Messages

1

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Lights? Electrics? Elex? What do you say?

« on: Nov 12, 2004, 02:07 pm »

Wow Matthew, interesting method.  About five years ago I shed using the WARNING before each cue but still use the standby.  The WARNING (to me) is an archaic method used when the operator actually had to PREP for a cue(i.e. manual light board with 2 faders).  In college we actually used a manual board for one of our theatres, so I used it only then.  

However my standbys I still give.  It may sound redundant, but sometimes the board ops are reading a book or doing a crossword and the standby brings them back into the show to know they have a cue coming.  

I would love to not call standbys (and still feel comfortable that the show was going to run well).  How do you do it?

2

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Lights? Electrics? Elex? What do you say?

« on: Nov 11, 2004, 02:07 pm »

Same here Kris.  In standby, I always give the cue number or letter to the board ops.  If it it a particularly tricky sequence I then remind them of the order or how I will be calling it so that when I'm calling the cue I don't have to be bogged down with extra words.  To make matters easier, I also always give my standbys in the order of sequence instead of clumping them together.  So that the board op has a sense of when it will be called.

3

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Lights? Electrics? Elex? What do you say?

« on: Oct 18, 2004, 11:41 am »

There are standard's that certain people and theaters prefer to use, however the general rule of thumb for me is COMMUNICATION without CONFUSION.  As long as everyone knows when you say LIGHTS that means a light cue etc. it works.  

There have been many shows where I have had to "invent" a name for a type of cue because it was unusual and specific to the show.  For instance, during a production of HOT L BALTIMORE the Baltimore Holtel sign would flicker throughout the show at my cue.  Because the flickering mechanism was controlled by something OTHER than the light board, I could not simply call LIGHTS 31 GO.  The board op would probably be confused and hit the GO button - thus NOT flickering the sign, but jumping us into a later cue.  So, I called all flicker cues "FLICKER GO."  All I had to do was brief all operators what FLICKER meant.  The word Flicker helped the board op remember that she wasn't supposed to simply flip a switch, but flicker it several times on my GO.  

In response to a previous posting.  It IS good to start naming your cues instead of just calling it CUE 2.  When you get into more complicated shows and larger houses with several types of operators on a multichannel headset that board op is really going to be looking to hear the "catchword" to put that book down and pat attention to what's going on.  

I largely depend on the designers to set the standard for numbering/lettering the cues.  Chances are they have a specific way they like to work and they've programmed the boards to their preferences.  To say, I prefer to use letters when they've already named all of their sounds cues with numbers would be a large re-programming issue for them.

CUE WORDS I USE:
LIGHTS= lights
SOUND = Sound Cues
AUDIO = mics (Usually I say AUDIO UP or AUDIO DOWN)
RAIL = Fly cues (Sometimes I like to use specific names like CURTAIN, FLY, SCRIM etc to prevent the operator from bringing down the wrong thing.)
FOG = fog
TRAP = stage trap cues
SPOT = spotlights

4

The Hardline / Business Reps

« on: Sep 02, 2004, 02:56 pm »

Business Reps are GREAT for knowledge, but you never want to red flag them about something that you aren't sure you want to have Equity's hands in.  

To talk to a rep about something, sometimes locks you into a decision before you want to make it.  I like to talk to everyone about a question before going to the Business Rep.

5

The Hardline / Rehearsal/Performance

« on: Sep 01, 2004, 12:28 pm »

I have a scenario/question:

I'm currently working on a Play Reading code and I want to have REHEARSAL on the SAME DAY as the PERFORMANCE.  Because there is no handbook I can feel a bit at sea when it comes to enforcing the rules of rehearsal.  Do general Equity Rules apply (e.g. break times etc)?  I think they do, but I was having a moment of brain farts.  Also what is the general rule for same day rehearsal/performances regarding the break in between.  Is it an hour, an hour and a half, or two hour break before half hour?

MOCK UP:

REHEARSAL 1pm-5pm

HALF HOUR: 6:30pm

PERFORMANCE 7pm


Does anyone have any suggestions to streamline this schedule and make it easiest for the actors and director?

6

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Blocking notation help, anyone?

« on: Aug 10, 2004, 02:20 am »

I'm one of those crazy left-handers that are more convenienced by writing on the left with the script on the right.  

I once had a fellow SM create a STENCIL out of the groundplan using cardstock and an exacto knife.  

It was helpful when only a certain stage was utilized for blocking and he was able to just draw that area or use the whole groundplan as needed.  

I never took up this method, but I thought it was worth noting.

7

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Copying scripts

« on: Aug 10, 2004, 02:15 am »

Wow, what a restriction!

You have to erase everything at the close of the show?

Scripts are usually given to the theatre with the notes intact - for archival reasons, or if they ever want to remount the show as reference.

8

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Blocking notation help, anyone?

« on: Aug 08, 2004, 03:05 am »

In an organic blocking setting, I usually buy the largest POST-IT's I can find - usually you can find at least 3/4 size of sheet and write the date on top or the version and record what the actors do on the sheet.  I stick them on the right side of the book and then when the version that the director likes best is used, I write it down.

 :?: Which brings me to another interesting question, who uses the numbering system for blocking? (i.e. Placing a number WHERE the action happens in the script and on the corrosponding page, writing the ACTION and labeling it with the number.) :?: