Messages

1

The Hardline / Re: AEA ASM & EMC

« on: Apr 25, 2014, 10:31 am »

I had the same thing earlier this year. Worked LORT B then D then D at the same company in two different spaces. The first B show I got points, the first D show I got points because it was a chorus show and there was an ASM, the second I did not. Anyway none of that mattered because I was offered my contract at the end of the year because of a mix up when I was subbing on another show, and then that didn't matter cause I stopped stage managing and didn't even want it anymore, lol.

2

Tools of the Trade / Re: Who supplies spike tape?

« on: Apr 06, 2014, 01:29 pm »

My understanding is that even if you were the one in charge of acquiring the tape, the theatre should refund you. As I see it, the theatre is indeed hiring you and not your tape supply. The supplies you are responsible for are your own - the pad where you take notes, the pens to take them, etc. But if the theatre is using something, the theatre should pay for it.

I personally expect them to provide that too (pad ans pens) unless I specifically want like a Lisa Frank notebook and even then I will ask...anyone else with me?

3

Self-Promotion / Re: Back to the cartoons . . .

« on: Mar 30, 2014, 12:02 pm »

Awesome! Will have to check out Papermill.

4

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

« on: Mar 04, 2014, 10:40 pm »

What do you do?

I mean you can really make this point about anything, but most of us, us theatre folk, advocate all kinds of acceptance but when are we "forcing our ideas on someone else" just like we accuse others of.

I was thinking this to myself earlier in the thread.  Often times those that are the strongest advocates of "tolerance" are the least tolerant of any viewpoint that isn't their own.  I've found this to be pretty universal across the political spectrum.  It's quite interesting, but maybe best left for another topic.

Thing is, if the question were, "What do I do about assigning dressing rooms to a black actor? I'm afraid the other cast members might be uncomfortable sharing a dressing room with him," we wouldn't be having a side discussion about tolerance. It's an absurd question in this day and age.

No, we can't force tolerance on others. Either they are comfortable or they aren't and it all has to do with what goes on in their own head. But we can and should enforce working conditions wherein every company member feels safe, productive, and valued. And this means everyone behaves civilly. Frankly, I don't want to work with anyone, or expose other company members to anyone, who can't be polite and get along with the sorts of "different" people they might have to work with. This work is hard enough.

I don't know...I think that oversimplifies it. But like previously stated, maybe best left for another topic.

5

Employment / Re: Hiring a rehearsal SM and performance SM

« on: Mar 03, 2014, 03:45 pm »

Probably the same reason people would hire an actor or singer knowing they will need a replacement halfway through the run. Each person brings something the company wants to the table but neither is the complete package. Maybe they want someone experienced for production and rehearsal so they don't have to deal with bringing someone else up to speed, but are not as worried about performance as they can just train someone in. Maybe they want someone on the show but cant afford them for the whole time. Maybe someone owes someone a favor but someone has schedule conflicts. These are all ideas I just made up/  Hiring is so complicated and each company is different. I don't know would it be weird to ask?

6

Employment / Re: Dear Abby: My PM is quitting. Do I want their job?

« on: Mar 03, 2014, 03:38 pm »

I switched theatre careers from stage manager to admin but only because it was what I WANTED to do, and it was for all the reasons we all know why someone would stop stage managing. If you don't want to quit SMing don't take a job like this. It might help you learn a few things, but you could also learn  that stuff from observing, asking questions, and reading books, rather than committing to a job.

My work calendar keeps having holes and a salary and a regular-ish schedule at an office sound absolutely dreamy, but I don't want that to come at the expense of my SM career.

It will come at the expense of your SM career or your PM job, or your current SM gig, or offers you can take, one will have to sacrifice for the other.

7

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

« on: Mar 03, 2014, 03:20 pm »

When my head is totally somewhere else do to something that happened the previous day, I can get a bit scatterbrained and then a bit panicky. Like once I was thinking about whatever it was, which caused me to think I heard the cue line for a scene change in rehearsal which cause me to jump up and knock over a table in the middle of a quiet scene.

8

Introductions / Re: Introducing myself!

« on: Mar 03, 2014, 03:18 pm »

Welcome. The Crucible is a great show that I have seen WAY too many times, but still love. Actors not being able to show up stops being fun once their paycheck is on the line and it makes your job a bit more stressful in normal rehearsals. But just wait till you get to do some professional understudy or replacement rehearsals. Some SMs hate doing them, some love them, but the SM stands in for most of the other characters in the scene besides the actor who is rehearsing, it makes you a bit schizo but it can be a lot of fun. 

9

Tools of the Trade / Re: TOOLS: Post It Tape

« on: Mar 03, 2014, 03:14 pm »

What? I want this now!

10

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: NEW WORKS: Script Changes with Colored Paper?

« on: Mar 03, 2014, 03:06 pm »

OH NO!
Wait you need another perspective! I had a terrible experience with colored pages. Make sure no one wants it double sided vs. single cause that is a whole level you don't even think about until you are trying to make 30 copies for cast and creatives and you are crying on the floor of the copy room at 7am.  Plus you have to keep a master colored copy going along side your own master copies, etc. Run out of the right color one day? You are screwed and the system falls apart. Theatre actors go crazy about it too. Just my perspective. Enjoy whichever you choose.

11

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

« on: Mar 03, 2014, 02:58 pm »

What do you do?

Which reminds me. I know the person who developed the app to help trans people find comfortable public restrooms. But I've been thinking to what point can this system be abused, or to what degree DO people need to be comfortable with all of this. I mean you can really make this point about anything, but most of us, us theatre folk, advocate all kinds of acceptance but when are we "forcing our ideas on someone else" just like we accuse others of.

12

Job Postings / SM - Long Wharf

« on: Feb 21, 2014, 04:11 pm »

I am not the contact for this... just overheard that Long Wharf Theatre is looking for SMs so now would be good time to send in that resume.

13

Introductions / Re: Hello

« on: Feb 21, 2014, 03:41 pm »

Welcome nice to have you!

But I'm just gonna leave this here...

https://smnetwork.org/forum/introductions/welcome-to-smnetwork!/

14

Employment / Re: Personal Branding 101

« on: Feb 21, 2014, 03:37 pm »

Yes, people don't realize just how important this is nowadays. It can really give you the upperhand when hiring is done.

15

The Green Room / Re: Thank you, technology!

« on: Feb 21, 2014, 03:31 pm »

I bought a recent edition of a certain SM handbook and the author still advocates for literal cutting and pasting of script pages onto lined notebook paper. No mention of how to do it on a computer whatsoever.

They wrote those books and they are going to get as much out of it with minimal work, haha!