Topics

1

The Green Room / YSM2020 - it's the year of the stage manager

« on: Jan 13, 2020, 02:07 am »

Not sure if this is the right group so please move if necessary
ALL SMs from all fields, please join us on our new FB page celebrating 2020, The Year of the Stage Manager!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/709114496283521/?fref=mentions

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The Green Room / HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAY

« on: Dec 25, 2019, 02:11 am »

Slightly belated, but it's caroling season ? hope it was an amazing and joyous birthday filled with many delights. We all appreciate you and all you do, from initiating this amazing site which continues to connect SMs all over the world.

Thank you ? on all of our behalf.

3

The Green Room / Lucy Jordan Award nominations!

« on: Apr 09, 2019, 09:04 pm »

WESTERN REGION FOLKS. Nominations for the Lucy Jordan award — an annual humanitarian award for people who help AEA members in the Western Region, are open. The form is on the AEA website, and we want to see nominations from all over the region. Past honorees have been from Texas, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, LA, Denver and ......well, don't you think there are folks in your area to honor who support AEA members (whether local or passing thru)? We've had folks who love and support every theatre in their town, know every actor and see every show, critics who make a point of highlighting AEA performers and SMs, producers who make sure their theatre is union in right to work states, house managers who treat the actors to a magnificent tech dinner, dressers who make everything calm and do-able and ok, etc etc. The person does not have to be an AEA member, as long as they do things that make our lives and theatre experience better.

If you have trouble finding the form, let me know and I can link it to a message or an email.

Y'all in Utah, Alaska, Nevada, Oregon, and all those other liaison and non-liaison places that have yet to suggest anyone — please nominate someone we can all celebrate!

4

The Hardline / Collecting info on ASMs

« on: Sep 14, 2018, 04:22 am »

Hey all!~
Erin Joy and I are part of a working group putting together info on triggers for ASMs — union or nonunion, but basically that 2nd set of hands we need on most shows. We are specifically focused on the smaller contracts, so not Production, SETA or LORT B and above.

If you have any stories or observations to share about not having assistance (or assistants), please send me that info asap. In addition, we are looking for responses to the following three questions —

— When have you had the biggest problem(s) with having no assistance?

— Did you ask for help? If not, why, and if so, what was the outcome?

— Do you have examples of times when help was unnecessary?

Our next meeting will be in about 2 weeks, so anything you can share before then is appreciated.

Thank you so much!

5

The Hardline / AEA ELECTIONS — VOTE!!!!

« on: Apr 28, 2018, 04:05 pm »

It's that time again — our own amazing Ruth E Kramer is running, along with some other folks. Please feel free to ask any of us our thoughts on the candidates running (ideally over PM), but no matter what, please VOTE. This is a really important election (I know, I know, aren't they all)

VOTE!!!
VOTE!!!
VOTE!!!

6

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Required ASMs on smaller contracts

« on: Jan 06, 2018, 11:09 am »

Hey all!
A few of us are doing some research on the smaller contracts and tiers that don't require an ASM at this time (eg LORT D and C, SPT etc).

This forum allows such a broad reach of diverse SMs, and I would love to hear from you all. Please feel free to PM me with examples of times you really needed a union ASM — especially if you are in an area where the word is that there are no union SMs/ASMs to be found. We are collecting all the tales so we can find a way to establish a workable trigger.

Let me know also if we are able to share your name and the theater, or if you need to remain anonymous when this discussion happens.

Thank you all!

7

The Hardline / Who has worked on/ attended Fringe Festivals

« on: Jun 16, 2017, 04:17 pm »

An interesting discussion was started locally this week about how Fringe (or other short/limited) festivals are handled around the country.

If you have done anything like that — original short plays w short rehearsal periods, minimal sets/cost/props, sometimes around the clock over an intense and limited performing schedule — can you please send me a note so i can ask some qqs?

Thank you

8

The Hardline / SPT contract update

« on: Mar 25, 2017, 11:45 pm »

Hey guys — 

There is a survey out for all y'all who have worked the SPT contract. Please give it a review, then fill in any concerns, or things you'd love to see included, before its next update (which is coming up soon).

There are those who still have issues with the vacation restrictions. And some folks have mentioned a couple of cool things they'd love to see added or adjusted. So send in your ideas!

The rule book is available in the member portal.

9

The Hardline / Council Elections 2016

« on: Mar 06, 2016, 12:27 pm »

Hello all!

First of all - the roster of those running for positions on council has been posted. It is so vital to participate in this election. Ruth already posted the new campaign, which is a wonderful idea. Please VOTE!

And - I am running to retain my seat as a Western Region Stage Manager. I have been told that folks need a term to learn how things work and how to make an impact. So I want to have that next term so I can continue making inroads in areas of diversity, gender parity, health weeks, more contracts especially for local members in their local theaters, among other things. As a voice for those of us working the smaller contracts and in the regions, both in and out of office cities, I have tried to make a difference by making sure our needs and concerns are in the room. Please help me to keep doing this!

If anyone has questions feel free to ask. And I humbly ask for your vote. Ballots should be out soon (btw, you can vote online!).

10

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / CALLING: Calling the camera shots on Grease Live!

« on: Feb 02, 2016, 03:10 am »

This is fascinating

https://www.facebook.com/carrie.havel/videos/10153418696832898/?fref=nf

Holy toledo.....she is live counting down through the entire song.

Here's the split screen so you can see what she's calling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP2QOmN57iU&sns=fb

so so cool!

Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

11

The Green Room / WICKED backstage videos

« on: Dec 01, 2015, 05:16 pm »

There are a series of these from different tech perspectives -

the first one I found was this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUKDU3r6MYY

but they have sound, sfx, sm etc - kinda fun to watch!

12

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SCENERY: How to make a floor more slick

« on: Oct 23, 2015, 04:13 pm »

OK - an interesting conundrum needing any help you can offer.

Our set designer used the house floor and their paint - which is low quality and designed not to be slick - rather than the company's meso that gets painted with a higher quality paint that is less sticky, and then would usually be sealed. Our costumer used suede/leather/rubber soles on the shoes as normal based on normal floor. And normally, the challenge would be modifying the slippery qualities with a coke wash or other solution from that direction.

But the cheap paint is sticky and the actors are struggling. Feet stick to the floor (and paint comes up on the shoes so they stick to the tile in the dressing rooms too), keeping them from being able to move their legs - especially knees - without injury.

We have mopped, not mopped, mopped with soap or pine-sol or other solvents, with water, and not mopped at all. So far nothing works.

Yes the easiest solution would be to seal the floor, requiring a repaint after for the house, which means expenses the theater company is trying to avoid but will do if necessary ... if we can find the time to accomplish this while the show is running.

But does anyone have ideas how to make a floor MORE slick?

Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

13

The Green Room / SD SM calling Hairspray

« on: Oct 10, 2015, 01:35 am »

here's some fun, listening to the SD Rep SM call Hairspray

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TXBqdDAXgE

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PLAYS: Sondheim on Sondheim

« on: Aug 20, 2015, 02:52 am »

I checked the BTDT and no one has posted for this show yet - But not everyone posts all their shows so am asking here as well - has anyone done Sondheim on Sondheim? I am picking up the book this week for first rehearsal, which doesn't happen for a few weeks. But I need to decide whether I need just the libretto or the piano/conductor's score. And I understand there's multimedia in this one?

If anyone can help, deepest thanks

Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

15

The Green Room / Another great t-shirt for the collection

« on: Jul 23, 2015, 06:03 pm »

yup. Good points all.