Messages

1201

Employment / Re: Fired from an SM Job

« on: Aug 08, 2006, 01:01 am »

interesting perspective, since so much of my work has been coming in at the last possible moment to replace someone who left/was fired for incompetence, so I walk in from the other end and make it all work.

And <edit (oops sorry wrong person)> you are right to not advertise that legal situation unless it comes up - in which case have a straight ahead, non-defensive and honest one-to-two sentence condensed story that says essentially that you were being professional, and that's that. More than that becomes gossip and defensiveness.

1202

Employment / Re: Do circuses have Stage Managers?

« on: Aug 07, 2006, 09:08 pm »

I believe they have a US office - when I was being solicited to interview, all the production addresses were in Florida - but maybe they only train everyone there, or something -

1203

The Green Room / Re: Tech dinners

« on: Aug 07, 2006, 01:21 am »

Too true - I learned this a million years ago when I was starting out - doing a waiver one-act festival, my show was w Joanna Gleason, Chris Meloni and Susan Knight directed by a lovely gent who brought in snacks to rehearsals he knew were going to be long and exhausting - and we had a couple of dinners at his home as well, just to unite the cast

1204

Employment / Re: Do circuses have Stage Managers?

« on: Aug 06, 2006, 02:51 am »

Someone on the site mentioned working w cirque - can't recall who, but it's fairly recent, so if you have the time to do a little investigation tlhrough the threads you should find it fairly quickly - good luck

and they are based in (Florida I think) and have a website - you can always ask them directly

1205

The Hardline / Re: Changing professions

« on: Aug 05, 2006, 06:40 pm »

Mind you, it isn't that I disagree w you. But the reality is that there are quite a few unions offering "tests" to joing which really come down to their version of an old-boy's network. To  join IA in Phila, you only need to be a member of, or a dear friend, of a worker already in IA (until recently an entirely male enterprise). To join the musician's union (at least local 48) you have to play/sing a scale, but often the person judging is tone deaf. In fact, joining a union is usually a "time earned/apprentice" rather than test thing, so AEA is not unique.

Yes there are slaggart Shop Stewards as well, really there are, but part of the issue is understanding that SM is not an entry-level position. And that's something we have to change all the way across the board in every aspect of theater.

1206

The Hardline / Re: Health cards discontinued

« on: Aug 05, 2006, 01:08 am »

...I actually read about it on the website

but this thread really made all that info make sense. Hmmm.....

1207

The Green Room / Re: Tech dinners

« on: Aug 05, 2006, 01:01 am »

STC does that too - everyone is required to be at the Wed morning meeting (which is before the early midweek matinee - so the lucky show that's running has to be at the meeting, skip out early to set up for the mat, run the mat, then take a break and do an evening show). Sigh.

This can backfire, especially at places where the volunteer ladies don't realize the crew works too, or (as in one case) they simply feed as cheap as possible, and you get Italian every matinee day. Try dancing on pizza, let alone staying awake to call a dull show an hour from the meal.

This can work to your advantage if you do it right, tho. I ran an excellent but LONG-ass run of Streetcar, a sign language produciton, and by week's end we were all beat-to-shit tired (sorry if anyone is offended, no other way to really explain) - I started the cast doing a potluck between the Sunday mat and eve. It was more than a morale booster - it got us through the final show of the week! And it created a real family (that started to show up on stage, which was very nice). The performers and crew had fun making things for each other, we all took turns doing the entree/meat part (1/3 of the cast was veggie, the rest serious meat eaters) and creativity reigned. And it gave the supporting cast a focus while they sat there waiting for their scenes, since there are huge chunks of time when most are just sitting around backstage. Because this was 99-seat (an LA-specific beast) we did our own, but it became a really nice space for the actors to let loose w their real thoughts and feelings when things needed to be aired, cuz the producers weren't around. Food is the great equalizer, eh?

1208

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TECH - HELP!!!!!

« on: Aug 04, 2006, 03:40 pm »

following up on stagemonkey's note -

yes, props need to be laid in certain places for the show, but they can be in a central location off R and L (as in, way WAY off!) once your shelf and hook space has been exhausted (you'd be surprised the nooks and crannies you can find once you have hooks on and under shelves) - and see what you can hide on (or just off) stage too.

HOWEVER - in a set up like this, sometimes the only thing you can do is just have a central pickup and drop point where the actors place their stuff FROM preshow and return it back TO at the end of the nite. Piggybacking on Stagemonkey, sometimes the actors find the best places for their stuff after they've run a few times in rehearsal, and that way you solve it together (cuz ultimately, it's their responsibility to make sure their props are where they need to be and they get to someplace we can find to clear for the next nite).

And only put out one act at a time - I can't recall if this one has an intermission or not, it's  been years since I've seen it - but in situations like that I often have a milk crate or three standing by to load Act 2 (and into which to clear the Act 1 props) at intermission. And if the set is masked decently, your carp/deck asst/PA can place props during the act as other things get struck.

take a deep breath - and it will all work out (it always does) -

1209

The Green Room / Re: Tech dinners

« on: Aug 04, 2006, 04:10 am »

Many of the smaller LORT theaters I've worked (and a few SPT) do something similar - they have tech dinners brought in by their volunteers, who cook, set up, clean up and make sure we are fed during our 10/12s (and, for at least two theaters, provide lunch on tight 2-show days as well). THEY get to interact w the actors and crew and sometimes even sit in on part of the rehearsal, which to a civilian is quite fun.

On the one hand, you have to eat what they bring. On the other hand, they bring a hot meal, something veggie and something not veggie, and we don't have to scramble for food during tech.

1210

The Hardline / Re: Health cards discontinued

« on: Aug 03, 2006, 12:59 pm »

now now dear.....as it happens, that discussion has occurred quite a lot - about a member chat area on the AEA website - and while it hasn't been solved yet, it IS in the works - and we must be patient w the technogeeks at AEA/NY cuz there's a lot we are asking of them and they have to figure out what this particular system is, and is NOT, capable of doing and still keep our private stuff private and so forth (I don't presume to know a thing, just that it is taking time and work to solve).

AND do keep in mind the number of members who still are dependant on mail and phones only, who have to be accommodated too.

DO air your suggestions in a committee where you are, since the more of us who mention all these things, the better shot we have of accomplishing them sooner than later

1211

The Hardline / Re: What Colleges (Don't) Say About AEA?

« on: Aug 03, 2006, 02:56 am »

Hey folks out there - VSM and I will be at a meeting for the committee exploring this specific issue this coming week - so now is a great time to PM either of us and let us know your concerns and suggestions. We can't guarantee results, but we can make sure your thoughts are aired in a room full of folks discussing this very topic.

1212

The Hardline / Re: Equity Deputy's identity

« on: Aug 01, 2006, 11:22 pm »

see, and I have had the other experience - not always, but enough to keep me from volunteering this info. It depends on the theater, the producers, the management team etc - but I would rather err on the side of protecting the deputy and then find out, to my delight, that the folks at this theater are professionals and don't take it personally when the deputy does their job, instead of the reverse.

1213

Employment / Re: Do circuses have Stage Managers?

« on: Aug 01, 2006, 11:17 pm »

I have friends who have travelled w the red and blue trains as clowns and jugglers and the like - and there is something in the SM ballpark - here is the link for Ringling - ask them directly!


2. How do I get a job with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey?
We appreciate your interest in employment opportunities with Feld Entertainment®. Please send a letter, along with your resume and any other pertinent materials, to the following address:

Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Attn: Human Resources Dept.
8607 Westwood Center Drive
Vienna, VA 22182

They will either contact you or forward the material to the appropriate individual. We also advertise positions on the Web at the Feld Entertainment Web site and at Career Builders

1214

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Calling sound cues

« on: Aug 01, 2006, 01:44 am »

(fwiw, and I've done regional theater all over the US, and even in Edinburgh, I have never, ever heard "prime" either)

1215

The Hardline / Re: What Colleges (Don't) Say About AEA?

« on: Jul 31, 2006, 06:11 pm »

AEA has been doing some outreach to colleges but it is in the baby stages (VSM, take it away), HOWEVER, there is a committee dealing with this issue - it would be lovely for any of you you to air some of your concerns to me or to VSM and perhaps you can even participate when this committee meets in LA (as a guest until and unless you are an AEA member) to help format some things that will help make everything better and more viable...