P.M.Arts is excited to announce the dates for our 2017 Conference. Join us March 23rd - 26th, 2017 and help us celebrate 10 years of P.M.Arts!

We're happy to offer our regular roster of courses and we are pleased to announce that this year we have some new and exciting content as well. Once again, Ryerson will be hosting, at their new School of Performance (previously Ryerson Theatre School) facilities in Toronto, Ontario (20 Dundas Street West, 9th floor)

Prices remain the same as last year:

• Single course = $50
• Conference Pass = $350 *

This conference is a great professional development opportunity and networking event for PMs of all stages.  Currently we are only able to offer the conference in Toronto.  In order to make this opportunity available to those who wish to attend but cannot make the trek from the nether regions of the country, we have established 3 "Skype Seats".  For more information about our "Skype" seats, please email Bonnie Thomson.

* The Conference Pass allows you to attend all 9 courses (worth $450 for a total of $350 ($39/course).

Save the date, and we look forward to seeing you in the spring!

Sincerely,

Peter Fleming, Bonnie Thomson & Janelle Rainville

“Assessing, planning, implementing and managing the production’s human, technical, and financial resources; monitoring and ensuring the progress of same”

So says the written or implied job description of a Production Manager. Or a Director of Production. Or a Production Co-ordinator. Or a Project Manager. Or a Production Manager/Technical Director. So many names…one core function. How one manages the production process varies from theatre to stadium, but what we all have in common is the need to get our production (or season) up on time, on budget, and within a safe and positive work environment.

The Production Managing the Arts annual conference, first held in 2008, brings together industry professionals to lead participants through practical exercises and thoughtful discussions exploring key areas of entertainment management. Core “building block” sessions covering scheduling, budgeting and supportive management are fleshed out with specific workshops on such topics as Health and Safety, Contracts, Unions and Human Resources.  All sessions have an appeal for managers and production staff alike, as they offer skills development and the opportunity to share experience.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in stage managment our counterpart, S.M.Arts is running 3 different conference you should check out.

Stage Managing Ballet Masterclass

S.M.Arts has added another level of education to their roster.  They have incorporated a “Master class” component that will rotate through different art forms, such as Opera and Mega Musicals and full-length Ballets.

The point of this day is to put theory into practice and move outside the classroom.  The day begins with a 3 to 4 hour class on the differences of the genre from text-based theatre.  Participants will then watch a 1/2 a performance of the genre as an audience member and watch the 2nd part of the show while listening to the stage manager call the show. 

The experience is topped off with a backstage tour of the theatre followed by a ½ hour Q&A session with the stage management team.

This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity – an indepth, hands-on learning experience that is hard to achieve in any other educational institution. 

This year's offering is Ballet Stage Management on Saturday, November 19th, 2016 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.  Cost is $130.  

Check the web site for more information.

S.M.Arts Toronto Conference

Save the date for the 20th installment of the S.M.Arts conference in Toronto.  Thursday, April 20th to Saturday, April 29th, 2017.  The conference consists of 23 courses over 10-days that range in topics from basic skills (Reading music, Calling a Show) to genres of stage management (Opera, Special Events) and from different positions in theatre (PSM, Apprentice Stage Manager) to courses for your future (Resumes, Career Transitioning).  You can purchase 1 course for $35, multiple courses or a conference pass for $450.  

Check the web site for more information.

S.M.Arts "On the Road" mini Conference in Calgary, Alberta

S.M.Arts is excited to announce that the University of Calgary has agreed to partner with S.M.Arts - Stage Managing the Arts to host an "On the Road" mini S.M.Arts Conference from June 8th to 11th, 2017.

Check out the web site for more information.