Messages

1

The Green Room / Re: Road Life Advice

« on: Dec 30, 2009, 04:04 pm »

what kind of tour? union or non, big cast musical or 2-person straight play, venue sizes, flying or bus/truck - etc - that info will inform a lot

Thanks for all the great advice guys!  I'm going out with CATS. It's a non Eq, bus & truck tour.  The IA portion of the contract is modified pink.   

2

The Green Room / Road Life Advice

« on: Dec 28, 2009, 03:00 pm »

I am about to go out on my first tour!  I know there are a few of you on here who have done quite a bit of touring and was wondering if you have any advice about life on the road.  I'm actually going out as an assistant electrician (don't hate me, just needed a break from sming for a while), so I'm more interested in general tips on how to stay sane when the days get long, the locals don't know the difference between SR and SL, or etc...  Thanks! 

3

Employment / Mingling With Other Departments

« on: Dec 14, 2009, 12:12 pm »

We all know the recession has hit the theatre world hard.  For those of us not lucky enough to have a resident position with a company, jobs can come farther apart.   I was just curious if any of you have found yourselves picking up jobs in other departments but still within the theatre.  For example, I took a four week job as the wardrobe mistress for the Nutcracker to get me through December while I'm in between contracts.  I also work over-hire for my I.A.T.S.E local.  Any of you ever do something similar?  Any of you ever thought about broadening your training in another area such as electrics or carpentry?

4

Employment / Re: resume format

« on: Nov 14, 2009, 10:48 pm »

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.  I'm always interested in hearing about how other people organize their resumes. Much like we all have different styles as stage managers, I don't think there is only one way to do a resume- though there are probably many wrong ones.      Resumes seem to be constant works in progress and recently I've been experimenting with the formatting on mine.  I do have separate resumes for my sm and electrics work as some of you have suggested.  Both contain most of the same stuff just organized differently to highlight certain things.  PSMKay, I like your great point about modular, customizable resumes being good examples of versatility. I hadn't quite thought about it that way before. 

5

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What I did over my summer vacation...

« on: Nov 09, 2009, 01:21 am »

I was an apprentice technician at the Santa Fe Opera.  Fantastic program!  I learned a lot.  Love the country there too, it's so beautiful.  Sunsets back East just don't compare! 

6

Employment / Re: resume format

« on: Nov 09, 2009, 01:06 am »

I have a couple questions I'd like some input on.

1) Do you guys favor organizing your resumes by the positions you've held, or the level/type of company that you've worked for?  For example, currently the shows listed on my resume are organized under the headings of STAGE MANAGEMENT, ELECTRICS, and RELATED.  However I'm considering changing it to things such as  PROFESSIONAL, TOURING, CORPORATE, REGIONAL, COLLEGIATE, and COMMUNITY.   Does one format come across as more professional or stand out better?

2) Currently I am stage managing an outreach touring children's opera that is produced by a university.  I am not and have never been a student at this school.  I was hired as an independent contractor. How would you recommend I list this show on my resume in a way that indicates I'm not a student stage manager?

Thanks! 

7

Tools of the Trade / Re: Eartec headsets

« on: Oct 30, 2009, 04:15 pm »

I own the Eartec Cyber headset and LOVE it for most applications. There are some times when it is difficult to hear, such as having an opera singer singing beside you, but for cueing at the tech table all day there is nothing I'd rather have.

I also have an Eartec cyber and I think it's the best thing I've ever bought myself. For the louder shows that I do (or when I'm not in a booth) I usually revert back to a single muff or a double muff headset...but the cyber is amazing I even have LD's always asking me where I got my headset.

I've been wanting to buy my own lightweight headset for a while because I hate the heavy ones that seem to come standard with most of the clear com systems I come in contact with.  I was comparing the Eartec Cyber with the Eartec Slimline Single and wondered if any of you have used both and what you preferred.  I'd definitely rather the lightweight Cyber but I'm usually working/calling from backstage and was wondering if I'd hear better with the Slimline Single.  Any recommendations?

8

The Green Room / Re: Stage managing your life

« on: Jul 30, 2009, 04:14 pm »

Its funny you used the term "life manager" because I had an actor in my last show who called me just that.  (And continues to do so).  Ever since the day I bumped into him on my way to open the theater and he asked me if he should take a bath or a shower before call, the two of us have decided that I will manage his life for him someday.   Its a fun running gag, as a "life manager" text message never fails to make me smile.

HA!  I had a similar experience with an actor in my last show as well.  He said that if he ever got a personal assistant he wanted it to be me.  So our running joke became that when he finally lands his sitcom out in in LA and becomes wildly famous I will move out there and manage his life. 

9

Employment / Re: Cruise Line Recommendations

« on: Jul 30, 2009, 02:08 pm »

Thanks guys!  This helps a lot!!!

10

Employment / Cruise Line Recommendations

« on: Jul 28, 2009, 01:47 pm »

I would really like to work on a cruise ship in the fall and was wondering if any of you can recommend good companies to apply for or ones that should be avoided.  I've been doing some research online and so far Princess, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean are the ones that stood out to me. 

Any other advice about cruise line work overall?  I'm interested in more of a general stagehand position than SMing because I want to build up my technical experience (specifically in lighting) but don't have enough knowledge yet to apply for an electrics only job. 

Thanks!

11

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / MORALE: Long Runs

« on: Dec 19, 2008, 09:01 am »

Tonight I will to my 53 performance of White Christmas since November 11th.  (No I'm not working on the B'way production but at a regional dinner theatre).  Most of these have been 8 show weeks but some had as many as 11.  There was one two-week stretch with 22 shows in a row and no days off.  We close on New Years Eve so I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel but I'm wondering how others of you handle long runs with grueling schedules? (Or long runs period) How do you keep the show fresh and the actors motivated?  How do you keep from getting personally worn down which can in turn effect company moral?  I've worked very hard to stay on top of this show but some days the very last thing I wanted to do was go to the theatre.  

Thoughts?

12

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Do you call from house or backstage?

« on: Dec 06, 2008, 01:14 am »

I actually call my shows, not from backstage, not from the front of the theatre, but from ABOVE the stage.  Yes that's right, above the stage.  The theatre I work at is in the round and I call the shows from upstairs looking down through the grid and I have a TV monitor that shows (most of) the stage from the front.  This is a carryover from the days when the stage there went up and down via hydraulics.  The SM would raise the grid up then raise the stage.  They'd load set pieces on from upstairs and lower everything back down again.  This was all long before I worked here.  The hydraulics broke and I'm told would be cost prohibitive to fix.  However, the light board (which I also run) is still upstairs right by the old controls for the stage and grid.  To be honest, while I've gotten used to it, I hate calling from above because no matter how you slice it, it's really hard to see and get a true feel for the show.  Especially when it comes to lighting.  I'm thinking about starting a campaign to move the light board downstairs and out in the house next to audio.  Not sure if I'd be abel to connivence our producer though because it'd require eliminating a couple seats.     

13

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: "Shadowing" Stage Managers?

« on: Jan 15, 2008, 11:24 pm »

I am going to be in vegas Tomorrow and go see "Phantom" at the Ventain

I saw the B'way touring production of Phantom last week as it's currently playing in my city.  It's was fabulous!  Being a techie at heart I was totally geeking out.      

I also happen to be fortunate enough to know the production supervisor for the theatre where it's playing and he's been able to arrange for me to sit in one of the production offices backstage and watch the show via the video monitor and listen to it being called over the clear com biscuit.  I might be able to sit backstage, but he wasn't making any promises.  Regardless of where I observe from, I'm still hoping to be able to meet the SM and chat a bit. I'm going this weekend.  I can't wait!!!   

14

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Question from an newbie!

« on: Jan 13, 2008, 06:00 pm »

Send it to me in an e-mail
philip@audioguys.net

I would love to see a copy too, if you don't mind. bemanning@att.net

15

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Study Abroad

« on: Jan 11, 2008, 11:03 am »

My last year of college, I went through BUNAC, www.bunac.org, to live and work for 6 months in the UK.  I was able to PA at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and met a ton of folks who offered me work (and a British Equity card) in London.  Plus, because it's a work visa, I was able to earn enough to pay all my expenses, and travel around.   I got credit for the experience through an independent study course at the college.  It was a great experience.

WOW! That sounds amazing.  It would probably be a little over a year till I could do something like that but I've always wanted to work in theatre in Europe and am intrigued by what BUNAC offers.  How did you go about lining up your job?