Messages

1

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PRE-PRODUCTION: Noises Off! How to be Prepared?

« on: Oct 15, 2014, 09:24 pm »

Another Noises Off veteran as SM it one of the toughest fun shows I have ever done.
Sardines, Sardines and Doors, Doors will be your catch cry.
Couple of tips
Rehearsals - create a prop running list. From the first rehearsal have a bunch of paper/plastic plates and follow those sardines.
Know the script, it is the one script I have read where the stage directions really have to be followed.
During the run - always check your door handles before the show as they get a good work out. It is one show where I tripled checked, then double checked props before the commencement of the show.
Enjoy, remain calm and enjoy. It is a wonderful show to call.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: RUNNING: Calling Half-Hour

« on: Sep 02, 2014, 10:05 pm »

I follow the British format (8pm show) which is:
7.25pm - half hour call
7.40 - 15 minutes
7.50 - 10 minutes
7.55 - Beginners
it is also used in Australia but I cannot comment if it is still the case

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / JOB DESCRIPTION: SM Role in the automated future

« on: Jun 14, 2012, 11:05 pm »

Worked on a amateur musical recently where a lighting and sound company came into provide services. They provided lighting, sound and followspot operators as part of the deal. What surprised me was that I was told that as the lighting desk was programed for all the cues, the lighting operator would call their own cues and that of the followspot operators. That the lighting operator prefered to call the show as it was boring for them sitting up there pressing a go button and all they really needed from me was when to start and finish the show.
Has anyone else had this happen?
I can say I was a bit miffed because to me it has never been about pressing go but making everything flow together. Plus I was not sure I wanted to be listed as SM for the selfish reason if the cues went askew I would be the one blamed for not getting it right.
It led me to think about the role of SM in the performance space as more and more becomes automated, when multiple complex lighting cues can be achieved with a simple push of the button and whether the role of SM is changing.
I have to admit I have been out of the professional sphere for some time so these changes may just be flowing down to some amateur groups. Interested to hear what everyone thinks.

Edit to subject-Rebbe

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TEACHING: Teaching someone to call the show

« on: Jun 14, 2012, 10:47 pm »

I have taught a couple of people to call a show. What I tend to do is after opening week, when people are feeling more relaxed, lx and sound ops are familiar with the show and cover if the call is late/early.
I will sit an ASM with me. I make sure they are on the cans and can hear all that is going on. Then I will get them to call a series of cues, something like Act 2 about ten minutes after curtain is up until ten minutes before curtain down kind of thing. It is not the whole show but a good introduction.
I try and emphasis about rythm of calling and it is not about saying go because the actor has spoken the right word. That is something that really can not be taught.
When the ASM is calling in my place, I make sure I am close by but not on cans. Why? They need to have the confidence they are the SM and not have that feeling of being watched over.  If they feel comfortable after that, I will set up an opportunity to call the whole show. We do sit down afterwards and go through what was a problem, timing etc and it tends to work. 
Then I have to manage the actors as some get a bit worried when you change their routine 

5

The Green Room / Re: Things Stage Managers Say

« on: Mar 21, 2012, 01:34 am »

Some of the basic ever repetitive things I say
Don't think - just do!
Please do not be late or I will be your new stalker (said from the first rehearsal)
Do not drink/eat on the set
Do not smoke in costume
Of course you are my favourite cast that I have ever worked with
The props are not toys
Patience, Rome was not built in a day and the set will be finished before opening night.


Some offbeat stuff
Can you reduce the amount of body oil you are using as it is leaving puddles on stage and the other dancers are slipping.
Sure I can create 'wispy' smoke
Pull off your pants and let me gaffa that
How can solar flares being cutting out off the radio mics
Sure I can get all of those things in the next five minutes and would you like fries as well

6

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: How to Deal with Screwing Up

« on: Feb 12, 2012, 11:57 pm »

The big thing I learnt is that no one comes along and wants to make a mistake.

No point in yelling abuse at a person because they missed a line, left out a song (yep worked on a show and the lead skipped an entire song), jumped a cue, etc it happens and what is done is done.  Best thing to do is to find a solution.

For me when I go up and chat the person is already contrite and beating themselves up - no need for me to add to their woes by screaming at them. In fact they seem more relieved when I say are you okay, anything I can do to help.

If I or my crew make a mistake, I take responsibility. I do not believe in fronting up to Directors etc and blaming the crew. I normally go with, Yes a mistake was made, and yes I have addressed the problem and found a solution.

The biggest issue is when it happens again and then the serious chat has to happen.

7

Stage Management: Other / Re: REVIVED THREAD: Transferring into Opera

« on: Jul 23, 2011, 10:19 pm »

Not saying this is the best way and it is always preferable that you can read music but when I started with Opera and I did not know how to read music at all. I was taught how to follow and understand a score but had some very rudimentary ability to read music.
It is difficult to explain but I could sit with a score and follow the patterns of the music, identify pick up points in a score etc and was taught how a score works. When the bars are repeated, what the terminology means, but ask me to play out the notes on a piano can not do it. Yet I can follow a score and know how the orchestration all comes together.

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Bubbles!!!

« on: Mar 29, 2011, 08:42 pm »

have used a bubble machine in Lend Me a Tenor, bathroom door opened and all these bubbles came rushing out - first time I have heard of bubbles getting a laugh from the audience.
my problem was not slippage on the floor - we had carpet, but the bubbles popping on the set and leaving stain marks on the painted flats. took a lot washing to get rid of them.

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Tools of the Trade / Re: DVD player for video projection/disable display of "play" "pause"

« on: Feb 23, 2011, 06:09 am »

I think this is what Mac Calder means and it is very cleverhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqeN8vWfPXM

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Android Phone Apps

« on: Jan 01, 2011, 08:43 pm »

I have a HTC Desire and really like the phone but being in Oz we tend to be a little behind on the latest phone releases.
The best apps I have found so far are:
Open Advanced Task Killer - its free and it allows you to easily turn off any programs running in the background allowing you to save on battery life.
Jorte - its a free personal organiser and you can sync to Google calendars.
Colour Note - again free and allows me to type in quick reminders to do things
Kindle for Android - allows me to read books anytime and I have downloaded the odd script onto it.
For fun I have Angry Birds, Unblock Me and Chess.

11

The Green Room / Re: Funny definitions

« on: Dec 11, 2010, 08:27 am »

warm props - actors
voice activated warm props - when as SM you tell actors to move

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: COSTUMES: Wardrobe Malfunction - Hold the show?

« on: Mar 18, 2010, 01:38 am »

Gaffa - one big strip up the inside would have sufficed if I was time poor to fix. I also have have iron-on patches that I find to be real useful if I have longer time to fix.
As for the SM telling you handled it incorrectly agree with all the other posts.
 

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Tools of the Trade / Re: [FAQ] Electronic Prompt Copies

« on: Feb 21, 2010, 09:08 am »

I don't use electronic at all and I am a tech head. I just photocopy the script to the size I want and stick with good all pencil and rubber/eraser. The reason why I have stuck with the old way? Worked on a show, theatre got flooded due to massive hail damage, lighting board got fried lost all the cues, sound desk was a swamp, backstage was a lagoon and my prompt book was soaked. I laid it out to dry and every cue was there because pencil does not wash away or crash.
So I stick with paper, pencil and rubber because it is easier to change and change again and the formatting does not take on a life of its own which I find most software products do and I find I am spending more time getting the formatting right that following rehearsals etc.
Dont get me wrong, I would love a program that would let me do blocking, cues and make it easy to change every 5 seconds a Director has a new vision but I find the quickest way to do this is good old paper, pencil and rubber.