Messages

1396

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Help, I'm being sabotaged!

« on: Apr 29, 2010, 04:03 pm »

Sometimes the bomb needs to explore, and the best you can do is get everyone out of the way.

Not every story has a happy ending.

1397

The Green Room / GREENROOM: Patron Saint of Stage Managers?

« on: Apr 26, 2010, 11:47 pm »

This came in conversation over headset.

Is there a traditional Patron Saint who would be over us?

Let me know.

1398

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stage Manager as Disciplinarian

« on: Apr 26, 2010, 06:37 pm »

In the professional world we can't hire or fire either.  We are ultimately, always middle management, and have to figure out how to manipulate or eliminate bad behavior through management skills. 

I can tell the producer or general manager of behavior and they can choose to do something about - but I am bound my AEA contract on what I can and can not do.  Sometimes an agent is involved.  Sometimes AEA is involved.  But most of the time it's just me talking to an actor; a heart to heart to figure out what we can do about that behavior.

1399

The Green Room / Re: can stage managers take a joke?

« on: Apr 25, 2010, 09:31 pm »

My light board operator's mother came up with it . . . last time it was my stapler and other things from my desk.

They wanted to do my laptop . . . but thought better of it. 

I have some very fiendish co-workers.

1400

The Green Room / Re: can stage managers take a joke?

« on: Apr 25, 2010, 01:42 pm »

So proving that Stage Managers can take a joke . . .

Today, I came in to find my calling script encased in jello

http://stagemanager.net/stagemanager.net/Prank_Photos.html

(before anyone flips, I do all my calling scripts on the computer, so all I would have to do is print a new one, we do already have a back up one printed, and in the end, it was NOT the calling script for THIS show . . .)

Still - hysterical.

1401

The Green Room / Re: show us your booth! (And Can SM's Take A Joke)

« on: Apr 24, 2010, 11:47 pm »

So, after six years, I am leaving my current theater.

And the pranks have begun.

When I moved into my new housing, a large oil derrick from a show was in the bedroom.

Later that week, a severed head was in the fridge, porn was strewn about the apartment (A prop) and my bed was covered in fake rose petals and mylar (Also props).

Yesterday, the Starbucks across from the street was plastered with my photo with "DO NOT SERVE" put above it.

Today, my calling station in the booth was plastered with post its.

Link to photos attached . . .

http://stagemanager.net/stagemanager.net/Prank_Photos.html


So, yes Stage Managers can take a joke . . . I seem to have to over and over.

1402

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: TD Unconcerned with Safety

« on: Apr 22, 2010, 09:27 pm »

Stop playing games and send this to the top.  If you were in a regional theatre or commercial setting, you would go to the producers - they are the ones who are going to have to pay the workman's comp on the injuries.  It's amazing what the power of money and the threat of having to spend money on an issue will scare people.  Trust me -theatre involves risks, but if the risks are extraordinary, send it straight to the top, and walk away.  Don't make is personal.  Don't fight the TD.

1403

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ASM for AEA vs. SM for NON-AEA

« on: Apr 22, 2010, 05:00 pm »

It's really a supply and demand issue.  Do you live in a AEA Market that can support you and the lifestyle that you wish to live as an AEA Stage Manager?  Remember, although turning AEA can open up higher pay jobs - it also may put you in a larger group of people competing for those jobs.  And there is no "early-career" AEA card, once you get your card you are competing with every other SM who has an AEA Card . . . the only thing that might separate those applying for specific jobs is pay level - you won't find a lot of Broadway PSMs applying for AEA Showcase or a low paying SPT contracts, but you never know . . . you might find that AEA contracts you maybe taking may pay less the some non-AEA contracts - but you are going to be winding up for bigger contracts down the line.  (For example, at the theatre I work at currently, the hourly PA's make more then about most SPT contracts in town.)

You also have to look at some other the other AEA benefits . . . healthcare, pension, workplace protection, workplace rules . . . etc.

The job of SM and ASM are very different, and you may find you are more suited towards one or the other, which may sway your decision. 

Only you will really know if you are ready, willing and able to take your card.  Many people have full and exciting theatrical careers without ever turning AEA and some people fast track their career by turning AEA early.  Just remember, once you turn AEA, there are very few exceptions in which case you can work non-AEA.

1404

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ASM for AEA vs. SM for NON-AEA

« on: Apr 21, 2010, 06:54 pm »

The other question, since this seems to be your first AEA contract, do you feel like you will be able to make a living only as AEA in the future....

1405

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ASM for AEA vs. SM for NON-AEA

« on: Apr 21, 2010, 03:55 pm »

depends on the shows, the theaters, career goals

1406

The Green Room / Re: Food in the Green Room and Smoking in costume?

« on: Apr 17, 2010, 03:28 pm »

I think the producer/theater company has a right to make the rules regarding behavior in costume - I then worry if there is wardrobe crew to help cast in and out of costume if they do want to smoke on a break - - - maybe if that gets to be a pain, they may want to go to robes.

Usually, most actors follow common sense in dealing with food, drink and smoking . . . I have rarely had a major issue about this.  (Like Ribs and Pasta . . . )

1407

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SCHEDULING: Do you include crew calls on your daily rehearsal calls?

« on: Apr 16, 2010, 11:50 am »

I do add it when it effects the rehearsal call or something odd.

Otherwise, I expect the department heads to communicate the crew call (For example, I don't know what time LX needs to be in to start tech at 12:00n)

1408

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Labtop vs. Pencil and Script/Notepad

« on: Apr 14, 2010, 01:08 pm »

I think the technology is interesting - and although I still think that the computer is a big distraction in the rehearsal hall - I think this would be something better for an event - where you have one change at taking the blocking and that's it - and there is little to no chance of it changing.

Any sort of blocking notation on the computer would need the following things.

1) Ways to tie it to text, or other stage notation in the script.
2) Ways to edit on the fly
3) Ways to backup old blocking
4) Easy way for someone to read (unless you want to spend every break flipping through your tablet computer to give actors blocking)
5) Allow you to do groups of people as well as individuals (Like French Army, as opposed to solider #1, #2) . . .

I just don't think blocking ever goes SO fast that the time and effort put into an electronic version is going to be a huge time/money savor.

Like many Stage Management programs, the individual styles of stage managers versus the small market for such an item doesn't seem to make it make a lot of sense.

But, I am an old timer . . .

1409

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: AEA Membership Candidate Program

« on: Apr 08, 2010, 02:39 pm »

I don't think this any reason NOT to start the program, to be honest, I don't know of one SM who clocked up 50 points - usually, by the point, they get offered a contract.

1410

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROMPT BOOK: Organization?

« on: Apr 07, 2010, 12:11 pm »

When I do put everything in one binder, I oddly put the script in the middle.  It just seems to lay better . ..  but mind you, my scripts usually and paperwork rarely fits into a 5 inch binder.