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: The Chief DM, will follow your every move whilst you are DMing.
• Inside L3: A DM 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!

Throughout your qualification, you should deem the qualified DMs in attendance to be figments of your imagination - you can see them, but they can't help you!

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 qualified DMs are doing...

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

The Projectionist

It could happen, but not on purpose!

The projectionist(s) 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 hijacking the film itself!

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

You should make sure to communicate and liaise with the projectionist(s) in all the usual ways, including taking note of whether or not there is a trainee projectionist and dealing with this accordingly.

Problems

You never know what you might have to deal with...

The qualified DMs will have come to L3 in advance of your attendance and may have looked at a few things here and there to test your knowledge and understanding of what DMs do.

This could range from the obvious to the most devious, but what we're interested in is the way in which you respond to the situation.

We'll be looking out for how you deal with:

• Health and Safety issues
• Stewards
• The projectionist(s)
• Equipment Problems
• The Audience
• Any other 'unusual' issues

The Result

The qualified DMs will usually make their decision on whether or not you have passed during the screening.

One DM will usually observe your cashing-up whilst the others discuss how the rest of the show went.

Once a decision has been made (if you're not watching the film), the Chief DM will go through the show with you, asking for your thoughts and suggesting improvements (there will be improvements, even if you pass with ease!) where appropriate.

You will be informed of the outcome of your qualification before leaving L3!

What happens if I pass?

If you pass then you gain 'New DM' status. With this you are qualified to run shows on your own, but not yet to train. Newly qualified DMs usually retain this status for three screenings during which their confidence is built-up, but it can be more.

Whilst a New DM, the Front of House Committee will ensure that there is another fully qualified DM present at each of your screenings, just in case you need help with anything. They will not be walking around with you and will not do anything unless you specifically request it of them.

If your shows as a New DM pass without incident and you're happy to start having trainees, then you will be upgraded to a full DM. if there are issues, then the Chief DM will discuss these with you and determine with you how your next few shows will go.

What happens if I don't pass?

Firstly - don't panic! We've had plenty of Chief DMs who didn't pass their first qualification!

Usually if you don't pass, there will be a specific thing that we want to witness you do / do better at another show. In this case you will run a normal show on your own with DMs observing this specific criterion.

If there are several areas of concern at the qualification then we may ask you to train for a few more shows prior to another qualification.

Remember: We want to qualify you and wouldn't give you qualification shows if we didn't think you were ready or good enough - but sometimes people have an 'off day'. If you don't pass your first qualification, then, so long as you continue to put in the effort, we will strive to qualify you within a short time period!