Messages

106

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Turning in the Prompt Book to the Producer

« on: Aug 28, 2013, 08:07 pm »

It seems odd to me that the producer told you he didn't need anything and then 2 days after closing asked for all of it. It sounds like the producer just didn't know what he was doing/didn't know he was supposed to keep all of the paperwork. But, like everyone else has said, it all belongs to him either way.

107

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Contracts?

« on: Aug 27, 2013, 05:59 pm »

We used one in college that all of the actors had to sign at the first rehearsal. I've attached it for reference.

108

The Hardline / Re: Director Notes

« on: Aug 18, 2013, 05:41 pm »

Generally, if the Director is a veteran, they understand this and many other Actor courtesies.

It's the ones who've been around forever I have the most trouble with.

109

Tools of the Trade / Re: Simple Ground Plan Design Program

« on: Jul 07, 2013, 12:50 am »

You might try using Google SketchUp. It's a free download of a 3D Modeling program, although it might be more sophisticated than what you're looking for. http://google-sketchup.en.softonic.com/
Forgive me if any of this info is incorrect, it's been a while since I've used the program and don't have it downloaded on my current computer to check, but I believe you can upload a pdf or jpg of a groundplan to use as a base, or draw in your own, and then import 3D models of furniture and objects from their stock and move it around, rotate, stack, etc. You can also use the groundplan as a template to build a 3D version of the stage or wing space, if you want to get super fancy. It was fairly easy to figure out the controls and what each button did, how to get something to move a certain way, all of that was pretty intuitive and there are some great online tutorials. Again, that's the recollection I have of the program from a scene design class I took in undergrad, so the new version might have different specs. It was easier than Vectorworks, that's for sure.

110

The Green Room / Re: Book Club?

« on: Jul 02, 2013, 03:42 pm »

I just read the first chapter. It's awful.

"I just wanna be a stagehand in the local! But Grandpa says I'm just a girl!"

And he WALKED OUT OF THE THEATER IN THE MIDDLE OF A CUE.

111

The Green Room / Re: Book Club?

« on: Jun 27, 2013, 01:53 am »

Has anybody read the "Backstage Boys" romance novels by Jennifer Stevenson?

http://www.amazon.com/Fools-Paradise-Backstage-Boys-ebook/dp/B0036TH4DS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372311851&sr=8-1&keywords=fool%27s+paradise+backstage+boys

Offstage Jobs tweeted a link to an interview with the author a few weeks ago, who is apparently married to a Chicago IATSE member, and they just sound so utterly ridiculous!  I haven't read one yet, going to check the library before I shell out for the kindle edition, so I cannot attest to the quality of writing, accuracy in the depiction of life backstage, or the level of smuttiness.

Has anybody else read them? Or shall I take one for the team and report back later?

112

The Green Room / Re: PATRON SMASH!

« on: May 16, 2013, 01:02 pm »

He took her phone out of her hand and threw it across the room?

I'm sorry, I cannot be on his side in this.  Obviously she was WAY out of line, but he took her phone out of her hand and threw it across the room.  As much as I might WANT to do that, I would never ACTUALLY do that. He has some serious anger management issues.

I would imagine that at a show where patrons are seated at tables, they probably have this issue a lot- patrons who act like they're at a restaurant (still using their cell phones... ugh) and not at the theater. I don't know that there is something less disruptive he could have done besides just ignoring her, but I'd imagine that the ushers/waiters could maybe be more proactive in policing that type of thing.

113

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROP FOOD: Ketchup that isn't ketchup

« on: May 02, 2013, 12:31 am »

UPDATE:

Since we're in our final week of the show, I figured I should let you guys know what we ended up using.

The "ketchup" is applesauce with a WHOLE LOT of food coloring in it. We tried strawberry jelly but it just didn't look right, applesauce had a much more realistic consistency & matte-ness (maybe not the best word? The jelly was too shiny is what I'm trying to say) and the actors preferred it. One fairly good-sized jar has lasted us through the run!

114

Employment / Re: Telephone Interviews

« on: Apr 03, 2013, 11:57 pm »

I had a phone interview during the middle of a tornado warning. I made all the other interns (we were all crammed into the downstairs apartment's living room) be quiet and sat in the bathroom to talk.

115

Tools of the Trade / Re: Any Stage Managers use LiveScribe Pens?

« on: Apr 03, 2013, 01:22 pm »

http://www.stage-directions.com/current-issue/28-feature/4999-the-data-crunchers-of-theatre.html/?utm_source=SM&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=smorg&utm_campaign=marchissue

There's an article about SM organizational tools in this month's Stage Directions that talks about the Live Scribe pens!

116

The Green Room / Re: What about my dog?

« on: Apr 01, 2013, 01:52 pm »

I've been offered an internship position that provides me with a room in either a 2 or 4 bedroom apartment.  I have a cat, and while I don't have to bring her (my boyfriend adores her), I would be really sad without her.  Has anyone been in this kind of position?  Were you allowed to have your cat?

Cat allergies are much more common than dog allergies, and I would hesitate to bring any animal into a situation where you don't know your roommates and their health situations. I have a very severe cat allergy, to the point where it would be a me-or-the-cat scenario, and that's not something you want to deal with on move-in day.

117

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROP FOOD: Ketchup that isn't ketchup

« on: Mar 26, 2013, 01:29 pm »

Potato pancakes would solve the ketchup problem- the issue is that the theater doesn't have a kitchen, just a microwave. We were hoping to microwave frozen pancakes, to eliminate someone having to cook them at home.

118

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROP FOOD: Ketchup that isn't ketchup

« on: Mar 24, 2013, 10:42 pm »

(Is this at Rep Stage?)

It IS at Rep Stage! You just closed Home there, yeah?

119

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROP FOOD: Ketchup that isn't ketchup

« on: Mar 24, 2013, 04:45 pm »

Hey folks-

Currently working on a production of Boeing Boeing (yay farce!), and in the first scene one of the characters eats pancakes covered with ketchup. Yeahhhh. So we're trying to find a ketchup alternative so that she can scarf these pancakes without wanting to hurl.

Right now we're thinking either strawberry jelly (tasty, but not as ketchup-like) or red frosting (not as tasy, more ketchup-like, but either more complicated to make or more expensive to buy pre-made).  We don't need her to squeeze it out of a bottle onstage.

I know Boeing Boeing has been making the rounds recently- anybody remember what you used?

120

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TECHNOLOGY: Commercial Mobile Alert System

« on: Mar 23, 2013, 09:09 pm »

So here's what it looks like on my roommate's phone.

According to the FCC website, not all phones/carriers give you the option to opt out, and even if you CAN opt out, you CANNOT opt out of alerts from the President (granted, that's never happened).