16
Self-Promotion / Re: Ballet San Jose
« on: Aug 19, 2012, 12:27 am »
Absolutely beautiful!
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17
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Scholarships
« on: Aug 16, 2012, 02:18 am »
Like most others, I didn't receive any theatre-specific scholarships aside from those directly from my department. My best advice would be to think of all of the various skills you have acquired through stage managing and find scholarships that are looking for those qualities (organization, leadership, community-minded, service oriented, etc). Also, make sure you've exhausted the local scholarship scene, especially if you have done community theatre or something of the sort where you can talk about how you've directly impacted the local community by presenting live performing art to the population (Especially note if you've done this for an underserved population). Anything like that that you can emphasize some kind of serving quality is good.
Also, as they have said above- definitely focus on academic scholarships if you can.
Good luck!
Also, as they have said above- definitely focus on academic scholarships if you can.
Good luck!
18
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Re: ESCRIPTS: Post your requests for electronic scripts here!
« on: Mar 17, 2012, 05:07 pm »
Does anyone have "Ruined" in Word format?
19
The Green Room / Re: gaining new perspective
« on: Jun 29, 2011, 04:56 pm »
As a former actor/dancer, I try to perform in something once a year or so, which helps me keep the actor's perspective in mind. I also really love carpentry, so I volunteer to help build on most shows (my SM "uhm, that sharp metal edge is a bit of a problem, can we grind that down?" instincts always kick in though). Being in college makes this a bit easier, of course, since I have immediate access to the scene shop, and their schedule doesn't tend to conflict with rehearsal times. I also directed once, and that was probably the biggest perspective shift for me, but I learned a lot (and got the most personal affirmation that I love/missed SMing). I'd also really like to try being a TD at some point, as I think that would be interesting.
20
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Internships? Pay or credit?
« on: Feb 17, 2011, 10:14 pm »
Like others have mentioned, I think that if you are not offering housing, a larger stipend should be offered in order to counteract that personal cost. I have been looking at internships, and while I am only looking at those that offer housing, most of them also offer a stipend of $125-$200 per week.
21
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: cell phones onstage
« on: Feb 08, 2011, 10:26 am »
When I was in high school I always began the rehearsal process by requesting that they keep their cellphones on silent, and not use them when working on stage. This eliminated a lot of my problems right off the bat, and I feel it was better than taking the phones away- gave them more control and responsibility. In the few instances where actors were consistently breaking this request, I would personally pull the actor aside and ask them to refrain from phone usage during rehearsals, letting them know that if they continue to interrupt the rehearsal process then if may become necessary for them to leave their phone with myself/ASM during rehearsals. During performances I always held an "absolutely no phones past the dressing rooms" rule, and did have a box I kept with me for valuables, etc, if it made them more comfortable.
Now in college the actors very much treat the rehearsals as their job (as they well should), and therefore I have yet to need to request them to keep their phones from becoming a distraction in rehearsals. The SM team does reserve the right to find a phone that keeps going off, turn it off, and hold it until the next break is called and the actor can retrieve it. We have the same rule for performance here as I did in high school, and the actors are great about it. Assigned crew... not as much. I've found that as long as you are diplomatic, and keep it general and about the needs of the show rather than a personal attack (if it's phrased as "you aren't doing your job because you're always on your phone, turn it off!", a positive response will likely not be achieved).
Now in college the actors very much treat the rehearsals as their job (as they well should), and therefore I have yet to need to request them to keep their phones from becoming a distraction in rehearsals. The SM team does reserve the right to find a phone that keeps going off, turn it off, and hold it until the next break is called and the actor can retrieve it. We have the same rule for performance here as I did in high school, and the actors are great about it. Assigned crew... not as much. I've found that as long as you are diplomatic, and keep it general and about the needs of the show rather than a personal attack (if it's phrased as "you aren't doing your job because you're always on your phone, turn it off!", a positive response will likely not be achieved).
22
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How Many times have you stage managed?
« on: May 29, 2010, 12:54 pm »
I'm just about to graduate from high school, and I've SMed 9 (3 musicals, 5 straight plays), and am currently working on another straight play. 3 (including the current show) are with community theatres, 6 are educational.
(I am majoring in stage management in college)
(I am majoring in stage management in college)
23
The Green Room / Re: Asolo Stage Manager Retires...
« on: Apr 19, 2010, 09:19 pm »
I shall third that. This is wonderfully written. Thanks for sharing!
24
The Green Room / Re: Best one-liner from a performance report
« on: Mar 03, 2010, 09:20 pm »
From a show I did this past summer:
"Does (actress) still need to dye her bra?"
"Does (actress) still need to dye her bra?"
25
College and Graduate Studies / Re: Portfolio Reviews
« on: Feb 21, 2010, 10:18 pm »
Thank you, everyone.
I ended up bringing a sort of combination of those things mentioned by Cedes, with an assortment of work I had done and paperwork I had created, as well as some photos of design work I had done. I ended up with offers from 3 of 4 schools, and have made my decision to attend Western Michigan University, a school I initially considered a "back-up school", but significantly altered that opinion after visiting their theatre department. It is the best fit for me, and I am very excited to attend.
Thank you all for your assistance, and best of luck to those reading this thread who are about to go into the interview process!
I ended up bringing a sort of combination of those things mentioned by Cedes, with an assortment of work I had done and paperwork I had created, as well as some photos of design work I had done. I ended up with offers from 3 of 4 schools, and have made my decision to attend Western Michigan University, a school I initially considered a "back-up school", but significantly altered that opinion after visiting their theatre department. It is the best fit for me, and I am very excited to attend.
Thank you all for your assistance, and best of luck to those reading this thread who are about to go into the interview process!
26
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: New Stage Manager
« on: Feb 06, 2010, 02:30 pm »
Welcome Danni!
One thing I've found helpful with regards to props is to add that in to my preshow calls. Whenever I give calls to warn of house opening, I also ask them to make sure they have preset and checked all of their props. We usually have a props mistress, or my asm sets the props, but if actors have any specific needs past them being on a table, they need to take care of that, and they need to double check them either way.
Killing them with kindness is a good way to go when you're having a problem though.
One thing I've found helpful with regards to props is to add that in to my preshow calls. Whenever I give calls to warn of house opening, I also ask them to make sure they have preset and checked all of their props. We usually have a props mistress, or my asm sets the props, but if actors have any specific needs past them being on a table, they need to take care of that, and they need to double check them either way.
Killing them with kindness is a good way to go when you're having a problem though.
27
The Green Room / Re: SM gifts!
« on: Dec 28, 2009, 04:58 pm »
I got a cordless drill, and a band-aid container you can put on a keychain. 
28
College and Graduate Studies / Portfolio Reviews
« on: Oct 12, 2009, 07:47 pm »
Hello,
I'm currently preparing for interviews at Syracuse University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Emerson College. I am hoping to get some advice about what exactly to include in a portfolio, what they will actually look at, and just generally what to expect. Will they actually look at a full prompt book if I bring it? What should I expect them to want to keep (other than my resume', of course)?
Any and all advice is much appreciated.
Thank you,
-Lauren
I'm currently preparing for interviews at Syracuse University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Emerson College. I am hoping to get some advice about what exactly to include in a portfolio, what they will actually look at, and just generally what to expect. Will they actually look at a full prompt book if I bring it? What should I expect them to want to keep (other than my resume', of course)?
Any and all advice is much appreciated.
Thank you,
-Lauren
29
The Hardline / Re: Theatres That Have Closed--Can You Say "Emergency?"
« on: Sep 19, 2009, 05:43 pm »
I used to live near Blowing Rock, and did several productions there (I started working with them as an actor several years ago, before they moved into the new space)- it was a wonderful experience. I, and a lot of people I know are very sad to see it close.
30
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Multitaskers are "Lousy at Everything"
« on: Aug 31, 2009, 03:05 pm »I don't think that it's possible to do the job of a stage manager without some-to-a-lot of multitasking. Things just happen too fast for us to focus on only one thing until it's done!
I agree. However when we multi-task it is, as tempest_gypsy later listed, all related to our job. Thus the things we are working on are more-or-less still on the same track (all related to the show) in our brain. Yes, we will compromise doing some things to the absolute best of our ability because we are unable to focus on one at a time, but it is those who think they are able to do our job even half-decently while texting their best friend about getting together tonight and checking Facebook that unnerve me.
Hmm... I am very saddened by this article, though it was very good. I am very interested to see what they find in follow-up studies.