Messages

61

The Green Room / Re: Best one-liner from a performance report

« on: Oct 15, 2011, 10:31 pm »

"Fix [dancer]'s camel toe", on a related note the first thing one of my dancers said when meeting me (before introductions and everything) "can you see my nipples through this?"

62

Tools of the Trade / 5 fingers

« on: Oct 07, 2011, 03:18 pm »

Just got a pair of the Vibram 5 fingers shoes. Wondering if anyone has any experience wearing them working backstage or just in everyday life. I've seen some techs wearing them but curious if they work for SMs as well!!

63

The Green Room / Re: Weirdest Item In Your Kit

« on: Oct 04, 2011, 07:40 pm »

 I have a grocery bag full of chocolate mints from The Keg.

64

Tools of the Trade / Re: Useful iPhone apps?

« on: Sep 26, 2011, 10:13 am »

covert units- when working internationally metric to imperial, temperature, power, weight...almost everything
and world clock which s great for touring as it has all the different time zones
i again go with myLite for a flashlight as you can pick your colour, igobo is great, i also like River...helps me sleep

65

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / ASMs: Whether to use a Student Assistant?

« on: Sep 25, 2011, 08:16 pm »

Ok so I am looking for advice/personal experience in this regard. The show I am stage manager and lighting designer has basically no budget for an ASM though I would really appreciate one. So it has been offered to me to have a highschool co-op student serve as my ASM. Is this worth it or will it just be more work for me? I am also prepping paperwork for a tour of 27 venues for a different show during this time so I really don't need extra work!

Edit to subject line-Rebbe

66

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Projections...how do you call it?

« on: Sep 25, 2011, 08:07 pm »

LX
SX
Fly
FX
Pro (projections)
Mic

That's my list, I am expired in my pyro license (in Canada you need a license to work with pyro) so those cues don't apply to me.   

67

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Transferring to Canada

« on: Aug 29, 2011, 12:31 am »

Ucalgary I've heard is good. Alberta was in the midst of a departmental overhaul when I applied and it was like pulling teeth out of a tiger to get anything done (although Paul Gross went there so *sigh*). Ryerson doesn't have a Grad tech course as far as I know and has a...mixed reputation for their tech program. Also I know for sure neither Ryerson or NTS accept credits from any other universities.

68

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Taking years off to get experience

« on: Aug 29, 2011, 12:27 am »

I had a somewhat similar experience. After my Undergrad I had gotten into National Theatre School (It's a big deal in Canada) as well as several other schools so I was in a pickle...do I relocate to go to grad school and if so which school. I consulted my mentor who is an amazing designer known around the world and she told me that I had so much experience and work lined up that going to grad school would be a waste of time and money, for me obviously not for everyone. I think her point was strike while the iron is hot. If you've got good work and feel that you are still learning comfortably not stumbling around in the dark then Grad school will be there when things start to cool off. Plus pay off some student debt before accumulating more I say!

However there are some people that thrive in a more academic setting and are very content being career students doing Blyth or Shaw in their summers and more power to them!!

69

Employment / Re: How To stand Out

« on: Aug 29, 2011, 12:15 am »

One thing I do at interviews that helps we get an idea of where I should improve or why I may or may not get the position is at the end when they undoubtedly say "Do you have any questions for us?" I ask "Do you have any reservations about me in this position?". It's a little ballsy and takes a little courage but a) it gives you immediate feedback and b) shows that you are willing to ask questions and hopefully use the feedback to grow.

70

Employment / Re: to QR or not to QR?

« on: Aug 29, 2011, 12:07 am »

Thanks for the feedback! Maybe I'll keep it on my Lighting Director resume but not sm. (The QR code is the patterned square that you scan with your IPhone or IPad that will take you to the website or provide some other sort of information)

71

Employment / to QR or not to QR?

« on: Aug 28, 2011, 11:50 pm »

So, I know it looks good to be tech savvy especially in a field where being able to utilize the latest technology effectively make you as an SM more effective but here is my question. To QR or not on a resume? I have recently found a site where you can create your own QR for free so I did one to link to my website (both the full and mobile versions) but do I put it on my resume? Keeping in mind they are big blocks...is it worth it to look up to date on technology or is it a waste of space no one will use?

72

The Green Room / Re: You know you're in tech when....

« on: Aug 26, 2011, 12:12 pm »

You come in from walking the dog in the morning with the towel still on your head from your shower....last night

73

Employment / Re: lighting design?

« on: Aug 14, 2011, 09:12 pm »

I have run light boards on many occasions, both ones that are programmed and also one with just faders to push up and down (that was the show where I was the only person in the booth and ran the light board and then also sound and video from a laptop).  I know how to skip to a certain cue and also back up a cue, and turn the board off and on.  Where I start to get on shaky ground is the whole hang/focus/program the board part. 

Lighting design was offered as a course in my theatre program in college, but I didn't take it because they had drafting as a prereq and a) I hate math and b) I was double-majoring and not taking summer school, so everything had to count for credit and the drafting class wouldn't have counted for anything, I just had to take it before I could take lighting design.  So I didn't.

I did do a lighting design for a production of The Glass Menagerie when I was working outdoor theatre summer stock in 2004 or thereabouts.  We had our own black box and the cast and crew of the outdoor drama did their own shows throughout the summer, just for us.  I had heavy assistance from another technician who actually knew lighting design (he helped me hang, focus, program etc).  So I know the bones of the process but really would be lost without help.

I just think that in my region, LDs are more consistently paid vs. stage managers (I have pretty much stopped SMing for one theatre because they do not pay stage managers while they do pay directors, designers, etc), and the time committment is way shorter and therefore equals more work (assuming anyone would want to hire me).  I think I will think on this some more and then see if any of my LD friends would let me assist on their next project....

I found the exact opposite. I am primarily an LD but have forayed into stage management because of more regular jobs and payment. At least around my parts no one seems to think about an LD until halfway through rehearsals which by that time I am booked for SM shows for the next 6 months. A lot of times people just assume that the house tech can make something work with the house plot.

  Although I think lighting design is a great field it takes a lot of work whereever you happen to be as it is a field where, unless you have visualization software, you cannot see your design and whether or not it works until it is too late to change it. I would say just pay attention to any plots you see as an SM and keep it in mind while watching the show so you can get an idea of how fixtures, colours, form, and movement contribute to a look. After a while try predicting from a plot or magic sheet the looks, once that gets comfortable I would say go for it!

74

Employment / Re: To tattoo or not to tattoo

« on: Aug 14, 2011, 09:03 pm »

I had a job where my piercings were a problem. It was at a Cedar Parks affiliate theme park and in my interview I told them that keeping my piercings was a condition of my employment and was told that was fine (i have 00ga plugs a lip and nose stud) and official policy also stated that was fine as I was head LX and not handling food or anything. However later on in the season when the person who interviewed me had moved on and a new PM came in she insisted that I was in violation of policy and would bring it up on a daily basis, harassing me with it. Because of this and some other issues I ended up leaving the position after a month or so.
  The moral of this story being that it is an easy way for people who are looking for an excuse to single you out to do so. And even though we like to think we work in an open-minded field people do and will judge on the silliest things.

75

Employment / Re: Resident SM?

« on: Aug 14, 2011, 08:55 pm »

As a company SM for a dance company that creates it's own works I find it great as I get to have a contributing role in production development and credit on any remounting. Similarly if you are working for a theatre company that creates it's own work if a show gets published you, as the original SM is usually credited in all future printing of the script which besides being an ego boost can be great publicity.