We recently had the pleasure of working on the redesign of the Helen Hayes Theater, on West 44th Street in New York City, with our construction partner Yorke Construction. The entire theater was re-outfitted in a stunning blue ombre, as designed by world renowned architect David Rockwell. The renovation story was featured in the April issue of Elle Décor.
We’ve worked on several large performance spaces like this, from the Julliard School to St. Ann’s Warehouse Theater. In our experience, one of the main concerns of everyone on the team, from the architect to the designers, to the electricians and construction team is always timing.
Getting It Done on Time is Not an Option. It’s the Only Option
How do you make sure that you aren’t presenting a bottleneck that throws off the whole schedule?
First of all, we understand, from our years in the business, that with a project like this, there is an absolute drop-dead date. The show has to open on a certain day at a certain time – which means that everything must be done on time with no questions asked and no exceptions. So, the first thing I do is process the fact that there is an absolute condition that I am working under. Failure to comply can mean everything from professional embarrassment to loss of revenue, to damaged partner relationships, and even a lawsuit.
Once you understand that, there are several steps you can take to make sure you meet the deadline.
#1 Write It Down
Write the “drop-dead date” in a visible place, such as a calendar, and make sure the entire team is aware of this date. Put it in several places to avoid it being forgotten. Make sure you are always reminded of this date.
#2 Order Way in Advance
Order the drapery fabrics well in advance. We’d love to say there are never any mix-ups or change orders, but in reality, these things do tend to rear their ugly head from time to time.
In the case of the Helen Hayes Theater, the architect, David Rockwell, wanted to outfit the theater in a gorgeous blue ombre. It was an unusual color, but this didn’t present any issues for us. In fact, we love color, so it made the project that much more enjoyable to do. In most cases, the designer specifies the fabric color and we consult with our fulfillment resources to make it happen. We have seen some instances, though, when we’re called in to assist the designer with the decision. It’s really up to our partners and how they want to manage the process
Time can be your best friend or your worst enemy. So, I always try to use it to my advantage and get the order done as soon as possible.
#3 Follow Up Persistently and Don’t Assume It’s Someone Else’s Responsibility
Most drapery professionals will wait for the design team to give the green light to take the final measurements. In a situation like this, I don’t wait to be informed – I ask. I ask over and over again until they tell me I’m able to take the final measurements.
I do this because, in my years of experience, I’ve learned that at the end of the day, I’m the one held responsible for these measurements. So, it’s my job to make sure that happens as soon as it can. My partners on the design team have too much on their plate to worry about how to dial me in at the right time. That’s my job, not theirs.
Finger pointing after the fact is useless. In fact, it’s a good way to burn bridges. Following up persistently (yet professionally) takes time and effort, but it really is the best way to go. In my opinion, it’s the only way to go. My partners never consider it a nag because I do it professionally and most of the time they end up thanking me for not letting things slip.
#4 Get the Install Date Established Early
I schedule the installation way in advance. This minimizes tension and helps everyone feel a bit more relaxed.
Operating this way (as stated in #1 to #4 above) helps us know the timeline with more certainty. As we start to fabricate, there are no surprises and we can get to completion more easily.
Why the Hardest Work of All Is Invisible
We’ve worked on many high-profile projects with great “wow” value, but the things that make it “wow” worthy are invisible. It’s the grunt work, the unglamorous, mundane tasks that everyone hates to do, but make all the difference. The partner you want is the one who is willing to roll up his or her sleeves and make sure that these things get done. My motto is that “the hardest work of all is invisible” and that’s because it takes a stroke of genius to make sure the sweat and the grit don’t show. If you think that things should go this way on yournext project, then send me an email and let me know.