Messages

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Just finished calling my first show!...

« on: Mar 16, 2007, 01:17 am »

hmm I wasn't a stage manager at the time I was assistant directing--

Bear in mind I had hyperextended my shoulder two days before and should have been in a sling but I left it off for the day (bad idea) and on mild painkillers--

we were doing pippin and our set included 2 giant moving 16 ft high or so scaffold pieces. well one day we dedicated part of rehearsal to having the cast play on and get comfortable with the pieces

My family works in construction so I've been playing on scaffolding since I was a kid but the cast was kind of apprehensive (imagine a bunch of private school kids who don't do much tree climbing etc) so for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to show them how "safe" they were. So I said "watch I'm going to jump from the very top and if I don't get hurt then you know you'll be safe of them cause you wont do anything that crazy" I jumped and landed about 3 inches from the pit. Needless to say I spent the rest of the day sitting (I had twisted my knee). I wore a brace for the next week and a half but they didn't know that  and they felt safe on the scaffold.

What makes it better is on the way up I said "I'll even do a trick or two for you on the way up." And then proceeded to use my bad shoulder to fling me into and twist myself up the scaffold.

*moderately embarassed* 

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Anyone have to pre-rig milk cartons?

« on: Mar 16, 2007, 01:05 am »

this is a little more off the wall but--

you could always put a little piece of velcro in between the folds.

or secure the top with a piece of clear tape and have him open it in a way that it wouldn't show

or even get a paper clip thats the same color as the carton. the actor could easily flick it off into the bag as he's taking the carton out...

let me know what how it goes! good luck!

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Pre-show Blues

« on: Jan 08, 2007, 02:57 pm »

oh man...high school theatre is RIDICULOUS!!!

I did two shows at my high school before I started working at a place in my town doing shows. I feel like I sold out a little because I go to a small private school and everyone knows everyone really well. So its kind of like I'm being shunned a little for "deserting them".

But at the same time, high school theatre gave me a really messed up idea of what actually happened in the real world. And when I went to work with a professional company this summer all of that got straightened out. Then when I went back to school I just got fed up with myself and everyone else and went back to hanging out with my college friends from the summer.

My best advice for you is to 1) not get frustrated with/be too hard on yourself 2) take care of yourself physically and 3) roll with the punches the best you can. I had an inexperienced crew on my first show back at school from this summer and it was slightly infuriating because I was using lingo and expecting things that they didn't even know existed. The best way I could figure out how to get through it was to say to myself "hey, these guys are younger/less experienced and willing to learn from me. being able to teach them is a privelige and I should at least enjoy it a little!"

Hope everything works out!

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Two shows at once?

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 10:49 am »

wow, I'm stuck in your exact same position.

My school does a variety show every year and I was sort of roped into doing that. And a few weeks later  an aquaintance from a summer stock show I was on running crew for  offered me the chance to stage manage my first professional production. I decided it was too good of a chance to pass up.

The only downside has been that despite the fact that I told my director that if he didn't think I could do all he needed me to for the variety show, that a friend of mine could easily take over, my director has been really rude and mean to me the past week (I started the other show this week.) He also proceeded to tell me off in front of the entire men's chorale section, but thats a different story.

That said, I've been extremely happy working on my other show (R&J). The cast is amazing and it's been one of the best experiences I've had. We opened last night and it went PERFECTLY. And I've been able to juggle my shows well and get my work for school done to...So my advice is: If its too good to pass up, don't pass it up. Especially if you know you can juggle the responsiblities. However I would be prepared for a little backlash every now and then. Although I don't know your director(s) so the second part may not apply!


Good luck!

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SMNetwork Archives / Re: Emergency Forms

« on: Oct 13, 2006, 08:15 pm »

my parents are notary publics, so I asked them about this. They said that even if someone is  over 18 and certified, the stage manager for a show couldn't notarize documents for anyone in their company because it's a conflict of interests or something or other. Basically, you know them and have a reason of your own to natarize their work other than money so...

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: ASM choice conflict

« on: Sep 18, 2006, 07:14 pm »

thanks for all your input guys!!!!

I resolved the situation, whee!

For all of you who said about the not always getting to choose:

I completely understand that and I've worked in professional environments, so I'm aware of the choice option and I know its rather unique to my high school. That said, it is a part of my high school, so it does play a factor in my life. I wasn't trying to sound whiney, but its kind of a "perk" at my school that I don't want to be denied.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: ASM choice conflict

« on: Sep 17, 2006, 10:06 pm »

yeah, I'm going to talk to him tomorrow. our TD isn't really a TD in the traditional sense, a better term for him would be "tech god" cause he's on the same level as our director. He's an awesome guy, definitely one of my favorite teachers, but he's just not getting his way on this one.

our director suggested Stu once too, and I explained the situation to her and she completely understands, unfortunately she's on maternity leave for a few months and the guy doing it is fresh out of college and really has NO clue what he's doing. (this whole thing is for our talent show on steroids like thing)

I thought of getting Stu to be house manager, because he's good at dealing with patrons, just not being in charge of people, and our ushers wouldn't need much instruction from him.

Thank you for you're input it really helps.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Teamwork: ASM choice conflict

« on: Sep 17, 2006, 08:01 pm »

Okay, so here's my problem. There's a certain tech crew member at my school (let's call him Stu) and our quasi-technical director. Stu has approached me on multiple occasions about ASMing for me, and I have sort of skirted the issue and said "maybe." However, I was recently informed by our quasiTD that I "must" appoint Stu as one of my ASM for a production because Stu went over my head and talked to our TD. However, I have considered him in the past and decided against having him work with me because:

1. My crew has approached me with complaints about how power hungry and abusive he can be backstage. They have also flat out said that they will not listen to him if he is an ASM, or that they won't do crew. The people saying this are very competent, useful people to have backstage and I don't want to risk losing them.

2. He has a very hard time taking direction. Once the former SM and I asked him where he was going and he proceeded to scream at us and say for us to shove it in a certain area and that he won't listen to us.

3. He simply isn't as competent as other members of my crew. He is simply a junior and believe it's his "right" to be an ASM due to his age. Personally, I go for competence before age.

4. I have personal qualms with working with him given his personal views on the world, and his inability to put them aside during "work." He has sent me multiple sexist emails (despite the fact that I never gave him my email address, or at least not the one he's using) with instructions on how I am "supposed" to act like a 50s housewife. He has also declared to nearly the whole school (I go to a very small private school) that he hates gays and wouldn't work with them. I am a lesbian, and although he doesn't know yet, it's not uncommon for one of my cast members to arrive at rehearsal early and in small talk while we are doing our respective tasks ask "how's your girlfriend doing?"

5. I am also a little apprehensive that I don't have free choice of who my ASMs are given that every stage manager before me at my school has had the choice.   

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys! 

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Managing the World

« on: Aug 18, 2006, 12:28 pm »

I once called a kiss before....it was kind of funny...and the girl thought it was cute lol granted she's in theatre/ a SM as well so it made sense to her  

I also had a discussion with my roommate about how much sense it would make if the best stage manager in a certain generation got to be god when they died. But thats a whole other story.