Messages

1066

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Tech Week Tips

« on: Oct 05, 2008, 08:09 pm »

been there done that - and yes it sucks (and gets old by abt the 3rd day) but it's important. Do you have help? It will go much faster if you have a PA or ASM. And, depending on the rehearsal space, I have used sidewalk chalk which brushes up easily, or just outline the important stuff.

Altho not all designers like them or accommodate time for them, this is the best time to make sure you do a paper tech. And make sure you have tracked entrances and exits, props and the need for (or not for) a crossover.

Backstage solves are really vital, and as soon as you now where you are, start setting up based on things like wing space.

And get prop crates to lug all your stuff. The sooner you have rehearsal props, the happier the transition will be.

1067

Tools of the Trade / Re: need some SFX help!

« on: Oct 05, 2008, 01:07 pm »

we have two shows today, I am willing to check anything -

pat

1068

Tools of the Trade / need some SFX help!

« on: Oct 05, 2008, 02:54 am »

We are having a series of odd glitches in our sound program and I am hoping that one of you techno folks can help. We have two board ops who are splitting the dates, and one board op never has any trouble while for the other, cues drop out completely or play at the wrong level, or in the wrong speaker. The only thing these ops are doing is hitting GO but the result is different.

We are using SFX, a fairly up-to-date version (I don't know which one, I am not running the sound board, just getting the producer's frustration when cues don't appear). What happens is the opening cue is fine, the second cue is soft and then we have no more sound cues. Each time, we reboot the system and the computer, and by the second reboot we have sound again and can make it thought the first part of Act 2, but then one or two cues still drop out completely and another handful come in at a different level or in the wrong speakers.

Not sure the questions to ask, our TD is stumped, and I am reaching out for anyone who might have experienced this kind of bug or oddity in their spaces.

...help?

Thank you in advance!

1069

The Hardline / Re: LORT - Rehearsal Questions

« on: Oct 01, 2008, 01:31 pm »

your interp sounds good to me since you only have a small window for start time - I think you have to observe the 2 hrs prior to show (1.5 hrs before half-hour) to end rehearsal - but you also don't have the max 5 hours between end of reh to show that other contracts have. Not sure why you don't want to ask the rep - at least on a "hypothetical" without going into specifics - our reps out here are very good at helping clarify without passing judgment.

50E(4) There shall be no less than 1½ hours and no more than three hours between
curtain down and the rehearsal call.  The rest period may be reduced or extended by a
cast majority vote.

odd as this sounds, the difference here appears to be direction - rule (3) is from rehearsal to show, while rule (4) is from show to rehearsal. I read this as: if the actors prefer a 1-hr call, they can use that hour before half-hour (otherwise the minimum call is 2 hrs). I think it means there can be no more than 3 between end of one and start of the other. But a cast vote trumps all. If you propose and they accept unanimously, then the formalities can be set aside.

(5) There shall be no less than a 12-hour rest period between the end of employment
on one day and the beginning of employment on the next day (see Rule 63(I)(3) for
Stage Manager’s Breaks).  At the company’s request, by a 2/3rds majority secret ballot
vote, the Deputy(ies) may reduce this period to a minimum of 10 hours on one
performance days.  If the company has voted to rehearse on a two-performance day
(see section (C)(4) above), the rest period may be 11 hours.

On the other hand, you can take advantage of this and have the company vote to reduce the turnaround time, which gives you  little more flexibility in when the hours are used.

1070

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: On College from WSJ

« on: Sep 30, 2008, 06:44 pm »

Here's the reality: Everyone in every occupation starts as an apprentice. Those who are good enough become journeymen. The best become master craftsmen. This is as true of business executives and history professors as of chefs and welders. Getting rid of the BA and replacing it with evidence of competence -- treating post-secondary education as apprenticeships for everyone -- is one way to help us to recognize that common bond.

This is the paragraph that needs to go at the top of every job listing and every student stage manager thread. This is a process that we learn and grow with show by show and day by day. Not that education is NOT important - my general knowledge and (for that matter) EMT training come into play on every show I do - but that one can only learn so much in school. This is an experience-based career, and applying school and life lessons in a practical arena is the only way to truly learn it. Theory is great, but when my sound op's computer crashes or a lamp blows and we are mid-show, when an actor doesn't arrive and you have to revise to accommodate on the fly, when there are challenges to solve - that's the making of a stage manager.

1071

Tools of the Trade / Re: Help with my book please.

« on: Sep 29, 2008, 01:39 am »

...AND, your book will not and does not speak to your SM skills. So do what feels right and what makes sense to you. I have worked w people who have terrible paperwork who are the most amazing SMs I have ever met, and people whose paperwork is exemplary but who can't call a show or run a rehearsal or deal with problems. Honestly, let it go. Your skills as a SM tie more to your attitude than demonstrating that you can work a typewriter.

1072

Employment / Re: Education Required to get a job?

« on: Sep 21, 2008, 08:32 pm »

I think if you look around in the the school threads and the recent one from the CPA who was moving to theater that there are many, many of us making our living SMing who do not have our degrees in theater. A well-rounded education will always give you credibility and a broader perspective.

1073

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: HELP! The director is taking over my job... :S

« on: Sep 12, 2008, 12:06 am »

you can sometimes get a script by showing up and waiting til it's in your hands - and also nicely explaining that you know it is undergoing changes, but where it is right now is fine, it gives you a jumping off place and that way it'll be easier for you two to work together as she changes things because you will have the basic foundation to work from. Changing things - moving them around or eliminating them - is easier than starting from scratch, eh?

1074

SMNetwork Archives / Re: I could have kissed them!

« on: Sep 07, 2008, 12:19 pm »

I had a 11-member cast show with no ASM and we were moving rehearsal spaces daily, so didn't tape out the full stage for most rehearsals. For the designer run the TD helped me taped the complex set on (in this room) carpet, all of us knowing we had to be out in a hurry that day. At the end of rehearsal, the entire cast but one (without asking) took a tape end and pulled, and the taped set was clear in like 5 minutes. The one who didn't help clear the tape had collected all the garbage - so by the time the director had finished giving me the next set of schedules and I stood up, the room was clear and clean. I DID kiss them all.

1075

Uploaded Forms / Re: rehearsal reports

« on: Sep 02, 2008, 12:42 am »

this is interesting, because several forms list breaks, and I never clock breaks unless there is a reason - I expect the director to trust that we will take them as required, and the specifics are left undocumented - sometimes we don't get back to work right away, or the director is otherwise occupied, or I have to gather folks, or whatever reason -

So here is a qq - how many people clock breaks vs just report the span of day?

1076

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Alley Staging

« on: Sep 01, 2008, 01:03 pm »

yes - there will always be a primary side, even when the director tries to make it "real" with no real back to the stage. What I have found works is to think of the stage as down and up on the alley, left and right on audience sides from, as mentioned above, the booth perspective - because that's an easy way to lock which end is which that everyone can easily get. And frankly, best booth view is at a slight angle if you can negotiate it - It's actually pretty cool when it's done well because the audience feels like it is watching reality just kind of happening in front of them

1077

The Hardline / Re: Trying to explain LORT scheduling rules to actors

« on: Aug 31, 2008, 12:03 am »

excuse my ignorance but I thought a straight six counted as 7 hrs - in other words, the actor is paid for a 7 hr day as tho they had a lunch hour in an 8 hr day - rather than counting as 8 hrs

yes?

otherwise, good work! (I agree w RuthNY - I think I know what you mean but I may not, so I would rather you spell it out and be specific just to make sure there are no misunderstanding)

1078

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Slightly Nervous, Advice and Words of Wisdom Please?

« on: Aug 22, 2008, 09:25 pm »

Absolutely - I have enjoyed helping young SMs learn and also been grateful for strong and capable ASMs who could step in while I had to deal with one crisis or another. I recently ASMd for a friend returning to SMing and needing a right arm for reference and support. Unless they have attitude about you being the SM, this is a GOOD thing.

1079

The Hardline / Re: Being offered my card, good idea?

« on: Aug 01, 2008, 08:53 pm »

you may want to check - my understanding is that they take out the health and pension, but if you are not a member you are not entitled to collect it - esp as there are requirements of numbers of weeks worked for any given health plan.

But I cd be wrong - have been before, chances are good I will be again

1080

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: looking for a good college, preferably on the east coast...

« on: Jul 18, 2008, 08:54 pm »

I am not savvy enough to find the link, but if you do a search you will find at least 2-3 in-depth discussions on this topic that will answer a great many of your questions. I strongly urge you to check those out.