Messages

1

Tools of the Trade / Re: Flashlights?

« on: Apr 22, 2011, 10:35 pm »

  I personally love Inova lights - the X5 is a great wash light for backstage & walking around, and the XO3 is fantastic if you need a lot of light a long ways away (like seeing up into the grid).  The lights themselves are not that expensive and near indestructible (especially the X5- it's been dropped, run over, submerged in water, and runs great, plus the LED lasts forever)
  The batteries cost more than AAs, but you can get them online for a whole lot cheaper than at stores ($0.75 compared to $8 each)

2

The Green Room / Re: Too big for our breeches: Server update and poll

« on: Mar 21, 2011, 04:38 pm »

 Been a way for a while, but just saw this and donated as well.  Kay, thank you so much for all your hard work on the site!  It's truly appreciated.

3

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Fill in the BLANK...

« on: Dec 01, 2008, 07:47 pm »

Last night at 12:30am- Headliner act called me with this one:  "Can you bring me some laundry detergent?  I'm all out, and there's none in the store, and I only have dirty clothes."

4

College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM schools in Canada???

« on: Sep 10, 2008, 07:18 pm »

  Depends on what you're looking for.  There has been some discussion on the boards about this (whether to go with a full SM program or a technical theatre school with an emphasis on Stage Management).  If you are interested in the former, there are some decent SM BFA programs out there, I know the U of A's is decent.  I'm partial to the later though, and was the way I went.  There are some great tech schools out there, such as the National Theatre School of Canada, that offer a solid technical base while at the same time allowing you to actually ASM/SM more shows that you might in a BFA program.
  Other things to consider- do you have a field preference (modern dance, ballet, opera, musical theatre)?  Do you have a preference location wise in the country?  Does the lenght of the program matter to you?

5

Tools of the Trade / Re: Keeping Spike tape down...

« on: Aug 01, 2007, 09:28 am »

Balletdork,

   Completely agree with you about packing tape on marley.  On tile/some wooden floors, however, it's definitely an option, but as I have found out, with some definite downsides.

6

Tools of the Trade / Re: Keeping Spike tape down...

« on: Jul 31, 2007, 09:32 pm »

  Also, keep in mind that packing tape (at least the adhesive) can melt and fuse with some floors.  Have had it happen with 2 wooden floors, not sure about tile.  I'm guessing the wrong kind of tape and floor mixed with long periods of hot lights shinning on it.  Long story short, both times were ridiculously long strike days scraping every piece of packing tape up.

7

Tools of the Trade / Re: Painting on marley floor

« on: Jul 18, 2007, 02:12 pm »

If water-based markers, etc. won't work for you because of the daily mopping, you might consider the coloured sharpie paint markers.  I used them on my stage, as it has a permenant marley floor, and the show runs for years, so I was hopping it would last for a long time, but as it turns out, the combination of dancing and mopping wore it off in a couple weeks.  I wouldn't consider it as a first resort with your situation, but if nothing else works, it will do the trick and will wear off.  Has the added benefit of having smaller spikes because of the tip, and comes in as many colours as regular spike tape.

8

The Green Room / Re: SMs in media?

« on: Jun 26, 2007, 11:21 pm »

  I was flipping through TV channels a while back and stopped on one channel as I heard "Standby lights".  Turns out it was the Victoria Secret show. Intrestingly, they were going for a "show the backstage" look, and had a lot of shots of the ASMs? backstage organizing models, as well as patching the com feed into the TV audio everytime they were comming up to and back from commercial.  The calls sounded very professional and like a real SM was calling them, but who knows, it was probably recorded. 

9

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Multi-tool advice?

« on: Jun 26, 2007, 04:59 pm »

I couldn't agree with Mac more in regards to buying a quality tool.  I have proudly owned a couple Leathermans, and they have put up with anything I have thrown at them.  I would recommend the Leatherman Wave, it's dropped a lot in price since the Charge came out (you can get one for $60-80).   You'll find that you don't use all it's features all the time, but over time, you'll need each and every one, and like an SM kit, it's great to have it all.

  You mentioned screwdrivers, and that's where the new Wave and Charge models are great, as they have a nice bit exchanger so you can carry 20+ bits with you.  As for scissors, they also have those built into the handles.  I own the Charge, but that's just because I have to have the best.  The Wave/Charge really aren't that much bigger/heavier than the Juice models, but either way, you can't go wrong with the Leatherman name.  Just don't buy a cheap $20 tool, because when it matters, you get what you pay for.

10

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

« on: Jun 17, 2007, 03:31 pm »

Jem,

 I agree with you that a note involving safety (such as the carpet comming up) should never wait a week.  However, depending on the theatre you are working in, the act of simply stappling down that carpet is a major union violation.  In the theatre I used to work for, a note in the report that night would be fixed by Carpentry the next morning by 10.  If your theatre doesn't work that way, you as the Stage Manager should be calling the person up to have it fixed asap (if you aren't allowed to do it personally), instead of relying on the fact that "it was in the report", and then double checking it was done before the next show.

  As much as we all love paperwork, I think we all need to remember it's just another communication tool to get our jobs done.

11

Employment / Re: Cruise jobs

« on: Jan 21, 2007, 10:38 pm »

Hi Lilz,

  I started with the Glory out of Cape Canaveral, and now have been on the Conquest out of Galveston for a couple contracts.  We do, however, sometimes dock with the Valor in Grand Caymen and Cozumel, and we would definitely know some of the same people.



  Just to give a little more info in regards to Carnival, they have what they refer to as a "Sr. Tech" position.  This person is one of the technicians that is promoted to handle a lot of the same management responsibilities that sfphoto mentioned.  The structure is a little different, with this postion being mostly equal to the Dance Captain and the Musical Director.  Both times that I've done this job in addition to being Backstage Manager, it was much like Stage Managing, but as Sfphoto and Mac mentioned, with a fair amount more HR and paperwork.

Tim

12

Employment / Re: Cruise jobs

« on: Oct 23, 2006, 10:36 pm »

Hi Lindsay,

  I agree with a lot of what Mac said.  I work for Carnival Cruise Lines as a Backstage Manager.  On my class of ship, we have 5 full-time technicians onboard, with another 8 pulled from other departments for the production shows.  I am refered to as the Stage Manager onboard, but what I do is a fair bit different from when I was working at an equity house.  I run the deck backstage during shows (ie, am in charge of a crew of 6 stage hands that do all the shifts, as well as safely calling in/out all the automated drops and stage lifts.  I also help with some quickchanges, while mainly keeping on eye on everyone's safety.  During the day, I'm responsible for prop maintnance and assisting with all rehearsals.  Most of the cruise lines do run SMPTE now, which means no light cues to call, although you can't really "stretch" a scene if you are having any technical problems, it's a full show stop.  I do know that some of the other cruise lines do have a Production Manager job onboard, which from the sounds of it is a mix of SM and PM of the theatre world.  I know that there is at least 1 other member here that works for Royal Carribean as a PM, so he might be able to tell you more about them.

  As for how to get involved, it does help if you are well rounded technically in all areas, and rigging knowlege is a big plus.  To apply, most of the top lines have websites.  Just go into the "jobs/employment" section, search for entertainment, and send in your resume.  There are a lot of online agencies out there, but I'd stick with sending the emails out.

  It's a fun life, albeit quite different from normal SMing.  If you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them.

Tim