Messages

46

Students and Novice Stage Managers / What do I need to know about working with professional actors?

« on: May 03, 2013, 12:10 pm »

Thank you so much for posting this! I was asked to take a volunteer position over the summer working on Les Mis at our regional theatre I'm only 15 and have the position of rehearsal ASM and PA/Child Wrangler for the younger versions of the characters when we get to tech and performances. The cast list was just announced and reading the names I'm getting a little worried, several Broadway actors/actresses and I'm going to be Rehearsal ASM I've never even helped with anything equity or mainstage before I've only SMed for their theatre education program. What do I need to know about working with professional actors other than just the equity rules? I mean I've heard that there are some quirks like some people stay in character for the whole duration of the show even while backstage....Is there anything else like that I should know? I'm also really nervous that I'm going to mess up and then I've got a whole room of professionals that will know about it. Also it would be really cool if I did a really awesome job to get reference letters from these people? How do I ask without being a bother? Thoughts? Also is it a wise idea to maybe say something about my concerns to the stage manager....I've never worked with her before. I'm a fast learner but since I'm new to the business sometimes I make mistakes and have to be told to do stuff that I normally shouldn't have to be told to do.... Thank you so much everyone you've been so helpful!

***Split from "What's the Difference?" to allow these questions to be answered without sidetracking the original post.  - yomanda***

47

College and Graduate Studies / Re: What can students do to get into a SM job faster and stay in it longer?

« on: May 02, 2013, 11:59 pm »

Okay thanks! I suppose what I'm trying to ask is there any internships in particular departments that could help me learn what I  need to know, because a stage manager has to be pretty well rounded right? I've already had a sort of unofficial internship at a local professional theatre since late 2011, and because of that have learned a ton. But is it better to have a lot of internships at one theatre, or a lot at a bunch of different theatres? I'd like to say thank you so much to every single person on these forums for posting such in depth information on everything I feel like I'm finally learning something just in reading the threads when I come home from rehearsal and then I'm like oh that's what they meant! I can't thank ya'll enough!

48

Tools of the Trade / Re: Backstage Emergency Kit

« on: May 02, 2013, 11:36 pm »

A great thing to have in there is a pair of tweezers. They are so often neglected from the average first aid kit for some reason, splinters are not supposed to happen but if you are working with a wooden set....really consider them. It's also strange but they can be used for a whole bunch of other things to because of the small ends I've used them as needle nose pliers etc. for some reason their a great thing to have backstage.

49

Tools of the Trade / Re: Herbal Cigarettes and other tobacco substitutes

« on: May 02, 2013, 11:30 pm »

I've never actually worked on a show yet where they've had to smoke before. However, I did go to see one at a university that involved tons of smoking but the student actors were not allowed to smoke so they used rolled up lettuce leaves. It seemed to work, didn't really stink the theatre up and looked realistic. Hope that helps you...

50

College and Graduate Studies / What can students do to get into a SM job faster and stay in it longer?

« on: May 02, 2013, 11:08 pm »

So it seems like a ton of people are going to college to be Stage Managers....What can high school senior Stage Manager wannabe's do to get an edge in the professional world? What can we do before, during and after college to get into a job faster and stay in a job longer? I searched for topics similar to this and could not seem to find one so I'm sorry if this is a repeat question...

51

The Green Room / Re: 10 things actors can do to get off to a good start with a stage manager

« on: May 02, 2013, 06:14 pm »

4. Bring your own pen, pencil, & eraser. The Stage Manager’s are back up – not your first line of defense.

6. Take your own blocking notes. When you do it it’s for character and intention, the Stage Manager is taking them for visual picture and cuing – you can help each other, but one is not a replacement for the other.

8.  When the cast goes out for lunch, invite the Stage Manager along. They probably will not be able to join you, but the invitation is nice.

Those are so true I wish all actors would do this! Here are my two additions to the list....

10. If it's not your prop/costume don't touch it!

11. Doors are not soundproof! Just because your in the dressing room doesn't mean the audience can't hear you if you talk.

52

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Can you earn a living? (2013 Research Data)

« on: May 01, 2013, 11:52 pm »

Ouch....that's uglier than I thought....I still really want to be a stage manager but....wow. What kind of other jobs can you do if your a stage manager because if you're working it's weird hours? Just out of curiosity.

53

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Early HS Graduation

« on: May 01, 2013, 10:27 pm »

I'd say go for it! Although I do agree with ScooterSM it has to be your choice. I'm currently a junior also and am thinking about graduating early too but another alternative might be to try to gain some more experience in the professional field before going to school shadowing and what not so that you can optimize your learning opportunities in college. Because then you can learn how the real world works and then go figure out some technics to make it run smoother...that's what I'm thinking about doing but I'm not sure lol. Break a leg!

54

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Rehearsals: Be quiet!

« on: May 01, 2013, 09:13 pm »

how do you help people be silent during rehearsals instead of talking and not focusing? (i'm dealing with high school seniors here. :roll: ) I have started to duck tape a sucker into their mouth, but when they're dancing, that's totally dangerous, and this also doesn't work on the people who have speaking roles. Does anybody have any suggestions? :?  8O  :?:

Oh my word I really don't like it when that happens. I was SMing a show at our regional theatre's education program and no one would stay quiet during the show! We had very little masking outside of dressing room doors and some places with just a curtain between them and the stage and we had talking in the wings! I didn't know what to do it seemed like I was always saying quiet please to where I said it so much it started to lose it's value and to make it worse half of the cast was older than me high school seniors and they would not shut it! I reported some people to the PSM and the director talked to them that helped for one show day....we managed to make it through the run but I felt like a fail because I was always telling people to be quiet and I wanted to be friends with the cast because they were my age but at the same time I had a job to do. I finally just decided to let some stuff slide and we made it through the run. Did you ever figure out how to enforce silence because if there's a trick to it I'd sure like to know.....it's so hard trying to figure stuff out with the cast when they are older than you......

55

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Manager Pay

« on: May 01, 2013, 07:03 pm »

How much do stage managers get paid? Is it worth studying in school and becoming professionally?   

I almost was about to post this same question. I am seriously considering doing Stage Management as a career and I can't picture myself doing anything else with my life. But, my parents what me to make sure it pays well enough to support myself with.....I honestly think I am willing to make the sacrifices to do what I love and if I can talk my parents into it what is the best degree to get if you want to become a stage manager? I know for a fact that I defiantly want to go into something for "Backstage" theatre and I have the most experience as a stage manager and I get the most joy out of that position. I guess what I'm trying to say what is the degree that would benefit me most in the future?