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Messages - DeeCap

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1
Employment / Re: Maternity leave on production contract?
« on: Aug 08, 2017, 08:48 am »
I work mostly on NEAT contracts, and there was nothing in the rulebook regarding maternity/paternity leave. When my wife gave birth I had to negotiate with the theater directly; and we kept AEA in the loop.
This is one area that I want Equity 2020 to look into. 

2
The Hardline / Re: Dear Abby: When/If to leave a show
« on: Mar 20, 2017, 04:04 pm »
I agree. Get your job description in writing. If they balk, then bail.

3
Employment / Re: Dear Abby: Is there life after Equity?
« on: Oct 31, 2016, 11:00 am »
Yes. There is. It depends on what you want to do and if you are willing to take lower pay for a bit to do it.

I left theatre to work as a "stage manager" for a music department at a University. I called Equity to become inactive and as long as your dues are up to date, it's easy.
When I wanted to moonlight as an Equity stage manager, I called again and I paid an administrative fee over the phone, and it was activated.
Then I wanted to leave theatre/arts altogether, and began looking for admin assistant work/receptionist work/secretarial work. I updated my resume to highlight my administrative skills (meaning what computer software I use, you would be surprised what we use) dependability, organization skills, etc

Where I sold myself was my cover letters. These days you cannot send out a generic one. You have to put more of yourself in it and why you want to work for the company. I said that although I enjoyed working in the arts, I was looking for stability, and your position would be a great fit. Because I was lacking in certain areas (bookkeeping for example) I really had to write an amazing cover letter every single time. I used a few templates when I googled "cover letter"

And the calls for interviews came. What's great is that we work in an unique industry that people are always interested in what we do, so they would want to talk about it. I was play up that I am able to meet deadlines (opening night is a deadline) and multi task, as well as handle conflict (that's a big one).

I didn't get any of them. I would be a finalist, and the reason I wouldn't get an offer is because I was lacking skills (again bookkeeping). Looking back, if I could do it I would sign up for a temp agency and "try on" various companies while gaining more skills.

I'm now back into theatre and for extra pay I substitute teach. I couldn't be happier, but if it doesn't work out I'll call a temp agency and go from there.

  I hope this helps, and I hope you don't think that you don't have any transferable skills. We all do. 



4
Self-Promotion / Warrior Class
« on: Oct 21, 2016, 10:35 am »
My first show as a freelancer!

Warrior Class-A one act play written by Kenneth Lin (House of Cards).  Details below

Playwright Kenneth Lin (TV’s House of Cards) delivers “an absorbing, incisive new play that crackles with authenticity” (NY Times), just in time for the climax of a surprising election season. Michael Tow (Chinglish) plays a New York assemblyman who's been dubbed "The Republican Obama." The son of Chinese immigrants and a decorated war veteran, he looks forward to a seemingly limitless political career. When someone from his past threatens to reveal a college transgression, he must decide how far he'll go to keep the incident out of the public eye.

Previews begin tonight! Shows run Wed-Sun until 11/13

Lyric Stage Company
Boston, MA

5
If a professor had given me exercise advice, I would have been livid.

I couldn't agree more with this. Maybe you made the wrong decision in choosing that school, but you didn't make the wrong decision in leaving. University will always be there, so you can go to another when you feel it's right.

6
The Green Room / Re: Birth Order
« on: Aug 25, 2016, 12:41 pm »
I'm the youngest by 4 minutes. Fraternal twin, who let the other twin speak for me for the first four years of my life....

7
Self-Promotion / Re: Weird life transition
« on: Aug 15, 2016, 12:35 pm »
I too, will be leaving my full time job to go back into freelancing.

Life is too short, if you have the opportunity to do something that won't make you stabby at the end of the day, do it.

8
Employment / Re: How far are you willing to travel?
« on: Jun 22, 2016, 12:16 pm »
Furthest I did was 1 hour 45 minutes by train. I lived in an area where if I didn't get a certain train I would have an extra 20-30 minutes to my commute. Never again.

9
What a nightmare. He left emotional and physical scars on so many people.

Mr. Cox responded.

http://www.playbill.com/article/chicago-actor-responds-to-harassment-allegations

10
The Green Room / Re: Hiring a Friend
« on: Apr 29, 2016, 01:58 pm »
A crap shoot is the best way to describe it. I've been told to hire people who were "great" but turned out to be "meh". I've taken chances on hires and turned out to be my best employees. 

When I was a resident PSM we were planning to do two shows in rep. The Artistic Director told me I could hire whoever I want as my Equity ASM. I hired my former ASM who slayed on the previous show we worked on. This show got him is Equity card, insurance, etc.

I don't know if he got it in his head that now he was Equity ASM he could slack off, but he was not the person who I worked with before. It got awkward when I had to tell him that slow times during tech was not the best time to go outside to throw a football around. It took awhile for our relationship to return to where it was before.





11
Self-Promotion / Re: Wizard of Oz
« on: Apr 04, 2016, 10:22 am »
Please do! It's a beautiful campus near the beach. Send me a private message if you want more info.

12
Self-Promotion / Wizard of Oz
« on: Apr 01, 2016, 12:59 pm »
My bi-annual plug for Endicott College! This Spring, they are doing "Wizard of Oz" in a "new" way. We have the Wicked Witch entering on an electronic moped. Glinda is entering on a hippity hop. We also have a real dog playing Toto, who hasn't been trained and likes to go into the audience!
It will be an interesting night!

April 6th 7:00pm
April 7th-9th 7:30pm
April 9th 2:00pm

Endicott College
Visual Performing Arts Center
Beverly MA

13
Tools of the Trade / Re: Purchasing Gaff and Spike Tape
« on: Mar 11, 2016, 01:17 pm »
Findtape.com. Based out of PA and Nevada. I'm in Mass and they ship pretty quickly, and has all the gaffe tape ranging from inexpensive to "Christmas gifts to other sm's" quality.

http://www.findtape.com/

14
The Green Room / Re: Help, creepy assistant director
« on: Mar 03, 2016, 12:11 pm »
Document everything that the female actors have said and notify the school. Does he have permission to be in the school working with students as an assistant director? Depending on the school and its policies, they will have to go through some background check. This could end up being an issue for the school, and a much bigger problem for the school and not you.

I agree with megf-you have a serious concern and it shared by other students. Good luck with this, and let us know how else we can help.

15
Employment / Re: Worst Job Offers?
« on: Jan 12, 2016, 10:42 am »
I don't have any theatre ones that I can recall but I remember one when I tried to move into film. It was about ten years ago when Bollywood was gaining popularity in the US and Bollywood producers were attempting to make films in the US.
I was hired to work as an assistant in the art department and assist in transportation. We had a meeting with the producers in a restaurant; this was going to be the biggest Bollywood ever produced on US soil; three months of work, with salary, housing and transportation included. We were given documents to sign and a start date.
As the date got closer I had no other information, so I emailed the office. No response. Tried again, no response.
Three days before production was to begin I called the office. The phone was disconnected. Nothing. I cleared my calendar and declined jobs due to this job and then I had nothing.
I don't know what happened to the production but I learned that the industry never took off here. It's cheaper to create the US in India.

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