Messages

1

College and Graduate Studies / Transition from College to the Big City

« on: Jun 08, 2012, 10:06 am »

Hello,
    I'm about to be a Senior in my B.F.A. Stage Management Program at Ohio University and since I have started Stage Managing I have only Stage Managed for things at the University and Community theater levels. But this summer I have been graced with the opportunity to intern at the Lark Play Development Center in New York City where I am networking my face off and trying to keep myself busy with as much intern work, as well as off-hours work as I can. One colleague of mine from a passed Community Theater gig referenced me to someone in the city who is trying to put up their own show who is in need of a Stage Manager. I guess I am just wondering about if there are certain things that you wished you would have known when doing your first transition from College training to a real life City-Opportunity? It's one of those things where I want to make a great first impression, and I am going to trust that what I have learned will guide me, but I am sure there are little things that will try and trip me up just from lack of experience. Not sure if I'll be dealing with equity rules, the flow of communication, is some paperwork too much? That sort of thing. Any advice for my first time Stage Managing in the city?

Thanks!

2

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: "Senior Showcase"

« on: Jan 18, 2012, 10:20 pm »

Thanks guys!

~best~
Matt

3

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Observational Awareness Training?

« on: Jan 14, 2012, 01:39 pm »

If you are having trouble keeping tracking of everything I would say that you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help from your crew. If you have ASMs you could possibly assign one of them to look out for the little things that you might not have been able to catch. Also, I would never hestiate to note something, even if you are unsure of your note. I've never been afraid to learn from my mistakes. It can be nerve wracking, but beneficial too.

~best~
Matt

4

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Being friends with the SM

« on: Jan 14, 2012, 01:20 pm »

I may be off base in saying this, and I totally agree with everything that has been said, but I also think that creating those relationships will really help you run things smoother. There is a certain level of professionalism that I feel an SM should have so that the cast and crew feel confident in your work, but I do think that "stiff" or "overbearing" additudes make you less-approachable. I've found that being open and available to everyone makes for a much smoother and more enjoyable process.  I know I'm not the most experienced or professional Stage Manager (junior in college) but in what I've done I've always got compliments and thank yous at the end of my shows because of my additude.

~best~
Matt

5

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: "Senior Showcase"

« on: Jan 14, 2012, 12:59 pm »

Would anyone be willing to tell me what speed dating is? I've never heard that term used in the context of interviewing or job hunting.

~best~
Matt

6

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Double Casting Your SM

« on: Jan 12, 2012, 09:08 pm »

Thank you, everyone!
It took quiet a while of deliberation and some sleepless nights but I decided to put my foot down and take myself out of casting and focus of Stage Managing the mainstage. I think it will turn out to be the best for me. I ended up meeting with all the faculty I could and it kept boiling down to the same thing for me: "No one is going to make this decision for you." It's interesting how so often as a Stage Manager I am helping people with their decisions and facilitating many different ideas and how people execute them, but it is always a different animal when I actually have those pressing matters facing me and it forces me to grow up a little and make my own decisions.

~thanks again~
Matt

7

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Double Casting Your SM

« on: Jan 08, 2012, 05:47 pm »

I am a junior in College getting a double degree in Acting and Stage Management. At the beginning of our school year my faculty told me that I was going to have my first chance at a mainstage. I was thrilled because it is a project that we are working on with a NY theater company founded by alumni from my university and it is a super great opportunity to make those kind of connections. Being a double major has put me in a sticky situation. I still had to audition for the show as part of my acting curriculum but I was trying to pull myself out of casting so that I could just stage manage. The faculty wouldn't let me pull out of casting and since I've been running auditions and call backs this whole weekend (in addition to getting a call back myself as an actor) I know that the director is considering using me.
I am torn about what I would do if they ended up wanting to use me. I really want to stage manage a main stage production before I go on internship this summer but it seems the faculty has a different idea. Am I in the right to get what I think is best for me? I feel like if I have this opportunity to work on such a show I shouldn't pass it up. Is it worth sending a riff through the performance faculty?
Also, this is something I was considering doing in the real world: acting and stage managing at the same time. I've been worrying that I am privy to too much info sometimes when I have my stage manager hat on. Should I ammend my stage manager duties when I know my actor-self shouldn't know the same info my stage manager-self knows?

Best
Matt

8

Tools of the Trade / Re: Stage Write - an iPad app for idiots, by idiots

« on: Dec 28, 2011, 02:52 pm »

I would like to say I consider myself a youngin and I still consider this app to be more complicated than useful. But that is coming from a Guy whose pencil moves way faster and way more accurately than my stubby fingers do. I agree with Matthew,  I need my script right there next to my blocking, I prefer the diagram of my set on one side of the page, and the text on the mirrored page. If you rock out with your fingers and your ipad, all the power to ya, but although I'm still a fresh SM, I would still rely more on the conventions that older stage managers have passed down through years of experience. However I do think it is awesome that more and more apps are hitting the scene that are specifically tailored to the theater... I'm sure at this rate there will eventually be SM apps that most if not all SMs (young and old) can agree on.
Great topic!
Best