Messages

121

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Working with a fellow student SM?

« on: Oct 21, 2012, 10:30 am »

I was in a situation once where there were 3 assistants and we all had issues with each other for one reason or another, mostly because we were all inexperienced and trying to impress. It came down to us coming in an hour before call and talking it out, it turns out everything was about misunderstandings, assumptions, and selfishness, but it worked really well and we were able to work with each other for many years to come, that doesn't mean all the problems were fixed, but it did mean we knew HOW to work with each other in the future and didn't have to go around hating each other, which causes so many problems especially with communication.

122

Employment / Re: SETC

« on: Oct 21, 2012, 10:25 am »

I've gone and found work, but not as a union member, and I don't remember there being much, if any, union work offered to be honest, most of the positions are for non-union or students.

123

Tools of the Trade / Re: Backstage pants

« on: Oct 02, 2012, 09:12 am »

I've been wearing the same Dickies multi use pocket pants for years. I love them they are extremely durable, fit well, and have that extra side pocket where you can fit things like flashlight, pens, small notebooks, etc. they have outlasted any pants I have bought afterwards.  They make women's pants specifically so you should be able to find a good pant on the Dickies website.

124

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Blocking help

« on: Sep 26, 2012, 08:00 am »

On the left (because I am left handed)  I put a diabram on the top 1/3 of the page and lines beneath it. I use a mix of written and diagram (mostly when I get tired- I'll put then number and SEE DIAGRAM) and corresponding numbers in the text. I always put a key at the beginning of my blocking score, not that I use a lot of shorthand or secret characters but you never know.

125

Tools of the Trade / Re: Radio mics - are performers too reliant on them?

« on: Sep 04, 2012, 12:48 pm »

No opera singer is expected to do the same type of show of musical theater actor is, and not for 8 shows a week.  Most opera singers don't do two shows a day, and don't do two days in a row.

The list of things opera singers DON'T do would be a whole forum by itself!

126

The Green Room / Re: SMNetwork Presents: The Internship Survey!

« on: Aug 24, 2012, 10:27 pm »

I received work based on my internship that I previously did, is it acceptable to change that on the survey ?(which I have done already)

127

Tools of the Trade / Re: Radio mics - are performers too reliant on them?

« on: Aug 24, 2012, 09:44 pm »

I worked on a straight play once where the director wanted the actors mic'd because he wanted that "cinematic" quality. He wanted the audience to be able to "hear every breath". Now for this play it was weirdly appropriate and the speakers were placed beneath the deck and only fed anything if the actors were in that location. 

I have also worked on terrible musicals where all of the singing was fed above the audiences head and in this house which was 3/4 in the round with the audience looking down on stage it made the show feel very ungrounded having actors five feet away and their voices coming out 30 ft above you.

I wouldn't say actors are not being taught the importance of projection, I just feel like they often not required to use it and have certain expectations that directors and sound designers are giving them.

On another note opera singers performing the book scenes in musicals without micis is hilarious...

128

Tools of the Trade / Re: Style Question

« on: Aug 24, 2012, 08:56 pm »

Certain things we buy can be tax deductible if "they are not suitable for everyday use" I don't know about you but how often do you see people wearing long black sleeve shirts, dickies, and steel toes out on the town...so add that to your 2%

Quite often, as a matter of fact.  Maybe not wearing them all at the same time, but certainly piecemeal. 

I'm with Ruth on this one.  And on a larger note be careful what you decide to deduct from taxes.  No reason to flag the IRS (or similar tax collecting body) to pay any more attention to you than they already do.

To clarify obviously you can wear a black long sleeve shirt everyday I was more focused on the specific protective and abnormal items we can be required to wear  and buy for working in theatre (don't go out and try to deduct your opening night outfit)

129

Tools of the Trade / Re: Style Question

« on: Aug 24, 2012, 02:25 am »

When I was freelance, my wardrobe consisted of about 12 long sleeved black dress shirts and 4 pairs of black dress pants combined with black socks and black steel capped dress shoes.   

Certain things we buy can be tax deductible if "they are not suitable for everyday use" I don't know about you but how often do you see people wearing long black sleeve shirts, dickies, and steel toes out on the town...so add that to your 2%

130

Tools of the Trade / Re: Style Question

« on: Aug 17, 2012, 06:26 pm »

I currently have a PSM who I have seen wear pants once maybe twice over the last three months, at  parties that had very little to do with work. She wears heels most days for setting up rehearsal halls, trekking across campus, and calling the show (standing up).   I would say she sets the high standard of what we should wear but doesn't tell us what to wear, but it is also what she feels comfortable in, which I think is most important (too a degree obviously)
I wear shorts most days cause we work outside,  mostly nice button ups with the sleeves rolled, t-shirts when it's really hot, jeans when it's not so hot.
Sneakers, TOMS, or my black steel toed sneakers, depending on whats going o that day.
My running blacks are anything from a black suit for opening nights to black t-shirt and shorts (because well i can sort of get away with it) 

I don't think I have a set idea of what I am going to wear as an SM.
My only rules are:
- No sweat pants, or pajama pants
- Nothing that will make me unnecessarily sweaty (I am a sweaty person)
- Nothing with holes in it
- Nothing that makes me feel uncomfortable physically or mentally.

131

Tools of the Trade / Re: The ultimate binder

« on: Aug 17, 2012, 06:07 pm »

and today, the middle ring of the above binder I bought, refuses to connect all the way . . .

didn't make it two weeks.

Insert sad face.

Did you not use the button? Thats how I always break mine.

132

The Green Room / Re: I like my theatre like I like my men...

« on: Aug 12, 2012, 08:40 pm »

I like my theatre like I like my men: in rep.

133

Tools of the Trade / Re: The ultimate binder

« on: Aug 12, 2012, 08:29 pm »

I like that there are sooo many colors! Not that I ever use one that isn't blue or black...
and the ring thing is probably just a personal problem, I'm really good at breaking things...

134

Tools of the Trade / Re: The ultimate binder

« on: Aug 10, 2012, 11:53 am »

I love these binders some people don't like them but I cant understand why? They never break, they come in all the sizes you need. The only problem is they are costly, and if you don't use the button to open the rings you can really mess them up.

135

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: How to completely, utterly destroy an employee’s work life

« on: Jul 15, 2012, 08:04 pm »

I feel like this article really nails it, at least based on some of my experiences.