Messages

1

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: I am out of solutions

« on: Nov 03, 2008, 04:23 pm »

Anxiety disorders are major medical conditions - and there are specific medications that can help his situation.  He either needs to seek medical/psychological help, or perhaps bow out of situations that exasperate his condition, which may include performing.

I have to second this statement.  I have some experience in this area, and your actor needs to consult his/her medical professional to find out what other treatment options can be tried - and soon!  Obviously, whatever is being used right now is not working 100%.  This can be a very touchy area for you to approach with sensitivity because even talking about it can bring on more anxiety.  The actor may be anxious about being anxious!  Good luck to both of you.

2

Tools of the Trade / Re: need some SFX help!

« on: Oct 06, 2008, 02:09 pm »

Hey, I just thought of something else.

Within any SFX show (called a "workspace"), multiple queues can be established.  Whenever I open a workspace/show, all of the queues open for that show, but I know that you can close any of them, and then they wouldn't be available for execution I'm thinking.

So my question is, are all of the queues that the show uses open within the workspace for the show?

Just a thought.  BTW, this is within the context of SFX v5.6 (can you tell I'm also a sound designer?)

I see you are based in LA - I'm in OC - which theatre is this in?  Just curious.

3

Tools of the Trade / Re: need some SFX help!

« on: Oct 06, 2008, 01:27 pm »

Don't know if you got this fixed by now, but I've worked with SFX quite a bit.

If it wasn't another show file as the other poster suggested, are you using self-amplified speakers that are somehow getting the volume adjusted at the speaker site between shows?  Maybe the one board op is checking them and resetting them before each show (it's happened to me).

Also, is all of your sound equipment on:  pre-amp/external sound card, amplifier, etc.  Do you have any other sound equipment patched in for "emergency situations" like a mixing board that could be sucking some of the sound away if the mixing board is on and doesn't need to be (again, it's happened to me)?

It's hard to de-bug these things because every tech booth is set up differently.  Hope you get it resolved.

4

Employment / Re: Prior non-theatre experience on resume

« on: Sep 16, 2008, 08:06 pm »

Thanks every one for your input.  That gives me some really great direction with my resume.  I appreciate it.  I'll keep you posted.

Just one comment on a couple of the posts:  When I hit that magic age of 40, I stopped putting the year that I graduated from college on my resume, so that "hole" of what was I doing for some odd number of years since I graduated won't be apparent.  I've done this to keep anyone from figuring my age.  I like to keep them guessing.  I've seen a lot of posts in here about "ageism", although most of the discussion was about young folks.  But it certainly goes both ways.  My age is my business.  It's what I can accomplish on the job that is important.  And I've always been able to best convince folks of my abilities once I get in the door for an interview, so I don't want "age" to stand in my way.

Has anyone experience "ageism" in stage managment for being "too old"?

5

Employment / Prior non-theatre experience on resume

« on: Sep 14, 2008, 03:12 pm »

I would appreciate some input on whether or not to include my prior non-theatre experience on my resume.  And if to include it, how to show it.  For the past year, I've been working as an SM, ASM, light & sound board operator, and sound designer in local community theater.  I've enrolled in a local college to get formal education in what I'm now calling my third career because I'm loving what I do.

Before this past year, I spent nearly 10 years in the accounting/finance field (I'm a CPA).  Then I re-tooled myself and spent the next 18 years in the software engineering field from which I basically just walked away from last year.  This experience has given me some great background for SM work:  organization, leadership, project management, tenacity, etc.  The skills I acquired in these careers really do carry forward to the SM role.

So the question is:  do I put a small section on the resume regarding this experience?  I want to somehow say that I have a great deal of management and leadership experience, but I don't know quite how to do it.  Plus, my college degree is in business, not fine arts.  How does this look to those of you looking at a resume?

Thanks in advance to those of you who reply.   

6

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Slightly Nervous, Advice and Words of Wisdom Please?

« on: Sep 11, 2008, 01:06 pm »

Not sure if my 2 cents can be counted as words of wisdom, but I am just starting as an ASM in an educational production, and I don't expect any payment or stipend.  I've been paid as an SM in community theatre before, but I certainly don't expect it in the theatre department in college.  I'm doing it for the experience, and like a previous poster mentioned, I have the pay for the tuition for the experience.

Maybe you are better off.  Except now you need the help.  Bummer.