Author Topic: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)  (Read 7372 times)

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StageSerenity

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Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« on: Feb 22, 2013, 05:45 am »
Ok… I have a problem. It does say community theatre as my primary experience but this is the end of my senior year in high school.

I want to stage manage the spring play. I decided to make stage management a career, and during the last two shows at my high school have not been able to be on running crew due to important conflicts (like marching in a national marching band and a state science contest) and picking up those show seasons at a local community theatre. I have had this position “reserved” for the last year. All of a sudden now someone else wants to do it, and he’s being quite confrontational about the whole thing. The first time I even heard utter a thing about stage management was when he cornered me on the back stairs to “inform” me that he was stage managing this show. I calmly spoke that I had already asked to stage manage this show. He then proceeded to argue his point to me pointing out “my lack of devotion to the program” questioning me “where the @%#! were you the last two shows!” One thing I forgot to mention, this guy is a junior. For me that’s you have three more shows for you to stage manage next year. I don’t want a fight but it seems that the crew is starting to pick sides, something that I definitely don’t want. 

The director is so glad to have me stage managed the show again (I stage managed his 2012 spring play, which is where I think all of this conflict is coming from). It’s not a significantly hard show (dare I say it’s easy) but I’m still building my resume and portfolio for my BFA interviews right after this show. I talked to our Technical Director (that’s his only job at the school and he has plenty of on the road, on the job, and in the classroom experience) that he said that we were all acting like children and he would do it himself if he had to. I completely get where he is coming from. I tried to talk to this guy but he won’t let me even speak a few words before he’s angry and ranting again.

I wonder is it even worth it. I can’t go work the community theatre show due to a leadership conference that is a mandatory event on a show weekend, but I would love to add one last show before my interviews.
 
Some insight would be helpful and this situation has just popped up and decisions need to be made by Monday February 25, 2013.

Thank You,

Serenity

EDITED: Obscured cuss word in quote - yomanda - moderator
« Last Edit: Feb 24, 2013, 09:05 pm by yomanda »
Grant me the **Serenity**
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The courage to change the things I can,
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SMrose

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #1 on: Feb 22, 2013, 09:32 am »

In the University where I teach, faculty makes the decision on which student will stage manage each show in our season (some students SM more than once a season).

Skulking

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #2 on: Feb 22, 2013, 10:52 am »
I'm a bit confused.  I can't imagine that who stage manages the show is decided by agreement among the students. 


In the University where I teach, faculty makes the decision on which student will stage manage each show in our season (some students SM more than once a season).
As SMRose says, isn't there a faculty member or someone else ultimately in charge of the production who should be making the decision?  You mention talking with your TD, is he the one responsible for the show?  If not, why bring this to him?  If so, why doesn't he want to resolve this, if it keeps going it sounds like it would be bad for the show? 

PSMKay

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #3 on: Feb 22, 2013, 03:18 pm »
From what I'm reading, you have too many conflicts in general to be a stage manager this spring. Besides, another academic credit won't really boost your portfolio. Another community credit might. High school theater has almost no bearing on how it works at any other level.

The things you learn from doing an easy high school show will be minimal. If the other kid has aggro issues he is not well-suited for the task, but if that's how he wants to spend his spring, let him fail gloriously without destroying your dignity in the process.

In the real world you will have no say in whether you get hired. If you really want to spend your last semester of high school working with kids who view theater like a suicide pact, so be it. I think you might be better served spending the time interning at a pro house, though.

BARussell

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #4 on: Feb 22, 2013, 05:10 pm »
I SM'd one, yes one show in high school before applying for my BFA, you won't lose out cause you don't have this one experience, they are looking for a lot more than just credits when applying for stage management. I wouldn't make it a big drama, just let the chips fall where they may, your director should really be making these decisions.
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Maggie K

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #5 on: Feb 23, 2013, 12:23 am »
I agree with what everyone else has said but I did want to mention one thing.  If this other person has acted in a threatening manner or has been harassing you in any way please make sure that someone in an authority position is made aware of the situation.  Protect yourself and be safe.
I like the ephemeral thing about theatre, every performance is like a ghost - it's there and then it's gone. -Maggie Smith

NomieRae

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #6 on: Feb 23, 2013, 11:50 pm »
Echoing people before me... breathe. It'll be okay if you don't do the show. Enjoy your last semester of high school and the experiences you won't have again.

I also got jilted out of my last show my senior year, and yes, it seemed like the end of the world at the time. Nearly a decade later, it doesn't even matter. You know why? I got into my fabulous BFA program with just one high school show on my "resume" as a stage manager.

« Last Edit: Feb 23, 2013, 11:52 pm by NomieRae »
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leastlikely

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #7 on: Feb 24, 2013, 01:00 am »
The first show I ever stage managed was the final slot of my senior year of high school. Prior to that I had definitely been involved in every show in my HS career - whether I was acting, designing props, AD/ASMing (we usually gave these jobs to one person), helping build costumes, coming in for all-day Saturdays to build sets, or working on run crew, I was involved in every single one of them. We had to apply for positions on each show, and the director would consider applications and choose them. I applied to SM, and so did one other girl, who had only been involved for two years, but had only done technical work. She was a close friend of mine. I got the SM spot, and she ended up being offered AD and ASM. She was REALLY upset about it. She blew up at me, saying I didn't deserve the job because I was an actor, and hadn't really done tech before. Not just her... LOTS of people blew up at me, actually. It was a truly miserable time. But I refused to give up my job. I had earned it fair and square - the director received two applications, and she knew us both well, and she chose me.

It turns out... the show needed her as ASM. There were complicated scene shifts, and I would not have been good enough to coordinate it all myself. I needed her on deck. If we had switched jobs... well, I didn't want to because I had already AD'ed and ASM'ed before and wanted a different experience... but also, the show would have not worked as well as it did. I wasn't good enough to manage the deck. I called the cues and it was fine, but I know for sure that I would have been a disaster backstage, and the show would have been a big mess.

She was still pretty bitter toward me through most of the rehearsal process, but during tech I think it hit both of us how important it was for her to be the ASM.

We graduated a few months later and went to the same university... and by coincidence, ended up living on opposite ends of the same hall. We didn't spend much of the first semester around each other, but second semester of freshman year we were back to being best friends, and sophomore year we lived together.

This isn't really helpful because it doesn't contain any advice. But just... high schoolers are high schoolers. There are going to be conflicts. People will get over it. Sometimes you have to give up on the thing you had your heart set on, in order to keep others happy. Or sometimes you have to do what's right for you and people will be upset but oh well. If this conflict is going to create a toxic environment, maybe you don't want to take this gig. If it's more important to get the experience and you're okay with staying in a fight with this guy, possibly for a long time, then take it. Only you can decide what your priorities are.

BARussell

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #8 on: Feb 24, 2013, 02:43 am »
I should add, I wasn't even allowed to go into my theatre classroom during my last semester of high school, because I "threw a chair at my director", I'm still a professional stage manager so it all worked out. You seem to have a lot going for you, more than I did, so you will be more than fine.
"We don't negotiate with weirdos!"

MatthewShiner

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #9 on: Feb 24, 2013, 12:16 pm »
And, if it helps, I have had a fairly successful career in stage management, and never stage managed until I was in a Junior in College . . .

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #10 on: Feb 24, 2013, 12:46 pm »
I should add, I wasn't even allowed to go into my theatre classroom during my last semester of high school, because I "threw a chair at my director",

What?!  :o

BARussell

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #11 on: Feb 24, 2013, 03:29 pm »
I should add, I wasn't even allowed to go into my theatre classroom during my last semester of high school, because I "threw a chair at my director",

What?!  :o

It was a bad day...Because I didn't want to play Henry Higgins in our production of My Fair Lady and I wanted to stage manage, my director said I had a bad attitude and must be having problems at home, she then threatened me with being impeached as president of the thespian society, and she would revoke my recommendation letter to the college that I actually ended up going to. She was also forcing me to try to fix a backdrop that was painted crooked and do lights for the show. Let's just say I got a little frustrated and I actually hit a chair upstage toward the drop and away from her (she was about 20 feet away in the house).  By the time I was willingly taken to the principal's office the story had become I threw a chair at her. Anyway I had class with my guidance counselor for a few months...

Is there a "That time I lost my cool..." thread on the boards?
"We don't negotiate with weirdos!"

ASM

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #12 on: Feb 25, 2013, 06:20 pm »
Being in high school myself (freshman, stage managing my first high school show), I have a suggestion on what to do based on what my school does. For our production of 'You Can't Take It With You,' we have 3 stage managers. The director has assigned us each a department. I am on props, while the other two, one a sophomore and one an junior, are heading up costuming as well as the hospitality for our cast,  and the other is in charge of technical things. There are three performances of the show, so we will each have the opportunity to call one show, and the junior will take our place where we usually go. I understand that this may not work for other, larger shows (there's really no scene changes in our show), however it may be something you want to consider.
Life's a stage, and I'm constantly changing the scenery :D

StageSerenity

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #13 on: Feb 26, 2013, 06:52 am »
Update: today is the day I find out how the fates knoted my life. I will make sure that I post the final result.

Thank you all for the stories, words of wisdom and advice,

StageSerenity
Grant me the **Serenity**
to accept the things that I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the Wisdom to hide those people...

MatthewShiner

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Re: Is It Even Worth It?? (Conflict resolution)
« Reply #14 on: Feb 26, 2013, 11:17 am »
Quote
Update: today is the day I find out how the fates knoted my life.

Regardless of the outcome, it's just a show . . . just a gig . . . there will always be another one.  They arelike buses, or fish in the sea.

I have spent too much time in my career worried about getting the "dream" gig, the "perfect" show, or what I think is the one I have to have next to make my career . . . in reality this career is not linear, not planned, nor never perfect.

I hope the outcome is what is best for you.
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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.

 

riotous