Messages

1021

Tools of the Trade / Re: Holiday SM Gifts

« on: Jan 05, 2009, 06:18 pm »

http://www.amazon.com/X-Acto-1072-Vacuum-Sharpener-Receptacle/dp/B0000AQOMB/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1231197340&sr=1-9

I think that's it based on the description.  My mum used to have one in her office.  Real old school but sometimes the classics work the best!

1022

The Hardline / Re: Theatres That Have Closed--Can You Say "Emergency?"

« on: Jan 04, 2009, 06:48 pm »

House Theatre in Chicago's on the brink, they sent out a begging letter recently.  Next Theatre in Evanston did a show switch but seems to be doing alright otherwise.  Live Bait also shuttered recently but that was due to the owners leaving the industry rather than the economy.

Chicago seems to be doing OK in general so far, but our hundreds of tiny theatre companies do a pretty good ongoing impersonation of Napoleon's army in Russia on a perpetual basis.

1023

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Managing Burlesque....help?

« on: Jan 04, 2009, 06:30 pm »

In situations like this where it's a non-traditional sort of environment, I've often found that it's best to follow the original objective of the job (facilitate the creation of the performance via communication and general organization) rather than to stand on ceremony and insist that the standard rules and job description of the stage manager be observed.  It won't be predictable and at times you'll feel terribly out of sorts but any contributions you can make will still be useful.  Using your SM skills to see the potential pitfalls coming up next week, the week after, or helping to smooth conflicts between egos will go a long way.

As for the lack of tech rehearsals, though, it sounds like this producer is somewhat oblivious to your dual role as both a facilitator and a performer.  People who are very much big-picture-take-charge folks can frequently miss the small details.  If this producer is so intense as to want minute control over the schedules, then he/she will also likely be very miffed if cues are missed during a performance.  As the communicator/facilitator it falls on you to gently remind the producer that your performance is as critical to the final product as that of the folks onstage.  If a blatant "hey, I need rehearsal too" is too gauche for the setting, then perhaps starting to slipstream in questions about where he/she wants cues to happen during rehearsals will be the better solution.  (In other words, rather than doing a consolidated tech, get your "blocking" at the same time as the cast.)

1024

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Jan 02, 2009, 05:26 pm »

Dana - even so, it didn't affect your final points terribly much in the end last year. 

1025

Employment / Re: Websites

« on: Jan 02, 2009, 05:17 pm »

Chris -

Yes, I had the same idea nine years ago.  It got a little out of hand.

1026

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Jan 01, 2009, 04:34 pm »

Not a problem, VSM!

Rvhead has chosen the topics for January:

Sunday -- Mixed Bag
Monday --Theatre & Performing Arts
Tuesday -- General Knowledge
Wednesday -- Literature
Thursday --Music
Friday -- People
Saturday -- World

1027

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Jan 01, 2009, 06:27 am »

Congrats to the winners of December's tournament!

26 people played this month.

1. killerdana (348 points, 3 wins)
2. scott (343 points, 8 wins)
3. blantonrk (299 points, 1 wins)
4. ruthny (284 points, 5 wins)
5. Lizzie (270 points, 1 wins)
6. rvhead (254 points, 2 wins)
7. kiwitechgirl (248 points, 1 wins)
8. amy_francis (247 points, 4 wins)
9. stagebear (233 points, 0 wins)
10. ScooterSM (231 points, 2 wins)

After 16 months of trivia, 87 people have registered for the tournament.

As we close out our first full year of tournament play I did some tallies of everyone who made the top 10 this year.

First of all, here's the ranks of the six members who made the top ten every single month this year:
1. Scott, 3620 points and 86 wins
2. Killerdana, 3470 points and 27 wins
3. Ruthny, 3300 points, 48 wins
4. Lizzie, 2997 points, 37 wins
5. Rvhead, 2966 points, 20 wins
6. Scootersm, 2770 points, 17 wins

Only one of the people on the list above has never gotten a chance to pick the topics - rvhead.  So, rvhead will be choosing topics for January!

Next, the folks who made the top 10 at least six times:
1. Kiwitechgirl, 2687 points, 29 wins, 11 months in the top 10.
2. PSMKay, 2293 points, 47 wins, 8 months.
3. Sarah, 1107 points, 7 wins, 6 months.

Finally, the following folks made it on the list at least once:
1. Stagebear, 1130 points, 3 wins, 5 months.
2. Blantonrk, 1000 points, 7 wins, 4 months.
3. amy_francis, 669 points, 6 wins, 3 months.
4. GalFriday, 425 points, 0 wins, 2 months
5. Daz, 354 points, 2 wins, 2 months
6. wtcsrstaph4life, 332 points, 1 win, 2 months
7. TomorrowToday, 329 points, 0 wins, 2 months.
8. BeckyGG, 189 points, 1 win, 1 month
9. Thespis620, 171 points, 2 wins, 1 month
10. MarcieA, 154 points, 0 wins, 1 month.

For the record, that's 22% (or so) of the players who made it to the top 10 at some point this year.  A round of applause to all of you and to all of the players who gave it a shot.

Thanks for playing folks, I look forward to see what happens in 2009!

1028

Employment / Re: Websites

« on: Dec 31, 2008, 08:58 pm »

Regarding Joseph's resume -

I do a lot of browsing using my blackberry, which renders pages without any CSS.  Make sure you check how your site looks without the CSS in place - in the case of this site, "Your Subtitle Text" appears on every page when you turn off CSS.

Also, for Chicago folks, if you don't want to state your exact address you can state your neighborhood, i.e., Lakeview, Roscoe Village, etc.  It shows that you're a city local, reveals enough about your location to imply proximity to certain houses, and that you're aware of the city's customs w/o revealing enough for some weird stalker or SMNetwork guest to find you.

1029

The Hardline / How did you get your card?

« on: Dec 29, 2008, 10:44 pm »

Far too many depressing things going on in the industry right now. Let's rely on a little nostalgia.

How did you get your union card?  Tell us the story.  What show was it?  Did you get in on a points system or did a company buy you a union contract?  It doesn't have to be AEA, could be AGMA or IA, or any union that you may belong to.

1030

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Managing Schools?

« on: Dec 29, 2008, 08:47 pm »

I am currently a student at Depaul University in Chicago for Stage Management

And what do you think about the program?  Any good?

1031

Employment / Re: Facebook through an Employer's eyes?

« on: Dec 17, 2008, 12:41 am »

I can definitely say that I use both Facebook and Myspace in my day job as a leasing agent to check up on apartment applicants.  So even if it doesn't affect your job it may affect your life.

1032

The Green Room / Re: WELCOME TO THE GREEN ROOM

« on: Dec 16, 2008, 10:48 pm »

As Michael and tempest_gypsy take over as moderators of the Green Room, can I get a big shout-out to nmno for busting her butt in here for the past 2+ years?

1033

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Dec 10, 2008, 03:22 pm »

The questions are written by funtrivia members.  The literature section leans heavily towards Stephen King, and the music section towards teen pop.  If you want to start seeing better questions you can write quizzes of your own.

And yes, everyone gets different questions.

1034

The Hardline / Performing arts unions and guilds list

« on: Dec 08, 2008, 11:42 pm »

I'm working on some new features for the site and was hoping that the group mind of SMNet could help me generate a list of performing arts unions and guilds worldwide. 

I'm especially interested in guilds for countries other than the US, although any and all will be useful.

1035

SMNetwork Archives / A change of staff

« on: Dec 06, 2008, 10:04 pm »

Many thanks to our departing moderators megf (Introductions), nmno (The Green Room) and centaura (SM: Other).  These three fantastic staffers have been with us since the transition to the current format in 2006.  All have reached points in their careers where they can no longer spend enough time on the site to still be on the staff.  Meg, Nmno and Centaura - THANK YOU.  You have all been phenomenal and have helped shepherd the site through its most massive phase of continued growth to date.

For those of you who do not know, Moderators on SMNet are charged with far more than the standard online forum mods.  They are not only responsible for policing their boards but also for handling Dear Abby posts and creating content when the boards are slow - all on a volunteer basis. 

We have opted not to have an open call for moderators.  The replacements for the departing staff members were nominated and have already been elected by the current team after a month-long debate.  Please join me in welcoming the following new staffers, who will be "Moderators in Training" over the next several weeks.

Introductions: ChaCha
SM:Other: GalFriday and Jessie_K
The Green Room: tempest_gypsy and Michael

Additionally, ljh007 in Employment will be joined by loebtmc to give her some extra help.  With the economy in its current state we are anticipating an increase in visitors over there.

The new staffers will be in training until they feel they are ready to take over their official board assignments.  However, you will likely see them establishing a more substantial presence on their boards even before training ends.  Please be kind and patient (as you always are!) as they learn the ropes.