Series: Production Management for Newcomers and Do-It-Yourselfers

Attention: series with 6 sessions, always on Thursdays. Registration is only possible for participants that can attend all six dates.Please note: this is subject to last minute changes!
Access: All events will take place online, access to it will be provided upon registration.

What is it about?

Independent artists function as all-rounders in their profession and, alongside the artistic work, frequently have to take on the coordination, communication and organization of their own projects. It’s the same for solo artists as it is for collectives: in order to realize a project, it is necessary for many to dive into production management. Others find the field to be very exciting and are seeking ways to continuously professionalize themselves.

In the beginning, many of the following questions are posed: How do you get started doing production management? What will I face over the course of the job and what are my tasks? How do I strike a balance between artistic activity and production tasks? What tasks do I have to handle myself and what can I delegate?

This is precisely the subject matter we will deal with in the series Production Management for Newcomers and Do-It-Yourselfers. We want to support independent artists who are becoming acquainted with the professional job of production management. Our experts will share their practical knowledge about the most important areas, initial project ideas will be discussed in workshops and options for realizing the projects will be communicated.

How to Production Manage: What are my tasks and can I expect in practice?
With Ilona Schaal (Schaubühne Lindenfels)
January 10, 2021, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
This session serves as a preparation for the series and provides an initial overview of the glamourous as well as difficult sides of starting out as a production manager: How can unpleasant surprises be avoided? What (psychological) challenges are there? How can we deal with hierarchies?

In the Beginning, It’s Always About the Money
With Ilona Schaal (Schaubühne Lindenfels)
January 26, 2021, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
This session is all about finding the funding. How do I conduct my research and how do I find out what funding instruments is best suited to me? Also: creating a budget – what do I have to bear in mind as a production manager? There are countless aspects to take into consideration such as KSK, insurance, contracts and fee – what costs do I have to keep in mind? How do I mediate between artistic ideas, the application text and the real budget?

Marketing, or: How Do I Make Sure That Everyone Sees My Project?
With Madlen Stange (PR & event manager, musician, cultural activist)
February 2, 2021, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
What tasks does a production manager have in terms of marketing? What tasks should one conduct personally and what tasks can be delegated? How can a suitable person be found to take on the marketing strategy and what should I bear in mind when making my selection?

My Collective and I: Working in a Group (With Everyone Happy at the End)
With Fatima Çalışkan (Performing Arts Program Berlin) 
February 9, 2020, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
This session is all about putting together and guiding teams: how do I organize the project work in my collective effectively and in a resource-oriented manner?
How can we work with each other in stressful situations? How do I develop long-term collaboration in the group?

Communication is Everything: Performance Venues, Cooperation Partners, Funders – Here’s How to Become Friends (Forever)
With Francesca Spisto (freie Produktionsleiterin)
February 16, 2021, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
For many people, one of the greatest challenges is building up and maintaining a wide variety of contacts. There are, however, many tricks and tips that can be learned: how do I handle conversations, how do I network? What should I bear in mind during the current project work in order to be able to collaborate again in the future? What communication strategies are important, also beyond the current project?

There’s Always Paperwork at the End: Finalizing Projects Without Having a Nervous Breakdown
With Barbara Greiner (independent production manager, dramaturg)
February 23, 2021, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
The premiere was great, there was a lot of applause and excellent reviews. After the euphoria, reality quickly returns – verifications of use of funds, official report and much, much more: how do I correctly and formally finalize a project? What are the tips and tricks for maintaining an overview?

To close things out, we will talk about the topics of self-management and time management, two factors that are very important keeping the job fun and ensuring that you enjoy for a long time to come.