Messages

1

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Extraordinary Risk for Stage Managers

« on: Feb 29, 2016, 10:51 am »

I've been covered under the extraordinary risk clause for a show I subbed on as well for climbing a raked stage constructed during the performance (prior to the actors climbing it).

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The Hardline / Re: Umm, that's not my name.

« on: Feb 18, 2016, 07:48 pm »

That happened to me recently - I asked for the contract to be re-issued in my AEA name and they quickly made the correction.  It was interesting because one of the employee forms asks specifically for AEA name vs legal name.

3

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TOURING: Venue info/questions

« on: Feb 11, 2016, 05:42 pm »

When does the house usually open? Yes, this falls under FOH procedures- but in the larger houses, for school shows, the house opens sooner than half hour, since it takes longer to seat that many children than adults. If we need to be prepared to open sooner than half hour, it's helpful to plan our schedule accordingly.

The same usually goes for casinos, and some arena type venues too.

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Report/Notes Language

« on: Dec 15, 2015, 10:28 pm »

I usually use a simple "-".  In the case that I have no notes for the technical or performance section of the performance report, I'll usually put "Smooth show" in.  I should say that the form my company uses doesn't break the report down into individual sections for each department.

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The Hardline / Re: Actor/ASMs on a TYA contract

« on: Oct 21, 2015, 08:11 pm »

I'm on the tier D production contract right now, and which there's obviously differences, we've got a ASM who is a swing.  He comes in early and stays late to help us with spiking and room set up.  Another big thing we've used him for is being the SM rep in the rehearsal room, freeing us up to be rehearsing in another room (we've only really done that for music sessions as myself or the PSM need to be in the room for dance/blocking sessions anyway).

6

The Hardline / Re: Opportunity to Join IATSE - To Join or Not to Join?

« on: Jun 25, 2015, 07:41 am »

Yes - BayAreaSM brings up a great point!  It's more common with bigger locals, but something to check on.  Other than that, I think it would be a great asset.

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Self-Promotion / Re: Lion King National Tour

« on: Jun 25, 2015, 07:39 am »

Congrats!  Welcome to the road!

8

The Green Room / Re: Time lapse of stadium conversion from hockey to basketball

« on: Apr 22, 2015, 06:10 am »

Very cool - thanks for sharing!

9

The Green Room / Re: Silly things done when we're not at our best

« on: Apr 22, 2015, 01:53 am »

I accidentally sent out the show report to the actors' email group, instead of their call report. I didn't notice this until the next day before the show when one of the Actors that had added some pauses into his dialogue mentioned to me he would try to "not get lost" in the scene as I had stated in the report.

Doh!

I've done this a lot . . . but it's a good reminder to make sure what you put in a performance report or rehearsal report doesn't say anything you wouldn't or haven't set to the actor's face . . . since when we send out things to emails - who knows where it will end up . . .

This always seems to happen on a day when there's a lot of performance notes too!  I've certainly done this a few times.

10

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What is a "good" pay for touring gigs?

« on: Jan 29, 2015, 12:33 am »

I would agree about asking more for load-in days.  They can often be harder than show days.  The pay is a bit low for the standard small bus and truck (especially when you consider you'll only get paid for 3 days a week), but if you can swing it, it might be a way for you to break into the touring market.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What is a "good" pay for touring gigs?

« on: Jan 27, 2015, 06:28 am »

Like NormieRae said, it really depends on your situation.  'Good pay' for touring is very very good.  But those types of jobs are very competitive. 

12

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: FORMS: Performance Report Attendance Listing

« on: Jan 27, 2015, 06:24 am »

Agreed with Branden.  For shows with multiple people who run the crew or cast tracks, I've had a section of the report dedicated to who was in what position for that show.  It helps on a long running show both with issues tracking and is also used for payroll.

For shows with a set team, I would only list something if it was a change (a vacation cover, swing out, understudy on, etc), though I always leave a line up top for calling SM (and sometimes Audio Mix).  The table I use lists who is in, who is out, what the role is and what the reason is.

13

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Dress blacks and what is or is not acceptable

« on: Nov 19, 2014, 12:21 pm »

If you're calling the show, I would say go for it!  When I call a show, I don't bother with blacks at all.

If you're doing a backstage track, I'd stick to the plain black or taking the colored tie off when you start the show.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: REPORTS: Including Human Error

« on: May 15, 2014, 06:24 pm »

I would certainly include anything that was noticeable onstage, which it sounds like this was.  I would probably phrase it as "Instead of hitting the go button to take L 21, the back button was hit and x happened.  Operator Error." or something like that.

We note everyone else, so noting ourselves is only fair. 

15

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Dear Abby: Gay students in the dressing room

« on: Mar 04, 2014, 11:14 am »

Maybe a women's dressing room, a men's dressing room and a changing room or two (which could be as simple as a pipe and drape area in the dressing room) would solve the issue.  In a high school environment if the policies of the school support it, you could make everyone actually get naked in the private changing rooms, and then have the group dressing rooms for the rest.  It's certainly equal treatment for everyone.