I'm A Cool Guy - why don't I know any... Thomas Martin, 27 January 2013 Participants: Keir Cooper, Amelia Bird, Ellen Parry, David Bellwood, Nina Kov, Maria Thomas Session born out of a desire to work collaboratively with designers, and feeling a lack of space in which to meet those creatives. Keir's experience of working collaboratively in a performative context came naturally, as he co-created the project as well as designing the materials for it. Idea of directors and designers paired in ‘marriages’ - in similar manner to some director/writer partnerships - two creatives who work consistently well together. Fewer and fewer set/costume designers taken on as part of buildings now, some relying on being paired by producers/exec producers of commissioning venues. Set/costume designers have few chances to mingle, spending a lot of time between venues or in their studios, as well as considering other designers as potential competition. Compared with the assistance/training offered to young directors, support for young designers seems relatively scarce. Where are the networks for designers? Young Vic has a branch of the Genesis Network, but doesn't seem very developed. Some events for introducing potentially collaborative artists (of all disciplines) expect things to happen over a few glasses of wine (and sometimes they do!). In a more traditional vein: director/designer speed dating nights? And how to organise them? Important for venues to support young artists, but also important not to strongarm buildings into awkward situations re: putting people together and not being able to support further development! Difficulties shared by choreographers and directors in finding (and keeping!) very talented collaborators. Differences between finding lighting designer/operators and artists working in lighting - first traditionally involves collaborating with everything else going on in the building in which they work! Strategies for networking discussed: meetups, tweetups, seeing work, emailing, talking to box office staff, sharing lists (we made a list of designers we knew). Tags: lighting, graphic, sound, projection, artists, Collaboration, costume, video, designers, networking, set, collaboration