Topics

1

The Green Room / How to deal with an unruly ASM

« on: Oct 28, 2011, 04:54 am »

I am currently working with an ASM who I am really struggling to get along with. We will call my ASM Jack.

Jack has a horrible attitude problem that I am not sure where it stems from. Throughout the rehearsal process, Jack has spent very little time in the rehearsal room despite having conversations about things I need Jack to accomplish. My director doesn't want anything to effect the energy of the rehearsal room and this particular company is big on the chain of command, so I took my complaints to the one who signs the paychecks.

Our manager said that everything needed to be in paper form (information, goals deadlines) or there was no real proof that Jack isn't doing his job. I did as our manager requested. Things were still turned in late and it was almost a fight trying to get a simple tracking sheet.

Finally, the other night. Jack was putting away props and told something could not go into prop storage because a fluorescent bulb had broken. Jack was told to store everything upstairs in the theatre. His response was that he was not going to the theatre. He was then told by the production manager that she would take care of things but to get the props out of storage because of the broken bulb.

I was working a special effects scene requiring a lot of props while this was happening. I was informed by the production manager that all the special effect props also needed to go upstairs because of the bulb. I asked my ASM to help me put away props.

Jack, already having a bad attitude because he didn't want to go up to the theatre in the first place, starting shoving props around. We loaded the elevator to get things upstairs and he proceeded to shove things out the elevators and toss things into the theatre. (these special effect props are already very delicate and can't really handle this type of manhandling) In the process, he broke several of the props.

 I told him to calm down, he needed to not throw things, take a breather etc. He did not listen and just made sure everything was out of the elevator and then left without out asking me if that was it for the evening or anything else needed to happen, etc.

I called the production manager after I left the theatre. I was quite fed up by this point with Jack's attitude, it has been a constant problem for me throughout rehearsal and this was my breaking point. My production manager just blew it off and said that Jack isn't normally like that.

I'm at a loss. I'm not sure if I can work with someone who has no respect for authority or the show itself. Jack is typically an SM and not ASM and struggling not being in that position of power according to my production manager. Jack, however, was also fired from a show over the summer that he was SMing. This particular show is cue heavy, prop heavy, quick change heavy, I need an ASM who is on top of it that I can trust. This one I can't even have a conversation with without knowing if I am being lied to or not.

Any advice on what to do, who to talk to, how to handle a situation like this? I go into tech on Sunday and I'm not sure I have the patience to deal with Jack's antics anymore.

2

Employment / How To stand Out

« on: Jul 22, 2011, 05:15 am »

I recently found out that someone I worked with before got an interview with a theatre that I have been dying to work with. I have sent them resumes every time I get the chance or find out they are looking. Always updated with fresh cover letters.

Back story on this person, when we worked together we were co-ASMs. This ASM had a habit of being anywhere between 10-25 minutes late on a regular basis. There were a few times that it was closer to an hour, in cludin our first tech day (10 out of 12) and she didn't even call. The production manager had to call her. (This show had A LOT of set up, so we needed an 1.5 hours to get everything done) There was one time that I did all my work and my fellow ASMs work because she was running so late. She liked to to hair/make up in the green room. Constantly primping during the run or lounging on the green room couch instead of helping the actors. (Most of them couldn't stand her the majority of the time, she like to talk about her sexcapades in the work place)  Even would hand me things to do a quick repair because she "didn't like to sew" or what ever her excuse was. I have heard from other people from a different company that hired her that their actors didn't like her and she would not be re hired. She only has a second date with one company that I am aware of.

My question is, how can someone who has made soooo many mistakes in such a small theatre world be getting an interview at one of the top theatres in the city? And what can I do to compete with this? Is there something that I am doing wrong or need to change to get noticed? She only has about a year on me in age, but experience wise, we are about equal plus I have had several second dates with companies. Any advice to make me more competitive or noticeable? OR what do these companies look for in their sm/asm/floor managers/tech crew that I should be providing?

3

The Green Room / Stage managing and relationships

« on: Apr 18, 2011, 01:39 am »

This is an interesting topic that came up in conversation with a AEA SM friend of mine. We were talking about having a relationship with our career choice. She was asking how I made it work.
 
I am married, but it 5 years after we started dating before we got to that point. There was a lot of communication to understand each other careers and time commitments and everything that goes into being with someone who chose theatre as a career.

My husband works a standard work day, I leave before he comes home and he is ready to go to bed by the time I get home. I usually wake up for breakfast with him and then go back to sleep. So, usually we only see each other for about 2 hours in a 24hour period. It gets rough, but those black days with my company are always priceless, or those times in between shows are sacred. On the rare occasion I decide I want to volunteer on a build or something during a weekend, I drag my husband along to work with me to spend time with me.

So, my question is how do you people in relationships manage it? What have you done or not done that has kept things running smoothly?

Or even the opposite, have you ever been with someone that couldn't handle your career choice? Why?