106
Articles from the Old Site / Re: Tips: Spike Tape on Demand
« on: Nov 03, 2013, 04:02 pm »
Agreed. Most useful when you have a big show, including with spikes that get a lot of traffic and may need to be replaced more often.
News:
14 Jan 2021: Happy 21st birthday, SMNetwork! I replaced the old broken mobile theme. -K
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107
Stage Management: Other / Re: Paid Summer Opera Internships
« on: Nov 03, 2013, 01:47 am »
I think putting well-paid in the same sentence as any starter theatre job really depends on the eye of the beholder. I wouldn't say *I'm* well-paid and I've been out of college for fifteen or so years...
That said, I think it's good to find ones that provide housing and a stipend on top of that, for an internship. Central City Opera, in Colorado, has usually three SM internships. Do some research into what you're getting into though. It is in a remote mountain town (which has taken adjustment for some) and there are additional job duties required, including ushering and prepping and closing the historic buildings at the beginning and end of the season). The job notice usually goes on the website around December 1. (I'm the one who puts it online for the production manager.)
Others that come to mind, though I don't know pay specifics are Chautauqua and Glimmerglass (both NY) and Santa Fe.
That said, I think it's good to find ones that provide housing and a stipend on top of that, for an internship. Central City Opera, in Colorado, has usually three SM internships. Do some research into what you're getting into though. It is in a remote mountain town (which has taken adjustment for some) and there are additional job duties required, including ushering and prepping and closing the historic buildings at the beginning and end of the season). The job notice usually goes on the website around December 1. (I'm the one who puts it online for the production manager.)
Others that come to mind, though I don't know pay specifics are Chautauqua and Glimmerglass (both NY) and Santa Fe.
108
Articles from the Old Site / Re: Tips: Spike Tape on Demand
« on: Nov 02, 2013, 12:49 am »
Hey, that's me! (Just now checking out this thread, obviously.) - Erin 
109
The Hardline / Re: How to SM Workshop - For AEA Members?
« on: Oct 24, 2013, 02:10 am »
Several years ago, I held discussion about actors and stage managers, jointly presented by the Stage Managers Association and the Denver AEA liaison committee. That went over very well, presenting as a discussion of what each other appreciated about the other and lead to many "discoveries" on both sides.
110
The Hardline / Re: Adding stage management wording to Equity\'s \"How to Hire Me\" document?
« on: Oct 24, 2013, 02:06 am »
Argh. Having trouble with the mobile version of smnetwork on my iPad (and the full site won't load). Didn't realize I wasn't set up for automatic reply notification.
My understanding is the liaison created it, with guidance from L.A. IPad will only let me attach photos, so will try to upload when I get to a computer again. I do have it electronically.
Post Merge: Oct 24, 2013, 05:49 pm
Here's the document as it stands, now that I'm at a computer.
Also, thanks to Kay for trying to figure out my mobile issues. Evidently part of it was that I timed it right during some server maintenance! Whee.
My understanding is the liaison created it, with guidance from L.A. IPad will only let me attach photos, so will try to upload when I get to a computer again. I do have it electronically.
Post Merge: Oct 24, 2013, 05:49 pm
Here's the document as it stands, now that I'm at a computer.
Also, thanks to Kay for trying to figure out my mobile issues. Evidently part of it was that I timed it right during some server maintenance! Whee.
111
The Hardline / Adding stage management wording to Equity's "How to Hire Me" document?
« on: Oct 16, 2013, 10:59 am »
For years now, there has been a document that the Denver liaison committee has had available to actors to get the smaller companies in the area to understand that they COULD hire a union actor for their shows. I've tried several times to get it to include stage management wording or to have a similar document for us. I just brought it up again to our local committee and while they admit they haven't overly pressed, there's been so much turnover in the LA office they're not sure who to go to.
Actors are certainly much more visible and easier to understand why a theatre would want to work with Equity on getting...but I just saw an audition notice for Special Appearance that was only $200 stipend and didn't appear to say a thing about health or pension. There are a few one-off gigs I'd love to be able to slip in, but still try to do legally....though I certainly don't want to kill myself working all $200 jobs!
Thoughts?
Actors are certainly much more visible and easier to understand why a theatre would want to work with Equity on getting...but I just saw an audition notice for Special Appearance that was only $200 stipend and didn't appear to say a thing about health or pension. There are a few one-off gigs I'd love to be able to slip in, but still try to do legally....though I certainly don't want to kill myself working all $200 jobs!
Thoughts?
112
The Green Room / Re: Show me your mugs! (Or water bottles)
« on: Mar 15, 2013, 12:24 am »For cold drinks:
The top actually has three openings:
1) A twist-off cap, for when you want to take a nice big gulp.
2) A fold-out straw for sipping.
3) A one-way valve to let air into the bottle as you drink.
The one-way valve completely prevents the glug-glug-glug noise you get with similar bottles. An excellent innovation.
Oh, I'll have to look into this bottle. I was using the CamelBak straw top to my bottles, but they started to get very noisy through the valve. I also like bottles with both small drink opening and bigger gulp/filling opening.
113
Tools of the Trade / Re: Herbal Cigarettes and other tobacco substitutes
« on: Feb 12, 2013, 03:16 am »
We, too, used an e-cig for the last show. Our options had two "flavors" - "menthol" which supposedly tasted like mint and "tobacco" which supposedly tasted like chocolate. Ours chose the latter and said it wasn't bad. Didn't know about the different liquids, but have to say it looked very good. Ours was also the USB kind with a red LED for the drag effect.
They come with varying amounts of nicotine in them (as a cessation device), so obviously use the one with 0%...
They come with varying amounts of nicotine in them (as a cessation device), so obviously use the one with 0%...
114
The Green Room / USITT 2013 (Milwaukee, March 20-23)
« on: Feb 12, 2013, 02:57 am »
I'm interested to know who else on here is planning to go?
I'm actually going a day early for the firearm safety workshop, too. Taught by one of the best prop guys I've ever worked with, Jim Guy from Milwaukee Rep.
I'm actually going a day early for the firearm safety workshop, too. Taught by one of the best prop guys I've ever worked with, Jim Guy from Milwaukee Rep.
115
The Green Room / Re: FACEWASH - clean up your facebook profile.
« on: Feb 12, 2013, 02:52 am »
Wow, it picks interesting things as offensive. In addition to the ones cited above (and add in a few *marijuana* posts because I live in Colorado and it's sort of been in the news), it was offended by:
- the mouse *sniffing* around my traps (but not taking the bait)
- any of the *smoke* from all the wildfires (heck, I didn't like it either!)
- our local folk music enclave, *Swallow* Hill Music
- a band that plays *honkey*-tonk music
- the poem Little Orphant Annie, talking about the two *big black* things a-standin' by her side
116
Stage Management: Other / Re: Concert Stage Management
« on: Feb 12, 2013, 02:35 am »
Thanks "The Intern" - I meant I'm not sure I'm what you would call a CONCERT stage manager...not for a symphony or a specific band, but ours aren't really complete storied scripts.
I hang out at the thrift store sales...every weekend (for both personal and professional finds)...In the past month I've managed to add 2 fake ficus trees (nice ones) and a large potted plant (like a Dieffenbachia, around 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall)...for a total of $30! Also redid a lovely rectangular basket with overflowing roses and vines for about $10. All will be used for our Valentine's concert Love Notes...
I hang out at the thrift store sales...every weekend (for both personal and professional finds)...In the past month I've managed to add 2 fake ficus trees (nice ones) and a large potted plant (like a Dieffenbachia, around 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall)...for a total of $30! Also redid a lovely rectangular basket with overflowing roses and vines for about $10. All will be used for our Valentine's concert Love Notes...
117
Tools of the Trade / Re: Assisted listening device
« on: Dec 18, 2012, 10:21 pm »
I did this for a production when my booth monitor was going out sporadically and we hadn't tracked down the cause yet.
118
Tools of the Trade / Re: Useful iPhone apps?
« on: Dec 18, 2012, 10:20 pm »
"Useful" may be a strong adjective, but I just saw that free today is an app called King of Opera. Let your inner diva/divo fly free as you steal the spotlight from other tenors...or the Fat Lady herself. I downloaded it and was giggling pretty quickly...
119
December Madness I: 2012 / Re: Regional Round 6: Headset vs Cell Phone
« on: Dec 18, 2012, 09:36 pm »
While I absolutely want to use headsets for a show, the truth is that with my current touring gig, I don't always get one - though I quite often get to borrow a headset system from a friend. And if one of my performers isn't there at half hour (we all arrive at the schools separately), out comes the phone. During rehearsals, the cell phone is of course more present, too.
I do like the idea of adding god mic to the list for next year, though I think something else (like cell phone) might beat it in the final rounds.
I do like the idea of adding god mic to the list for next year, though I think something else (like cell phone) might beat it in the final rounds.
120
Stage Management: Other / Re: Concert Stage Management
« on: Dec 11, 2012, 12:48 am »
I'm probably not what you'd think of as a concert stage manager - as I work full time for an opera company - but that's primarily what I do. We have about 5 standard school shows we perform, many of which are a series of scenes, but otherwise, we do a lot of community concerts in one-off formats.
I am a fairly one-man band. On smaller shows, I just leave run orders backstage for the singers while I'm out front running lights. For bigger shows, a co-worker or boss's husband follows those sheets. On the rare occasion of a weeklong or more tour, I can hire (or co-erce) a friend to assist. And I'm incredibly lucky to have someone (hi Greg!) who loans me a wireless headset system quite a bit.
I have been able to up our production aspects quite a bit over the last several years. You'd be amazed how helpful a handful of tri-fold wicker screens, a donated Oriental rug (the Guild lady LOVED giving it to us) and our "U.B. - the Ubiquitous Bench" (plastic, looks like marble) can be. And you know those cheesy tables that three spindly legs screw into? They actually look darned good with a nice round tablecloth over them. We've got three of them now (easy to carry as an extra prop table, too, when you're transporting by minivan most of the time). And that colored rope light you can find even easier this time of year? Fantastic for quickly setting up runlight (not only one man band, but limited time).
Erin
I am a fairly one-man band. On smaller shows, I just leave run orders backstage for the singers while I'm out front running lights. For bigger shows, a co-worker or boss's husband follows those sheets. On the rare occasion of a weeklong or more tour, I can hire (or co-erce) a friend to assist. And I'm incredibly lucky to have someone (hi Greg!) who loans me a wireless headset system quite a bit.
I have been able to up our production aspects quite a bit over the last several years. You'd be amazed how helpful a handful of tri-fold wicker screens, a donated Oriental rug (the Guild lady LOVED giving it to us) and our "U.B. - the Ubiquitous Bench" (plastic, looks like marble) can be. And you know those cheesy tables that three spindly legs screw into? They actually look darned good with a nice round tablecloth over them. We've got three of them now (easy to carry as an extra prop table, too, when you're transporting by minivan most of the time). And that colored rope light you can find even easier this time of year? Fantastic for quickly setting up runlight (not only one man band, but limited time).
Erin