Messages

121

Employment / Re: your thoughts please (stood up for a craigslist gig)

« on: Jun 25, 2009, 04:37 pm »

I've accepted many jobs over the phone, having never met the person. Sometimes it is inevitable, especially if the job involved relocating.

I do not however, consider a job really set in stone as mine until I see a contract or in the case of a showcase, agree to the job and have a meeting with the producer/director, etc.

122

The Hardline / Re: Actors Federal Credit Union

« on: Jun 24, 2009, 04:21 pm »

Thank you for all the really helpful info! I think that I am going to go with the AFCU account over Chase.


If you want the $25 refer-a-friend bonus, I'll happily give you the info when I get the account set up next week!

123

The Hardline / Re: Actors Federal Credit Union

« on: Jun 23, 2009, 10:27 am »

Jessie - have you had any problems living overseas with your account? Or traveling? I know your work before leaving for Europe had you outside of NYC for a while.

My only reservation with the account is that it seems nearly all of the ATMs are in McDonald's, an establishment that I have not set foot in for almost 6 years. The smell itself makes me feel a little bit ill, but my anti-McDonald's status obviously has nothing to do with banking. It's to do with McDonald's and their business practices. Hmm. Perhaps the benefits outweigh the smell, and I could hold my breath when I take out cash? 

124

The Hardline / Re: TYA Questions to Ask

« on: Jun 22, 2009, 06:46 pm »

Not Theatreworks, it's the Kennedy Center's TYA Program.

I had 3 interviews over the last week, the third being a quick assessment of my Sign Language skills because the show is simultaneously signed and spoken/sung.

From what I understood in the interview, there will be a TD and a lighting/sound sup on the road, so really what would be expected of me outside of the typical SM duties that I'm used to, in say a LORT setting, are load-in/strike participation and some company management work: petty cash, check in at hotels, etc. though everything is advanced by the tour supervisor back in DC.

I'm pretty excited at even the prospect of this job, and I should hear either way by this coming Friday.

125

The Hardline / Actors Federal Credit Union

« on: Jun 15, 2009, 01:02 pm »

Does anyone have an AFCU account? Likes? Dislikes?

I currently have a Wachovia account, the same one I opened when I was 15, but where I work and where I live in NYC are not really near a Wachovia, so I find myself going out of my way or paying a lot of fees.

Someone suggested Chase, but I thought I get some other opinions as well.

126

The Hardline / TYA Questions to Ask

« on: Jun 15, 2009, 10:28 am »

There's been some talk of TYA lately, and I actually have an interview coming up for a TYA tour so I thought I'd run some thoughts by you TYA folks here, as I have touring experience but absolutely no TYA experience.

I'm wondering what the biggest surprises were for you on tour as far as responsibilities or job expectation went.

Is there anything in this interview that I should be prepared to ask about that you know now that you didn't know then?

As far as touring goes - for anyone who's done another type of tour in addition to TYA, what are the major differences, if any? Is there anything in the contract/rider that I should be on the lookout for in either a good way or a bad way?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

127

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What I did over my summer vacation...

« on: Jun 11, 2009, 11:08 am »

In there, before July 6, I have to ride 24 more roller coasters to finish my  "100 Roller Coasters in a 100 days" Challenge.

That is so awesome! I want to ride 100 roller coasters!

128

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Requests for Electronic Scripts -- Post 'em here!

« on: Jun 10, 2009, 11:58 am »

Does anyone have (or even know of) The Dead based on James Joyce's short story?

I know of it, but I don't have it.

Does anyone have a copy of John Guare's House of Blue Leaves?

129

Employment / Re: Moving for a Career

« on: Jun 08, 2009, 11:57 am »

I love hearing everyone's stories!

I too have only moved when I knew that I had a job lined up, but I did move to NYC with only 9 days notice, and it was for a NYMF show - so only a stipend of a few hundred dollars, 4 weeks of work and no guarantee of anything after. It was the biggest risk I've taken so far - both financially and professionally, but I'm still here 2 years later, making my way and finding out where I fit in.

Prior to NY, I moved to Ohio for a job - a seasons worth of work, with the potential for more - but I didn't have an apartment and I knew not one single soul in the city. I had never even been to Ohio at that point, all of my interviewing was done over the phone, but nonetheless my oldest friend and I filled my car and drove the 12 hours. I was given company housing for the first show (10 weeks) and a lot of insight into neighbourhoods and housing costs and ended up moving into my own place right before tech.

130

The Hardline / Re: Director Giving Notes

« on: May 30, 2009, 11:00 am »

Thanks Matthew!

I had a feeling that this was really a matter of hurt feelings, and not a rule being broken. Many of these actors are quite young (and while no offense is meant on my part) I think that certain things were taken to heart in a way that should have been. I remember myself in that position 6 years ago, and so I sympathize with her hurt feelings.

Now without a rehearsal call, or a posted notes session, the actor could easily say, "I don't have time time to listen to notes now", and politely walk out of the theatre - but that can a sticky situation.  I find that a director who gives notes or changes things is sort of being passive aggressive - in that by just giving notes without the benefit of conversation and/or rehearsal is taking away the option of an actor responding as an artist and belittles the rehearsal process.

I agree completely, and this particular director is a full-time professor as well. Not to belittle academia, after all, where would we all be without our education, but I think that because this actor is only 2 years out of school that this director was using a little bit of her power as a teacher in this case.

It's a sensitive situation, and I thought that I handled it well under the circumstance, and I appreciate the confirmation and clarification!

131

The Hardline / Director Giving Notes

« on: May 30, 2009, 02:11 am »

So, an awkward situation:

I recently took over a show (on an LOA) and tonight the director was there. At intermission she said to me that she had 1 or 2 actor notes that she'd email me, and that's fine.

Well. Apparently, before I was able to get backstage after the show she went back to say goodnight and decided to give these 3 notes to the actors. I was in the dressing room for the tail end of one of the notes and while it wasn't mean or harsh in it's delivery, the actress was VERY upset.

While I was shutting down for the night another actress came up to me and basically yelled at me saying "It's your show and she is not permitted to give notes under any circumstance, it's in the rulebook, and we don't ever want her in the dressing room again."

Now, I worked under a LORT D contract for 4 years (though not for the last 3, but we are using the LORT rulebook) and it was always my understanding that if an actor asked for it, or a director prefaced a conversation with something along the lines of "Can I give you a note about X?" and the actor consented that this was permitted, and the only thing that wasn't permitted regarding notes was the posting of individual actor notes on a public space (ie the callboard). I very calmly explained my understanding of just this to the actor that raised the issue (not the actor who was upset) and they disagree.

My personal take on the situation is that the note was not necessarily appropriate because the show has been running the same way for 3 weeks before me (though as someone who was not a part of the rehearsal process I agree with the observation, but this isn't my artistic vision, I wasn't a part of this character's development in rehearsal and as such I would never ever voice this opinion), and her giving it 5 minutes after a show wasn't the most considerate thing to do, but I also think that this particular actress took an observation very, very personally. I do also acknowledge that this actress is well within her rights as an actor and a person to feel however she wanted.

I've looked through the rulebook, but where does it say that a director is 100% not permitted to give notes after opening? If they don't want her to come backstage before (well before 1/2 hour...I've never had a cast that arrives this early) or after the show, I feel that they are well within their rights to make that request (though the director has done this before I was there with no problems) but I can't find a rule that says she can't offer notes.

132

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

« on: May 15, 2009, 11:36 am »

Argh! I had 10 out of 10 and it changed one of my answers!

133

Employment / Re: Finding SM's to hire

« on: Apr 08, 2009, 11:40 am »

I've posted on Equity and gotten many responses to the listing.

I feel like I've seen your listing (I don't remember where) and even passed it on to a few friends, but there were too many conflicts.

Good luck!

134

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

« on: Mar 04, 2009, 10:51 am »

Grrr Dark Tower questions! I got 6 this time. I'm just going to have to suck it up and read the books!

135

The Hardline / Re: Just got my card with a SPT contract

« on: Mar 04, 2009, 10:42 am »

My roommate (a director) interviewed for that show! She did not get the job, but what a small world nonetheless.

Also - my biggest piece of advice for you is to not be afraid to ask questions. Clearly this is a forum where that is welcome, and we're all always happy to help, but I mean outside of here. For example - don't be afraid to ask the production manager about how they handled tech in the past and please, please never be afraid to call/email Equity and speak to a rep. In fact, if they're not coming to your first rehearsal, find out who your rep is! They are our union and are there to help. Calling does not get anyone in trouble (unless they should be getting in trouble) and I have always hated that misconception that calling the union is telling on someone for doing something wrong!