Biggest Challenges Faced by a Production Manager at Hamilton the Musical
Franklin's biggest challenge as Production Manager is navigating the inherent conflicts arising from "working with so many different people" and balancing "artistic vision" with "financial or technical goals" on each new project. Mastering this delicate balance, built on mutual respect and strong relationships with "creative teams and general management teams," is key to success in their demanding role.
Project Management, Teamwork, Communication, Problem-Solving, Leadership
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Franklin Swann
Production Manager
Hamilton the Musical/Hudson Theatrical Associates
NYU/Tisch School of the Arts - 2015
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Working with diverse teams and navigating conflicting priorities is a major challenge.
2. Balancing artistic vision with financial and technical constraints requires skillful negotiation and respect for all team members.
3. Building strong relationships and earning trust within creative and management teams is crucial for success in this role.
Transcript
What was your biggest challenge in your current role?
There are many challenges when working with so many different people, especially since you're often working with a new team on each project. This means going through the team formation process repeatedly, which can sometimes lead to conflicts.
We also work with many big personalities in the arts. These are people who are passionate and have strong visions for their work. Their visions don't always align with schedule or budget needs.
Figuring out how to work with artistic vision and translate it into financial or technical goals is the hardest thing to master. It's also difficult to do this in a way that's respectful of the process and all team members.
Once you get good at it, you can really grow and thrive in this job. You build relationships with creative teams, general management teams, and technical crews. They know you're looking out for them, as well as the bigger picture of the show. When you earn that respect, you can navigate things a little easier.
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