Producer’s Point of View: Let’s Do Lunch

It's a cliche but sometimes it genuinely feels like the industry runs on coffee meetings and lunches. At one point I had 4 shows going out within weeks of each other and I genuinely think I consumed more coffee than oxygen at various meetings with individuals and teams across the projects. "Let's do lunch" or "let's have coffee" can be heard throughout the industry on an almost hourly basis yet there is a subtle art to this, which is never taught at drama school or indeed discussed.

Firstly, which seems obvious in hindsight but not at the time, if you are having a meeting to discuss a project or show which is as yet unannounced, it's probably not a good idea to hold this top secret meeting in The Theatre Cafe or Joe Allens....needless to say that top secret project may not be so top secret for long.

Location is incredibly important and should be well thought through. Japanese Teppanyaki is not a good choice for a lunchtime production meeting, the focus and attention soon strays as prawns and noodles go flying around the restaurant in a theatrical display of Japanese cooking from some very enthusiastic chefs. When said prawns come flying onto the tech spec for the show, it doesn't end well. At the time it seemed like such a good choice.

Theatre people are, by very definition, not as subtle or quiet as they think; in fact they tend to draw attention. This can be particularly challenging in a backstreet pub on tour when you're trying to discuss script alterations. It's a cliche but in this situation, I have genuinely been approached and asked "you're not from around here are you?"

The other thing that can draw the eye of other punters is the model box. I was meeting with a very well esteemed set designer, neither of us could meet in an office or somewhere secluded due to travel arrangements so we 'met in the middle' at a coffee shop. The model box was placed on the table and the two of us started playing with various set pieces to discuss scenes. This was then perceived as an invitation for others to join us. "What are you doing?" "Oh we're planning a theatre show, this is the set" "Oh right...I thought it was one of them doll's houses."

A lunch production meeting in a well known branded coffee shop resulted in peculiar looks from other tables when the highly passionate and overzealous director started to describe in intimate detail some of the gory and ghastly props he wanted to be sourced and acted out how these would be used and incorporated into the show....It's very hard to enjoy a millionaire shortbread whilst watching a director bring to life their vision for a rotting skull being torn apart, that's Shakespeare for you!

On the flip side, it can become incredibly social to run into other creatives, performers and production team members in cafes and coffee shops close to various offices and theatres. Born out of a chance run in at a cafe while taking part in a coffee meeting, you'll then hear the words once again "I won't disturb you, but lets do coffee sometime." And thus another coffee meeting for a potential project or collaboration is set whilst in the middle of another coffee meeting.

Mostly on tour or near regional theatres, certain spots become hot spots for casts and crew, to the point where during the course of a meal or a coffee, the wait staff will go out of their way to say "we had another one of your lot in here this morning" or "we do a discount for touring shows you know, tell the others."

Many a show or project has been discussed over various meals and coffees, eventually some producers or practitioners eventually adopt their favourite spot and thus a specific location becomes like a secondary office, to the point where the wait staff seldom seemed surprised at the eccentricity that production meetings entail.

And so, dear reader, pick your venue carefully and don't organise too many "meetings" for one day...trust me your stomach can't handle it.