BART’S BLOG – FEBRUARY 2024

Streamlining Event Requests:
The PAC’s User-Friendly Living Calendar.

The PAC is proud to share a recent scheduling component – an 18-month living calendar designed to simplify requesting the PAC for events. This new calendar aims to enhance user experience, reduce conflicts, improve communications, and streamline the overall rental process for event organizers.

The Benefits of the 18-Month Living Calendar include:

• EFFICIENCY: Users can swiftly navigate through the calendar to identify and request available dates, making the scheduling process more efficient and user-friendly and significantly reducing the time and effort required of the event organizer and PAC staff.
• TRANSPARENCY: Question marks and checkmarks enhance transparency regarding each event’s status, while color coding identifies how the PAC is utilized and by whom on any given day. This transparency fosters trust between the PAC and event organizers, ensuring a clear understanding of the PAC’s availability.
• COMMUNICATION: The living calendar’s comment feature encourages open communication between the PAC and organizers. Whether correcting errors or requesting alternative dates, users can provide feedback directly on the calendar, fostering a collaborative environment.
• PROACTIVE SCHEDULING: The ability to see what dates are open for booking and to apply for unconfirmed dates through a convenient application link allows event organizers to be proactive in securing potential slots. This feature benefits those with tight scheduling requirements or specific event timelines.

Key Features of the 18-Month Living Calendar:

• FIND: The ‘find’ feature in the edit drop-down menu makes navigating the calendar easy. Users can search for their specific events, eliminating the need to scroll through months of dates manually. This feature ensures that recurring users can quickly identify when the PAC’s schedule might best align with their future event needs.
• COMMENT: The comment feature, accessible in the insert drop-down menu, allows users to identify errors, update their status, or provide additional feedback, ensuring open communication between the PAC and event organizers and fostering a collaborative approach to scheduling.
• UNCONFIRMED: To provide transparency about the status of currently requested or proposed future dates, events followed by a question mark are ‘unconfirmed.’ These events are either still being processed or have not yet been applied for and are, therefore, our best guess to fulfill recurring organizations’ future needs. If the user agrees to the tentatively scheduled event, they can click the provided link in the lower right corner to apply for those dates. This proactive approach allows users to secure potentially available dates before they are officially confirmed.
• CONFIRMED: Events marked with a checkmark have undergone the complete processing cycle, received approval, and are ready to proceed. This distinction helps users quickly identify officially confirmed dates, ensuring a smoother planning process for event organizers and the PAC staff.

With the introduction of this calendar, the PAC marks our latest significant step towards providing a seamless and transparent scheduling process that promotes collaboration and communication within the performing arts community. Check out the PAC’s 18-month living calendar by visiting ThePAC.net Facility page.

Video Links

The links below provide a video version of this month’s blog and a link to HCECTV’s The Monthly Marquee, an interview program hosted by Bart focused on performing arts activities in our region.

PAC Spotlight – February 2024

This month, the PAC Spotlight shines on Central Hardin High School’s Garrett Milby performing in Central Hardin High School’s production of The SpongeBob Musical at the PAC in March.

What have you seen at the PAC?
I have been seeing PAC and community productions at the PAC since the 1st grade and have loved every single one. However, my favorites include Young Frankenstein, The Sound of Music, and Beauty and The Beast.

What have you participated in at the PAC?
I have participated in productions at the PAC since I was little, starting with a Missoula Children’s Theater production of Snow White and, more recently, with a production of Decision Height by the Central Hardin Drama Club. My favorites include The Addams Family and Oklahoma with the Youth Theater of Hardin County, A Christmas Carol (Radio Version) with the PAC, and The Orphan Train with Central Hardin Drama Club.

What have been your most rewarding PAC experiences?
One rewarding PAC experience was when I was a stage manager for Decision Height with Central Hardin Drama Club, and I could use PAC equipment and call a show while still being a high schooler. It taught me a lot about how coordinated a backstage crew needs to be and how to communicate effectively. Another experience has been working with the Youth Theater of Hardin County for the past few years, and I have been able to work with a community focused on education and performing.

What did you learn from your PAC experiences?
Theater as an art form takes a community and clear communication to create all the shows and performances you see as an audience member.

How have you benefited from the PAC?
The PAC has provided many opportunities, allowed different groups I’m a part of to perform in the space, and provided a positive environment with the staff and theater.

Why is the PAC important to you?
It was where I first discovered my love for theater and performing. It has fostered that love of having a place that helps bring the community together and creates an environment that lifts up its performers regardless of background.

Why should the PAC be important to others?
It’s a place for the community to come together and not just watch a show but share ideals, promote local business, and let people from different areas come together to watch/make a show that captivates audiences.