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Topics - LexieTaylor

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Self-Promotion / SM Inspired Mom Blog
« on: May 03, 2017, 04:14 pm »
Hey SM friends!
Sometimes being a stage manager feels a whole lot like being a mom, am I right? :-)
Now that I am a new parent, my stage management skills really come in handy when dealing with my home and family. In both roles, we need to be as prepared as possible in order to be flexible when dealing with all of the crap that comes our way - sometimes  literally!
I have channeled this idea into a mom blog called Mommy: Home Manager. I would love for you all to check it out. It is geared towards parents, but there are organization and budgeting posts on there that anyone may enjoy.

http://www.mommyhomemanager.com

Best,
Lexie

P.S. If you do enjoy it, I would love some help sharing on social media.

2
I know that shadowing stage managers is a frequent topic of discussion around here. This article has some great advice about how to prepare for a great learning experience while shadowing a stage manager.

http://stage-directions.com/current-issue/9328-clandestine-learning.html

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Tools of the Trade / ETC CueSpiders
« on: Mar 14, 2017, 10:28 am »
Hi All,
At USITT, ETC featured a "CueSpider" system that is used to replace (or enhance) cue lights.

https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/CueSystem/Outstations.aspx

I think they seem pretty cool - I like the idea of individual stations for cueing, I like the screen that allows you to label your cues, and I love the acknowledge mode. I think I would worry about the unit being so small. The lights could easily be missed if operators aren't paying attention. Also, the words being available, but not easily visible may create more of a distraction than help in some cases.

Overall, I think this seems like a neat new gadget, and I'd like to hear how they work in a show setting.

Thoughts?

4
The Green Room / Culture Shock and Moving Abroad
« on: Apr 20, 2016, 10:33 am »
This post about jobs in Dubai has been really interesting to me. As an American who is not very well traveled, I find the idea of living in another country really fascinating and I would love to hear some stories!

From SM's who have lived in countries outside of their first home - What was your experience like? What sort of "culture shock" experiences surprised you the most? Was there anything that you thought would feel really different but didn't?

I know this is very a broad topic, but I would just like to hear about other people's experiences.

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The Green Room / Maternity Leave
« on: Feb 24, 2016, 06:59 pm »
I have found some threads about the regulations and union perspective on this topic, but I am just looking for some mom advice at this point.
I am currently 10 weeks pregnant, and starting to think about how this will affect my work situation at the beginning of our next season. (I am a resident stage manager, non-union, and generally full time but on an annual contract.)
I would love to hear from some other women (and men I suppose) about their experiences with maternity leave while working as stage managers.
How did you decide how long to take? What was the ultimate decision? How was the transition going back to work? Who did you leave your little one with and how early?
Any general advice would be great.

Thanks!  :)

6
Tools of the Trade / Casting Form
« on: Dec 20, 2015, 11:40 am »
Forum Moderators, I'm not sure where to post this one...so feel free to move it for me. =]

I am looking to help our artistic staff out with preventing double casting with a new form.
I worked with a stage manager once who had a casting sheet that when you typed in a performer's name for a second time in one column, it would highlight the name. I am not sure how to do this.
Does anyone know how or have a form that I could use as a template to make one for myself?
Thank you in advance!

7
Tools of the Trade / Sticker Suggestions (or alternative)
« on: Nov 20, 2015, 02:29 pm »
Hi Team SM Hivemind,
I am working on a new ballet where there is dialogue over the top of a score. I call from a piano score, and I am trying to come up with the best way of putting the dialogue in for myself. I want it to be able to time out right, and be moveable in rehearsals.
The best that I have come up with is to type the dialogue out on stickers so that I can easily move and cut words apart to expand.
So here is my question - does anyone know of good stickers for typing on that can easily peel up and re-stick? (I use the avery stickers for cues, and like these.)

Other suggestions are also welcome.

Thanks!!

8
The Hardline / Calling All Ballet Stage Managers
« on: Sep 22, 2015, 01:03 pm »
Hi Everyone!
I have been working in the ballet world for about a year and a half now, and I am working on researching what my position "should be" as far as hours, pay, work load, etc. goes. There are definitely things that my company wants to change, but I don't think that any of us know yet how or how much.
I find it easy to research what comparable jobs would be in an Equity setting, but the ballet world seems to be a completely different monster. I know that I am getting paid about what an Equity ASM at a comparably sized company is, I do not have a laid out contact, I only have an ASM in studio for one week before techs, and I work too many hours with no added compensation.
So, I suppose here are the questions that I am posing to other Ballet SM's:
Are you a member of a union? AGMA?
Do you work under a contract? 
What kind of terms are in your contract?
What kind of hours do you work?
Who is involved in your production team? Do you have ASMs? Do you have a company manager?
What determines how much you are paid?
How are you paid? (as in per production, weekly salary, annual salary, hourly, etc.)
Do you get overtime pay?

I know that a lot of this is sensitive information, so I understand if you don't want to give too much away.
Any advice or information that you can give to help me research would be awesome. Please feel free to post or PM.

Thank you!!

9
Tools of the Trade / Clock for Backstage Tracks
« on: Sep 01, 2015, 03:03 pm »
I fee like in the past I have worked on a couple of local crews for tours that have had show clocks backstage that the crew would be able to see so that they can have a more specific idea of what timing we are at during the act. When creating backstage paperwork for our productions here at the ballet, we always include act timings in everything and I think having a clock backstage would be great.
Does anyone else use a show clock backstage?
I think I would want something that starts at 0:00 and can start a count up on my control (via remote?).
Thoughts? Suggestions?

10
Tools of the Trade / Books Books Books
« on: Oct 09, 2014, 12:39 pm »
Hi Everyone,
I know that most of us are on the same page about sm books - How much can you actually learn from reading? Don't you learn more on the job?
That being said, are there any books that you would recommend from some free time (hahahaha) reading?
Books about design, theatre in general, bios, novels, educational books. Anything that adds perspective or is interesting that involves theatre, ballet, music, the arts in general would be great to hear about. =]

11
Introductions / Hello!
« on: Sep 17, 2014, 04:49 pm »
Hi, I'm Lexie.
I graduated May 2013 from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater with a degree in theatre design and technology. I officially "emphasized" in lighting design.
After college, I spent a year slaving on the Chicago storefront scene before making my way back to Wisconsin.
I am now the full time production associate with Milwaukee Ballet Company (Although production stage manager and/or company manager in training is probably more accurate...this year is a big transition year in the way that the production/stage/company management team here is working.)
I am not new to dance, but I am new to reading classical music, so I will be all over those forums for sometime.
I am also not new to using SMNetwork.org as a resource, but I just finally decided to make myself an account.

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