Messages

16

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Newspaper interview for the SM? What?

« on: Sep 18, 2013, 12:48 pm »

Okay thanks for the help. I just saw this e-mail and I was like what? That's abnormal....lol. I guess it's not that out there after all. Thanks again it's really helped to hear some of the questions you guys were asked so that I could be a little more prepared.

17

College and Graduate Studies / Re: To Major or Minor? That is the question..

« on: Sep 17, 2013, 08:01 pm »

Thanks for posting this thread itsDani. I am also finishing up high school and found reading this extremely helpful

18

College and Graduate Studies / Newspaper interview for the SM? What?

« on: Sep 17, 2013, 07:57 pm »

Just got an e-mail from the PR coordinator and the newspapers want to interview me because I'm a student SM (One of the youngest in this theatres history). What on earth do you say at an interview like this? Actors get interviews, not backstage staff. My response sure, but slightly clueless about what they might even want to know....thoughts?

19

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Dealing with Panic Situations

« on: Sep 05, 2013, 07:26 pm »

Hello Everyone;
I have an increasing difficulty in dealing with stressful situations. Here are some situations:

As a Child Guardian
Parent forgets there was a performance, 15 minutes to find a replacement no understudy. Instead of trying to solve the problem. I shot it straight up to the stage manager. (slightly panicky.)
Parents car breaks down. No way to pick child up. Straight to SM.
As SM:
Actor throwing up in dressing room, no understudy. 25 minute put in with a child actor for a main supporting character. Panicked a little.
Tried to help someone get an audition with the director, who couldn't make it to actual audition times. Huge mess because of lapse in communication.

These are HUGE mistakes to be making as a Stage Manager we are supposed to keep our cool at all times and I lost it in all of these situations and it showed a little/a lot depending on the situation. How can I help prevent these things kind of situations from happening in the future when they stress me out so badly? At least keeping my stress level from showing to the rest of the cast/crew. No matter how calm I think I am there always seems to be something to lose your brain over. Thoughts?
 

20

Job Postings / High School ASM needed -WNC

« on: Sep 04, 2013, 09:21 am »

Hello Everyone!

I just got a job working as the PSM on a youth production at a professional theatre, and am starting the interview process for an ASM. You must be in high school, or middle school, professional, and willing to learn. This position is un-paid and near Asheville, NC more information is available upon request. This is a great opportunity to work with professionals in all areas of theatre, and get your foot in the door of entertainment. Please private message me if you are interested.

Sincerely,
Caroline

21

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Manager gone Actor? Bad idea?

« on: Sep 02, 2013, 10:38 am »

Thanks everyone for all of the wonderful advice! I would go audition, but it turns out that I will be the production stage manager for this production instead of the ASM. I've never been a PSM at a professional theatre before so I'm a little excited! However, I will also be stepping out of my comfort zone and doing a little bit of acting in a different arena as well. Thanks Again!

22

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Stage Manager gone Actor? Bad idea?

« on: Jul 23, 2013, 10:06 am »

Hey Everyone!

I know I have posted a lot lately...sorry . So Mulan is coming to our local professional theatre's youth program. I've always wanted to play the role of Mulan, but have always been the only rehearsal SM, and the backstage ASM responsible for all the prop runs and set movements backstage for the youth program shows for the last two years. All I really have is a ton of impressive SM credits, but SM and acting couldn't be more different. On the other hand I have done well in some acting classes with the director. Since it is on of my dream roles I feel like not auditioning would be a mistake. Is this wise? I already have a reputation at this theatre as a great SM and ASM (the director claims he can't do a show without me anymore), but I really want to get some acting experience because ultimately I want to be a director. Not sure what the reaction would be though...I'm not sure anyone on the production staff has any idea I'm even interested in acting at all. If I were to get cast I think I would feel badly leaving them with no rehearsal SM, that would be awkward. Auditioning would be a fun experience, especially if going into it you don't expect to receive the part because they need you backstage...
Thoughts?

23

Students and Novice Stage Managers / What am I getting myself into?

« on: Jul 13, 2013, 01:37 am »

No thread on this already so here it goes. What am I getting myself into? This is an interesting question regarding stage management that I don't feel like a lot of high school or college students fully understand, or even think about when considering going into stage management. I've really, really enjoyed stage management and have been volunteering full time at a nearby professional theatre. Some things I'm thing about right now when I'm considering college are:

1. Average Pay for a Stage Manager or anything in arts right now for that matter. It's pretty tight sounding....
2. The saturated job base there are so many people that want jobs in these areas.
3. Vacation Time. (I have this philosophy that you need to love what you do, but sometimes it's nice to have a life outside of work.)
4. I TOTALLY love doing it, everything about the whole process. But is it worth it to me? It's totally worth it when the show goes up, but will this outweigh the downsides 5 or 10 years down the road?

Is there anything on this list that I might be missing? I want to have as complete a list of prose and cons so that I can really consider what I'm doing with the rest of my life. I'm a straight A student and there are a lot of things that I could do, but very minimal things that I ENJOY doing. I thought about going into business administration for a while. However, even though it pays well that's the job my dad has, and I really think I would totally hate sitting in a office with no personality all day working.......I'm really trying to get myself to count the costs if/before I get involved in theatre arts as a career choice, because I don't want to be on this fence on this. I have been told by previous bosses that I am incredibly gifted, because I am so artistic but have a great business and organization sense. Theatre has become so much a part of who I am and it's what I love to do, but I also want to be realistic about it about my career. Are there some other jobs that I might be interested in looking into for comparisons sake? Thoughts?

24

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Double casting

« on: Jul 12, 2013, 08:04 am »

My double casting experiences have been the same as Jessie_K's. Both casts are called to the rehearsal and one cast starts and the 2nd cast takes notes in their script and then they switch so that both casts get an even amount of rehearsal time. Then we come up with who does the run through's and performances and send this schedule out to the parents. We have one put in rehearsal on the day where the casts switch so that they can get used to the tech and things during the run, and normally everyone is called to tech and they take turns during the tech process.

25

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Working with parents of young actors or people you know

« on: Jul 11, 2013, 11:08 am »

Does this theatre have a policy of no parents backstage (except for drop off and pick up)?  Non-essential personnel backstage have no business being there.
[/quote]

Yes, the parents are not allowed backstage after half-hour and this parent has obeyed this rule so far. Thank you so much for the help everyone. I really appreciate it as this situation was particularly difficult to deal with.

Thanks,
Caroline

26

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Working with parents of young actors or people you know

« on: Jul 11, 2013, 01:51 am »

Hello All,
Here's the problem: I am PA/Child Guardian during a production of Les Miserables. Because of the set and equipment the kids need to be run to their entrances and picked up after their exits, but I also have normal run crew duties. I can totally run both during a show, however one of the kids in the cast is an old friend of the family and his/her mother likes to come up to me all the time and offer points, suggestions and things to change about the way I work. I suck it up and take it, but she offers suggestions every spare minute she has, even while not at work. I don't mind her wanting to be involved, and am enjoying some constructive critiques but there comes a point, especially during tech and the early run process, where it get's downright irritating. Is there a way to help draw a very clear line between friend and professional relations. i.e. conversations like I don't see why it's such a big deal to ask (stage manager) if such and such child (30 seconds of stage time) can get released before the curtain call. 1 it's not your child I understand where your coming from but if it such an issue I'd rather the parents or guardian of that child come to me. Which was what I responded with in this instance, but the point was pushed until I was just like you sort of have a point I'll bring it up with the SM. I hate to bother the stage manager with questions like these, especially during the technical process. In my opinion she's in the show she's blocked in the curtain call so yes she needs to stay. This has become especially difficult as this lady has become my ride to and from the theatre on more than one occasion because I can't drive yet. What should I do?
Thanks,
Caroline

27

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: Fighting with Teenagers - a copyright story

« on: Jun 14, 2013, 11:47 pm »

Read the whole thing! Wow, I think for me it's easy to stick a song from the library through the copy machine for an audition/talent show and not think about how it effects the person who wrote it. Never again. It might be too late for Brenna, but not for me. From now on I'm going to go the extra mile to make sure that the artists who created these songs/scripts that we enjoy get their fair share. Thanks for sharing! It was very eye opening.

28

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE:Fox Searchlight should have paid interns, judge rules

« on: Jun 13, 2013, 09:07 am »

I read the article and was wondering...I've been an unpaid intern for two years and was wondering when it was acceptable/how to ask for a job/paid internship. I don't have a degree yet. I love working at the theatre and I love the people there. I don't want to seem ungrateful for all the education they have given me, and how much they have grown me to do better a job over the last few years. Most of the directors I have worked under have been amazing, and even though the theatre is on a tight budget right now,  they personally give me a nice gift at the end of every show where I work under them. My parents have been pressuring me to find a job, but all the choices I have I would have to pick between that and theatre. I can't have both my family sometimes asks why I'm not getting paid at the theatre already and they kinda have a point. If I'm going to make a career out of this I'm going to have to have to make some money eventually, I don't want to be stuck forever in not getting paid. Pretty soon I'm going to have to face reality. What are some steps I can take to avoid being stuck in the unpaid cycle forever?

~Confused Intern   

29

Introductions / Re: hello from new england!

« on: Jun 13, 2013, 08:00 am »

Hey Jessie and welcome to official membership! I hope your enjoying it so far! On managing the scripts constant fluctuation, here's some thoughts and I hope they help you. If you have any more questions that I might be able to help you with feel free to reply/private message me and I would be happy to answer them.
1. Line Change Sheets- This is basically an excel spreadsheet that lists all the changes in the lines to keep the production staff and cast up to date at all times. I'll try to attach a copy of what I use in school for a line change sheet although you could also google it and get a more detailed example.
2. Backing Pages- Some stage managers use a backing page in their script or they just use a blank page on one side of the script. If your right handed hole punch your pages on the right side so that the blank side of the paper will be on the right side making it easier to write. If your left handed hole punch the left side for the same reason. You can search the internet to look for more information about backing pages because they work for some shows and sometimes they don't.
3. Detailed Rehearsal Reports- The more detailed your rehearsal reports the easier it will be to send out info and keep everyone up to date on what's going on/any changes to the script.
4. Try to keep an updated copy of the script in word/on the computer if you can. I know this is not always possible however it's nice to be able to keep an updated script in the dropbox so that you could print out the updated version for the designers at tech. (Make sure that they have the same page numbers as yours)
That's what I could think of that might help fix that, and I hope this helps you.
~Caroline

30

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: Low Pay/No Pay (UK article, interesting read)

« on: Jun 13, 2013, 07:20 am »

I had always assumed that "it is what it is". I had been told that the starving artist lifestyle was the only way, I think most people were (who else use to say "I'll live on someone's floor in NY if I have to, I don't care I just want to do theatre")  Unfortunately a lot of the time it is the only way, but I don't "love" it enough to live that way.  Which is exactly why I am doing this while it is still fun and while my non-theatre business grows and brings in my actual income.  I don't know what I would do if I actually lived off of this paycheck.

That's cool that you have a side business and are still able to do theatre. I was wondering, I really enjoy theatre and would like to go into that but I'd really like to do something like you mentioned to bring in the "real" paycheck, but haven't been able to find anything. Is there a degree that I could get in college that could go both ways? Into the theatre world but could also be used to bring in the actual income? I've already considered a business degree and kind of on the fence with that one...any thoughts? Thanks