This is not Tessitura related, but I am just wondering what is being used to track props inventory around the network. Our props department wants to buy a program built on Filemaker. It looks perfect from their point of view, but has no support to speak of. What are other folks using to keep photos and specifications on props in storage? They need to be able to find specifications and photos of (for example) all 1930's end tables. They then need to email this information to the show's designer. Any suggestions? Thanks.
We use filemaker itself here and have been using it for five years or so. We researched using a few Pro installs and a server install but in the end determined that the limitations on the Pro were within our limits. We have three copies. One installed on a "server" machine that has an IP address exposed to the web. The other two copies are used to open the database on the "server" and make modifications. Using the built in web components anyone who has the correct username and password can open up the filemaker web view from anywhere and view our prop inventory. This allows designers to shop through our stock props from their homes. If you would like to take a look at the webview or talk to me about the limitations feel free to contact me off list.
-Rich
Thanks Rich! I will be contacting you for details.
Lou
From: Tessitura Technical Forum [mailto:forums-technical@tessituranetwork.com] On Behalf Of Rich TepperSent: Friday, September 03, 2010 7:22 AMTo: Ambrose, LouSubject: Re: [Tessitura Technical Forum] What do you use for props inventory?
From: Lou Ambrose <bounce-louambrose6123@tessituranetwork.com>Sent: 9/2/2010 3:29:56 PM
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Quick Clarification from Jim:
I'm afraid that the answer from Milwaukee Rep is that, being seasonal employees as are most in the Production Dept., we do not have the manpower or time during the contract season to do a digital inventory, nor the money to hire someone to do it for us. If we could afford to hire someone (or two people for furniture moving) to inventory, move, photograph, measure and write descriptions of all our major pieces -and there are hundreds- then the question becomes who we could find with the knowledge of prop, fabric and furniture period styles to be able to do the project inependently of the prop staff? If we couldn't find someone with that body of knowledge, it would again become a matter of someone in the Prop Dept. being able to find the time to advise on the project. As we're usually working on 2 to 3 shows while 3 are running, that would be a squeeze. Almost every Prop Dept. that I know of that has an on line inventory has 1 or 2 people on contract year round who have non-production/shop maintenance time to spend on such a venture. Such is not the case at MRT. My staff comes on contract the week before rehearsals begin and are laid off after the last opening of the season. Some of the inventories of which I am aware are Filemaker based, some are on Flickr. I'll try to get the name of the progrm that Dan Tracy in Kansas City presented to the annual conference of the Society of Properties Artisan Managers at Actors Theatre Louisville a couple of years ago. It was pretty well received by the S*P*A*M members who have the time to deal with it. Our method here is to find out what the designer is looking for, take photos and measurements of the pieces we have in stock that are appropriate and available and then send them to the designer as attachments. This also helps us be selective in what stock pieces we offer to a designer for painting, alteration, etc. One of the last things we want is to give a designer free access to our entire stock so they can pick one part of a matched set of deco chairs to paint vermillion and saw the legs off.
-p.
PATRICK SCHLEY | Marketing & Sales Manager | Milwaukee Repertory Theater Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex | 108 East Wells Street | Milwaukee, WI 53202 414.290.0710 tel | 414.224.9097 fax | pschley@milwaukeerep.com Website: www.milwaukeerep.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/milwrep | Twitter: twitter.com/milwrep
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Thanks for the response. I have heard of the program that Dan Tracy created, so no need to send me information on that. I appreciate the issues with staff and time.
From: Tessitura Technical Forum [mailto:forums-technical@tessituranetwork.com] On Behalf Of Patrick SchleySent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 9:40 AMTo: Ambrose, LouSubject: RE: [Tessitura Technical Forum] What do you use for props inventory?
From Jim Guy, props director here at Milwaukee Rep (jguy@milwaukeerep.com)...
I'm afraid that the answer from Milwaukee Rep is that we do not have the time during the contract season to do a digital inventory, nor the money to hire someone to do it for us. If we could afford to hire someone to inventory, move, photograph, measure and write descriptions of all our major pieces (and there are hundreds), then the question would be who could we find with the knowledge of prop, fabric and furniture period styles to be able to do the project independently of the prop people? If we couldn't find someone with that knowledge, it would again become a matter of someone (probably me) in the Prop Dept. being able to find the time to advise on the project. Almost every Prop Dept. that I know of that has an on line inventory has at least 2 people on contract year round who has non-production time to spend on such a venture. Such is not the case at MRT. Some of those are Filemaker based, some are on Flickr. I'll try to get the name of the program that Dan Tracy in Kansas City presented to our annual conference a couple of years ago. It was pretty well received by the S*P*A*M members who have the time to deal with it. Our method here is to find out what the designer is looking for, take photos and measurements of the pieces we have in stock that are appropriate and available and then send them to the designer as attachments.
PATRICK SCHLEY | Marketing & Sales Manager | Milwaukee Repertory TheaterPatty & Jay Baker Theater Complex | 108 East Wells Street | Milwaukee, WI 53202414.290.0710 tel | 414.224.9097 fax | pschley@milwaukeerep.comWebsite: www.milwaukeerep.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/milwrep | Twitter: twitter.com/milwrep
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