SOUND DESIGN MENTOR
The Role of Mentors
Every year Young and Hungry runs the Festival of New Theatre, comprising three new New
Zealand scripts written specifically for youth audiences. The Festival is performed and
designed by 15-25 year olds in a two-week season at BATS Theatre, with each of the three
productions being performed every night.
An integral part of producing the Festival of New Theatre is the involvement of professional
theatre practitioners as mentors. Every year Young and Hungry has the pleasure of working
with experienced practitioners who impart their wisdom and share their knowledge with New
Zealand ’s emerging theatre talent.
Young and Hungry is forever indebted to all of the mentors who have worked with us over
the years; and to those who will become involved in the process this year. The role of the
mentor is invaluable; and although our contribution to you is minimal in terms of your time,
commitment and passion - we hope the role contains of multitude of other – priceless –
rewards: not least becoming part of the legacy of developing and nurturing emerging
theatrical talent in New Zealand.
On behalf of the Young and Hungry Trust Board, the playwrights, the actors, the costume
designers – all the new talent coming through this year’s Festival – thank you for your
support which makes the staging of this year’s Festival possible.
Sound Design Mentor
The rehearsal and design process for the Festival of New Theatre runs over eight weeks to
ensure that enough time is given to both the actors' development of their characters and the
technical students' realisation of their design.
The Sound Design Mentor is responsible for training Sound Design Mentees in, and ensuring
the professional delivery of, all aspects of Sound Design for each of the three Festival
productions. The Mentor will provide ongoing support and guidance to assist Mentees in
achieving their greatest potential, while fulfilling the sound design needs of the Festival.
Position:
SOUND DESIGN MENTOR
Reports to:
Production Manager and/or Programme & Partnerships Manager
Works Closely With:
Theatrical Directors, Design Mentors, Stage Management Mentor
Oversees:
Sound Design Mentees and Sound Crew
External Relations:
Liaises with service providers, contractors and other external
partners as required by the position
KEY RESULTS
ACTIVITY
Mentorship
Coordinate and facilitate a workshop or workshops wherein you
educate the Sound Design Mentees on all facets of theatrical
sound design
Provide written documentation to each Sound Design Mentee that
clearly identifies the job responsibilities including, tasks, services,
timelines and industry terminology (where applicable)
Provide Sound Design Mentees with ongoing training and support
required to develop their skills in all aspects of theatrical sound
design
Act in a supervisory capacity and oversee all processes to ensure
the professional delivery and execution of services and tasks,
which fall under the responsibility of a Sound Designer, as defined
by professional industry standards
Work together with the Production Manager, Stage Manager
Mentor, Directors and other Design Mentors to facilitate access to
rehearsals and any resources or information required
Production
Assist the Production Manager in adhering to production week
schedules and applicable duties as well as health & safety
procedures and BATS Theatre policies
Work closely with the Sound Design Mentees to ensure that a
Sound design plan is completed prior to the commencement of the
production week
Be available to assist and/or take over for the Sound Design
Mentees in the event that they have difficulty or are unable to
carry out the tasks and responsibilities required for festival sound
design
Safety & Security
Assist the Production Manager in implementing a Health & Safety
Risk Analysis Plan, ensuring that all Sound Design Mentees and
Sound Crew exercise proper Health & Safety practices at all times
Together with the Production Manager, maintain responsibility for
the safety of the Sound Design Mentees and Sound Crew
throughout the production week
Assist the Production Manager with ensuring that all Young &
Hungry personnel operate within BATS Theatre – and by
extension, Council and Government - regulations, at all times.
Budget & Purchasing
Guide Mentees through the resourcing, pricing, purchasing and
hiring of Sound materials (where applicable) ensuring that
expenses do not exceed the specified budget.
Ensure that all hires and purchases are carried out with the
approval of the Production Manager
Communications
Work collaboratively to ensure that communication pathways are
effectively utilized and any conflicts and/or misunderstandings are
resolved in a respectful, professional and timely manner.
If a serious conflict or incident should arise, the Mentor must
complete an incident report and inform the Programme &
Partnerships Manager immediately
Administration
Attend weekly Production Meetings reporting on all progress,
requirements, challenges and/or issues that require attention or
resolution
Maintain accurate records of volunteer hours worked by each
Sound Design Mentee and provide these details in your weekly
Production Meeting report
Provide procedural documentation to the Programme &
Partnerships Manager covering all aspects of this position including
final design plans and cue sheets
Together with the Production Manager, keep inventory of all
equipment purchased, hired and/or borrowed
Reports
The Mentor will provide a comprehensive report detailing the 2012
Festival season. This report should include: analysis of timelines
and processes; evaluations of Sound Design Mentees; successes
and outcomes; budget actuals, and; recommendations for the
2013 festival season