Show Posts
1
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / COMMUNICATION: Surprise Load In
« on: Jun 19, 2012, 10:22 am »
Yesterday, I had something sprung on me and I wanted to vent/discuss it.
My director for the community theatre outdoor show that I am working on is infamous for not giving information out. I had to ask almost 10 times for the final cast list....AFTER we started rehearsals.
I am the TD for the scene shop this summer at my university and so I was in my office about an hour before rehearsal. The set designer, who is one of my friends, came into my office and asked what the plan was for load in that night. I had no idea what she was talking about. As far as I was aware, we were running Act 2, scenes 1 and 2 as well as Acts 4 and 5, scene 1. She said that she had arranged with the director to have the cast help load the truck and bring it over to the park where the show will be and set it up. I was floored. He hadn't mentioned anything to me at all. I was sure the cast had no idea either.
So I called him and asked him what the deal was. Below is roughly our conversation..
Kaleigh; "So, we have load in tonight?"
Director; "No, not really. We're just going to all load the truck with the set, and then bring it over and set it up."
K; "Okay...well that's kind of a load in. I would have liked to know ahead of time, at least more than 20 minutes."
D; "It was last minute, and I couldn't call you when I got home. I thought we would just use whoever was called and it would be fine."
K; "I do like emails, and texts are fine too. It would have been nice to know at all so I could inform the cast; now they are unaware and might not wear appropriate shoes or clothing. Were you anticipating running scenes at all?"
D; "I figured setting the set up would take most of the time...and we would cut out early."
K; "Okay, well tonight is the only night we have Oberon. He's gone all week, remember?"
The scenic designer and I then sat down and figured out how she could take a couple people and we could still rehearse. We were able to...except the 2 actors who were sent to help the designer ended up stay 40 minutes past when the actors who were running scenes had to. (Spaces were 20 minutes apart)
There have been a LOT of problems with the director and information. Including my payment. He almost promised me a flat fee of $600 for doing this show, and it's been dropped to $150. He never talked to the board, I had to email the producer to ask about my payment.
I am sorry for writing so much, I guess I just want someone to tell me if I did alright. My last SM gig, my director basically tore at my confidence as a stage manager (and person), and I want to make sure that this is actually something I'll at least be able to try establishing a career in. Has anyone else had any experiences like this?
I was dumbfounded. I mean, it may be hard to do your job WELL, but it's really easy to just DO your job!
Any thoughts/comments/funny stories would be MUCH appreciated.
Edit to subject line-Rebbe
My director for the community theatre outdoor show that I am working on is infamous for not giving information out. I had to ask almost 10 times for the final cast list....AFTER we started rehearsals.
I am the TD for the scene shop this summer at my university and so I was in my office about an hour before rehearsal. The set designer, who is one of my friends, came into my office and asked what the plan was for load in that night. I had no idea what she was talking about. As far as I was aware, we were running Act 2, scenes 1 and 2 as well as Acts 4 and 5, scene 1. She said that she had arranged with the director to have the cast help load the truck and bring it over to the park where the show will be and set it up. I was floored. He hadn't mentioned anything to me at all. I was sure the cast had no idea either.
So I called him and asked him what the deal was. Below is roughly our conversation..
Kaleigh; "So, we have load in tonight?"
Director; "No, not really. We're just going to all load the truck with the set, and then bring it over and set it up."
K; "Okay...well that's kind of a load in. I would have liked to know ahead of time, at least more than 20 minutes."
D; "It was last minute, and I couldn't call you when I got home. I thought we would just use whoever was called and it would be fine."
K; "I do like emails, and texts are fine too. It would have been nice to know at all so I could inform the cast; now they are unaware and might not wear appropriate shoes or clothing. Were you anticipating running scenes at all?"
D; "I figured setting the set up would take most of the time...and we would cut out early."
K; "Okay, well tonight is the only night we have Oberon. He's gone all week, remember?"
The scenic designer and I then sat down and figured out how she could take a couple people and we could still rehearse. We were able to...except the 2 actors who were sent to help the designer ended up stay 40 minutes past when the actors who were running scenes had to. (Spaces were 20 minutes apart)
There have been a LOT of problems with the director and information. Including my payment. He almost promised me a flat fee of $600 for doing this show, and it's been dropped to $150. He never talked to the board, I had to email the producer to ask about my payment.
I am sorry for writing so much, I guess I just want someone to tell me if I did alright. My last SM gig, my director basically tore at my confidence as a stage manager (and person), and I want to make sure that this is actually something I'll at least be able to try establishing a career in. Has anyone else had any experiences like this?
I was dumbfounded. I mean, it may be hard to do your job WELL, but it's really easy to just DO your job!
Any thoughts/comments/funny stories would be MUCH appreciated.
Edit to subject line-Rebbe