Messages

106

Stage Management: Other / Re: New to Opera questions

« on: Mar 02, 2008, 11:11 am »

They sound like a bunch of brats.

I find most singers to be slightly more 'needy' ( and I am generalising) than some other performers  but usually polite, professional and grateful for everything I do for them. I STILL find it a strange notion that they need an ASM to cue them on after  3 or 4 weeks of rehearsal - but accept that it is just one of Opera's 'little ways'.

Dont give up on all opera. It can be an abolute joy. Sitting in a rehearsal room day after day listening to that glorious music being sung just for you and 4 or 5 other people...  not to mention opera is usually resourced quite well!

107

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Study Abroad

« on: Jan 09, 2008, 01:30 pm »

Another thought on this prompted by the Opera Australia mention above..

...if you can get credit for an 'internship' type experience abroad then you might approach international arts festivals for unpaid 'secondment'/internship experience. I have worked with a number of International arts festivals in Australia and abroad, and its not that uncommon. Most of the people I've met doing such a thing approached the festival directly proposing the idea. Most of the festivals were not actively looking for people but were 'talked into' it by the person volunteering.

ChaCha

108

Stage Management: Other / Re: Circus

« on: Jan 04, 2008, 10:45 am »

May be of interest;
http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php/topic,1424.msg9249.html#msg9249

109

The Hardline / Re: Cleaning the greenroom

« on: Dec 30, 2007, 02:27 am »

It really doesent matter what anyone from the network think. You clearly are not happy with being REQUIRED to clean the green room so you should address this issue with management ( point out it isnt your job, refuse, request 'extra duties' loading,say you'll do this but not the bugs, whatever works for you) or with the company (throw things out as just suggested, implement a clean up roster, ban food, whatever works for you). Your level of resentment/frustration/contentment is actually the issue here. Like most things here, you are going to get a bunch of people who agree with your stance, and others who see it differently. You need to find a solution that means you are not wasting energy and happiness on an issue which is not even at the core of your role.

BTW -to me  bugs seem well outside the scope!

110

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Study Abroad

« on: Dec 13, 2007, 09:00 am »

In Australia the only places you could study SMT at the top level are WAPPA at Edith Cowan University in Perth(my alma mater), NIDA in Sydney, and the Vic College of the Arts in Melbourne. But all of these offer 3 year courses and I'm not sure that they accommodate say a semester from an overseas student with crdit toward a course back home. Though WAPPA and VCA both probably do that in courses in their parent universities. You would have to contact the admin of each direct and enquire if anything could be set up. Australian uni's are BIG on making money out of overseas students, so you never know!

There are other places that teach smt, Uni of Southern QLD i think, Swinburne in Melb has some theater courses, Holmesglen TAFE - but I cant tell you much about them, and they are not as highly regarded in general although there are successful grads working in the industry from all these.

Bon Voyage!

111

Tools of the Trade / Re: SM Software

« on: Dec 06, 2007, 11:16 am »

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Bravo!

--Edit: Fixed quote - Mac

112

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Do you have a preferred type of show?

« on: Dec 06, 2007, 11:03 am »

festivals! then you get a bit of all thne forms and a 2-3 week adrenaline rush! (you gottalove street theatre groups from france...)

113

Employment / Re: Interview Questions

« on: Aug 08, 2007, 10:13 am »

Chookas for your interviews.
Here's a recent thread on interviews including questions....
http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php/topic,2454.0.html

114

Employment / Re: Getting Jobs & Leaving Jobs

« on: Jul 30, 2007, 10:54 am »

congratulations on the move!
even if they are sorry to lose you I'm sure they will understand at the ballet. the previous advice seems good!

115

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: thoughts on hanging out with the cast after shows

« on: Jul 26, 2007, 09:40 am »

my question is not is it OK to hang out with the cast but do you WANT to hang out with the cast? I've spent plenty of excellent social time with cast members but almost invariably someone at some point asks me work related questions (what time is my call tomorrow? is a classic) or wants to tell me things (Oh, i meant to tell you that when the director and I were talking in the break we agreed that my costume should should have an extra pocket and that I'll need a different notebook so it will fit in the pocket at the end of scene 2, etc) . It puts me off teh whole socialising with cast thing.

116

Tools of the Trade / Re: Should I become a Mac-er?

« on: Jul 24, 2007, 07:55 am »

Go macs!

117

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Bows

« on: Jul 23, 2007, 11:46 am »

To me, the magic is less magical if I'm reminded that there were people back there doing things.

Fair enough! I don't think I'd feel like that but I can understand that you would/others might.

118

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: squibs

« on: Jul 21, 2007, 08:34 am »

did you enjoy the 'final chapter'?

119

Tools of the Trade / Re: Triangulation taping technique

« on: Jul 20, 2007, 12:44 pm »

personally I am not sure I would use the words 'delightful' and 'enjoy' in a sentence with 'triangulation technique'...I'm hoping, ljh007, that I can imagine some subtext to your comment?!

My advice for those entering into triangulation - take chocolate!

120

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Bows

« on: Jul 20, 2007, 12:34 pm »

I find it quite fascinating that people have such strong opinions about this. I am not sure why it is so controversial - I do get the argument that ' if you want applause you are in the wrong job' -but if it is neither sought out by you, nor expected by you, but rather offered by your colleagues (ie Director. I do agree with Butch that if the Director didn't put it in, it shouldn't be in) why is it deemed so unacceptable by those who are unfamiliar with the practice? Or am I misinterpreting people's words here?

I find the cirque example a good one - those shows couldn't happen without the crew's expertise and teamwork - why should the audience not acknowledge that? Be taught that?

As ever on this site you will find as many opinions as there are people on the boards, and many different experiences of 'normal' etc. It seems pretty clear to me from the posts on this thread, that in the matter of acknowledgement of crew/smt in a curtain call it is quite possible for two different people who have earned a living for 15 years as a stage manager to have had opposite experiences. I say this because I have earned a living as a professional stage manager for around that length of time and worked with many of Australia's leading theatre companies and I have seen it done. Clearly Matthew hasn't. Well we do work on different continents so I guess it isn't surprising. But SM Sam says never in the UK and JessieK says she just finished working with Brits who all did it...

viva la difference!