Messages

1

The Green Room / Re: SMs in media?

« on: Jul 17, 2007, 04:33 pm »

have you seen the Canadian television show Slings & Arrows?  A show based on the daily operations of a theatre, loosely based on the stratford theatre festival. 
Great character is the SM

2

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Performance reports (split from The Hardline)

« on: Jun 15, 2007, 12:44 am »

Am I the only one out there who does not find eternal joy in performance reports?  Yes, they are interesting, and insightful, and helpful for historic record, and legal reasons.  I don't have actors who are late (ever), if there is an accident, it is rare (and documented in 87 different forms) and really the performance reports serves its purpose.  But I don't have the joy you all seem to have to writing them.  Am I missing something here? 

3

The Hardline / Re: performance reports

« on: Jun 12, 2007, 12:21 pm »

ok-- thanks for the perspective-- yea, they are a useful, required and good thing. 
thanks

4

The Hardline / Are performance reports actually required by AEA?

« on: Jun 11, 2007, 06:37 pm »

Feel free to move this if it is the wrong area. 
I am a resident Equity SM with an SPT in NEAT (Long name for a Boston area SPT).  I am a professional.  I enjoy not working in non-professional situations (I have never worked in community theatre and admire those who do, but just couldn't do it myself). 

After a very long season (but it is my 4th season and I am not complaining)
I have realized I have written my 160th performance report.  6 shows a week, 5 weeks per show, 5 shows a season (a few more at christmas and student mat perfs). 
This doesn't count rehearsal reports which I understand the level of communication tracking that occurs, but

What the heck-are these things required---and if so where is it written in the rulebook cause I can't find it--

Besides the pretty paperwork, they are great for keeping tabs on the production, tracking running times, unusual occurences and other oddities (like every Saturday preview for the last 3 years is a really reactive audience)
 but seriously, are these things required, or is it just for recording purposes? 


Edit: Topic shifted for precision.  --PSMK

5

Tools of the Trade / Re: Washable Blood

« on: Apr 17, 2007, 07:58 pm »

2 parts no-taste red food color (solid gel formula found in icing decoration section of craft store)
1 part Karo light corn syrup
 a drop (and I mean just the slightest amount) blue food color (solid gel formula found in icing decoration section of craft store)

if it is to be eaten or anywhere near the mouth, leave it at that.

If it isn't and you need to get it out of expensive wedding dresses that you can't imagine replacing--

add 1 part SIMPLE GREEN (The green color--no other color works as well and helps with the wash)

sorry for no specific amounts but I usually use two bottles of corn syrup, 2 small containers of red gel food coloring, the tip of a knife for the blue, and the simple green  to smooth out the consistency to the perfect blood. 

The blood is best washed out with---yep, you guessed it-- SIMPLE GREEN.  Best environmentally friendly solution ever. 

Hope it helps

6

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / COMMUNICATION: Artistic Director/Actor/Director/SM Relationship

« on: Apr 10, 2007, 12:51 pm »

New to this, so feel free to move if it is not in the correct category...but I need a little advice.  
I work in a New England SPT.  I have stage managed there for three years, and yet it seems like things are constantly changing.  
The theatre has never been more successful...But
The Artistic Director is great to work with, knowledgeable and helpful and patient.  He is acting in the upcoming production and the director has not been in communication with me but in communication with him.  Rehearsal schedules are coming in from the AD and the director will lose patience (it has happened in the past)... How do I reconcile this communication?
A production meeting has been scheduled when I am not available as it is during a performance of the currently running play.  We don't have a production manager, and every other production meeting, I am there to take notes.  
My only assistant on the production is a 15 year old high school student eager to "help out".  
I can not send her for her first production meeting ever and expect to have the correct communication occur, or the correct notes...How do I reconcile this problem?  
And last but not least...back to the Artistic Director.  He is really amazing to work with, but I can't have the same SM to Actor relationship, as he tends to do my job (as it is easier sometimes than delving into the acting).  Does anyone have any advice on how to make sure my boss is not offended when I would like to do my job and have him do his?  
I really appreciate any help to the complexities...