1
Introductions / Re: Hi!
« on: May 17, 2013, 11:11 am »
Hello Sarah
News:
Attention students and faculty: we're cracking down on use of SMNet for homework, but also starting a scholarly journal for the best student essays. There is also a new hidden board for those who teach stage management or work with interns.
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2
Employment / Re: Making the transition to PSM
« on: May 10, 2013, 09:49 pm »
every theater is going to define the job differently due to their needs.
when I was PSM for a theater, I still had a show load, but also attended meetings for the institution, all hiring and supervision of stage management staff and interns, and a work on budget and season planning.
some PSM's don't have a heavy show load.
when I was PSM for a theater, I still had a show load, but also attended meetings for the institution, all hiring and supervision of stage management staff and interns, and a work on budget and season planning.
some PSM's don't have a heavy show load.
3
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Personal reasons NOT to do a show?
« on: May 10, 2013, 03:49 am »
I would continue until the producers shut us down.
Until I felt myself in personal danger, or that of my cast . . .
So, walk through a protest line, yes.
Rock thrown at me - not worth it.
Until I felt myself in personal danger, or that of my cast . . .
So, walk through a protest line, yes.
Rock thrown at me - not worth it.
4
The Green Room / Re: Tony Awards
« on: May 09, 2013, 09:46 pm »
Oh . . . okay.
The Stage Management Association does that here as well. Stage Manager's honoring other stage managers for their body of work, and less specific on a certain show.
The issue what would be hard for the Tony's is that is a mixed bag of theater professionals doing the nominating and voting - so it would be hard to comment on the individual show.
I am all for that.
The Stage Management Association does that here as well. Stage Manager's honoring other stage managers for their body of work, and less specific on a certain show.
The issue what would be hard for the Tony's is that is a mixed bag of theater professionals doing the nominating and voting - so it would be hard to comment on the individual show.
I am all for that.
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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Personal reasons NOT to do a show?
« on: May 09, 2013, 09:37 pm »
And what's funny is a show that is politically charged, gets people talking.
Don't forget the power of theater and the ability to start conversations.
Don't forget the emotional power theater has.
Theater has been used, in the past, to stir nations, start revolutions.
Don't forget the power of theater and the ability to start conversations.
Don't forget the emotional power theater has.
Theater has been used, in the past, to stir nations, start revolutions.
6
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Personal reasons NOT to do a show?
« on: May 08, 2013, 11:25 pm »
Material is material, and you need to learn where your own boundaries lie. And that is going to based on your own personal beliefs.
A couple of years back, I had a chance to (and did work on) Marlowe’s Edward II. A play, that is about class, and the love (could be friendship, could be sexual) between two men.
Now, during the process of the show – since Class distinction is not as obvious in America, our production underlined the love (and this case sexual love) between the king and the commoner. Including a couple of very nice kisses. No pornography, no sex . . . maybe a shirtless man.
Anyway, people walked out in droves saying the play was pro-gay (which if you know the story is hysterical – as the two gay men die in HORRIFIC ways, one is beheaded and one dies with a hot poker shoved up his bum.) It was hard to watch as a gay man, harder to deal with audience complaints.
But, what really became hard was watching the show over and over, and having it wear me down. (Earlier in my career I had to work on a play about unemployment, which in this business, is a little too close to home). Edward II is not a happy play – and it sometimes gets to you.
But, at the end of the day, at 11:00p, it was over. And I moved on my life.
Material can be offensive, but it can start a dialogue – and I would hate to miss out on that dialogue, regardless of my personal beliefs.
It’s not material I will avoid, it’s people – directors, actors, producers, general managers, organizations. Material comes and goes.a
A couple of years back, I had a chance to (and did work on) Marlowe’s Edward II. A play, that is about class, and the love (could be friendship, could be sexual) between two men.
Now, during the process of the show – since Class distinction is not as obvious in America, our production underlined the love (and this case sexual love) between the king and the commoner. Including a couple of very nice kisses. No pornography, no sex . . . maybe a shirtless man.
Anyway, people walked out in droves saying the play was pro-gay (which if you know the story is hysterical – as the two gay men die in HORRIFIC ways, one is beheaded and one dies with a hot poker shoved up his bum.) It was hard to watch as a gay man, harder to deal with audience complaints.
But, what really became hard was watching the show over and over, and having it wear me down. (Earlier in my career I had to work on a play about unemployment, which in this business, is a little too close to home). Edward II is not a happy play – and it sometimes gets to you.
But, at the end of the day, at 11:00p, it was over. And I moved on my life.
Material can be offensive, but it can start a dialogue – and I would hate to miss out on that dialogue, regardless of my personal beliefs.
It’s not material I will avoid, it’s people – directors, actors, producers, general managers, organizations. Material comes and goes.a
7
The Green Room / Re: Tony Awards
« on: May 08, 2013, 11:57 am »
Chris, yeah - I would be intrigued . . . although the jobs has some differences from different sides of the pond - I am intrigued how they are judged - or is it truly just a popularity contest.
8
The Green Room / Re: Tony Awards
« on: May 05, 2013, 02:59 am »
And the reality is that often, the Tony's, like many of these awards, are popularity contests. And often times, the popular stage manager is not the best . . . sometimes you are the "bad" cop.
In the end, I am very glad there are no awards for stage management - - - I think it would be a bad thing in the end. I take the greatest award from a job well done.
In the end, I am very glad there are no awards for stage management - - - I think it would be a bad thing in the end. I take the greatest award from a job well done.
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Introductions / Re: Hello all! Greetings from a New York City SM!
« on: May 04, 2013, 09:03 pm »
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
10
Introductions / Re: Hi there! Let’s see how this “posting” works...
« on: May 04, 2013, 08:59 pm »
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
11
The Green Room / Re: Tony Awards
« on: May 04, 2013, 08:57 pm »I honestly don't know, the only real way I guess would be connected to the headset as you watch and see how the stage manager handles problems and such, neatness of prompt book, call board. Idk it would be a really hard field to judge because if we do our jobs right you never even know we're there.
That's exactly right (although I don't think a clean prompt script is a hallmark of a good stage manager). It would be impossible for the Tony voters all to listen to a show being a called - and what if that night there were no problems over headset. Could be a boring show.
General Managers, Company Managers, Crew Members, stage managers, child wranglers - there are a lot of people who make the show work who don't get awards. And that's just part of the business.
12
Introductions / Re: High school stage manager, craving to learn
« on: May 04, 2013, 03:20 am »
welcome, welcome, welcome.
13
The Green Room / Re: Tony Awards
« on: May 04, 2013, 03:18 am »
How would you judge good stage management from seeing the show?
14
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Can you earn a living? (2013 Research Data)
« on: May 02, 2013, 01:43 pm »
It is very ugly.
And to think, most New York AEA Stage Managers I know are PA'ing for somewhere between 250-400 week, and then picking up ASM gigs on smaller shows. The market is saturated . . . and you have to invest that time to work you way up the ladder . . .
And to think, most New York AEA Stage Managers I know are PA'ing for somewhere between 250-400 week, and then picking up ASM gigs on smaller shows. The market is saturated . . . and you have to invest that time to work you way up the ladder . . .
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The Green Room / Re: On Reviews
« on: Apr 29, 2013, 02:58 pm »
I think the main reason I read them is because often, even if they say they don't read them, actors do.
And if they are chosen out one way or another, I want to maintain their performance, and if they have new motivations - it's good to know where those are coming from, and how to keep them in check.
Also, on a commercial run, it's nice to know if you show may have legs . . . .
And if they are chosen out one way or another, I want to maintain their performance, and if they have new motivations - it's good to know where those are coming from, and how to keep them in check.
Also, on a commercial run, it's nice to know if you show may have legs . . . .