Messages

121

Employment / Re: Transitioning to TV/Film?

« on: Apr 17, 2012, 02:25 pm »

I tried to transition, and I did work on a few small films/commercials/music videos.

It wasn't that easy. I was competing with film school students, plus I'm a bit too old to do the low pay/no pay jobs.
A few things that helped me was that I had a valid driver's license, you would be surprised how many in NYC do not have one. As long as you're comfortable driving a truck in Manhattan you can find work.
Also when I was on set I made sure I was constantly doing something and not standing around waiting for someone to tell you what to do. I hustled.
Mandy.com is another good website where I got some work.

What got me out of it was that I landed a gig that was supposed to be a 4 month long job on a Bollywood film. A week before I was to start I called the office to find out information. They weren't there.  I kept calling and no one ever answered.  I also felt at the time in order to make a living in film I would be much better off in LA and not NYC. I kept getting asked to do low paying jobs. Eventually I went back to theatre.

This was just my experience. 

122

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How to deal with a very unpleasant pit orchestra?

« on: Apr 04, 2012, 12:48 pm »

Hindsight: never post anything negative about your show on social media.

Agreed, and I'll take it one step further. Never complain about your job, any job, online! That can come back to bite you, in ways you might never have considered...

I couldn't agree more. When Facebook was new I would post complaints about work. Now I just say that "I'm fighting evil" or "I need a drink".

And it goes to show that the "real world" acts a lot like high school...

123

The Green Room / Re: Practical Rant

« on: Apr 03, 2012, 12:48 pm »

It could have been worse; the practical could have burst into flames.

Happened to me on the final show. No one was hurt, but the theatre smelled like burnt hair for the rest of the performance.

124

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Packing for a Summerstock

« on: Mar 27, 2012, 01:26 pm »

A blanket and sweatshirt for when it gets cold at night (depending on where you're going)

Either a desk fan or a box fan for when it gets hot.

I agree with the wide variety of shoes. Also bring a few towels, as well as beach towels or an old bed sheet for relaxing outdoors. (when you have time)

Lots of socks. I absolutely hate it when my feet are damp, and summer stocks tend to be wet and/or muddy. 

125

The Green Room / Re: What's next?

« on: Mar 22, 2012, 12:07 pm »

I'm sorta in my "next" career. I'm called a stage manager, but my duties are not the same as a theatrical stage manager: I haven't called a show in over a year.

This was not planned. I don't expect to stay here forever, but the idea of staying in one area, having vacation time, weekends off, steady paycheck, fantastic health benefits are all surpassing my need to create art.

126

Self-Promotion / Re: Teddy

« on: Mar 21, 2012, 01:15 pm »

I thought it fit nicely with his last name: Thesis. Hence, Teddy Thesis.

Very scientific I know. 

127

Self-Promotion / Re: Teddy

« on: Mar 20, 2012, 09:53 am »

Teddy had a wonderful tech and "run-thru" yesterday and we are set for "preview" and "opening"!

128

Employment / Re: Is there such a thing as picking the wrong show?

« on: Mar 19, 2012, 08:58 am »

I agree with everyone has said.

Not to sound cheesy, but you have to listen to your inner "Yoda".  There is no right path when it comes to having a career in stage management.

129

The Green Room / Re: Meals!

« on: Mar 15, 2012, 09:02 am »

I don't think I loved an appliance as much as I love my crock pot.

Here's another website. She has a wide variety of recipes. 

http://www.skinnytaste.com/

130

Employment / Re: BALL STATE: Contract Faculty Position, Production Stage Manager and Teacher, De

« on: Mar 15, 2012, 08:59 am »

My guess is that they were not satisfied with the candidates and they re-opened the search.

I sent my stuff in the first time. Oh well. 

131

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: No Director Present

« on: Mar 07, 2012, 01:55 pm »

I think there are a few ways to handle this

-Inform the actors that you are not comfortable answering questions that the director should answer.
-Talk to your director saying that you feel uncomfortable answering the questions and that you feel you are stepping over the line. Perhaps the actors can call her directly if they have questions about their particular character.
-Are you a student?  If so,  talk to your adviser about this.  I'm curious as to why the production team isn't responding. Maybe they think that since rehearsals haven't started they don't need to pay attention. 
-If you were hired by the university, talk to whoever the head of production about this.

132

Tools of the Trade / Re: Filemaker?

« on: Feb 09, 2012, 09:01 am »

We have filemaker at work and I can't stand it. It's either not working, or I can't get back to the page I need. Maybe I should look at it again.

133

The Green Room / Re: Things Stage Managers Say

« on: Jan 30, 2012, 08:50 am »

"I don't think that can of Diet Coke on the table was available in Germany in the 19th century."

"Two questions: 1) Why did you have your cell phone on you during the scene shift and 2) Why did you leave it onstage? Here's hoping you turned the ringer off."

"Nothing caught on fire. I say that was a good day."

"Can we do this scene without the singers on roller skates?"

"Can you make sure you wear underwear for your fittings?"

134

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Screwing Up

« on: Jan 27, 2012, 10:01 am »

I was working on a world premiere musical and rehearsing in NYC and not in my usual rehearsal space and I did not have an assistant.  The director had a lot of rehearsals that had a lot of staggered calls.  One time I accidentally forgot to add an actor to the rehearsal; and I noticed my screw up a 1/2 hour before he was supposed to "arrive".
I called the actor and begged him to come in (knowing that this was an Equity violation). He said if he was free he would, but he had appointments.

During the break I informed my director my screw up and naturally he was upset. I told him that there were other scenes we could rehearse and did my best to remedy the situation, but since I couldn't produce that actor there wasn't much to be done. It was that rehearsal/tech process that made me realize it was time for me to leave that theatre.

Then there was the time on tour where I thought the truck was 10'2" and the building we were trying to go underneath was 10'6".  I was wrong, and the building won. My production manager sighed and said "This is why insurance was created".

135

The Hardline / Re: Public reading during rehearsal process

« on: Jan 21, 2012, 12:10 pm »

I had something similar happen to me. During the show run the theatre decided to do a staged reading on our night off. A few actors were cast as well as myself.  They decided to do it on a separate equity contract. (staged reading) It was a one day rehearsal process with the reading happening in the evening. I can't recall too much as it was a long time ago, but what I do remember was that it was really specific on the start/end date and that if it went over it would go into overtime.
I don't recall if I had to deal with actors going into overtime because the actors were on two contracts.  (Again, it was a long time ago)

Hope this helps a little