Messages

16

Employment / Re: Non SM jobs for former SMs

« on: Apr 04, 2017, 01:38 pm »

Here's a more recent thread on the topic:
http://smnetwork.org/forum/employment/dear-abby-is-there-life-after-equity/

Try looking under the "Employment" section of the forum. I've seen a few out there, in case the one above doesn't help.

17

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Opinions on continuing BA program?

« on: Mar 29, 2017, 10:51 pm »

Why not both? Is there an option available where you can start your education in-state for less and transfer to your desired location for the latter/advanced part of your education?

Also, don't be afraid to seek out to alumni to ask their opinions....maybe on a forum like SMNetwork!

18

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Contact Methods

« on: Mar 11, 2017, 06:45 pm »

I have initiated and been contacted via social media before. I have no issue with it.

I do prefer email, but I understand that might be privileged information sometimes.

19

The Green Room / Re: Oscar Night 2017: How to teach from it

« on: Feb 28, 2017, 10:53 am »

Believe it or not, it's not the first time!

https://youtu.be/mmmi9ksOtt4

Handled a smidge better, but let's not discredit Jordan Horowitz for the graceful hand-off.

I think what peeved me most was the amount of time it took to make the correction. 2 speeches and a whole cadre of people walking to the stage is unacceptable. That's where my lesson would come from: if something is wrong onstage, don't wait and hope it resolves itself. Just make the correction and continue with the show. This could translate into someone walking on with a duck instead of a dog, or someone being given an incorrect/broken weapon. Expediency in remedying a mistake is far more impressive than improvisational flailing.

20

The Green Room / Re: Kay

« on: Nov 09, 2016, 03:07 pm »

Yay for Kay!

21

Employment / Re: Dear Abby: Is there life after Equity?

« on: Oct 29, 2016, 02:33 pm »

This is something I started - and frankly still do - to worry about ever since choosing to go to college for theatre....whether I would want to transition out of theatre into a "more mainstream profession" at some point in my life.

Theatre people are lucky in that we have to have a diverse set of skills in order to do our jobs effectively. For instance: you've achieved Equity status, yay! Think about what went into that...organizational skills, time management, effective communication, problem solving, being great under pressure, being a Macgyver at times. These are traits that can be applied to any professional environment.

Ask your close theatre acquaintances and friends what their side jobs are, if any. See what your old college theatre friends do (if applicable). Analyze your own set of skills, realistically, and take a chance on something. Or, branch out by taking classes or asking for advice and professional development help. Don't worry about your current skills since they always are changing, improving or adapting depending on the environment.

We all have theatre people who are great at a variety of different things. Just off the top of my heads: Head Naval Recruiter, Head of Marketing at an international corporation, teachers, independent artists, small-business entrepreneurs.

I am still working in theatre, albeit not in a way I thought I would be merely a few years ago, nor could I have foreseen how my career got here or how it's changing as we speak. I also teach, do small odd jobs for friends and family, and take a side gig lighting or designing every once in a while. I'm thinking about starting to make mixed-media art for galleries, and starting a podcast. Choose something that makes you happy and will help you grow.

If you want to stay in theatre and aren't afraid of admin work, see if that local union house you mentioned has any job openings in their PR, education or grant-writing departments. Or maybe their executive/artistic director is really looking for an assistant?

Remember...theatre people are awesome. We can do anything.

Hope this helps and sorry if I rambled a bit. Good luck!

22

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SAFETY: Hanging an actor....

« on: Oct 22, 2016, 06:32 pm »

Thanks for the update brettnexx, completely forgot about this posting!

We ended up using a dummy and treating the effect more like a practical joke Harold was playing on his mother.

23

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Blocking a theatre in the round

« on: Sep 10, 2016, 11:07 pm »

Our theatre operates two spaces, one of which is configured in the round. We use N, S, E, W...and funny fact, our North in the space is about 1-2º off true North.

Either way, you have to assign the direction in a way that somehow sticks in everyone's head. This might mean taping it on the floor for easy reference, which could help solve your problem of notating blocking.

One thing to figure out is how North IS North? Are they halfway there (woa-oh, livin' on a prayer...)? You might refer to this as NorthCenter, or tape concentric distance rings out from center, or hopefully you'll have some scenic pieces to guide you.

Good luck with it! It takes practice, but you'll get it.

24

The Green Room / Re: Health Realted Issue

« on: Jul 19, 2016, 10:46 am »

I would approach it from a legal perspective....if something went down, would I/employer be in trouble for withholding that knowledge?

What Tempest mentioned seems like a personal health issue (HIV, diabetes, cancer...) that might not affect the execution of one's job. But, like KMC states, if you're putting yourself or others in danger by, for example, withholding you have a history of epileptic seizures due to strobe lights and the show is filled with strobe f/x....yea, about that...

I love being a confidant or psychologist for people if they need someone to talk or vent. But endanger me or the company and we have an issue.

I know I am as guilty of this too, and it's a hard line to walk. I don't want to tell people if I'm hurting because I'm supposed to appear indestructible and the hardest working person in the building. But as SM's, we're fallible and fragile humans and need to cut ourselves and others a break sometimes.

25

Employment / Re: How far are you willing to travel?

« on: Jun 22, 2016, 12:25 am »

My current commute is 45 miles in 45-60 minutes across a state line....I often get expressions along the lines of "waaa?!" when I say that's what I do every day.  Work weeks are often 7 or 6 days at that.  Any longer of a commute and it wouldn't be worth it for me. (I hear of friends having to spend 2 hours to travel 15 miles and I'd say I'm pretty lucky in comparison)
And remember, travel has a very real cost besides time. What's the gas price like this year? Any tolls? How's your car been performing lately and are you insured? How far are you going, because AAA might be a good investment...All important factors since "is it worth it" also applies to your financial situation once your paychecks clear.
Make the commute, if you feel like it's worth the investment, productive somehow. Like MatthewShiner, books on tape are key or podcasts are a great resource, since when we talk about commuting, we often get into the conversation about wasted time. Often in our profession, ain't nobody got time for that, to quote a wonderful internet meme.

26

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Assistant Design Experience?

« on: Jun 19, 2016, 04:26 pm »

First off, good for you on gaining the experience in other fields! Being multi-faceted only makes you more employable.

Second - and take this with as many salt grains as you like, since your question is asking anecdotally - I'd go with scenic.  I find, again in my personal experience, the overlap there is more prevalent and useful when stage managing.

Now why not props you ask, when most small-time jobs might lump together SMing and properties acquisition? Because it's more specialized and the knowledge base isn't as large as scenic skills (again, anecdotally, please don't yell at me for dissing props masters or something). A SM who can judge structural safety competently and professionally, or add to the conversation of how to accomplish something technically is more valuable.

Have I mentioned this is anecdotal?

Ultimately though, choose what makes you happy!  What are you most curious about? Do you have any previous experience with any of these that could influence you?

And really: does the assistant design position actually do any of the work, or are they there just to shadow? Choose the one with the person who is willing to give you the best learning experience.

Also, anecdotal.

27

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Hanging an actor....

« on: Jun 06, 2016, 10:31 pm »

Prior discussion: http://smnetwork.org/forum/stage-management-plays-musicals/scenery-onstage-hangings/msg18183/#msg18183

Thank you all for your insight, I greatly appreciate it!

I'll update with further information as we head towards production week to keep the topic relevant.

28

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SAFETY: Hanging an actor....

« on: Jun 05, 2016, 11:11 pm »

Not sure if anyone has dealt with this before, but here goes:

We need to hang an actor for a botched suicide gag....It's for 'Harold & Maude,' and the show opens with an actor hanging himself and his mother walking in on it, at which point he cuts the rope and descends.
Has anyone either worked on this show before or attempted anything of this nature? I'd appreciate any advice or assistance, as none of us want to be the subject of a news story where an actor accidentally dies from a botched hanging scene.
Thanks all!

fyi: Venue is non-union and configured for in-the-round seating.

Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

29

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Motivation & Energy - Need Help & Ideas

« on: Nov 24, 2015, 10:00 am »

Hey Bil!
I generally find that with volunteers I work with, the enthusiasm I show directly correlates with the level they show. [and, yes I know correlation does not necessarily mean causation....  ]
I also notice that towards the end of the rehearsal period and before tech, there is definitely a slump in motivation.  You're looking for that extra something, that extra piece of the show, the new costumes, etc....  But motivation should fall primarily with the director and the actors themselves.  There's not much we can do if an employee isn't excited to come to work in the first place.  We can be excited for them, but not FOR them, savvy?
Break a leg~

30

The Green Room / Re: Article: Suicide within the Entertainment Industry

« on: Nov 24, 2015, 09:55 am »

Liked this quote in particular:
"I think, the nature of the industry, it attracts people who are artistic," she says. "By that very nature have to have a sense and sensitivity to be a performer, but it's also a cut-throat industry and there you have problems. Then it's the nature of the industry."
I've felt the industry's dichotomous nature a lot the past year and it can be pretty sobering.  But one thing I enjoy about the position we're in as Stage Managers is that we can often do something about it.  Kudos to Mr. Henderson for speaking up about it and I encourage everyone else to as well - particularly since Winter Is Coming....I know I'm susceptible to seasonal depression as are a lot of folks here in New England.