With a few days to go, what's it like working behind the scenes leading up to the launch of one of Coventry and Warwickshire's leading arts festivals?
Our Associate Producer reveals all...
Three days to go....
As Shoot Festival's Associate Producer for this year's programme, I've been training and mentoring a cohort of Assistant Producers who've been working to deliver the festival. The role of producer is difficult to define as it's a very varied one and no two projects are the same; I tend to summarise it as the artists make the work, but producers make it happen.
The early stages of a project can feel like nothing very much is happening, with lots of meetings, scheduling, planning, contracting, budgeting and spreadsheets, lots and LOTS of spreadsheets. Then bit by bit, all the planning comes alive and now we're busy with last minute preparation and troubleshooting. We've all got our comfy shoes out ready for Saturday, but in the meantime, here are some of the things on our to do list, from the bizarre to the mundane:
Go shopping for bin bags, a wallpaper scraper, paper plates and dog bowls;
Source a projector and screen for workshop leaders;
Order sandwiches and cake for artists, crew and audience;
Schedule BSL interpreters and Difference Engine operators;
Print out content warning notices;
Arrange for several large wheelbarrows to be transported across the city;
Brief City Hosts and First Aider.
Organise a changing room for performers dressed as wandering sheep... and that's just for starters!
If you are curious and want to find out how it all comes together, head down to Coventry City Centre on Saturday 23rd April, from 12pm for Shoot Festival 2022. Expect a full day of music, theatre, visual arts and maybe a little mayhem from some naughty sheep!
Sarah-Jane Watkinson
Associate Producer
Shoot Festival