Messages

1231

Articles from the Old Site / Delegating Authority

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:47 pm »

Your job will be a lot easier if you learn how to distribute your tasks among others.  This is all well and good, but how do you know what to delegate?  Keep a list of everything you need to do in a common location.  As the list grows, prioritize using a code.  Put an "A" next to things that the head stage manager must do.  Put a "B" next to things that must get done, but someone else can do them.  This can go way down to "Z" for things that it would be awfully nice if they got accomplished when you won "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."  Make sure that people understand the code, and then splitting up tasks becomes a much easier job.

1232

Articles from the Old Site / Knowing More than your Job

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:47 pm »

If you're like me, you started stage managing early on and quite by accident for a school or theatre company that was desperate to have a stage manager.  You were pulled in from another theatre discipline, or brought into it cold.  This means that unlike other areas of theatre where you generally start at the bottom of the ladder and work your way up, stage managers often join the professional arena with little or no experience in the lower positions of the field.  Therefore, it's a good idea when you're moving into the "real world" (or ideally beforehand!) to get some experience as an assistant stage manager or a member of a stage management team.  It will give you an idea of how massive the job can be, and it will help you to better understand what your assistants will be going through when you get back to ruling the roost.

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Articles from the Old Site / Planned Obsolescence

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:47 pm »

Stage Managers are generally aware that their prompt book needs to stay in the theatre at all times in case the unthinkable happens and someone else has to fill in.  However, it is not just the calling of the show that will need to be covered should you get hit by that mythical bus!  Make sure that there is no place in the building for which you have the only key--this includes your desk, any safes, all doors.  Make sure that any security, phone access, copy or lockbox codes are posted somewhere.  In general, take a day or two of performance and notice every action you do.  Make sure that there is some way for a substitute to understand and do the same.

1234

Articles from the Old Site / PDA's and Stage Management

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:46 pm »

I have the Palm III and a few productions ago, I used it when I stage managed. In the PDA's 'To Do' list, I broke each scene into it's parts and used the list as my props list. This worked out VERY well. The list allows me to put a check mark next to the items that I have placed or had placed by someone else. I also put in certain cue lines and the action it took. I no longer had a clipboard of papers to keep track of, I just put my Palm back in my pouch when I was done with it.

Another nice thing about it is that it is back-lit! This allowed me to view the list during black-outs or dark scenes.

I'm not sure if the cheaper PDAs have the back light or a 'To Do' list feature, but it might be something for some SMs to check out. I'm glad I have mine.

Another thing I did in our past production of West Side Story was to use Microsoft's Power Point to draw out the scene changes. PowerPoint is pretty easy to draw with and the best feature of all is that you can type notes per slide (scene) and print those notes at the bottom of the printed page. This is where I would write what has to be changed, cue lines, reminders, and other important notes on the scene coming up. I then took the print outs and posted them on the wall on either side of the back stage. I've had a few people tell me how nice it was to know what exactly was coming up...this is both from crew and cast members. It also made my job easier since the crew was up to date with any changes we made during tech week. I've attached a .jpg image of one of my West Side scenes so that you can see what it looks like. I'm not sure if this is something that's always used in theaters, but to me, it's new. (11/28/00)

Submitted by Kris Kauker

1235

Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Clearing the Air

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:45 pm »

If you're like me, you wind up spending a lot of time rehearsing in basements and windowless rooms.  I've started keeping dryer sheets (the fabric softener ones) in my kit, so that when I move into a rehearsal space that's musty or moldy I can tape a dryer sheet over the source of incoming air.  It helps freshen the air in the whole room, and the fibers of the dryer sheet filter out some of the nasty airborne particles that can wreck up actors' voices.

1236

Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Taping out floor plans

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:44 pm »

I did a show where I had to constantly move from rehearsal space to rehearsal space. Instead of taping down the floor for the hundredth time, I took clothes line, placed it next to the taped line on the floor, and cut it. I also put the cut clothesline in baggies and marked "SL wall" or whatever it was.  So when I moved to another room, all I had to do was put the clothesline down and tape the edges.

Submitted by Diane.

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Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Charging Glow Tape

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:44 pm »

I snagged this idea from the last project I was working on.  To charge glo tape quickly and evenly, keep a small camera flash unit backstage.  Before the show and during intermissions, flash the unit at pieces of glow tape that aren't regularly exposed to stage light.

1238

Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Easing Eye Strain

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:43 pm »

For those long tech rehearsals and for helping counter the effects of sitting for hours under blue lights or in dim booths, try this basic shiatsu procedure.  First, use your thumbs to find the two pressure points on either side of your nose just below eyebrow level.  You will know the pressure point when you find it because it will smart a little when you press it.  Now use your forefingers and find the two pressure points on directly below the first points but lower down, just below eyeball level.  The third set of points can be found on the bone of your eye socket directly below your pupils.  The fourth set is spread across your eyebrows with a focal point at the temples.  Spend a count of eight massaging each of these pressure points, close your eyes for 15 seconds or so, and your eyes will feel much better.  Stimulates tear ducts and restores circulation as if you'd gotten at least four extra hours of sleep.

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Articles from the Old Site / Tips: More Morale

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:43 pm »

Jelly Babies or similar are a must for placating antsy, uppity student actors during a tech.

posted by Allie

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Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Distributing Information

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:42 pm »

When making rehearsal and performance reports, make two different versions.  On one, put all of the technical information: repairs, house count, etc. that everyone needs to know.  Distribute this to all and sundry.  On a second report, put anything of a more confidential nature: interpersonal squabbles, issues that will affect payroll, critics that were in the house.  Send this one only to the folks who need to know everything that goes on, like the Production Manager and the Artistic Director.

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Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Company morale booster

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:42 pm »

By the time opening night rolls around, everyone seems to be at each others throats. I order a ton of pizzas or get reservations for the lunch before opening night. Everyone is invited. There's a catch, absolutely no talking about the show, complaints about people in it, or theatre in general. You have no idea how refreshing it is hearing about their families, whose kid is going off to what college, interesting childhood memories, etc. By the time the meal is over, everyone is much calmer and are more likely to be tolerant of each other as we head back to the theatre for the show.

(Submitted by Erin)

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Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Marking up a prompt script

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:41 pm »

One of the first things I do after I mount my script is to highlite all of the stage directions, making all the dialogue in the script stand out. This is especially helpful for prompting lines during sections with a lot of stage business in between lines. It also helps during quick section referencing since prop or technical notes are usually contained in these sections. I also put large page numbers on the top of each page for directors who are constantly looking over for a quick reference.

(submitted by Diane K.)

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Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Cleaning dried paint from brushes

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:40 pm »

I have to give credit to my daughter, Cyndie, for this one. She accidentally discovered the answer to that "age-old" question, "How do I get the dried paint out of my brush?" Would you believe, Dow Bathroom Cleaner "Scrubbing Bubbles"? This stuff REALLY works. Wet your brush, squirt in some Dow, massage bristles and rinse. If it's really bad, do it again! Leaves brush soft and clean!

(found online at Paintersworkshop.com)

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Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Avoiding Nasty Chores

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:40 pm »

It's a safe bet that anything that you don't specifically rule out in your contract will wind up being your job.  If you have a particular aversion to doing laundry, driving the tour bus, or shopping for props, make sure you put a clause in your contract that exempts you from such duties.  It is never a guarantee that you won't ever have to pick up the perishables, but it helps.

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Articles from the Old Site / Tips: Browsing for Running Blacks

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 06:40 pm »

When I go shopping for black clothing, I bring a flashlight that has been covered with blue gel.  Shining the flashlight on the black cloth lets me know if the garment is "good black" (black under scene shift light) or "bad black" (red under scene shift light.)