Author Topic: Email signature  (Read 7840 times)

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Mae

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Email signature
« on: Jan 06, 2015, 03:47 am »
Hi gang,

I was wondering if anyone had thoughts about email signatures? Specifically if you include the show you are working on.

I have a general one saying I am a freelancer and my contact info, but when I am working on several projects at a time what do you suggest?

Thanks!
Mae Frankeberger
Freelance SM and Production Coordinator
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Mac Calder

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Re: Email signature
« Reply #1 on: Jan 06, 2015, 04:18 am »
I would not include current show if I was a freelancer. It will only cause more hassle than it is worth when company x gets annoyed that you are currently more focused on company y (even though X is not paying you yet) etc.

iamchristuffin

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Re: Email signature
« Reply #2 on: Jan 06, 2015, 06:10 am »
I keep multiple signatures stored - one for each show I am working on or booked for, and a generic one:

Many Thanks,

Chris Tuffin
Freelance Stage Management
[My email]
[My phone number]

So I use that if it's not an email for a specific show.

MatthewShiner

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Re: Email signature
« Reply #3 on: Jan 06, 2015, 10:48 am »
For full productions, I have a separate email for every show.

showtitle.psm@gmail.com (sample)

so, customize email signature based on the show.

this allows me to keep my shows (and life) separate.
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Anything posted here as in my own personal opinion, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of my employer - whomever they be at a given moment in time.

nick_tochelli

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Re: Email signature
« Reply #4 on: Jan 06, 2015, 01:37 pm »
Matt's method I think is the best, and I was coming in to post it if he hadn't done so already...

But for me it was always generic AEA Stage Manager blah blah blah, or I'd customize it by show but remove it when needed. I'd leave it for family, but if I was job hunting I'd leave it to AEA Stage Manager. The company I was talking to could figure out what I was doing by my resume.

Branden

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Re: Email signature
« Reply #5 on: Jan 06, 2015, 06:45 pm »
For full productions, I have a separate email for every show.

showtitle.psm@gmail.com (sample)

so, customize email signature based on the show.

this allows me to keep my shows (and life) separate.

I've always had problems with this. I did have separate emails for a few shows, but I would discover that every once in a while I'd get an email in one of them from an old AD or so-and-so that worked on the show wanting to know if I was free for another gig.

Since I don't check all of them anymore, I didn't want to risk a job or contact coming through that I missed, so I stick to one email account.
Branden Scott Stewart

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bex

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Re: Email signature
« Reply #6 on: Jan 06, 2015, 07:03 pm »
I've always had problems with this. I did have separate emails for a few shows, but I would discover that every once in a while I'd get an email in one of them from an old AD or so-and-so that worked on the show wanting to know if I was free for another gig.

Since I don't check all of them anymore, I didn't want to risk a job or contact coming through that I missed, so I stick to one email account.

I've only done this with one show, but I set up an auto-forward for any emails that come in to that address to come to my regular account, and also a vacation reminder that says basically "Hey I don't check this email anymore please contact me via my personal email at blah @gmail.com"
You will have to sing for your supper & your mortgage, your dental coverage & your children's shoes, over & over again while people in desk jobs roll their eyes the minute you start to complain. So it's a good thing you like to sing.

Branden

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Re: Email signature
« Reply #7 on: Jan 06, 2015, 07:49 pm »
I'll also note (on a related topic) that I've recently been obsessing over using Gmail's 'Canned Responses' feature to have several signatures saved for my gmail address. It's been a lifesaver.

I've only done this with one show, but I set up an auto-forward for any emails that come in to that address to come to my regular account, and also a vacation reminder that says basically "Hey I don't check this email anymore please contact me via my personal email at blah @gmail.com"

I can't believe I didn't do that. I feel foolish.
Branden Scott Stewart

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MatthewShiner

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Re: Email signature
« Reply #8 on: Jan 06, 2015, 11:27 pm »
Once a show closes - I forward all emails to my home account, and send a vacation announcement saying the show had closed.

Never had a problem really.
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Anything posted here as in my own personal opinion, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of my employer - whomever they be at a given moment in time.

leastlikely

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Re: Email signature
« Reply #9 on: Jan 07, 2015, 07:46 pm »
I list all current or soon-upcoming shows. I have two ongoing educational tours in addition to whatever show I may actively be working on, so I include all of that. I've seen some people who list all of their upcoming shows, like the next six months... that's a little much for me to want to read. But if I'm in performances for one show while starting production meetings for the next, I'd put both of them on my list.