Topics

1

Tools of the Trade / The Blackberry

« on: Jun 25, 2008, 11:21 pm »

I thought it was a good topic title. The blackberry line does have a reputation of its own. So I just got my first blackberry today, the 8330 curve. It is amazing. The blackberry with my Mac is a match made in heaven. It allows you to be SO organized. So I wonder, does every stage manger have one?  Or is it something that SMs have not caught onto yet? With technology becoming a major player in today's society, it seems that such a phone is needed, for a SM at least. Any thoughts would be welcomed. Just a discussion, not a haters/lovers topic discussion.

2

College and Graduate Studies / Other Colleges

« on: Aug 21, 2007, 05:16 pm »

So I know that many people talk a lot about Webster, DePaul, and NCSA. I am in love with all three and would love to go to them. I am a senior in HS and needing to apply very soon. I am seeing that these three cost a pretty penny and I am not sure that I could pay off loans after college. What other colleges are up there with these three, but might be less expensive? I am not being cheap here. I enjoy having the best in theater(i.e. lighting, rigging, sound), so I do not want a small school where I could not find this. I want to be trained very well and leave college after 4 years knowing that my money was spent wisely. That I got the best education I could get and was trained in or around the best equipment that there is. I know that I will not always have "the best of the best", but being trained on or near it would be nice. If anyone could give me some colleges to look into then I would be very thankful. Thank you for all you time!

3

Tools of the Trade / Should I become a Mac-er?

« on: Jul 23, 2007, 01:55 pm »

Guess the green room is the best place for this question. (Edit: moved to "Tools of the Trade" to complement other PC/Mac/MS Office topics there.  ~nmno)
I am looking to move to a Mac. My Sony is two years old and is getting slow and what not. I went to Comp USA the other day to look at the new Sony notebooks. The problem is the Vista program they ALL use now. I have heard that old programs just do not like Vista and cause a huge mess. I do not want that. So the guy showing me around said "Have you looked at a Mac?" Of course I love the way a Mac looks and the whole difference that they have from a PC. I had to contain myself from jumping up and down and just said "not really". My question is, if you have a Mac, do you love it? Was it hard to learn to use? Then comes the dreaded move. I have a lot to move from my Sony to a new computer, so I wonder if that would be a huge mess or not with a Mac. I am by no means a computer guru, so any advice or input will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SOUND: Mics (where are body mics placed?)

« on: Jun 10, 2007, 09:50 pm »

OK. I am going to sound like the idiot here. I know it already. Where are the mics on some of these actors? I am talking about the BIG time shows like Broadway. I saw "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular" and it took me forever to see the mics on the actors forheads. This is not true for all actors though is it? Just watched one of the performances on the "Tony" awards and I could not see any mics. Where they lip singing/talking? Surely not. I would be shocked. Just wonder what everyone does with the mics. Put them on clothing? In hair? Forheads? Pure curiosity here.

5

Students and Novice Stage Managers / To enter theatre or not to enter theatre

« on: May 13, 2007, 11:17 pm »

I am soon to be a senior in High School. Two weeks of my junior year left. So I have been looking into colleges. I love to work behind-the-scenes. I know that much. I am wanting to go into theatre work. I have been a lighting director at my church for about two years now. I love lighting. Love it. Except for the fact that as one working in lighting, say anywhere, you are just there. You find out info on certain things sometimes during a rehearsal. This did happen to me. I know that you find things out at the last minute and changes have to be made in any position.. In lighting, you make the changes as people watch and so on. I just do not like that aspect of lighting. Hope that made sense to someone. So. I am now looking at being a SM. I looked at what an SM must have. Organized. I am OCD people. Got that covered. A SM is in the know about everything. They are just like the director. I love being in the know and being in control. So that is covered as well. I need to work on being a little bit bossier. I got it, just need to dig a little deeper. I am working as SM for the Fall play at my HS. I have worked on props once. Now to my question. Wait. One more thing. Is North Carolina School of the Arts a great college? Heard good things and bad. Anyone going or gone to NCARTS? My question now is do SM make a good amount of money? I mean. I do not want to go waste $120,000 and 4 years of my life to find out I have no security in my future. Also, is finding work as a SM difficult? Are there more SM then jobs? I hope someone will take time to read all this and give me some advice. I believe I have what it takes to be an amazing SM. Now I just need some assurance in my future. My dream is to work for Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. I love las Vegas. Thanks to EVERYONE who takes time to read this and to help. It means the world and maybe even my future!