[Usittne] USITTNE Digest, Vol 92, Issue 2

Tue Sep 20 16:54:55 EDT 2011

Joe, I would love to see that attachment you speak of. I'm sure I would find it very helpful as well. 

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. 

Robert Mack
Technical Director
Department of Theatre
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA 01610
508-793-3455
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Today's Topics:

   1. blank pistols/ammo (Gary Lemieux)
   2. Re: blank pistols/ammo (Michael Katz)
   3. Re: blank pistols/ammo (Deanna Stuart)
   4. Re: blank pistols/ammo (joseph at donovan.net)

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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:37:17 -0400
From: "Gary Lemieux" <GLemieux at flynncenter.org>
Subject: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo
To: <usittne at mit.edu>
Message-ID:
<C3AF5886B3E9B84EBE84D618A796BF5C034C2325 at flynnexch.flynncenter.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Just trying to get some current policies from other theaters on the use
of firearms on-stage.

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.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Gary R Lemieux

Director Of Production

Flynn Center For The Performing Arts

153 Main Street

Burlington, VT 05401

Phone: 802-652-4521

Fax: 802-863-9962

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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:52:29 -0400
From: Michael Katz <mkatz at MIT.EDU>
Subject: Re: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo
To: USITT New England Section Mail List <usittne at MIT.EDU>
Message-ID: <5AB5D3DE-B17A-4EA4-81B7-65F03611EBC3 at mit.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

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.
Mike

-----
Michael Katz
mkatz at mit.edu
Technical Director
MIT Theater Arts
Rinaldi Production Center 
34 Carleton St E33-110
Cambridge MA 02142
617.253.0824 Desk
617.258.7149 Fax

Lunacy Abounds

On Sep 19, 2011, at 9:37 AM, Gary Lemieux wrote:

Just trying to get some current policies from other theaters on the use of firearms on-stage.

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.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Gary R Lemieux
Director Of Production
Flynn Center For The Performing Arts
153 Main Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: 802-652-4521
Fax: 802-863-9962

_______________________________________________
USITTNE mailing list
USITTNE at mit.edu
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne

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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:02:53 -0400
From: Deanna Stuart <DStuart at brooksschool.org>
Subject: Re: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo
To: USITT New England Section Mail List <usittne at mit.edu>
Message-ID: <757D446FED4D464DADED784E7E7FAF0302DF0CDA3C at newman>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Mike- would it be possible to see your written policies?
Deanna Stuart

From: usittne-bounces at mit.edu [mailto:usittne-bounces at mit.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Katz
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 8:52 AM
To: USITT New England Section Mail List
Subject: Re: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo

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.
Mike

-----
Michael Katz
mkatz at mit.edu<mailto:mkatz at mit.edu>
Technical Director
MIT Theater Arts
Rinaldi Production Center
34 Carleton St E33-110
Cambridge MA 02142
617.253.0824 Desk
617.258.7149 Fax

Lunacy Abounds

On Sep 19, 2011, at 9:37 AM, Gary Lemieux wrote:

Just trying to get some current policies from other theaters on the use of firearms on-stage.

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.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Gary R Lemieux
Director Of Production
Flynn Center For The Performing Arts
153 Main Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: 802-652-4521
Fax: 802-863-9962

_______________________________________________
USITTNE mailing list
USITTNE at mit.edu<mailto:USITTNE at mit.edu>
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne

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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:11:57 +0000 (GMT)
From: joseph at donovan.net
Subject: Re: [Usittne] blank pistols/ammo
To: usittne at mit.edu
Message-ID: <59696098.74333.1316524317789.JavaMail.mail at webmail03>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Hi Gary,

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.  

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.  

Hope this helps,

Joe

Joseph P. Donovan
Technical Director and Production Manager
Theatre/Dance
University of Maine
207-581-1767
Chair, USITT NE

Sep 20, 2011 08:41:26 AM, usittne at mit.edu wrote:

===========================================

Just trying to get some current policies from other theaters on the use of firearms on-stage.

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.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Gary R Lemieux

Director Of Production

Flynn Center For The Performing Arts

153 Main Street

Burlington, VT 05401

Phone: 802-652-4521

Fax: 802-863-9962

_______________________________________________
USITTNE mailing list
USITTNE at mit.edu
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/usittne

------------------------------

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End of USITTNE Digest, Vol 92, Issue 2
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