Messages

121

Stage Management: Other / Re: Special Skill: Basic Rigging and Automation

« on: Jan 01, 2013, 11:00 pm »

People thinking they can do rigging has always made me really wary... I worked at a Casino doing large scale concerts, and the riggers were always specially trained contracted employees from the outside. As far as I am aware there are special certifications in rigging, yes?

They would post a picture at every work call of improper rigging they had seen somewhere under the caption "Just because it worked once doesn't mean it's right".

The chance of disaster really scares me, and I don't think I would ever even insinuate that I knew anything about rigging without a certification.

122

The Green Room / Re: Wedding Present for my Stage Manager?

« on: Jan 01, 2013, 10:55 pm »

As a Stage Manager who just got married herself, I know I loved organizational gifts. There are so many cute home organization systems out there that are fun patterned and really great to mix and match. What I love is that they are fun and functional (At least I think so!)

Most likely she won't be getting anything like this... I know a lot of people out there think baskets and other organizational things aren't good presents, but personally I would have been super excited to get stuff like this- you don't realize how much paperwork and such that you have to combine/compile when you get married and move in with your spouse. We also got ourselves a big calendar for the wall with our wedding money- that way we can keep track of bills and each other's crazy schedules. Check out Target- they have some cute stuff that is really affordable and nice!

123

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: December Madness Finals: Paper vs Laptop

« on: Jan 01, 2013, 06:18 pm »

I'm in an interesting situation right now where I'm in preproduction for an opera where I don't have my paper score yet. I have a pdf and a recording. I am able to do my whole job on my laptop, whereas even if I had just the paper score, I wouldn't be able to accomplish everything I need to do with timings and notations etc without some other form of technology.

My laptop is able to be so multifunctional with audio features and my note taking that I will be able to take all of my work from Pennsylvania to Alaska with me all in one device (backed up in the cloud of course!). If it was paper alone I would be stuck without all the tools I need.

Don't get me wrong- I would hate to do a paperless show. But I would hate it even more if I didn't have my laptop.

124

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Summer Internships Recommendations! Particularly about opera...

« on: Dec 31, 2012, 07:06 pm »

I have worked for two different Opera Companies with Summer internships that I could tell you about... I didn't participate in them (I was in Company Management and then ASM as opposed to being an intern) so that is why I didn't review them in the internship section, but I was aware of what they entailed. They were Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre in Logan UT and Opera Saratoga in Saratoga Springs PA. You can send me a PM with any specific questions you may have and I will try to answer them.

Good Luck!

125

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: ASMing: How to ASM

« on: Dec 31, 2012, 07:02 pm »

Most of the time as a freelance SM/ASM I am working for companies that I have never worked for before. Usually I start my questions with the basics during the interview process to get a general feel for the company. After that, I am usually introduced to the SM through an e-mail. I then contact the SM (if they don't reach out first) and offer some information and ask some questions.

I like to be able to show that I have some knowledge of the show we are doing, and let the SM know where I'm at. After that, I ask a pretty general question; usually: "Is there anything you would like me to prepare prior to arrival/our first rehearsal/meeting?"

After that you really just take it from there. Some SM's will be really greatful for the offer of help and give you a list of stuff right away, and other times I have been told that they have it under control and will see me at the first rehearsal/meeting. Generally keeping you eyes and ears open and your mouth shut is my rule of thumb as an ASM. I try to figure things out first through observation, but ask the important questions.

Starting out on a good foot can really make a big difference!

126

Tools of the Trade / Re: The ultimate binder

« on: Dec 31, 2012, 06:34 pm »

If you turn in your old binder for a new one at Staples you can get $2 off!

Here is the link.

This might motivate me to replace some of my older binders =)

Moderator note: modified link to remove poster's email address -kmc307

127

Tools of the Trade / Re: Favorite Bag

« on: Dec 31, 2012, 06:30 pm »

I just recieved a new SM tote for christmas and I love it so far. It is from the company 31 and they do parties (kind of like pampered chef or Mary Kay) with a consultant, and my mother picked this out for me:

http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/Catalog/Product/227/

It has a zipper to close it, and I've been told that you can get other bags to put inside to seperate your organization some more. There are mesh pockets on each end which are great for waterbottles/snacks so crumbs don't stay, and there are enough pockets on the outside for easy access items I may need during rehearsal. There is more than enough room inside for my hefty laptop and several binders. My favorite part? It comes in awesome designs!

128

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE

« on: Dec 16, 2012, 03:37 pm »

I have also encountered something like this when I worked in company management for a summer opera company. It was just the singers, but it was super helpful when my job was to meet them at the airport for the first time and take them to their housing. I was astounded though at how many times they really didn't look like their headshots...

129

The Green Room / Re: Scott Walters: The Wal-Marting of American Theatre

« on: Dec 05, 2012, 09:55 am »

Perhaps it is because I grew up in rural NY (More than 5 hours north of the city in the woods) I have always had negative feelings about the City. I never wanted to live and work there, despite all of the theatre. I moved to PA for college (funny enough I was closer to NYC then!) and I loved to visit and see theatre, but it still wasn't my end goal- everyone in school thought I was crazy for not wanting NYC because it was held up as the pinacle of theatre, and only the best go there and survive.

But I wanted something else... I didn't want what I did to determine where I lived. So I traveled a bunch after school, working all over the country, and have just recently settled in the Philly area. What I have discovered here is so amazing comparativly. Philladelphia is a town that really takes care of it's local artists. In more than one mission statement of the big theatres they state how they strive to foster growth in the local arts scene and support local technicians and artists. I tried for a while to get a job here, but until I actually made the move and had that local address on my resume, I got nothing. And what is crazy, is as I network- everyone knows EVERYONE here. It really is a big theatre family among the smaller theatres, big houses and universities.

So maybe to some, I'm not a Top Dog living and working in the city- but I am working- and able to afford my rent in my comparativly HUGE apartment that I don't have to share with three others to afford. So in the end this works for me.

I think we really need to continue to foster local arts and let the younger generation know that there is much more than NYC- Let's stop having residence in that city be such a stamp of approval on someone's credentials.

130

Employment / Re: What (not?) to wear

« on: Dec 02, 2012, 07:54 am »

I tend to gague what I wear by two things at rehearsals: 1- what my SM wears (as generally I am asm) and 2- what type of theatre it is.

The more formal the theatre, the more formal my clothes. I tend to leave my hoodies at home when I'm doing opera, and I even pull out my dressier blacks to run the show; although I opt out of dresses. I have seen quite a few ASMs in dresses changing the sets though.

I like to take cues from my SM too- I don't ever want to outdress her/him, and we generally as a rule dress around the same standards as the director... except that one time I had a director that wore overall snowpants to every rehearsal...

131

Employment / Re: Phone interview for opera company

« on: Dec 01, 2012, 05:24 pm »

In regards to questions- practice with a friend! Have them ask you questions that they think you might be asked and see what you say. Practicing answers out loud will help you sort through your thoughts BEFORE you are on the phone, and will make you sound more clear and consise with your answers.  It shows that you have put some thought into this.

Good luck!

132

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: December Madness!

« on: Nov 28, 2012, 09:26 pm »

I'm so excited. I am printing the bracket out as we speak. I am filling it out.

I love this.

133

Employment / Re: Phone interview for opera company

« on: Nov 28, 2012, 08:16 pm »

The majority of interviews I did before I moved to the Philly area were phone interviews. Personally I think they can be really great- you can be super prepared and have all your information in front of you and still be in your pjs!

Prepare as you would for any other interview- do your research about the company and have a list of questions. What is great about a phone interview is you can have your computer open to their website while you are talking to them so you can quick reference things. Keep a pencil and paper with you too to write down dates and any answers to questions you have.

I like to also have water or hot tea while I interview- that way I can take a drink if my voice gets scratchy or whatever.

Personally I try to stay seated while on the phone, but in a good chair at a table (Kind of like a regular interview) I find when I stand, I pace and start talking too fast. This all depends on your personal habits though.

Time Zones are really important as has bex stated before. I have totally run into that problem and been woken up with an interviewer calling at 9am (6am my time!) Needless to say, I did not get that job.

And about your experiance: Don't undersell yourself. I got my first ASM opera job professionally after a phone interview with only shadowing experiance prior. A lot rides on your personality and confidence I think- they will be looking for someone that they want to work with, and it looks like you know what the job entails anyway.

Best of Luck, and when in doubt- breath out!

134

The Green Room / Re: SMs as depicted on stage & in the movies

« on: Nov 21, 2012, 07:57 am »

Slings & Arrows, anyone? It has been awhile since I watched the whole series, but I do recall the stage manager being pretty accurate, minus the meltdown at the cast party that I have no doubt we have all risked having at the craziest times.

I immediatly thought of her! I think it was a great cathartic moment for me when she just yelled at everyone! I own the whole series and love it as a theatre person- I think she is a really great representation. you see more of our job than most other representations, but to be fair it is a series that takes place over three seasons and various styles of theatre as opposed to a single play.

135

Employment / Re: Jobs after Graduating in December

« on: Nov 10, 2012, 06:27 pm »

Hello fellow December Grad! I graduated a couple of years ago in December, but unfortuantly ran into the same problem as you. I had stage crew work at a casino at home, and substitute teaching, but couldn't find much else. I did book a summer stock job in January, but I found it was hard to get things for right away.

If you live in an area with a good theatre scene, try sending out resumes to the local theatres- sometimes they are looking for someone but  not advertising- that is how I got my most recent job.

Just keep at it and talk to anyone you know- every contact counts. It does get easier I promise!