New Director's Guide

Thursday, 17 Mar 2011 14:17:02 GMT

As a director of a show, you can have a wonderful opportunity to be creative and manage a performance for the Yoshiwara okiya. There are some simple rules that you need to follow that will help you to put on an orderly, professional show.

Please save the attachment to this notice. It contains vital information all directors will need to read and refer to in future.

Little Yoshiwara Director's Guide

As the director of a show, you have a wonderful opportunity to be creative and manage a performance for the Yoshiwara okiya. There are some simple rules that you need to follow that will help you to put on an orderly, professional show.

If you want to direct, please contact the Events Coordinator. You will be asked for the theme, if there is one, at the time you book a time.

Once this is confirmed, you need to seek out any other performers that you will need. You may do this in individual conversation, okiya group notice etc. Please give priority to minarai and maiko, since they are working hard to complete their promotion cards.

You may use as many performers as you like, there is no set amount, and you may position them on stage as you wish.

You need to have all your performers booked at least 24 hours before a show. If that time approaches and you do not have the performers you need, please contact the Events Coordinator and put out a further okiya notice.

Never cancel a show because you cannot find performers. Instead, contact the Events Coordinator at least 24 hours before so that they can help. You may need to change the format, theme, or the time of the show in order to get the performers you need.

Please keep your performers informed. If you have a special theme, or special requirements, please make sure your performers are fully aware of them.

Always work to have everything you need done completed at least 24 hours before the advertised show is due to begin. This includes the show script and any images and props you intend to use.

Your performers need to give you their copy at least 24 hours in advance. You will need to check it. You will be looking to see that it fits your theme, is formatted and of the appropriate length, is apanese or Asian in style, and has not been told very recently to the best of your knowledge.

As the director, you are ultimately responsible for the show. If a performer does not give you the copy you need, please ask them to make changes, and assist them in fulfilling your needs. Do not be afraid to ask someone of a 'higher' rank than you to make changes - you are the director.

A performer knows they must give you their prepared copy at least 24 hours in advance. Sometimes you may still need to ask for it. If you cannot contact the performer or they cannot give a good reason why the copy cannot be provided in time, you may need to replace the performer.

After you have prepared the full script and checked all the copy provided by performers, and attached it to the director's script, please send a copy to the Events Coordinator.

If you have any issues, inform the Events Coordinator. They will try to help you. If you want to change the time or venue, let the coordinator know well in advance, during the planning stages. The venue and time would not normally be changed after this.

The director should prepare what they intend to say during the show in advance. To Ad Lib is the process of making it up as you go along - please do not do this.

We use -san as a mark of respect, and in the Okiya we may refer to Jr sisters using -chan. A show is a formal event, so it is appropriate to refer to all performers using -san - this is because you are talking to the patrons about your sister, and she is deserving of their respect.

Geisha use geimei. This is a stage name. So, when preparing your script, use the correct geisha name. (for example, Fuki-chan or Fuki-san is wrong when I am on stage). If you are not ad-libbing this should not pose a problem, there should be nothing to remember during the performance - it should already be written down.

Once again: Always work to have everything completed at least 24 hours before the advertised show is due to begin, including sending a copy of the script to the Events Coordinator.

You will want to advertise your show with group notices. You can use they LY patron group, and C:SI News has also agreed to allow our notices. You would normally provide your performers with a copy of the show script.

Ok, showtime! Your performers will be at the event site and ready at least 15 minutes before the show begins. As director, it would be appropriate to be online at least 30 minutes before the show. You will be setting up your backdrop and props and contacting your performers.

If a performer is not in touch with you and not at the show site 15 minutes before, you may need to replace them. Do not leave this to the last minute. If at all possible, you do not want your show to start late!

Sometimes RL or technical issues may affect a performers ability to perform. Always be kindly, it's not their fault. However, the show must go on and so you may have no choice but to replace the performer if they are not in touch with you 15 minutes before the show.

If you do replace a performer and they subsequently arrive just before the show or shortly afterwards, for the sake of order and to be fair to the volunteer replacement, your decision to replace them would normally be final. Performers will understand.

You can use the Okiya group channel to direct performers or set up a conference, or speak in individual IM. Keep everyone well informed and they will be more relaxed.

If anything goes wrong, at at some point it surely will, do not panic. You may need to swap the order of each performance etc but if you have prepared your script well you should be fine.

Show's over, what next? Offer to complete promotion cards, if that is appropriate, and make a note of tips paid to each performer. Do this before they log out :)

Put the tips total on a NC or on the director's NC, and also put the number of patrons in the audience (no names needed) and send it as soon as possible to the Events Coordinator. They will then pass this information on for tips bonuses to be paid out.

Don't forget to leave the venue as you found it - remove props and reset the backdrop.

And that's it, your show was big success! Take a deep breath, relax, and start plans for your next show :)