Messages

1

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Docs.

« on: Jul 25, 2015, 11:42 pm »

I for one welcome my new Google overlords.
Haha, I'm just kidding.
They're not new, we've been under their auspices for years.
I just closed a show that made prodigious use of Google Docs; it was The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, and being an all-movement, no dialogue piece a live script kept the designers in the loop in a way that just reports never could. It was also invaluable for real-time updates during tech; the designers could plainly see on their own computers where I had my cues placed and could give feedback or even update it themselves(although I asked them to let me know first if they were making a tweak).
That being said, it is pretty clunky in terms of formatting, and losing internet is a constant fear, but overall I loved it and am glad to have it in my bag of tricks.

2

The Green Room / Re: The Stage Manager's Nightmare

« on: Jul 25, 2015, 11:30 pm »

The only real nightmare I've had is a recurring one where it's the first wet tech and I don't have a prompt book at all. Like, nothing. It's so awful.

Around techs, I generally start calling cues in my dreams but it's not really a nightmare thing, just overtrained.

3

The Green Room / Got my first post-college job!

« on: Jul 25, 2015, 11:28 pm »

Just wanted to share my happy!
Graduated from ASU, moved from Phoenix to DC, fired non-stop resumes, and eventually got an interview for a show with Taffety Punk! It's not quite paying the bills yet, but it's a start!

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: How to politely tell people things.

« on: Jul 25, 2015, 11:25 pm »

I realize that this is a little dead, but I wanted to weigh in; I have only once encountered a human with such a bafflingly absent ability to hit a button once and only once when directed to do so, all other times it has been a matter of some level of miscommunication.
I had a similar situation with a designer as a board op, and the two times he told me a cue was called wrong I made sure to write it down and run it after the show to make sure its placement is cemented. But admittedly it was frustrating to be told after a week of tech and multiple dress runs that a cue I've called forty times is in the wrong place, so you have my sympathy.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: COMMUNICATION: Be agressive?? Be, be agressive?!

« on: Jul 25, 2015, 11:00 pm »

I've had similar problems! The thing that has helped me is to remember that no two jobs are the same; some people respond better to different things. My first show in college I rubbed my director the wrong way a lot because he did not like the flow of the room to be caught on a break announcement. Eventually we worked out a warning card system that he could look at whenever he wanted to get an estimate of the time until a break, and the rest of the shows we worked on together went great.
There were also directors who preferred I be more present on stage rather than lurking; some would swing randomly back and forth and I had to essentially take a reading on them at the top of the rehearsal to dictate my behavior that night.
If nothing else, do your job as best as you can!

6

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student Stage Manager Challenge #19: Labor of Love

« on: Aug 23, 2013, 12:05 am »

I'd think first. And then I would inform him/her that cancelling the show is the absolute last thing that can happen, since hopes are already up, tickets have been sold, and houses have been sold out. I'd make sure to communicate that at this point, the show has momentum; check lists are made, ops will be trained, the actors know what they're supposed to be doing and the musicians know what they're supposed to be playing. Continuing the show is not only possible, but relatively easy at this point.
Assuming I'm not a high school student(maybe I'm on the worst college internship ever), I'd consider that from Tech onward, the SM is ideally running the show, and would conceivably have the respect of the cast(it's a stretch, I know), and their cooperation. I'd try to remember/decide what the director would have wanted to do schedule-wise for Tech(if it wasn't already written down). I'd ask if there was an actual need to have a director present, and if so, I would offer to contact some local directors to observe and assist with Tech, since it's an emergency(I'm also assuming there's no AD).
 I'd ask if we know how the director and the baby are, and then probably spend the time before rehearsal freaking out with my book. But at rehearsal, I'd gather the cast and crew, and tell them that the Director is squeezing out a baby, but this is the point where the show  transfers to the SM, and they are in good hands.

Onward to tech!

7

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: 3 Directors in 3 Years.. Transitioning.

« on: Aug 22, 2013, 11:24 pm »

In my experience, the wonderful thing about resumes is that they can be ignored if need be. You could talk to them, get to know them, and then tell them that you are interested in stage managing for them, and offering them your resume. If they're interested or not, a professional will take the resume. They may put it on top of the resume pile, they may put it on top of the garbage, but they'll take it, and remember you gave it to them.

I also graduated from a high school with a small theater program, and nepotism was an issue. I ultimately wound up working for a local community theater instead of my school's theater, but you could also seek out nearby schools' theater programs; anything you can do that gets you experience will pay huge dividends later on.

Hope you get the job! You could also tell everyone that the job sucks so they don't want it, if high schoolers are the same as they were six years ago.

8

Tools of the Trade / Re: Useful iPhone apps?

« on: Nov 27, 2012, 10:37 pm »

I use the clock app all the time for timing stuff; I'm sure better options exist, but I am still getting used to this whole "stage managing" business, and working is priority one in an app. I've got AllSubway(not free, I think), which gives subway maps for all the major US cities (even Phoenix, although we don't have a subway...). I still use my computer for my paperwork stuff, but I do have Dropbox in case of emergencies. I have a supply of games, but I have Morse Code(free) that at least means that I'm being slightly productive with my goofing off. The IMDB app has also been handy for settling arguments on breaks, and if you're a gamer like me, the Steam app lets you see what's on sale that day while at rehearsal.  I also know that the Maps app gets a bad rap for being inaccurate, but I still use it and don't see too many problems with it.

9

Tools of the Trade / Re: HELP: Static Electricity?

« on: Nov 16, 2012, 09:46 pm »

Either gloves or wriststrap seems like the best idea to me. Gloves would help with your cold problem too, but they would be a little bulky. Wriststraps are designed to keep people from instantly bricking their expensive electronics, so I think they would be the perfect thing for you. You'd just have to remember you're wearing something that ties you to a table.

10

Tools of the Trade / Re: Backstage pants

« on: Nov 16, 2012, 09:40 pm »

Ooh, good call on the BDUs and EMT pants; I'd never considered those. I have a pair of black Levi's with some awesome pocket space. My go-to pair for a few years was a pair of Dickies I got when I was working at UPS. The only thing I could not fit in my pants in some capacity was the lighting instruments. Everything else I could stow on these somewhere.

11

Tools of the Trade / Re: Discussing drills

« on: Nov 16, 2012, 09:23 pm »

DeWalt has a lot of prestige, but at the scene shop at my university we use them and Makitas. When I need to plug a screw into something, I go for whatever impact driver is available, and then I prefer the DeWalt. The battery just lasts longer, and feels like it could put a screw in a steel plate.
But I've noticed that if you have to back a screw out with an impact driver right after putting it in, it comes out rocket-hot from the friction. So gloves become A Good Idea(tm).