Sharks Barksley attendance policy

Terms & Commitments:

• We have 3 terms each year

• Folks can sign on for as few or as many terms as possible and are welcome to take breaks when needed

• Performers should only sign on if they can commit to our attendance policy (see more below)

• Term 1: January - April 

• Term 2: May - August

• Term 3: September - December
  

Performers in good standing:

• To be in good standing, you are expected to:

• Have good attendance, including:

• Attending at least ¾ rehearsals every month, and

• Being available for ½ shows (starting your performance term/second term)

• Exceptions:

• Excused absences (no penalty): illness, disability/medical, family bereavement, caregiving emergencies, jury duty/court, religious or major cultural observances, and unavoidable work obligations communicated ASAP.

• Note: Monthly mixers and auditions for existing performers are not mandatory

• Comply with our community guidelines
  

Performers NOT in good standing:

• Performers no longer in good standing for any reason will be removed from the team for the rest of that term and will need to re-audition for the next term 

• Performers removed due to violations of our community guidelines will not be invited back to audition

• Excused absences do not count against your attendance**

**For absences related to disability, please scroll down to see our full accessibility statement and attendance policy below

Returning for the Next Term:

• Performers in good standing may be invited back for another term without needing to audition, depending on their performance the previous term

• Performers must state whether they intend to stay on board for the next term by the last practice scheduled for the term
  

Taking breaks:

• We have a term system so that folks can make an informed commitment and take a break when they need 

• Players taking a year or more (more than 3 terms) off will need to re-audition to join
  

New Performers:

• Newcomers can audition for any term

• Those invited onto the team will only perform starting their second term

• There will also be a mandatory new performer orientation from 6:45 - 7 PM the day of the first rehearsal of each term

Selection for shows:

Performers will be selected based on the following:

• ATTENDANCE: 

• Top of the list for consideration: Players who are doing volunteer work at HoC

• Bottom of the list for consideration: Players who haven't been at practices recently, have a lot of lates, or have any recent unexcused absence
  

• EQUITY: Every effort will be made to ensure that everyone receives equal stage time, allowing folks who haven't performed in a while to perform!
  
  As a reminder, performers are expected to attend at least ¾ (75% of) rehearsals every month, and be available for ½ (50% of) shows* to be in “good standing.” Record is kept of performers who are frequently not available or do not provide their availability.
  
  *New performers do not need to attend or be available for shows their first term, but are encouraged to!

Communicating absences:

• Expected absences should be communicated to Jessilee ASAP via text, email, or Slack

• Unexpected absences due to illnesses, family emergencies, unexpected conflicts, etc. are excused absences and should be communicated to Jessilee via Slack, text, or phone call ASAP

• Absences will be considered "unexcused" if not communicated by the time practice ends for that day

Tardies: 

• Please do everything in your power to be on time to be courteous to your teammates. 

• If you’re going to be late, please let Jessilee know ASAP via text, email, or Slack

Why these policies?

Our top priorities for Sharks are:

1. to create top quality shows as the flagship improv team for Haus of Comedy and 

2. 2) to foster a positive, inclusive community built on camaraderie and trust. 

Put simply: we need commitment from all involved to accomplish this. Planning the content of our workshops requires advanced knowledge of how many people will be in attendance. Conflicts come up and stuff happens, but we also want to be sure everyone performing in our shows is committed to doing good stuff and can give this their all.

If you foresee any problems adhering to the attendance policy going forward, please let Jessilee know.

Accessibility:

At Sharks Barksley, we are committed to ensuring accessibility for everyone. We understand that members may face challenges related to disabilities, and we offer reasonable accommodations, including flexibility with attendance. However, we also need to maintain a level of consistency to ensure the quality of our performances. Our goal is to support each member while maintaining the integrity of our group.

• If absences for any reason, including disabilities, exceed 50% of practices, we will initiate a conversation to re-evaluate and find a balanced solution that works for everyone. 

• Read our full accessibility statement here: Sharks Barksley ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT AND COMMITMENT