Shared Inventory Database
What Is the Shared Invetory Database?
Want to take advantage of the tremendous pool of physical resources from across the theatre industry? Join the shared inventory database!
The Shared Database is the brainchild of the Philadelphia Theatre Community's Resource Sharing Committee (RSC) and administered through Philadelphia Scenic Works.
It is a single, shared, decentralized online inventory (using a software called StageStock) that multiple organizations and individual artists use to list some (or all ) of their inventory for others to borrow or rent. It contains props, costumes, lighting instruments, etc. Theatre-makers looking for items can search the entire inventory at once, and then connect with the item owners to arrange to borrow or rent the items.
The goal of this project is to activate the inventory that often sits lifeless for months or years in some companies' storage. This helps theatre-makers find local, cheap (or free!) resources instead of spending their limited resources on new items for only a few weeks worth of usage. This lets companies who have an inventory make a little money off it, helps other companies in the community, reduces purchases of new products, and keeps items from getting dumped at the end of a project.
Learn more and sign up here: https://sites.google.com/view/phillytheatreresources/shared-inventory
About/The Basics
The online software and associated administration does have a cost associated with it. We have received funding that will allow us to completely cover the cost of the software for the time being. Eventually, we may have to split that cost amongst participating companies, but we are working to keep the fee as low as possible. We hope that the low fee and the financial benefit of increased rentals will make it well worth the cost. Only listing items will ever potentially have an associated fee, which will be low enough that companies will hopefully be able to make it back in rentals. We are currently planning on allowing organizations/individuals to list up to 75 items for free with any cost beyond that tied to operating budgets. For now, however the software is completely free to list items and search for unlimited items.
It will always be free to view the inventory via a login at dvc.stagestock.com
Username: freeviewer
Password: givemestuff
We have developed guidelines/suggestions with the group's best interest in mind, but ultimately each individual company gets to set its own policies, rental rates, etc.
There is no requirement for companies to upload their entire inventory. They can upload as little (or as much) as they want, as slowly or as quickly as they want. That being said, the more items they include, the more likely someone will find exactly what they need and request a rental.
We understand that uploading items to the inventory is work and that it takes someone’s time. We recommend starting with a few big ticket items that might be difficult to find. These items are more likely to be of value to another producer. The Resource Sharing Committee is donating its time to inventory and upload items for companies. Please reach out to us (info@philadelphiascenicworks.org ) if you are interested in the that service!
Ultimately, it is up to each company to determine how they enter their data. We ask that if a company is asking someone to donate their time to do this work for free, that the company makes explicitly clear to the individual that they are performing a volunteer service.While this initiative is being spearheaded by theatres, we do not intend to limit it to companies, or even just to the theater industry. We want to encourage anyone or might be interested in sharing physical resources to participate!
How do I get Involved?
Sign up for an account or just jump right in with this general view-only account : https://dvc.stagestock.com/inventory/
Username: freeviewer
Password: givemestuff
I Have Questions/Comments!
Great! Please recognize that we did not develop this software, and so some feedback may be passed on to the software developer who can implement them at their own discretion. The more we use the system, the more leverage we will have to request changes.
Feel free to fill out our feedback form!
Or reach out to info@philadelphiascenicworks.org
Other Inventories/Resources
Avista Custom Theatrical - Avista is a company specializing in props, custom fabric/soft goods, and some lighting rentals. They are located in Norristown, PA
Resource Exchange - a creative reuse center