Messages

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December Madness 2 / Re: SOCIAL Division Semis: Facebook vs Tumblr

« on: Dec 15, 2014, 04:51 pm »

As moderators of SMblrsUnite, I admit that Leslie and I may be slightly biased. But I have found my last 3 jobs through the SMblr network, even before the Master List was born. We also keep lists of resource websites and try to feature blogs of stage managers of all types; a chance for them to be seen and recognized for their work. I think it is an important support system for many of us.

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December Madness 2 / Re: SOCIAL, Round 2: Twitter vs. Tumblr

« on: Dec 07, 2014, 10:08 pm »

There is actually a large network on Tumblr that we refer to as "SMblr". I actually found my last 3 jobs through this network.

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The Hardline / Re: Theatres That Have Closed--Can You Say "Emergency?"

« on: Mar 27, 2014, 04:52 pm »

San Diego Opera closing at the end of it's current season - quite a surprise.  10th largest opera company in the US and the third largest arts group in San Diego.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Mar/19/san-diego-opera-fold/?#article-copy

After already hiring for the 2014/2015 season. A lot of contracts terminated. And after 49 years, too. It's sad they couldn't keep up for at least their 50th.

There is a petition to save the San Diego Opera, please sign it if possible: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/827/516/648/save-san-diego-opera/#sign

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The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: Sleep no more UNPAID interns

« on: Dec 14, 2013, 11:12 pm »

No, unpaid internships have their place, if it is truly an educational experience, and they are able to do their day to day business WITHOUT you.... And $150 a week plus housing, although not a living wage, it is not a bad internship salary.

A lot of internships are unattainable if you don't already live and learn in a major city. I will never have in internship in NYC or Chicago because I don't already live in NYC or Chicago. Not that I would want to be  battling on that turf: the majority of those theatres do not pay a dime for full-time work, and would laugh as they shut the door in your face. I tried that route once. N'ermore.

I agree wholeheartedly with Matthew:  unpaid internships have their place. If I am doing the job of an ASM or a PA, I should be paid. If I am sitting there and am entirely expendable to the process, don't pay me.I can even understand situations where course credit is counted as compensation. But, sadly, this is not the case in many situations.

But even in regional theatres, places where I would have to pick up and move my entire life for 3-12 months to work at, a lot of their programs are unpaid and without the offer of housing.

What this causes, from my perspective, is a lot of missed learning opportunity for those who cannot afford an unpaid (or even excessively low-paid) internship. I am not from a family that can support me going to live and work for free or free-ish for 3-12 months. This causes a gap between the number of people wanting to take an internship at a highly reputable theatre and the number of people fiscally able to take said position. You have to have internships to go anywhere in the business; but, in an unconventional manner, you have to buy your way into an internship. That is a messed up system.

As someone living the intern life, all of the jobs that are battled for tooth-and-nail pay $150. Housing is a massive bonus, if you are one of the lucky few. I have been lucky enough to be offered positions at companies that offer housing and a stipend. But it is really hard to live on $100 a week, even when you aren't paying for housing and utilities. I couldn't fathom doing it for free, even for the educational benefits. 

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Creating a Website

« on: Nov 16, 2013, 11:44 pm »

I'm looking to create a personal website on which to upload my resume, production photos, scanned prompt books, etc. I'm hoping that having an online portfolio will assist me in my job hunt so people can see my experience, since i can't exactly ship a book across the country every time I want to apply somewhere. Does anyone know of a good, free platform on which I can launch a clean, professional site? I am on apprentice stipend pay, so free is key. Thank you in advance!

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: To Much Possitive Feedback?

« on: Nov 16, 2013, 11:37 pm »

I am in a similar position as the youngest person at my company. It is like a performance - you have to forget the best/worst parts of a performance after they are done. Don't expect the great things to happen again; but by the same token, don't expect the worst. Prepare for both, but don't expect either. It's about getting out of your own head.
I like to let performances  go as I type the PR. It means I will not let that performance be the standard by which I judge all others.

I think this method applies to your situation. Let the compliments stay in the moments in which they are received. Yes, it is good that you are doing enough good work for it to be acknowledged. But if you consistently do a good job (which you should!), it will become expected of you. It may be surprising to many of your coworkers now because of your young age. But once they grow accustomed to your level of work, you will be expected to improve.

 I believe any praise you are currently receiving should be taken as such: "You are doing a great job of being consistent with you work, and I see you improving steadily. Keep up both the good work and the improvement!"

Remember, no matter where you are or what you are doing, you never stop learning. So learn from your triumphs as well as your mistakes. And believe me, mistakes will come.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Should I go back to school?

« on: Nov 11, 2013, 04:08 pm »

Just remember that, although you may think you want to be a stage manager now, you mind find out later that you want to do other things with your life, and some of those things may be helped if you have a degree under your belt - how many jobs require a college degree - or perhaps an advance degree.  It will be much harder, perhaps, to go back to school later in your life. 

I would not go back to school for a degree in Stage Management, specifically. I would go back to the track I was on previously: General Theatre BA with a focus in Directing, minor in Communications. Going for such a specific degree would definitely be a waste of money down the road.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Should I go back to school?

« on: Nov 11, 2013, 02:55 pm »

I know this question has been addressed before, in the format of "is going to college worth it" and "should I finish my degree, despite my college's lack of professionalism".

But I am in a bit of a different situation. I had attended a year of university, when I discovered that my identity had been stolen. Any loans were immediately put on lockdown, and I could not go back to school. I am currently doing a full-year apprenticeship designed to launch people fresh from college into the professional world. This is not my first internship.

As I look forward, to what happens when my contract ends in the spring of 2014, I am unsure what the best course of action is. I am going to apply for colleges, and apply for internships just in case my situation is not sorted out by that point. However, I have to wonder if going back to school would be a step in the wrong direction. By the time I finish a degree, the experience I gained working in LORT theatre will be fairly invalid. [It's like not using your degree: after a certain period of time, it's just a piece of paper.]

So do I keep on moving up while I have an "in" in the professional world; wait until I have been here several years, and I have definitely gotten a name and useful experience, THEN go back to school? Or do I go back to school, and start all over again after graduation?


EDIT:
To clarify, I would not be pursing something as specific as a BFA in Stage Management.. I would go back to something similar to the  track I was on previously: General Theatre BA with a focus in either Stage Management or Directing, minor in Communications. Going for a degree as specific as a SM BFA would, in my opinion, be a waste of money down the road when I need to pick up some other kind of gig to stay afloat, or if I just want to take a year and try something different on the artistic department. (I know it will happen, it happens to everyone.)

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Introductions / Young Apprentice Open to New Knowledge

« on: Nov 06, 2013, 11:32 pm »

Hello all! Janell here. I have been a member of SM Network for a while, but have been reading more than posting. So as long as I am here, I thought I might finally do an introduction.

I am originally from the outskirts of Mobile, AL (on the Gulf Coast), and I attended a year of college at University of South Alabama. i speant this summer working as a Stage Management Intern at Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery. Then, due to some unfortunate circumstance, I found myself unable to return to school this year. So I began looking for other options, and found a job as one of the full year Stage Management Apprentices at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, FL. I am hoping to return to school at some point, but may have to keep pushing forward in the professional world despite a lack of formal training.

I came to SM Network because it seems like a great resource [a fountain of knowledge, if you will,] for someone with my lack of experience and lack of training. I am here looking for advice, help, a bad joke, anything. Please feel free to email me with anything you've got.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Can you earn a living? (2013 Research Data)

« on: Sep 14, 2013, 12:37 pm »

There is a large pocket of theatre in Sarasota, FL, as well as Washington, DC. Those are some other places that I would like to see the data on.