Messages

136

The Hardline / Re: Prompt Script Etiquette

« on: Oct 23, 2010, 07:46 pm »

Agreed with other comments that books should always be pristine--sometimes it may not be easy but its important (i've also come in on a lot of shows late in the game and having clear paperwork saves a lot of headaches)

137

The Green Room / Re: On anti-success

« on: Oct 23, 2010, 07:43 pm »

What a wonderful topic--I spent a lot of this week asking myself why I do what I do while mounting a big festival of new musicals that is more event coordinating than theater related and found myself really enjoying a job that is different than stage management, but then it all came full circle when I realized all my skills that helped me do my job were all based in my experience in stage management...

For me, there's nothing like the rush of that first performance or preview where all your work comes together and there is (hopefully) thunderous applause, laughter, tears, etc from the audience.

I found myself asking many of the questions you listed, and I realized I do this because I love all the aspects that tie into it, as it involves people, technical aspects, organization, it plays on many of my strengths and challenges me in new ways on every show.

My personal success is defined by how well I do my job (whatever job that may be) and that I can still afford to have a life outside of that job that makes me happy in the ways my job isn't able to. Being well rounded is my ultimate goal in life.

138

The Green Room / Re: Best one-liner from a performance report

« on: Oct 16, 2010, 03:32 pm »

After a night of rowdy college students....

"Then, at the end of the sensitive “I’ll Never Be the Same,” 2 of them got up and exited right past Tina, around the moat and out the house right VOM.  Appropriately named, in this case, since at least one of them threw up in the lobby men’s room.....However, some of these non-inebriated students took part in the distracting behavior.  We had Billy O. sit behind them during Act 2.  His official title is now Officer of the Peace and Bodyguard to the Stars."

139

The Green Room / Re: I can't believe I just had to do that...

« on: Oct 14, 2010, 11:47 pm »

I did a show where we had Reborning dolls (Collectible dolls that look incredibly real, are weighted, smell like babies etc) where we had one "regular" doll and one "mutilated" doll. The regular doll our puppet maker actually bought from a woman who sent us "adoption" papers, the whole nine yards as if we had adopted her....Not only did I have to refresh the blood and gore on the mutilated doll every night as preset, I was also designated by everyone that I had to put the "regular" doll to bed at night because I"m the only one who held her like a baby and not like a prop.

CREEPED ME OUT.

140

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: Light Board restart WWYD?

« on: Sep 30, 2010, 03:06 pm »

This actually just happened during previews of my current show (we had a power outage mid act II for a few brief second and then the board had to reboot.) with me on deck, my PSM in the booth back of the house and 5 actors on stage

We pushed through in work lights for two numbers and the audience thought it was such a treat to witness such a unique show (though I would argue they were more forgiving since the outage was weather related) and then all our lights were back with us for the last few songs.

If I had been in the booth I would have probably called a short hold only because I'm new to the theater and don't know how long things would take to reset, and because honestly, I'm a nervous nellie about these things.

Some of the reasons that aided us to just push through was that we didn't lose com or or sound system for more than a few seconds so we could communicate  (its a 4 piece band with a lead singer, so without sound we couldn't have continued) , and all the actors were safely seated when it happened (phew!)

All our artistic staff were supportive with how it was handled, the LD included...but as usual it's a show by show basis.

141

The Green Room / Re: What did you learn today?

« on: Sep 20, 2010, 04:03 pm »

Last night I learned that even if you do get a decent amount of sleep during tech weekend (first time that's ever happened!), you will STILL be a totally wiped out zombie by Sunday night.

So very true! I just experienced this, and am now taking my day off to completely relax and regroup.

Something I learned: just because a show isn't "complicated" doesn't mean it isn't physically exhausting during 10 out of 12's.

142

The Green Room / Re: BEST ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE

« on: Sep 07, 2010, 09:32 pm »

Very generic but I find it very useful: "Keep calm & carry on"

143

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TECHNOLOGY: Facebook photos and videos

« on: Sep 05, 2010, 02:38 pm »

In regards to the photos query----

I usually work a variety of Equity and non-equity jobs but my rules are always the same: no casual photos in rehearsal, all general managers/publicity people have to give 24 hours notice for any shots they take, and any video of rehearsal or performances (following AEA when applicable) has to be approved by me for archival/rehearsal purposes and must be destroyed if it/once it has served it's use. (I usually do a passworded vimeo site to mantain control of the material and then remove it)

These may seem either harsh or status quo, but I find having a firm policy helps create the rehearsal "safe space" we all strive for. And really, who absolutely needs to put pictures of their show on Facebook that they can't get through marketing?

144

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Talk Backs

« on: Aug 29, 2010, 01:31 pm »

Liz..the purpose for it seemed to be that our AD doesn't feel like our audience is smart enough for our current show. So she feels the need to tell them what they should be listening to and what they should be thinking about while watching the play.

Wow, well maybe they should write a director's note for the program, or do some front of house posters/dramaturgical information.... I would have to say if I was an audience member and I had a talk back in the middle of a show I'd be pretty confused and it would completely take me out of the experience, which I'm guessing is not what the AD was going for...

145

Tools of the Trade / Re: SOFTWARE: Adobe Story

« on: Aug 28, 2010, 05:14 pm »

This looks really interesting, but it would require your entire team to use it to be really effective. In my experience so many writing teams exclusively use Final Draft that making a switch might be a hard sell.

146

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: Watching 100% of the show.

« on: Aug 27, 2010, 12:40 pm »

8 ) Watch the show paying attention to tempo
9) Before a show, review notes the director gave during rehearsal, tech, previews - see how many of these notes can be regiven.
10) Be on book - see how close they are to the script during a long run.

these are my top three things to do in a long run because I find it easy to revert back to taking line notes/timing while calling and also in my experience these are the things that usually start to slip. It's a great shift of energy when you mention "Hey, scene 5 is actually 2 minutes longer than it was on opening, especially through these speeches" it always gives the cast a different energy.

147

The Green Room / Re: Your ideal kit bag/box/portable hole

« on: Aug 24, 2010, 09:01 pm »

As a freelancer in NYC I've spent the last few years compiling bags/etc that work for me and have found a compromise at the moment, but my ideal kit would be some heavy duty fabric with a solid bottom (kind of like an old school doctor's bag) and have pockets/loops/clips around the walls of the  interior, with zippered pockets behind that so I could slip in rulers, protractors, those sorta flat instant ice packs and other semi-flat things but still be able to look down into the bag and see all the pockets. also some pull out pencil cases/organizers would be nice to nestle in the bottom so I wouldn't have to unpack a whole bunch of things to get to something.
and but of course it would need pockets on the outside. and be made of a fashionable fabric

148

The Green Room / Re: Being friends with other stage managers

« on: Aug 20, 2010, 01:11 am »

I think, oddly, this site is a really positive way to make connections over a face to face gathering. 

Totally agree. I have sought so much advice from these boards in the last few years and found myself encouraging my interns and PA's to use this as a resource as well.

Lately I've even started running into people/working with people's roommates/recognizing names in Playbills from the boards in real life which is always a treat. While I wouldn't consider people I post with on a forum as friends, it's still encouraging to see colleagues that you debate the minutiae of your job with are out there working and doing well

149

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: HOUSE MANAGEMENT: Do you spill the beans about your famous audience members?

« on: Aug 20, 2010, 01:00 am »

I usually prefer not to know until after the show when I can forward the cast/creatives the information in case they'd like to get in touch for their own networking.

Although one night I was told Lawrence Stern was in the audience and I definitely wished I hadn't been told.

150

Employment / Re: Picking jobs

« on: Aug 20, 2010, 12:48 am »

Definitely the right choice to step down graciously for the better paying job.

Glad to see you on here, feels like just yesterday we were sweeping sand and glitter together.