Messages

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student SM Challenge #5: Critical Paperwork

« on: Feb 13, 2009, 01:30 am »

Here is what I would put together:

Company rules to hand out

a quick photocopy of the script

Contact card

a rough tentative master schedule

I believe it is really important to hand out rules for the performers to look at and understand. It is also a good think to be able to have back you up in sticky situations. That is why I put it first.

2

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Internships

« on: Jan 27, 2009, 10:18 pm »

Meg,

That sounds amazing! Thank you for looking into that for me, I really appreciate it.

3

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Internships

« on: Jan 26, 2009, 11:05 pm »

Hey,

I am looking for some ASM or SM internships in Austin, Texas. I was only thinking about going for this (2009) summer, but was wondering if anyone had any information that could help. Thanks!

4

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Grad school vs. intern

« on: Jan 25, 2009, 07:33 pm »

Thank you for your advice.

5

College and Graduate Studies / Grad school vs. intern

« on: Jan 25, 2009, 09:37 am »

I am an junior undergraduate at SUNY NP. I can not decide whether I want to go to graduate school or intern for a few years and then go. I know if I intern I may not have health insurance but what other pros and cons are there for not going to graduate school right away? Thanks!

6

Tools of the Trade / Re: Holiday SM Gifts

« on: Jan 04, 2009, 07:48 pm »

And I will manage to stay awake its no a brainer

7

Tools of the Trade / Re: Holiday SM Gifts

« on: Jan 04, 2009, 05:16 pm »

I got a portable and microwavable expresso maker that I will be able to use in the theatre on cold rehearsal nights. It also makes Cappuccinos!

8

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: BRAND new stage manager, would appreciate any advice!

« on: Jan 04, 2009, 04:57 pm »

Hey,

Just remember everything will be okay. I kind of fell into stage managing as well and now I am in my Junior year of College as a technical theatre concentration for stage managing. It is the duties of a stage manager to call the show usually because he or she are the only one other than the director that knows the play as well. However, in my high school we had another person on the light board who had a script and cues with them who did it. My senior year I called the spotlights and sound, so it is all relative to where you are and what is needed to be done. In my current college, I get cues from the light designer and I put them in my book. I write down standbys before I have to call them and then I write the cue in. (ie "standby light cue 12" "light cue 12 GO") One important think I have learned when calling cues it is important that the only person to say the actual word GO should be the person calling the cues. If a sound board operator says GO it could confuse another operator  or an assistant stage manager backstage. So what we do at my school is make whoever says GO pay 10 cents to a $1 and we put it in a jar. The prompt book is meant to help you, it is sort of the plays bible. It has the script, contacts, prop charts and lists, and such. Trust your instincts and you will know what has to be done. Most of the skills that I have acquired I have gotten through experience alone. Later I had found out everything I was doing is what a stage manager does. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Shari

9

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Stage Managing Burlesque....help?

« on: Jan 04, 2009, 04:48 pm »

I am the stage Manager for a burlesque troupe on my campus. I have a lot of issues trying to organize it because the producer established the student associated club and I am there to help so not all duties of a stage manager are my duties. For example, she likes to make the schedules and email out everyone, she consults people without me,e ct. She also likes that rehearsals and tech requirements from the performers is not demanding. For instance, there is a form of needed props, scenic props, light preferences and such. The deadlines are not enforced; however, I am supposed to run the show once without tech rehearsals. It is like having the first dress rehearsal and run through for the actual performance. I am not sure how to manage it without making it too strict and taking it away from the culture of burlesque. At the end of the day it goes okay but I know I can do better, but I don't know how without turning it into something it is not. Any advice?

10

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #4: When being an SM and a friend collide

« on: Jan 04, 2009, 04:38 pm »

Hey,

I am a stage manager at my college and my friends are my casts. The first thing I tell the cast when I give a "welcome on board" speech in the beginning of the process is that there are two mes. There is the stage Manager me and the friend me. My friends have just learned that when I talk to them as a stage manager it is professional and business. I have friends that I get along with really well but as a stage manager have conflicts with. The trick is to personally be able to separate the two and then once you do that everyone around you will follow. I usually state when I am talking on behalf of my stage manager persona and when I am speaking as friend. Funny enough usually my tone of voice and the way I speak changes, I get the "Stage Manager" voice. Be truthful to both sides of yourself and it all will come.