FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about DRAMAC

Have some questions about DRAMAC? Well you've come to the right place! If you can't find your answers to questions here, then such answers may not exist! Alternatively pop on over to our executive page and email one of our friendly executive members.

 

How do i join DRAMAC?

This is possibly the best question you could ask. Joining DRAMAC is easy, all you need to do is visit the DRAMAC stall during Orientation Week (O-Week) at the start of the year or during Diversity Week (Second simester, first week back) to register. If you somehow missed us during these times contact either  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  to arrange to be signed up.

Membership to DRAMAC for 2010 costs a tiny $2 and gives you membership until O-Week 2011.  

 

How do i audition for shows?

 
Once you're a member of DRAMAC, feel free to join the DRAMAC facebook group (link is at the top of this page!). Once you've done that, you'll be getting both emails and facebook mails about everything happening in the society. This includes when shows are being pitched, which shows win pitches and when their auditions are on.
 
According to the current DRAMAC constitution (as of 10/08/09) directors are required to hold three seperate audition sessions, which means theres usually plenty of time to find an audition time that best suites you. Failing that most directors can be contacted directly for a private audition session.
 
 

I'm not really the acting type, is there any other way I can still be involved?

 
Yes! DRAMAC is always looking for active members to be involved with everything!
 
Good shows aren't just made from actors alone. There is often a large group of people supporting the show in a variety of ways, heres a quick summary of the said people.
 
Directors: These are the people who direct the show, its their artistic idea, they instruct the actors on how to best fulfill their vision for the show. Of course directors often need to be good at working with people. Directors are often (but not always) the people who pitch their shows at General Meetings of the society.
 
Producers: These are the study pack horses of a show. The producers are usually responsible for coordinating whats going on with a show, everything from ensuring the props are acquired, managing the shows budget, making sure the cast turn up for rehearsals on time, making sure their directors are on the ball, occasionally making sure the directors eat and so on. 
 
Tech Crew: Arguably some of the most important folk in the entire society. If a show doesn't have lights or sound, she don't go ahead, simple as that.  Doing tech often requires less time than most other roles, however it does often involve some very intense periods in the time they do have to put in. The Tech crew often gets to have a ball, all from the safety of backstage or the lighting box.
 
Front of House: The FoH crew and FoH manager are the first point of contact for the audience. The FoH ladies and gents make sure tickets are sold, money is taken and counted, and candy is sold. They also get the joys of keeping the foyer presentable and gagging noisey cast members who are off stage.
 
The Executive: This insane and amazing bunch of people are those brave enough to try and organise/tame the beast that is DRAMAC. You can read more about the executive on the exec page. Suffice it to say there are several executive positions each with their own specialties and responsibilities. If you are a new member and want to get involved in the 'keeping the society going awesomely' side of things, there are two first year Auxiliary positions which are elected at the start of the year. 

How many shows are on in a year?

DRAMAC usually puts on 7 shows a year. However this number can vary. While there are 7 constitutional shows that DRAMAC does, there are what is known as "sponsored" productions, i.e. productions which might fall outside of the society or outside the DRAMAC calender but are still supported by DRAMAC. 

Where are the shows performed? 

DRAMAC tends to call the Lighthouse Theater (building W11A) it's home. Located just off Gynasium road on the Macquarie University Campus, North Ryde; the theater sits overlooking the lake of doom and just opposite the Macquarie Uni Gym. 
 
On lovely google-maps you can see roughly where the Lighthouse theater is. Its the little white roof just north of what google calls waterloo road (which is actually Gymnasium road).  
 

Do I have to be involved in every show?

Of course not! University can be a demanding life style, partying, socialising, working, weekends with no memory thanks to drinking too much and so on. So we understand if you can't do every show, in fact theres no pressure to do any shows if you don't want to! DRAMAC encourages people to get involved with the society some how, even if its just watching shows or showing up to parties. Remember the more you're involved in whatever way you choose to do it, the more fun you'll have in DRAMAC and more importantly, at uni! 
 

How do i pitch for a 'spot'?

Pitches for each spot are usually announced several weeks in advance, but that doesnt mean you can't be working on a killer pitch well before that.
 
When considering if you should pitch, the first thing you should probably ask yourself is: Do i have enough time to commit to doing a show for a given time period. Shows can be quite demanding if you plan on directing or producing, so making sure you're committed is a good step. 
 
If you think you're up to the task, your next step is to think about which spot you might like to pitch for; what the restrictions (if any) for that spot are and subsequently, what do you want to try to put on stage. There is a huge variety of shows that can be done for each spot and the only restrictions tend to be how long the show runs for, how big your budget is, and for the big spots - the show may have to be published or previously performed.
 
After all that, put together a pitch to sell your show to the society. Why should people vote for YOUR show to be on stage? Think about thinks like what the show is about, how you'll present it in your own way (i.e. your vision), your cast size, maybe your expected budget and so on. The more you can think of and explain to the society, the better your chances of being voted for!
 
The last step is to take your pitch to the General Meeting which corresponds to the pitching of the season you want to get your show in for; and then... pitch it!  
 

How do i get involved with the executive?

Sweat. Blood. Tears. Alcohol. Or a combination of the four, usually the last one in large amounts.
 
The executive are elected at the AGM which occurs at the end of each student year (second semester before exams). The best way to get elected is by helping out around shows and doing whatever you can to help the society grow and prosper while subscribing to the society's general ideals. Each executive position tends to call for someone with a particular interest, so if you are thinking about getting involved on the executive, think about what position (if elected) you could best fill and thus best contribute to the society with.
  

What are sponsored productions?

Sponsored productions are productions which occur from time to time which do not fall into DRAMAC's normal yearly calender. Sponsored productions are productions which can be pitched to the executive of the society whereby the executive will make a decision regarding the support and budget of the show. 

Sponsored productions are variable in their manifestation, that is, unlike DRAMAC's normal show spots which might have specific requirements, sponsored productions do not necessarily have the same constrains.

If you'd like to pitch a sponsored production, send a full production brief (i.e. a document consisting of who, what, when, where, how much (and what you want to spend it on), etc) to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .