Messages

1

Employment / Professional SM for a Community Theatre?

« on: Oct 11, 2013, 04:50 pm »

I recently graduated from college with my BFA focused in Stage Management and for the past six months I have been employed as an SM and education assistant at a local theater. This theater's education department for which I work also has a community theater company where I am the SM. This company, as you might expect, does not have a design team, proper facilities, or even skilled labor to assist with builds. I am currently battling with myself over two options I see. First, I would like to push this company to create a more professional atmosphere in which to create theatre and teach the youth of the area because the performance space is amazing and this is a great area to make a professional theatre. Second, to put my head down and get through this season, build the resume, and move on. As much as I would love to stay with this company several other issues are making me question the legitimacy of this work. For instance, as I have been working with this company I have, on several occasions, found myself needing more paid hours to get by. I understand that building my resume is important but earning $1000 for a three month production just doesn't cut it. Basically I am wondering the following:
1) How can you introduce professionalism to a theatre who doesn't know how to accomplish that.
2) Is this crusade worth the struggle?
3) (Slightly off topic) As an SM do I have the right in my contract negotiations to request to be compensated for rehearsal time?

Thanks for any input on my situation. I hope everything makes sense although to be honest nothing about this job really makes sense.

2

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Rehearsals: Be quiet!

« on: Jun 11, 2013, 01:40 pm »

I am currently having this problem with the cast I am working with. This particular show has a cast ranging from 15t o 30 with the majority being under 18. I have repeated "Quiet please" and "Stay focused" too many times to count in rehearsals and my solution is I now ask people to leave rehearsal and come back when they are ready to work. Seems to be a good enough threat to make the rehearsals go smoother,

3

Introductions / Wanted a place to chat

« on: Jun 11, 2013, 01:20 pm »

Hey everyone,
Just searching the web to find a place where SMs can get together to figure out the best way to do things and bad mouth acties or make jokes that we all get. Glad to have found the site. My name is Nate and I just graduated from Marietta College in Marietta Ohio with a BFA in theatre with a focus in Stage Management and Lighting Design. I have recently taken a job as a resident SM in a place where the previous SMs were all but useless. Just thought having a place to talk to others of my kind will offer me more knowledge and some peace of mind knowing I am not the only one in the world haha.
Cheers