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Messages - SMscuba

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1
Thanks for all the advice, guys. Apparently they're antiques from someone's personal collection, so we can't dull the blades or anything. I like the idea of having the actors use the bayonets on a pumpkin or something to really get across the point that everyone needs to be careful. I'll consult the fight choreographer about that.

I'm just worried about entrances and exits in the dark, and the fact that they're going to be on a raked stage. It seems like a recipe for disaster.

2
I'm stage managing a new musical. It's set during World War I and features two Scottish brothers. One goes to fight in the war and the other is a conscientious objector. The show features a bayonet training sequence as well as several battle scenes.

The Managing Artistic Director, who also wrote the musical, has acquired six antique World War I bayonets that he is set on using in the show. I haven't seen them yet, but they're apparently fully functional guns with actual blades attached. This is a very small theatre and no one is union. I don't have anyone higher in the organization to go to with my concerns, since the writer is also the MAD.

How do I convince the MAD/writer that real guns (and blades!) on stage is a very, very, very bad idea? And if I can't, what do I do?

Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

3
I've had problems a couple times, usually in smaller community theaters, with board ops jumping and delaying calls. Sometimes it's because no one ever really explained to them that they're supposed to wait for the SM's cue. Sometimes it's just because they've always done their own cuing at that theatre. I try to explain that it's the Stage Manager's job to make sure the show is the same every night (or as close as possible), and that's difficult when there are different people all working independently. When the Stage Manager facilitates, things tend to go smoother. If I'm trying to persuade someone who has been doing their own thing for a while, I like to point out that if everyone is taking their cues off the SM, then the SM is the one to blame is something goes wrong. All the responsibility is on one person's shoulders.

4
Employment / Re: Sending cold resumes
« on: Dec 08, 2014, 01:26 am »
When I finished my internship I put together a resume, cover letter, and a couple references. I googled addresses for all the theatres I could find in the area and sent them a packet. I looked on each individual website for either a PM or if they didn't have one, a TD. With smaller (or community) theatres, it varies who does the actual hiring. If I found a name, I addressed it to them. If not, I just sent it to the theatre. After a few interviews and a few jobs, I stopped sending out cold resumes because most of my jobs now are recommendations from people I've worked with.

5
Thanks for all the advice everybody! I survived tech and the first weekend of doing Shakespeare outdoors. Being in a different park every performance is proving the most difficult thing to deal with, but we're making it work.

Also, I found out today that there is no bad weather strategy. As long as there's an audience, we perform. No matter the weather. I'm crossing my fingers for good weather all summer!

6
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / VENUES: Outdoor Theatre
« on: Jun 28, 2014, 02:57 am »
I'm stage managing my first outdoor show this summer. It's a Shakespeare show that will be in a different park for each performance.

Does anyone have advice or tips for doing outdoor theatre?


Edited to add topic tag. - Maribeth

7
The other day in rehearsal things got tense and there was this really weird energy. It was the first rehearsal off book and people were goofing around, so the director said something a little harsh (but not unjustified) to get them back on track. After that the actors started working harder, but also messing up more and blaming each other. Our normally relaxed and friendly atmosphere turned into something aggressive and mildly antagonistic. Nothing blatant was said, but I could tell everyone was tensing up and it got uncomfortable. Everyone left at the end of the night feeling stressed. 

What I'm wondering is, has anyone ever had a similar situation where things got tense and you decided to stop the rehearsal and address it? If something happens that effects everyone in rehearsal, would you stop and address it, take a 5 and hope people cool off, or just keep going?

Of course, the answer is pretty much always "It depends," but does anyone have an anecdote or advice they'd like to share?

8
I accidentally sent out the last performance report of the run out to the production team of the next show I was working on. I'd been sending emails all day to the upcoming show, and just selected that contact group by habit. There wasn't any sensitive information or anything, but I felt pretty embarrassed that the whole production team got an email from me thanking them for the run of a show they weren't working on.

9
Employment / Re: How far to book ahead?
« on: Feb 09, 2014, 04:24 am »
I usually have three or four shows lined up. I've been pretty lucky in that in the years I've been stage managing since college, I've never been without a gig for more than a month. It's nice when you can get things lined up so you can go straight from one show to another. But I've learned to ask before accepting a job if the company ever extends a run. If they do, it can mess up rehearsals for your next show.

10
A blogger wrote a nice review of my current show (professional, but non Equity). It's at a small, pretty informal theatre. The Artistic Director emailed me a link to the review, and asked me to forward it to the cast.

This particular theatre doesn't have a general policy of not talking about reviews in the dressing rooms/greenroom. But the thought of emailing the actors the review makes me uncomfortable. The blog says a lot of nice things, but not all actors like to read reviews. I'd rather not send the email. But I also don't want to get on the bad side of the person who hired me.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

11
Introductions / Long time reader, first time poster
« on: Feb 04, 2014, 11:02 pm »
Well, I read all the rules and stuff. And now I guess it's time to introduce myself.

I'm Sarah Ross, I graduated from Whitworth University a couple years ago with a degree in Communication. I've been stage managing in the Seattle/Tacoma area since I graduated, and I have enough black clothes to uniform a ninja army. I've been reading (lurking) for a while, and finally decided to officially join in.

A tip - I recently bought a giant scrapbooking bag to use as my SM kit. It's great because it has a ton of pockets and things. I spent an hour organizing everything, and was extremely happy with that hour  ;D

A tale - I was feeling burnt out a year or two back, and was considering taking a break from stage managing. I was working on a panto at the time (Cinderella), and things were...difficult. But then we opened. And I got to see the looks of joy on the faces of the kids when Cinderella "transformed" into her ballgown. I was reminded of why I love theatre so much.

A bit of trivia - According to QI (an absolutely amazing show, by the way) when the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1911, one of the suspects was Picasso.


Anyway, I'm excited to become a member of this great site, and learn as much as I can!

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