The Emerald Pig Theatrical Society needs some help and a home of its own if the local theatre is going to survive in Maple Ridge. But like the local swim clubs, the society will be treading water if it’s hit with rental hikes next year.
Maple Ridge council got the message and Tuesday suspended any changes in fees for pool or room rentals, until the groups have talked to the recreation general manager.
“The change in rates is fairly dramatic,” Emerald Pig president Sharon Malone told council.
In fact, if the society has to pay for rehearsal space it formerly got for free, it might not survive.
“The costs for putting on theatre are not sustainable.”
Currently, the club gets most of its rehearsal time in the Family Recreation Centre in Pitt Meadows for free. Under the new fees proposed for next year, the club would have to pay about $20 an hour for rehearsal time. With three shows produced a year, the society would face another $7,000 in costs annually. Each show it puts on, operates on a razor-thin profit margin, clearing about $200.
“We have a very tight bottom line. If we add a $7,000 rental fee, I’m not sure it will be manageable.”
Malone is optimistic the parks and leisure department will make adjustments to help the club.
“The district has always been extremely supportive.”
Malone said having to pay for rehearsal space would mean more money spent on advertising and marketing, to ensure each show sells seats in order to cover costs. Fundraising efforts would have to double or triple.
Malone said the theatrical society is looking for a home of its own, a small building with space for about 75 seats. Rental of the 500-seat Arts Centre Theatre is too pricey for the small group, which usually loses money on its shows there.
“We love the ACT. It’s simply not the type of theatre we produce. It’s not appropriate in a large venue.”
Finding an old building for a small theatre, as community theatres in Langley and Surrey have, would also spare volunteers from having to lug props to and from each production set, before and after shows.
“It burns people out.”
Malone stores many of the sets and props in her own home, saving the club up to $6,000 a year.
“But that’s not sustainable.”
Having its own venue could create more profitable shows.
The Emerald Pig Theatrical Society does have a future home pencilled in, said parks and recreation services general manager Kelly Swift.
The new parks and recreation master plan identifies the Pitt Meadows Heritage Hall on Harris Road for that purpose. The plan has been costed out and an implementation strategy has been developed.
“I’m hoping we can work and find another solution.”
The Haney Neptunes and the Haney Seahorses were also worried about rising fees.
Rob Charland, with the 84-member club Haney Seahorses, said the fee hikes and schedule changes would have added $9,000 yearly to the club’s costs.
Setting longer times in the Maple Ridge leisure centre with fewer lanes would mean coaches have to be paid for more time.
He’s already had “good discussions” with the recreation department at rolling back some of the changes.
“I think our club will do quite well in the community of Maple Ridge.”
Swift has already talked with both swim clubs and will meet with the theatre society.
“I feel very comfortable there are a number of things we can to do reduce costs.”
She said the commission decided to start charging non-profit groups for using rooms, adding the smaller rooms are just a few dollars an hour.
Higher admission fees in 2014 are projected to raise another $17,000, while higher rental charges are expected to raise another $20,000, with about $8,000 of that coming from non-profit groups that so far haven’t had to pay for room rentals.
Coun. Corisa Bell, though, wanted council to direct the recreation commission to lower fees.
“There’s got to be more ways of doing it than just increasing fees.”
That’s up to the commission, countered Mayor Ernie Daykin. “We allow them to do their work.”
For the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre, staff recommended a five-per-cent increase in admission fees, bringing the youth or senior rate from $3.71 to $3.90 and the family rate from $9.94 to $10.44.
Maple Ridge council gave third reading to the new fees as well as to changes to fees for drop-in skating, arena rental, rental of Albion Fairgrounds buildings, halls and kitchens.
For the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre, staff recommended a five-per-cent increase in the child rate and a 10-per-cent increase for youth and seniors.
That would raise the child rate to $2.61 and the youth/senior rate to $3.52. Pitt Meadows council however has rejected that hike.