Messages

136

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Real weapons on stage?

« on: Mar 31, 2015, 11:49 am »

As Mr Shiner states, it's always possible to make them safe for stage, but make sure you have a good prop master to adjust them to safe mode as well as a good fight master to choreo their use (and make sure there's a nightly fight call). And, just as with a gun, I'd do a series of safety checks before each show, first with my ASM/props, and then with the actors, before the show goes up.

Also, this'd be one of those "no one touches them" items - only props, other than when they are actually being used onstage.

137

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament IV: Trivia's Revenge!!

« on: Mar 30, 2015, 02:54 am »

Sports? SPORTS??? Why oh why would anyone pick SPORTS as a category for the SM Trivia Tournament?

138

The Green Room / Re: My 1 minute of fame

« on: Mar 25, 2015, 09:59 pm »

Tell Michael I say hey! And what a lovely photo - you look terrific!

139

Employment / Re: "What Not To Post": Job Listing edition

« on: Mar 24, 2015, 11:22 am »

And all at GA1. Looks like they just did a copy/paste from one of the rulebooks.

140

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Am I Being Too demanding?

« on: Mar 23, 2015, 03:47 pm »

well, break a leg - and the more you are able to get the director on your team - that is, being part of the solution - the easier it will be. But holy cow no notes during the show. Can you lock the door to the booth while the show is running?

141

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stage Manager say no?

« on: Mar 23, 2015, 02:33 am »

Perhaps a constructive approach would be to say "I will check on permissions necessary for an open flame. How about using xyz in the meantime, until I am able to get those." And then, if the answer is yes with specific requirements like fire extinguishers, you are golden and make that happen, and if the answer is no, you are able to say the "yes and" with a possible solution - "I am so sorry but I checked on that and have been told we are not allowed to use open flame, but there are these battery operated candles that can pass, can we use them?" etc

142

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Am I Being Too demanding?

« on: Mar 23, 2015, 02:27 am »

It sounds like it's a college production? In which case, you can approach it as teaching everyone how to work in a professional environment and therefore get the director on your team by reviewing contract rules and together instituting them. These, of course, include things like notes going thru the SM, the SM being the person who maintains the show etc. And for the actors/board ops/designers to understand the protocol/line of communication so they don't get fired from their first jobs.

This can allow you to do all the things you need without creating a hostile environment while you (together) teach the students and the director how to work in a professional manner.

143

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Rehearsal Report Question

« on: Mar 21, 2015, 01:45 pm »

In situations like that, I put it in the report but as a "we played with xy and z but haven't decided yet which will be used". That way, the props/costumes/set/person will have a heads up that something is happening that involves those elements, and some idea of what was played with so it isn't a total surprise when the final decision is made, but adds the caveat that decision hasn't happened and those props aren't required.

Plus, you never know when a director will ask you to go back and remember what xy and z were.

144

Self-Promotion / Re: Save Ballet San Jose by March 14 #SV4BSJ

« on: Mar 10, 2015, 11:34 pm »

(ooh ooh which one are you?)

145

Employment / Dear Abby: ASM/PSM serious personality clashes (and a bad SM to boot!)

« on: Feb 27, 2015, 04:00 am »

This was submitted by a professional member who wishes to remain anonymous.

Dear Abby:

I recently finished ASMing a project with a PSM that I absolutely did not get along with. I've actually never been so insulted and disrespected, both personally and professionally, by another person in my life. This feeling was also echoed by the actors that we were working with - so it wasn't just me. In fact, and I've never said this about anyone I've ever worked with (EVER), I'd go so far as to say that they are just a terrible SM in all aspects of their job. We travel in sort of the same professional circle outside of this project, and I feel very confident that I am not alone in feeling this way about this person. While they've never been fired from a job (that I know of) they've definitely never been asked back by the same company after working there once. I also know for a fact that they are completely unaware that their peers feel this way about them. They honestly and truly think they do their job amazingly well, at all times, and have no need to learn or grow from any experience.

I offer that as a small insight to a situation that I worry I'm about to be thrust into: I have two fairly important interviews in the next few days with companies that I know this person has worked with in the past. I'm concerned my potential connection to this person will be brought up casually during the course of these interviews and I am looking for advice on what to say if it comes up. I don't want to launch in to any sort of "Oh yes, John Smith and I did work together but have very different approaches and philosophies," because I don't want it to it to seem like I'm trying to talk around badmouthing someone, but I also don't think that "Yes we did" will be a sufficient response. One could argue that because they no longer work with these companies that it's ok to say something like the former, but I am of the mindset that you never badmouth anyone you've worked with unless you feel it absolutely necessary, and this is not the case here. In our time together, one's safety was in danger (because I was running the deck - the one time they tried to 'help' with a preset it was done completely wrong), no major union rules were broken (but they would have been had I not said something to this person in private), it's just that they're bad at their job and treat people absolutely terribly. I do want to make it clear that I do not share their work style, though I hope that apparent by my interview itself.

So...how do I delicately extricate myself should this come up?   

146

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: not needed until tech week?

« on: Feb 16, 2015, 02:35 pm »

Common in small theater in LA - and I am doing this for the 6th time as an emergency replacement. Great for learning things on the fly and prioritizing, not so great for things like (as mentioned) LD and costumes asking qqs you would have had answers to if only you'd been in prodn meetings and rehearsals......

But also great practical application for convention/ event work - things like benefits and other productions with minimal or no prep or rehearsal, and also for learning how to roll with things and keep your balance no matter what's going on.

147

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How to politely tell people things.

« on: Feb 14, 2015, 12:05 pm »

With sound - sometimes it helps to tell them that they have to tie to lights, so please allow you to call it since they have to go together.

148

Introductions / Re: Old dog, new tricks

« on: Feb 12, 2015, 03:35 pm »

Pizza rolls really smoke when burned.

(just to add my own experience w a backstage microwave.....so does popcorn)

149

Employment / Re: Overqualified?

« on: Feb 12, 2015, 03:15 am »

Agree with the comments above - applying for a job that you want, regardless of being 'overqualified'. It can be wanting to shake things up, or broaden horizons, or play with new folks or a new company after a long slog with the same folks for a long time, or learn how different folks deal with doing the same thing. It's also the different roles and responsibilities, not being the final word for a change, trying out a contract you haven't worked in a while, or a learning different sizes and styles of shows. It's having a new or different experience, or even learning new skill sets. And it's also a chance to live in a different place, experience other folks and other ways to shake up the same ol' same ol'. 

I teach a lot of young SMs whose only experience is in big, state-of-the-art modern college theaters how to function in smaller, lower-end/lower tier theaters, but I miss the excitement of the big shows I used to do too, sometimes miss being backstage with the performers, miss working on contracts with more realistic rules (and paychecks), and getting to not be the first in/last out. 

And as someone who started stage managing a little later, it's also a way to fill in holes and bring my skill set up to speed with the areas I don't work as often.

150

The Hardline / Re: Facebook Postings

« on: Feb 03, 2015, 11:45 pm »

Don't forget that the scenic, lighting, prop and costume designers, and any crew caught on camera also have to be taken into consideration. I would assume that this is not ok - unless everyone (including SM, director and producer) signs off on it and understands that there is no such thing as true internet security.