Messages

16

The Green Room / Maternity Leave

« on: Feb 24, 2016, 06:59 pm »

I have found some threads about the regulations and union perspective on this topic, but I am just looking for some mom advice at this point.
I am currently 10 weeks pregnant, and starting to think about how this will affect my work situation at the beginning of our next season. (I am a resident stage manager, non-union, and generally full time but on an annual contract.)
I would love to hear from some other women (and men I suppose) about their experiences with maternity leave while working as stage managers.
How did you decide how long to take? What was the ultimate decision? How was the transition going back to work? Who did you leave your little one with and how early?
Any general advice would be great.

Thanks! 

17

The Green Room / Re: Personal Budgeting

« on: Feb 18, 2016, 12:11 pm »

I just use good old excel myself! I tried a whole bunch of apps but in the end it turned out that what I really wanted was the flexibility to set it up exactly how I wanted it.

Same here! I am definitely rely on my monthly budget, and I love my excel spreadsheet. I just started with a template and then changed some categories to meet my needs. It definitely helps to make financial decisions when I can see if I'm on track any day of the month.

18

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera tips

« on: Feb 16, 2016, 01:10 pm »

Not an Opera SM, but I call ballets from a score, and I find timings helpful.
I will do 30s timings for Act timings and 15s timings for rehearsal tracks if they exist.
This helps with everything stated by other SM's plus makes it easy for me to add in 2 minute or 5 minute warnings for crew as needed.
Also, if we take a rehearsal video of a run through, timings will help me to pull up a specific moment when talking to creatives.

19

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: REPORTS: Director doesn't want rehearsal reports?

« on: Jan 07, 2016, 12:00 pm »

I do this with performance reports.
Since all of our staff are at performances and chat with me after, they do not want/need performance reports daily. I write up simple reports for archiving purposes, to provide a place for my own notes, and then if there ever is a time that I do need to send out notes, I already have a platform to do so.

It also never hurts to keep your note taking skills sharp.

20

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Backstage Water Hospitality

« on: Jan 04, 2016, 02:10 pm »

We also use the dixie cup method, but most of our dancers bring water bottles and there is a drinking fountain backstage at our theatre.
One stage manager that I worked with took a bin of plastic cups home with her and washed them...that worked well, but you may not be able or willing to do that especially with a large cast.
Have you thought about providing water pitchers but not cups? Each cast member could bring their own cup or water bottle.

I also had a cast once that asked me to provide a sharpie for their styrofoam coffee cups so that they could use them for a while before throwing them away. (one actor kept the same cup for a whole 6 week rehearsal period and 5 week run...to each his own.)

21

Tools of the Trade / Re: Casting Form

« on: Dec 24, 2015, 11:48 am »

Thank you, both. This is great. 

22

Tools of the Trade / Casting Form

« on: Dec 20, 2015, 11:40 am »

Forum Moderators, I'm not sure where to post this one...so feel free to move it for me. =]

I am looking to help our artistic staff out with preventing double casting with a new form.
I worked with a stage manager once who had a casting sheet that when you typed in a performer's name for a second time in one column, it would highlight the name. I am not sure how to do this.
Does anyone know how or have a form that I could use as a template to make one for myself?
Thank you in advance!

23

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Report/Notes Language

« on: Dec 16, 2015, 04:39 pm »

You bring up a good point.
I always say thank you in reports....and in general. I use it as a phrase that means "heard" on headset and I use it to end a conversation when I am walking away. I also usually use it as a closing salutation in e-mails.
I do it to just seem like I am appreciating responses instead of demanding them....but does this devalue the phrase? Interesting..

24

Employment / Re: The importance of on line presence

« on: Dec 02, 2015, 12:34 pm »

Well, linkedin was going to be my suggestion, but its not the only way.

Is it worth making a very simple one page website that won't need much maintenance?
Something like "Hi, I'm a stage manager in blah blah area with blah blah training. Here is how to contact me."

25

Tools of the Trade / Re: Sticker Suggestions (or alternative)

« on: Nov 30, 2015, 10:09 am »

Ah. That sounds like a great solution.
Thank you!

26

Tools of the Trade / Sticker Suggestions (or alternative)

« on: Nov 20, 2015, 02:29 pm »

Hi Team SM Hivemind,
I am working on a new ballet where there is dialogue over the top of a score. I call from a piano score, and I am trying to come up with the best way of putting the dialogue in for myself. I want it to be able to time out right, and be moveable in rehearsals.
The best that I have come up with is to type the dialogue out on stickers so that I can easily move and cut words apart to expand.
So here is my question - does anyone know of good stickers for typing on that can easily peel up and re-stick? (I use the avery stickers for cues, and like these.)

Other suggestions are also welcome.

Thanks!!

27

Employment / Re: Stage Management Salary

« on: Nov 09, 2015, 04:41 pm »

I would really love to see an updated version of this thread - maybe with more precise poll answers?
If you're not union, it can be really hard to figure out what your value is to a company.

28

Self-Promotion / Re: My Fair Lady - Skylight

« on: Oct 23, 2015, 06:34 pm »

I have been meaning to get to a sow at Skylight, but I haven't gotten around to it yet! Do you have an industry night or anything like that?

29

The Green Room / Re: Last Call for New Questions for the Stage Manager Survey

« on: Oct 15, 2015, 11:54 am »

I love the fast food, coffee, and alcohol consumption question. Could we get another chart or 2 to compare these to tech and performance weeks?

I would also like to know about pay scales - how do people get paid? salaried? flat rate? - and work week hours.

I also think it would be interesting to know who considers themselves a freelancer and who is a contracted or full time employee of a specific company.

30

The Hardline / Re: Calling All Ballet Stage Managers

« on: Sep 24, 2015, 10:37 am »

I am not sure of my thoughts on becoming AGMA. It sounds like my company is against the idea...I don't know if it's because they think AGMA will demand more than I will or why. I think the more important thing for me is to try to create a contract or become a full time employee. I don't feel like I am being mistreated or that I need outside representation to have these conversations with my bosses. I think more things just need to be put in to writing.

BayAreaSM, sorry if I asked sort of re-worded things that you had already specified, and thank you for the clarification. Having the list of what is included in your contract definitely helps. No need to create more work for yourself.

Thank you both for your help!