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<DIV>Joe, I would love to see that attachment you speak of. I'm sure I would find it very helpful as well. </DIV>
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<DIV>I recently had a request from another local theatre department asking to borrow or rent blank-firing guns. I, too, declined to loan anything due to liability issues. Just isn't worth taking the chance. </DIV>
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<DIV>Robert Mack</DIV>
<DIV>Technical Director</DIV>
<DIV>Department of Theatre</DIV>
<DIV>College of the Holy Cross</DIV>
<DIV>Worcester, MA 01610</DIV>
<DIV>508-793-3455</DIV>>>> <usittne-request@mit.edu> 9/20/2011 9:11 AM >>><BR>Send USITTNE mailing list submissions to<BR>usittne@mit.edu<BR><BR>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit<BR><A href="http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne">http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne</A><BR>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to<BR>usittne-request@mit.edu<BR><BR>You can reach the person managing the list at<BR>usittne-owner@mit.edu<BR><BR>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<BR>than "Re: Contents of USITTNE digest..."<BR><BR><BR>Today's Topics:<BR><BR> 1. blank pistols/ammo (Gary Lemieux)<BR> 2. Re: blank pistols/ammo (Michael Katz)<BR> 3. Re: blank pistols/ammo (Deanna Stuart)<BR> 4. Re: blank pistols/ammo (joseph@donovan.net)<BR><BR><BR>----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>Message: 1<BR>Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:37:17 -0400<BR>From: "Gary Lemieux" <GLemieux@flynncenter.org><BR>Subject: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo<BR>To: <usittne@mit.edu><BR>Message-ID:<BR><C3AF5886B3E9B84EBE84D618A796BF5C034C2325@flynnexch.flynncenter.org><BR>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<BR><BR>Just trying to get some current policies from other theaters on the use<BR>of firearms on-stage.<BR><BR><BR><BR>We have been asked on several occasions to provide a starter pistol and<BR>ammo for a visiting production and I have chosen to avoid the liability.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Any comments would be appreciated.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Gary R Lemieux<BR><BR>Director Of Production<BR><BR>Flynn Center For The Performing Arts<BR><BR>153 Main Street<BR><BR>Burlington, VT 05401<BR><BR>Phone: 802-652-4521<BR><BR>Fax: 802-863-9962<BR><BR><BR><BR>-------------- next part --------------<BR>An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>URL: <A href="http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/usittne/attachments/20110919/5e1ff5b6/attachment-0001.htm">http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/usittne/attachments/20110919/5e1ff5b6/attachment-0001.htm</A><BR><BR>------------------------------<BR><BR>Message: 2<BR>Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:52:29 -0400<BR>From: Michael Katz <mkatz@MIT.EDU><BR>Subject: Re: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo<BR>To: USITT New England Section Mail List <usittne@MIT.EDU><BR>Message-ID: <5AB5D3DE-B17A-4EA4-81B7-65F03611EBC3@mit.edu><BR>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<BR><BR>We do use starter Pistols and blanks here as a last resort after all other possible solutions have been eliminated. We only use them with a dedicated weapons master who is in charge of the gun except when in the hands of the actor, and there is a written and strict policy how it is to be used and what procedures are to be followed for its use. This plan is approved by me as the TD and also the campus police. If I read you message right you are not concerned however about guns in your own productions but loaning them to groups that use the space. In that case we have a very strict policy of not loaning weapons to any one but a certified SAFD fight director who is then responsible for their use and all procedures around them. WE DO NOT LOAN WEAPONS OF ANY SORT TO ANY ONE ELSE.<BR>Mike<BR><BR>-----<BR>Michael Katz<BR>mkatz@mit.edu<BR>Technical Director<BR>MIT Theater Arts<BR>Rinaldi Production Center <BR>34 Carleton St E33-110<BR>Cambridge MA 02142<BR>617.253.0824 Desk<BR>617.258.7149 Fax<BR><BR>Lunacy Abounds<BR><BR><BR><BR>On Sep 19, 2011, at 9:37 AM, Gary Lemieux wrote:<BR><BR>Just trying to get some current policies from other theaters on the use of firearms on-stage.<BR><BR>We have been asked on several occasions to provide a starter pistol and ammo for a visiting production and I have chosen to avoid the liability.<BR><BR>Any comments would be appreciated.<BR><BR>Gary R Lemieux<BR>Director Of Production<BR>Flynn Center For The Performing Arts<BR>153 Main Street<BR>Burlington, VT 05401<BR>Phone: 802-652-4521<BR>Fax: 802-863-9962<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>USITTNE mailing list<BR>USITTNE@mit.edu<BR><A href="http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne">http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne</A><BR><BR>-------------- next part --------------<BR>An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>URL: <A href="http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/usittne/attachments/20110920/6d40ec21/attachment-0001.htm">http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/usittne/attachments/20110920/6d40ec21/attachment-0001.htm</A><BR><BR>------------------------------<BR><BR>Message: 3<BR>Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:02:53 -0400<BR>From: Deanna Stuart <DStuart@brooksschool.org><BR>Subject: Re: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo<BR>To: USITT New England Section Mail List <usittne@mit.edu><BR>Message-ID: <757D446FED4D464DADED784E7E7FAF0302DF0CDA3C@newman><BR>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<BR><BR>Mike- would it be possible to see your written policies?<BR>Deanna Stuart<BR><BR>From: usittne-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:usittne-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Katz<BR>Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 8:52 AM<BR>To: USITT New England Section Mail List<BR>Subject: Re: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo<BR><BR>We do use starter Pistols and blanks here as a last resort after all other possible solutions have been eliminated. We only use them with a dedicated weapons master who is in charge of the gun except when in the hands of the actor, and there is a written and strict policy how it is to be used and what procedures are to be followed for its use. This plan is approved by me as the TD and also the campus police. If I read you message right you are not concerned however about guns in your own productions but loaning them to groups that use the space. In that case we have a very strict policy of not loaning weapons to any one but a certified SAFD fight director who is then responsible for their use and all procedures around them. WE DO NOT LOAN WEAPONS OF ANY SORT TO ANY ONE ELSE.<BR>Mike<BR><BR>-----<BR>Michael Katz<BR>mkatz@mit.edu<mailto:mkatz@mit.edu><BR>Technical Director<BR>MIT Theater Arts<BR>Rinaldi Production Center<BR>34 Carleton St E33-110<BR>Cambridge MA 02142<BR>617.253.0824 Desk<BR>617.258.7149 Fax<BR><BR>Lunacy Abounds<BR><BR><BR>On Sep 19, 2011, at 9:37 AM, Gary Lemieux wrote:<BR><BR><BR>Just trying to get some current policies from other theaters on the use of firearms on-stage.<BR><BR>We have been asked on several occasions to provide a starter pistol and ammo for a visiting production and I have chosen to avoid the liability.<BR><BR>Any comments would be appreciated.<BR><BR>Gary R Lemieux<BR>Director Of Production<BR>Flynn Center For The Performing Arts<BR>153 Main Street<BR>Burlington, VT 05401<BR>Phone: 802-652-4521<BR>Fax: 802-863-9962<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>USITTNE mailing list<BR>USITTNE@mit.edu<mailto:USITTNE@mit.edu><BR><A href="http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne">http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne</A><BR><BR>-------------- next part --------------<BR>An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<BR>URL: <A href="http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/usittne/attachments/20110920/093afd9e/attachment-0001.htm">http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/usittne/attachments/20110920/093afd9e/attachment-0001.htm</A><BR><BR>------------------------------<BR><BR>Message: 4<BR>Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:11:57 +0000 (GMT)<BR>From: joseph@donovan.net<BR>Subject: Re: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo<BR>To: usittne@mit.edu<BR>Message-ID: <59696098.74333.1316524317789.JavaMail.mail@webmail03><BR>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8<BR><BR>Hi Gary,<BR><BR>I have attached a document that I give to everyone involved when they want us to use a blank gun. I take no credit for it, it is different things I have stolen from others over the years but it outlines how different places handle safety with guns on stage. <BR><BR>I then do a training with the entire cast and crew and then a specific training with the actor, stagehand who will handle the gun, stage manager and director. The training with everyone explains what we are going to be doing and then basically tells them to not touch the gun. EVER. Even if they were trained for a previous show, even if they hunted there whole life, whatever. The only people allowed to touch this gun are the actor(s) who uses it, the stagehand who preps it and puts it away right afterwards and possibly the stage manager if it is locked up in a place only s/he has access to. The more specific training for the actor, etc will vary depending on the show but that is where I get into describing how to load and handle the gun, how to use the gun, gun maintenance, blocking the scene so it is never pointed at someone, etc. The blocking part is why the director and stage manager need to hear it. <BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR><BR>Joe<BR><BR>Joseph P. Donovan<BR>Technical Director and Production Manager<BR>Theatre/Dance<BR>University of Maine<BR>207-581-1767<BR>Chair, USITT NE<BR><BR>Sep 20, 2011 08:41:26 AM, usittne@mit.edu wrote:<BR><BR>===========================================<BR><BR><BR>Just trying to get some current policies from other theaters on the use of firearms on-stage.<BR><BR><BR><BR>We have been asked on several occasions to provide a starter pistol and ammo for a visiting production and I have chosen to avoid the liability.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Any comments would be appreciated.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Gary R Lemieux<BR><BR>Director Of Production<BR><BR>Flynn Center For The Performing Arts<BR><BR>153 Main Street<BR><BR>Burlington, VT 05401<BR><BR>Phone: 802-652-4521<BR><BR>Fax: 802-863-9962<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>USITTNE mailing list<BR>USITTNE@mit.edu<BR><A href="http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne">http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne</A><BR><BR><BR>------------------------------<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>USITTNE mailing list<BR>USITTNE@mit.edu<BR><A href="http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne">http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne</A><BR><BR><BR>End of USITTNE Digest, Vol 92, Issue 2<BR>**************************************<BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>