Messages

16

The Green Room / Re: Finish this sentence: "If all the world's a stage..."

« on: Sep 13, 2011, 11:29 pm »

If all the world is a stage, I'm glad I'm not paying for the company party.   

17

Self-Promotion / The Comedy of Errors

« on: Sep 13, 2011, 03:19 am »

I'm currently serving as the production stage manager for The Comedy of Errors at my college. This is my first time performing the job of stage manager in its entirety. My first time stage managing was for The Gondoliers, and that job was, as the director put it, "someone to call cues and help with rehearsals". It was probably about a half of the job. The prop details, costume details and all of the production stuff was carried out with me being minimally involved (but I remedied that as much as I could by establishing some communication). My second time was more of a hybrid of SM/ASM for a touring, folk festival. The job was defined as "someone to keep things running smoothly backstage".... I got to practice thinking on my feet and improvising with that job. So far, things are going pretty well. The managing of people is one of my biggest challenges at this point as well as multitasking during the rehearsal (being on book, scheduling fittings and writting out line notes for half the cast while my ASM gets the other half of the cast). We're two weeks from Tech, and I'm looking forward to my first "tech table" experience!

18

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROMPT BOOK: Gratuitious Paperwork

« on: Sep 12, 2011, 12:04 am »

I actually learned the "Don't do it if you don't need it" from this website. As a student stage manager, I've made most of the forms needed and seen other for examples of "This is how it would look if you are doing this". Thank goodness that we don't have to do EVERY single piece of paperwork (that was a great relief to my ears...or eyes since I'm reading this). I also found it interesting that one director that I work with will actually do the preliminary scene breakdowns, proplists and schedules himself. When I asked him if I was supposed to do it, his reply was, "Oh I never ask my stage managers to do that. That's just rude."

19

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student SM Challenge #15: Her Method is Madness

« on: Sep 09, 2011, 06:31 pm »

Would this be an acceptable way to go about it? I'd pull her aside at some point NOT during rehearsal (maybe after or maybe a phone call) and cordially remind her by asking her if she knows that there are deadlines for this part of the process so that the other aspects (technical for example) can do their jobs efficiently. I would also stress that her current conduct is slowing us down and causing us to miss our deadlines. I would then ask if there is anything I could do to help her get any information that she feels like she's not getting and try to get that to the director. Once that's done, try to help them bring them to an understanding that won't cost us thirty minutes out of the rehearsal. 

I can't imagine any director or production manager being ok with someone costing them that much rehearsal time and being that contrary to a director. I thought those people didn't get hired again, but if that was the case.... I'd probably bring the concern to the production manager if my method didn't work.

20

Tools of the Trade / Re: File Totes

« on: Sep 09, 2011, 05:42 pm »

I decided to add what I'm getting for a tote. Since I'm a nerd, I decided to get this http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/aaa5/ for all my lugging needs. As a table-top gamer, I couldn't resist.

I got one of these too and I love it!

Yeah, it's definately a pretty nice novelty, huh? Get's a bit heavy at times since I'm also a student. Sadly though, only the director and the AD of the current show I'm SMing got the joke  . If only they'd make a backpack based on the Hewerd's Handy Haversack, then we'd be in business!

21

Tools of the Trade / Re: Favorite Bag

« on: Mar 10, 2011, 02:07 pm »

OK so I have a tackle box that I use for my kit, but sometimes I just need my laptop script etc, but had a difficult time finding the right one that could hold enough, wasn't freakin expensive, and rugged enough.  I have found it from a company called Think Geek, it's called the Bag of holding.  It holds EVERYTHING!  http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/aaa5/ 

Anyone have one they love?

Thanks for sharing! I was just thinking today I need a bigger laptop bag that will hold my laptop and my zippered binder and NOT be bursting at the seams. Have you purchased this yet and taken it for a spin?

I did purchase it, it's about $50 and it's great.  It is a canvas material so not extremely waterproof, but that's what umbrellas are for! I just love it, because during tech I was able to throw my portable printer in it (cannon i90) and later a pair of shoes, with my usual laptop, 3 ring binder, notepads, etc.

I'll second that. I got mine this past Monday, and I love it! It seems to have earned its namesake for sure!

22

Tools of the Trade / Re: Favorite Bag

« on: Mar 06, 2011, 11:05 pm »

OK so I have a tackle box that I use for my kit, but sometimes I just need my laptop script etc, but had a difficult time finding the right one that could hold enough, wasn't freakin expensive, and rugged enough.  I have found it from a company called Think Geek, it's called the Bag of holding.  It holds EVERYTHING!  http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/aaa5/ 

Anyone have one they love?

I ordered the very same bag. I'm looking forward to using it whether I'm gaming or working. I'm hoping that it earns its namesake.

23

Employment / Re: Pictures

« on: Feb 28, 2011, 09:20 pm »

SETC recently had (well, it still has) this partner website called "The Show Hub" where applicants for jobs are supposed to create a profile including resume and what have you. Apparently, it was so hiring companies could get a head start on their hiring process. Anyway, after I had filled out what I could, I got an email saying that my profile was incomplete because I didn't have a picture of myself. Luckily, I still have my old head shots when I was an actor (even if they're two years old); so I loaded one of those up. I found it pretty weird that they would have requested that, but I guess they wanted a face to go with the name. It also didn't help that all of the example profiles they sent out were all actors, and for someone who just recently switched from performance over to technical, it didn't help very much (in fact, the site seemed very actor-oriented). Thank God for great professors, otherwise I would have had the example they gave of "What NOT to do".

24

Tools of the Trade / Re: File Totes

« on: Feb 27, 2011, 02:15 am »

Hey all! This is officially my first post on SMNetwork! I'll be working on my profile once SETC and mid-terms are over. Anyway, I was browsing through these forums while I was (still am) updating some of my paperwork and cleaning up my prompt script from my very first show doing anything related to stage management (ASM, but did paperwork for class and my own benefit); and I saw this thread. I decided to add what I'm getting for a tote. Since I'm a nerd, I decided to get this http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/aaa5/ for all my lugging needs. As a table-top gamer, I couldn't resist.