Qualification (DM)

Introduction

This page gives a very rough idea as to how DM qualifications are run. It may prove useful in helping qualifying DMs understand what sort of things to expect at their qualification, but shall reveal no crucial details on 'how' to qualify. Qualification will be solely based on being a good Duty Manager on the night and putting DM training into practice.

Turning Up

Your qualification show will be agreed upon in advance to ensure both your availability and that of sufficient DMs to monitor the screening. You will be given a time by the Chief DM for your earliest permitted arrival - usually 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the screening.

The qualified DMs in attendance will already be inside L3 and will not permit your entry until after the pre-specified time.

Qualified DMs

The qualified DMs present must be considered as not being there. You can not ask them for help with the running of the show, nor ask their opinion of what to do - it is your qualification and in the future you will have to make your own decisions, so the flying solo starts here (though you will have already been doing this during your training shows!)

During the qualification, the DMs will be in various locations.

• Following: Two or three DMs, usually including the Chief DM, will follow your every move whilst you are DMing.
• Inside L3: One or two DMs will make notes on your actions inside the auditorium.
• On the door: Usually one DM will keep track of your coming and going to and from L3.
• On the tills: One or two DMs will be following your actions at the ticket selling end of things.

If the DMs can see that you're struggling with something and have given it full and reasonable thought, then they may offer you a line of thought to take onwards - but only if you have given it proper consideration!

Stewards

Your stewards should turn up as usual and as the only DM operating the show, you should treat them as you usually would.

You might also want to inform them as to what the other qualified DMs are doing...

If you are short on stewards, then you may not recruit any of the qualified DMs.

The Projectionist

The projectionists are not involved in the qualification in any different way to a normal show. Any issues relating to projection will be entirely genuine - we don't want to go upsetting our paying customers by hi-jacking the film itself!

That said, the qualified projectionist will understand that it's your qualification and may partake in some light-hearted banter!