for rehearsal may include:

mirrors

musical instruments

notice board

production desk

props and costumes

resin box

secure storage

sets

storage for personal property

suitable flooring

technical equipment

waiting area

warm-up area

other support facilities

Performers may be:

actors

conference speakers

masters of ceremony

musicians

non-regular performers

panel members, e.g. a debating team

public speakers

regular cast members

singers

special guests

non-regular performers, e.g.

extras

replacements

second cast

supernumeraries

swings

understudies

Rehearsal documentation may include:

accident report form

agent list

artists call sheet, e.g. publicity call sheets

bump-in schedules

company/organisation lists

contact lists

distribution lists

dressing room lists

front-of-house information

ground plans

memos

petty cash forms

preliminary cue synopses

production meeting agenda

production meeting minutes

production plans

production schedules

props lists

rehearsal reports

rehearsal schedules

scene breakdown/working division

scenery lists

technical plots, eg fly plots and dome plots

texts

time sheets

tour itineraries

understudy/covers list

venue information

wardrobe lists

Requirements of creative and technical participants may relate to:

costume fittings

counselling of staging and technical crew

organisation of all types of calls

organisation of publicity materials/events

publicity events

specialist calls, e.g. music, voice, dance

training


Sectors

Unit sector


Competency Field

Media and entertainment production - stage management


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.