Messages

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Scholarships

« on: May 29, 2012, 01:23 pm »

The only stage management "scholarship" that I am aware of is the one that the Stage Managers' Association has, but looking on their website, it appears to be suspended. (It covered the cost of a membership to the SMA,  not money for school).

Just want to clarify that this scholarship was not suspended: it was only funded with a limited endowment.

2

The Green Room / Re: SMASH - the TV series

« on: May 18, 2012, 11:47 am »

It's just that stage management doesn't make thrilling T.V.

I wouldn't assume that TV people know what a theatrical stage manager is: or how anything works in the live world of theatre.

Of notes, the stage manager character in "Slings and Arrows" was as well drawn and interesting as the other characters -- but that show is class act through and through.

There is some series of detective novels featuring a British stage manager: now that would make scintillating television!

3

The Green Room / Re: A Sticky Wicket

« on: Mar 23, 2012, 04:34 pm »

I disagree.

If I am being provided housing as part of a work situation, it should always be a situation in which I am comfortable in my "me time".

I am a guest when on vacation -- maybe when I'm visiting a friend at a family beach house. 

4

The Green Room / Re: A Sticky Wicket

« on: Mar 23, 2012, 11:43 am »

One's housing should include the opportunity to entertain, with no notice, advance or otherwise, required to anybody, unless it is a roommate situation.

(Though most adult "townies" should usually have their own place.)

5

The Green Room / Re: Picture Wars!

« on: Jan 04, 2012, 10:57 pm »

We'll take those bombs!  (And then go surfing.)

6

The Green Room / Re: Picture Wars!

« on: Dec 29, 2011, 12:36 pm »

7

The Green Room / Re: Picture Wars!

« on: Dec 28, 2011, 08:26 pm »

Hulk hold breath long time!

8

Tools of the Trade / Re: Stage Write - an iPad app for idiots, by idiots

« on: Dec 28, 2011, 11:29 am »

I am interested to see it in action - how it ties in with the script, etc.

I am also worried about the time it takes to actually take down - I don't mean to be an old fuddy duddy about - it looks great for planning, not sure how quickly take the notation.

What's good about Pencil and Paper is the stage manager can take down the information in any order they want, and make the judgement about what is important.

Anything that is "automated" will require you (most likely) to do steps a,b and c everytime.  (Select character, place character, note start point, note end point).  So, I think the proof will be in the end result.

Matthew, you missing the point: the more time spent fiddling with automated tools, the less time spent paying attention to what's actually going in the room, which seems to be the goal of the younger generation of stage managers.

Paper and pencil is just for older fuddy duddy's like ourselves, who got into this field to manage LIVE theatre with LIVE actors in a REAL room, instead of trying to turn a dying art form into a virtual experience...

(I bet you also neglect to check your email several times an hour, thereby giving the false impression that the work that is happening in the room is more important that what is happening in the rest the of the world...)

9

The Green Room / Re: Nudity and Sensitive (Sexual) Material

« on: Nov 05, 2011, 03:46 pm »

I'm in ... oh wait, I thought you meant nudity and sexual activity backstage... never mind 

10

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Resume

« on: Sep 28, 2011, 10:40 am »

As I see you're in high school (or at least that's your level of experience listed) I would actually recommend the opposite of what BayArea suggested. For now.

I agree -- whether you are in high school or not.  I had literally a handful of SM-type credits (a season apprenticing Off Broadway in an EMC program, a season-plus as the PM/sometimes PSM at a non-union regional, and one, maybe two, 2nd ASM credits Off Broadway) to supplement the 20 or so directing credits and some oddball tech and acting credits I had accumulated over the years when I applied and was hired for a touring position with Theatreworks/USA.  And I was long, long past high school...

11

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Projections...how do you call it?

« on: Sep 22, 2011, 01:54 pm »

I just did a big Gala (honoring Steven Spielberg, with Ron Howard, Janet Maslin, and the premiere of a new piece performed by the Kronos Quarter commissioned for the event.)  Video heavy as these things tend to be.  I always use "electrics", "audio", and "video" (generally divided into playback and "Take IMAG") and, as usual, the result was no confusion among the operators and  a pretty spiffy show.

I also op-ed video for tech of a show designed by Batwin & Robin several years back: they also call Qs to me as "Video" (also supplemented with ever pervasive "Take" for the switching), so if there is any industry standard, that is probably it.

12

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Need Help Narrowing Down!

« on: Sep 09, 2011, 11:47 am »

DePaul univ
Emerson college
Penn State Univ
Rutgers
SUNY Purchase
Syracuse Univ
Univ of IL - U/C
VCU Univ
CCM

IMHO:

Purchase does have a large number of stage managers in their program relatively, but they probably also produce the largest number of people working in the field.  Every graduate I've met has very good professional contacts as well as a good skill set.

Syracuse produces a lot of working actors, especially in musical theatre. They are doing something right with their program in general and I suspect that there would be some nice niches for potential stage managers.

I was distinctly unimpressed with what I saw going on in the stage management program at U of IL U/C when I was a guest artist there for a few weeks (about 11 years ago) and have yet to meet any working stage managers from that program (as far as I know).

13

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Les Mis

« on: Sep 09, 2011, 11:40 am »

(And it also depends on how your designers work . . . i found if your lighting designer doesn't work off the score, chances are you won't be calling off the score . . . )

Caveat: In opera, stage manager will probably still be expected to help find the placement of the Qs on notes and call off the score, no matter how the lighting designer is working.

14

Tools of the Trade / Re: Software-packing a truck

« on: Sep 05, 2011, 02:24 pm »

You're probably better off spending the time playing Tetris (or even better 3-D Tetris); there seems to be a consensus amongst the frequent truck packers I know is that this does sharpen your packing skills.

15

The Hardline / Re: AEA MAternity Leave

« on: Aug 26, 2011, 12:45 pm »

Honestly, in an overpopulated world with dwindling resources, working in an overcrowded field, do we need to encourage breeding?