Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Topics - themikejones

Pages: [1]
1
Employment / Backdoor Reference Checks on ACTORS
« on: Mar 02, 2017, 12:49 pm »
I work as a Stage Manager but also as a Company Manager.  This topic really falls under the CM part of my job, but I thought the folks in this forum might have some insight into this question, so here goes.

I've been asked to check references on every new hire.  This includes Actors.  But here's the thing-- actors don't' list references on their resumes.  Just previous roles/theatres/directors.   My question is this-- is it legal (and morally right) for me to blind contact theatres and directors that an actor has on their resume and ask for a reference-- even if I don't know these people? 

According to some internet research, this might fall under "backdoor reference checks".  Also, I may need written permission from the candidates to check any references. 

Has anyone ran into this "checking actors references" thing before?  Do other theatres do this? 

Thanks for any insight you might have. 

2
The Green Room / SMs as depicted on stage & in the movies
« on: Nov 19, 2012, 12:24 pm »
I had wonderful the opportunity to see the national tour of White Christmas yesterday.  I loved-loved-loved the show!  Irving Berlin's music jumped to life and the dancing was spot on!   But one thing really bothered me-- as it always does.  I cringed every time the "stage manager" character was in a scene.  It's not that the actor was doing a bad job-- he played the character as it's written and, I'm sure, how he was directed.  But why can't anyone write a good stage manager character?? 

If you don't know the show, the SM character in White Christmas runs around frantically clapping his hands and yelling things like "Places people!!  PLACES!!!!" with the kind of frightened shrill that only an oncoming apocalypse should bring.  I don't know if the writers wanted to create an SM who is the antithesis of what a real SM is like--  just as a joke.  (I have to admit- I don't remember the SM in the movie so maybe they're just copying that.)  I guess it might be funny for actors to see an SM character loosing their shit because a drop hasn't been flown out.  But I think the joke is lost on the general public.  The average joe (like members of my family) go to see White Christmas and then say things to me like "Now I understand your job!"  or "So that's what you do for a living".  Ack!!  Shoot me in the face!!

White Christmas isn't the only guilty party here.  I think others on the board have talked about the SM on Smash (maybe I should have combined this thread with that one actually.)  Even in old Hollywood movies  there is usually the SM is reduced to being that person who knocks on the dressing room door and yells "5 minutes to curtain Miss So-and-so".  It just seems funny that playwrights and directors (who works with real stage managers all the time) would get us SO WRONG every single time! 

Maybe one day there will be a good representation of our profession on the stage or screen.  Is there one out that that I dont' know about? 

3
Tools of the Trade / Wrist Watch Suggestion?
« on: Jun 19, 2012, 12:06 am »
I've never liked having a stop watch hanging around my neck.  Instead I've always just worn a wristwatch that has stop watch features.  My current watch is a Timex Ironman Triathlon.  It's kind of an ugly digital watch but it has a good chronograph plus a count down timer that I find to be invaluable for breaks.  Not to mention I use this count down timer when cooking and doing laundry.   

Here's my problem... like I said, it's kind of ugly.  Whenever I'm not currently doing a show I like to wear fun watches like my vintage style Mickey Mouse watch from Walt Disney World.  It's really a fashion accessory more than a tool.  But I'm lucky enough to be working more often than not now-a-days and so I'm stuck wearing the ugly watch A LOT. 

Does anyone have any suggestions of where I can find a wrist watch that doubles as a timer and stop watch that also has some character or design to it?    I might just have to break down and buy an around the neck style stop watch and wear my nice-- but less functional-- wrist watch as well.  That seems silly though. 

Thanks for you help with my silly question.  :)

4
Tools of the Trade / Clipboard that holds your iPad?
« on: Mar 29, 2012, 08:54 pm »
I've tried to to switch over to using the iPad instead of carrying a clipboard/notepad--- but I just can't do it.  If a director hands me a scribbled out plan of attach for the day I want a clipboard to attach it to.   I also just like to have a printed out copy of the day's schedule to scribble notes on-- and a notepad app like Penultimate is just not as easy to use as a pencil and a pad of paper.  That being said, I love my iPad am am spoiled by the convenience of having a PDF version of the script, score, all draftings and drawings, sound effect files, archive videos, cast recordings, dramaturgical research, web links, etc-- as well as electronic copies of all my paperwork to be at my fingertips. 

So I find myself carrying around my clipboard and my iPad and kind of juggling them.   Searching for a solution to this problem  I found this web site: http://www.hardcaseforipad.com/  Here is a video of the one I'm thinking about buying.  http://youtu.be/DYrqwjcmkFE  I thought I'd ask for your thoughts on this item.  Useful?  To clunky? 


5
College and Graduate Studies / MFA vs MA
« on: Apr 26, 2011, 10:19 am »
Quick question--- My partner is looking at grad schools.  He's considering a program based in London where he would earn an MA in Musical Theatre Producing.  He's also looking at MFA programs here in the states in either Directing or Theatre Management.  Our question is this-- how important is the "F"?   I'm looking at job postings for teaching at various colleges and most of them say they want someone with an "MFA"-- but would they accept a candidate with an "MA"? 

6
Tools of the Trade / Prop Wine Recipe Needed
« on: Apr 15, 2011, 03:07 pm »
Does anyone have a good recipe for making fake wine?  I need to make both a white and a red.  HELP?!  Thanks. :)

Mike

7
I tend to use my macbook backstage during the show to get a jump on the report,etc, but I always turn the brightness down because it puts off so much light and can blind me if I stare at it too much and then walk into a dark corner of the deck. 
Recently an actor saw me adjusting the brightness of my screen and recommended this cool mac application called Nocturne.  It inverts the colors of the screen so whites turn black and vice versa.  This is perfect for me!  I thought I'd share it with you all. :)
http://nocturne.en.softonic.com/mac
--
Mike

8
The Hardline / AEA Teachers
« on: Sep 12, 2007, 03:51 pm »
I have a question that I'm not sure how to word.  Basically-- what does equity have to say about its members teaching?  In other words, I were have my equity card and then I get a job as a PSM / Stage Management teacher at a university is it scabbing if I SM shows there? 

Thanks for your insights. :)

9
Tools of the Trade / latest toys...
« on: Jul 15, 2005, 05:26 pm »
1- mini sharpies!  They're like key chain sized.  I keep one clipped onto my lanyard/id badge and another on the zipper of my bag.

2- highlighter/post if flag dispenser!  It's a highlighter with post if flags in the side.  Genius!!

10
SMNetwork Archives / Software that needs to exist!
« on: May 19, 2005, 01:46 am »
I had a conversation today with some colleagues of mine about the rehearsal process for stage managers.  We decided that someone needs to come up some kick ass stage management software. Just imagine if…

1) Blocking Mode: You had a copy of the script on one side of your screen and a ground plan on the other. You click the word where the actor starts to move then click the place on stage- drag the mouse in the path that the actor is blocked to move and it records it. Then- later when you go back to the scene you can have it display an animation of the blocking!

2) Line Note Mode: You have the text on your screen. Click and highlight a line that was missed- then a dialogue window pops up where you select “paraphrased, missed cue, replaced with…. etc”. At the end of rehearsal it generates line note sheets for each actor.

3) Cueing Mode: You have the text on your screen. Highlight a word- or part of a word- where a cue goes and select from a dialogue box what kind of cue and label it. It lays out the book for you.

We just need to get some genius computer person who doesn’t mind being poor to make this for us!

11
I want to take a little pole.  What do you call the electrics cues when you’re calling a show?  In undergrad I was taught to say “Lights 38… Go”.  But in my first internship I found that the SM’s said “Electrics 38… Go”.  This made little sense to me.  I mean I understand that electrics controls more than lights.  Special effects, foggers, and other electrically powered devices are controlled by the light board—but why say 3 syllables when you can get away with one?  The calling ASM that I’m working with now says “Elex 38… Go”.  This is better since it’s only 2 syllables but I still think I’d go with “Lights”.  Does this make me sound less professional?  What do you say?  

Also, the theatre I’m working at now numbers the sound cues instead of lettering them. An argument can be made for both.  I think that if you have less than 26 sound cues- lettering is the way to go.  But once you get into the double and triple letters it’s just silly.  Numbers however can be to easily confused with electrics cues.  (Of course a solution here to is start with like 300 or something as your first sound cue number.)  Anyway, what do you do?  Numbers or letters?

Pages: [1]