Messages

1

Stage Management: Other / Concert SM'ing tips?

« on: Mar 01, 2010, 08:08 pm »

Well, I'm SM'ing my first concert on saturday, anybody have any tips? I have always SM'ed musicals and straight shows, but have come across the oppurtunity to work a concert. The venue is going to be the most difficult part though, it is at a church, I have no telex system, and will probably be using my cellphone and a bluetooth headset to connect with my 3 ASM's (why on earth there are 3 ASM's I have no clue. But it's ok, I don't mind.) There will be multiple rooms in use, the main stage, a Green Room, and a Retail Area. So, any tips would be greatly appreciated.

2

Tools of the Trade / Re: Kit: Box vs. Bag

« on: Jan 31, 2010, 02:43 pm »

I have to carry my things to and from school, and I am also an Lighting Designer/Master Electrician, so I have a LOT of tools to carry along with all of my SM gear. So I carry my enormous bag I carried all of my hockey gear in. It's just overall more convinent for transportation than a box in my case. And I put different boxes within my box, for instance, I reused an old Jacks and Balls tin to put a bunch of basic makeup supplies in, and then an altoids container to carry some sewing supplies. Etc. Etc. It's just whatever happens to be more convinent and efficient for you.

3

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS Archive June 09-Dec. 10

« on: Jan 28, 2010, 01:36 pm »

I've got a major problem, my director had decided to distribute all of the 42nd Street Prompt Book scripts, neglecting to have one for the SM's... again. I don't even have one I can use during rehearsal to type it. I really need an e script soon, help, anybody, Please??

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: REHEARSALS: prompting requests around the world

« on: Jan 07, 2010, 07:31 pm »

I get random dirty phrases all the time -- 4 examples of profanity redacted by moderator --

I get line a lot from the freshmen though, and occasionally upperclassmen.


EDIT: profanity filtered. --PSMK

5

Tools of the Trade / Re: Random, household things, you use/keep on stage.

« on: Jan 05, 2010, 03:47 pm »

I would never have thought of using clear nail polish to stop runs in hoes. Rather ingenious if I may say so.

6

Tools of the Trade / Re: [FAQ] Electronic Prompt Copies

« on: Jan 05, 2010, 01:34 am »

I personally almost always prefer typing my scripts, even though it takes forever sometimes. When I type it, I can memorize almost the entire show. I do the same thing for my notes in class.

7

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Sketchup

« on: Jan 05, 2010, 01:22 am »

I started playing around with it tonight, spent about twenty minutes trying to make a periaktoi until i thought about searching for one to download one, and much to my suprise, there was one already made. Im still having some trouble, but I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. I'm really excited to be able to use this for my lighting plots too.

8

Tools of the Trade / Google Sketchup

« on: Jan 04, 2010, 09:39 pm »

Has anybody tried using Google SketchUp to preview set design concepts. How has it worked. I am considering trying it, but don't want to lug my laptop to the school tomorrow if it is crap. Who's got some war stories to share?

9

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Wave

« on: Dec 31, 2009, 07:18 pm »

I recently found an interesting use for Wave.  I was calling a show to a light board operator/lighting designer in a very small booth very close to the audience.  It was a manual board, so I gave him his warnings with what submasters to use over the wave.  I then gave him standbys and go's with hand gestures.  This was really easy, and I was able to see on to his screen to make sure the warning went through.

He was also able to put work notes and new cues into the show during tech with his assistant designer over the same wave, and I would see what the changes were.  Very handy.

Wow, I never thought of using it like that, but seeing as we just had WiFi installed in our theatre, I might use Wave for warnings and general communication next show, that sounds like a fantastic idea. Should help decrease some of the unnecessary chatter on the Telex as well. You could even separate different groups into different waves, ie have a wave for Rigging, SM's, and LX and sound. I'm gonna have to give this a try.

10

Tools of the Trade / Re: Random, household things, you use/keep on stage.

« on: Nov 28, 2009, 05:11 pm »

You put them on wireless mic transmitters to add an extra layer of protection from those sweaty actors.

OOK, well I know what I'm gonna go stock up on for my messenger bag kit thing...

11

Tools of the Trade / Re: Random, household things, you use/keep on stage.

« on: Nov 28, 2009, 11:07 am »

Going to go ahead and toss up non-lubricated condoms to get it out of the way, we all know what they're for 

Ok, maybe I'm ignorant, but I have yet to find a use for non-lubricated condoms, aside from their originally intended use that is. Anybody care to explain because I keep hearing people say that they keep these on hand, and I'm not sure if there is some awesome innane use that I don't know about.

12

Tools of the Trade / Random, household things, you use/keep on stage.

« on: Nov 26, 2009, 09:38 pm »

Well, this thread is more of a tip/trick thread, what random things do you bring on stage, which usually wouldn't be used for, well whatever you use them for.

One thing I keep on stage is Clearasil Face Wipes, they are one of the most convinent things I have with me at all times, they will remove almost anything from skin, be it paint, sharpie, colored hairspray, makeup mishaps... etc. Just the other day, and actor had tried to spray their own hair gray, messed up, and got it all over their ears, and I just wipped out my face wipes and took it right off. They also like to touch wet paint, making the wipes convinent again.

Also, chap stick, now I would never have thought of this, but the other day we were working on stage right before our 6th Performance when I noticed that a chunk of styrofoam had fallen off of the styrofoam columns of a house about 45 seconds before we opened the house (we weren't using a grand drape for this show, our other ASM was standing next to me, and quickly whipped out her chap stick, rubbed it on the styrofoam, and it stuck right back into place. Just a random quick fix, and now one of my favorites.

What kind of things do yall keep on stage with you?

13

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Being Assertive

« on: Sep 06, 2009, 11:11 am »

It was uncomfortable for me (She intimidates me more than anything, just because she has a rude tone in her voice, and I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm a moron), but I still did it and it was easy.

I'm in High School too and I know exactly what you mean, one of the biggest things for me is to never doubt yourself. Always stick with your assertiveness and never doubt anything you do, or your choices. Who cares what she thinks of you as long as you know what you're doing, and how you're doing it is right. In my experience many, if not most, actors in high school think that whatever and however tech are doing something, it is being done wrong, or could be done better. For instance, we have a turntable in the middle of our stage, the motor is broken so we had to use manpower to move it. Our barricade for Les Miserables weighed roughly 3,000 lbs. with all the actors on it it weighed about 5,000 lbs. I was not able to help move it, and we only had our two largest and strongest tech spinning it for us, in the middle of a show, one of our tech collapsed while spinning it. I listened to one actor in particular say, "He needs to get his fat a** up and spin this thing, we have a show to do and they keep screwin it up." It took all the strength in me to keep from turning around and punching him in the face, but I did. Just always trust yourself and your choices and you should never have a problem being assertive to an actor.

14

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS Archive June 09-Dec. 10

« on: Sep 01, 2009, 08:48 pm »

Hey Guys!

I'm ASM'ing a production of Into The Woods soon, and would LOVE to be able to work with a digitized script. Anybody happen to have one? Thanks a ton in advance! I can be reached at a PM or at My Super Hidden Email (Click This To See It )

Again Thanks!

P.S. I just put a link as my email to stop spam... that stuff drives me crazy. The link will bring up a Capatcha which will reveal my email