Messages

16

The Green Room / You know you're in tech when....

« on: Aug 01, 2011, 09:33 pm »

You get to Monday and are doing your usual day-off chores of laundry and dishes - and realize the only things you're washing are coffee mugs and black clothes.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TOURS: Tips for Packing?

« on: Jul 17, 2011, 09:15 am »

Bemalk...whether traveling for business or pleasure I pretty much always bring my own coffee with me - and a portable electronic water heater (which you can pick up at REI for $9.99), and a mini french press.  everything can fit in the french press which gets wrapped up in something soft so it doesn't break.  I pack the coffee in tupperware so grounds don't go bursting all over everything.  So I can always have coffee in the hotel, whether there's a coffee pot or not.  =) When my boyfriend was out on tour he bought a little coffee pot and traveled it, along with filters and coffee, in his trunk for me so that it would always be there when I came to visit (he's not a coffee drinker at all).

But I'm also the person who gets a headache within 30 minutes of waking up, if I don't have coffee...so there's that.  =)

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Stage Management: Other / Re: How did you get started SM'ing Dance?

« on: Jul 08, 2011, 11:20 am »

I realize this is a few months old but...

I did an internship during a summer in college at a community theatre.  Part of my internship was ASM-ing one of the shows.  The stage manager was, at the time, the PSM of the professional ballet company in town.  We clicked and she hired me to ASM Nutcracker that December.  Then she hired me to ASM the Spring mainstage, and a couple studio shows.  Next season, there was a new PSM who continued to hire me. Next season, the PSM position opened up midway through the season and the directors called me and offered me the PSM gig.  I still had another month to go at school but we made the conflicts work and I was there for the next 3 and a half years!  I have done a fair amount of dance while in grad school, including work with a modern dance company in town and a dance theatre company.  I continue to work for both - in fact - the dance theatre company is going to the Dominican Republic in November and guess who gets to go!

I love SMing dance and working with dancers.  I have a strong dance background myself, which helps immensely. =)

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TECHNOLOGY: Rent or Buy to Fly People?

« on: Jun 29, 2011, 12:01 pm »

I did a new Peter Pan with a ballet company several years ago and we bought, designed, installed, and teched the show in-house.  It was more expensive than going with a company like Foy or ZFX, but ultimately it was a much better decision for us.  The nature of flying in dance is not just for effect - it is choreographic as well.  With a company you bring in, their representative will have the final say on any and all moves that are executed - our choreographer wanted (and needed) ultimate creative control over the flying.

Our technical director was also a certified rigger (had been for years) and had been on national tours that involved flying (JC Superstar, Wicked, etc).  We took out extra liability from our insurance company and we were fine.  The TD was also on salary at the company (I wouldn't do it if your TD or flight supervisor is an independent contractor) and our stagehands were IATSE, protected not only under IA insurance and the theatre's, but the ballet's insurance as well.  Our dancers were also on salary, so if anything happened to them, they would be covered under laibility insurance also.  )Interestingly enough, the risks of flight in dance really aren't much different than risks of injury in just regular dance, at least according to the insurance company!)

While the costs of equipment (tracks, rope, cable, harnesses, etc.) ultimately cost more at the outset - then the company owned everything!  Because ballets go into a rep, the company was able to perform that show several times (including some tours) without having to go through the rental process and without having to bring someone else in every single time.  We could also use flying effects in other ballets without much to-do.

If you have these people and resources at your disposal, you could consider doing it in-house. If you don't, definitely go with a company like Foy or ZFX. 

20

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: Bad career adivce "Doing What We Love"

« on: Jun 19, 2011, 12:22 am »

I am also of the firm belief that love is not just a feeling - love is an ACTION.  Love is something you DO. 

So when I talk about "loving my job," I'm not just talking about a feeling about my job.  Because if I had to base it on feelings....NO WAY would I stay in this business.  But then.....no way would I stick with anything if I always based it on feelings.

When I say I love my job - there is so much more to that.  My job is something I DO.  Just as love is something I do - active.  not just emotion.

What I find fascinating is that the same questions Matthew brings up as questions to ask yourself about your job (which are great questions!) are all variations on the questions I'm asking myself about my current (and pretty serious) relationship!  So even in love...I ask myself the same things!   

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The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: Bad career adivce "Doing What We Love"

« on: Jun 12, 2011, 11:34 am »

This is an interesting article, although I'm not quite sure I agree entirely - I do love what I do, and I think (especially in theatre), its important to have passion of some kind for the work you do - unless you want to live a bland and unfulfilled life.  Of course there are days that it makes me angry and I want to walk out of the theatre and never come back - but that's the same with anything.  I love running, but after a really bad run where I bonk hard, I never want to see my shoes again. 

I look at my career from a vocational standpoint.  I follow the adage that "your vocation is the place where your greatest talent meets the world's greatest need."  Your vocation is what you are called to do; what you do because there is nothing else you could do (I don't mean that in the sense of talent - I mean it in the sense of life in general!)

I think we'd all agree that our world needs theatre (arts of some sort!) - and I have a talent to make theatre - this is my vocation.

The best part about stage management (IMO), is that are skill set and talents are SO broad that many, many things fall under this vocation!  I can do events, I can do weddings, I could run a press room if I had to, the list is virtually endless.  I can certainly say what kind of theatre/events are my favorite - but I fulfill my vocation when I do any sort of work that also fulfills me and satisfies my vocation.  Just because it's my favorite and I love certain shows more than others doesn't mean that the ones that aren't my favorites aren't just as fulfilling. 

I also view my life very holistically; everything works together for a common purpose.  My relationships feed my work which feeds my relationships, which feed my love of running and athletics; which makes me a better stage manager becuase then I have more energy; which make those I work with happier, which makes me happier...it's circular and complete; does not exist in isolated and separate bubbles.

now I'm starting to sound a bit hokey...but you get the idea!

22

Tools of the Trade / Re: Cleaning out an Office - what to do with all that STUFF?!

« on: Jun 07, 2011, 12:34 pm »

Something to consider if you're looking at keeping old prompt books- you could have them spiral-bound.

So funny that you mention this.  I had all my coursework from graduate school bound into books for each class/project.  Unfortunately, the office supply store who will bind a book thicker than a couple inches is few and far between (in fact....I haven't found any).  Most show books are several inches (or even several books!) thick and would be difficult to try to bind.  I don't mind hanging onto the binders - and eventually, they will either go to the next office OR continue to live in rubbermaid tubs in my basement storage - or my parents attic.  =) 

The progress of the cleanout - ALMOST DONE!  I have successfully managed to organize myself to my pencil box, ONE tacklebox as my kit, one bag o' tape, a few miscellaneous things that don't need to be in permanent kit (scale rules, measuring tapes, gloves, label makers, etc). and one shelf in my closet of "spare supplies."  I have just a few things to take down from office walls and a couple more power strips to pack up and I'm officially out of there!  Feels good to have it all cleaned out. 

Thanks for your help everyone!

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Flashlights?

« on: Jun 04, 2011, 12:41 pm »

I know...another old thread but I'm finally done with grad school and catching up on everything!!

I love my surefire.  I have the "backup" model.  It's little and fits perfectly in my hand as well as easily into a pocket (no chance of falling out), push button on the end that stays on (so I don't have to hold it down like some surefire models).  It has a clip that slides onto my belt and two settings, bright and dim.  It does eat batteries on the bright setting though - I go through one about every two-three weeks.  I don't recommend it for people with larger hands.  My boyfriend tried using it backstage at a show and he didn't like it because it was too small. 

I also carry a cheap-o flashlight from walmart or somewhere like that; takes 3 AAAs; I love it because the beam is very dim and but very focused (it looks like a little spotlight that's been irised down), so its great when you need some light but don't want spillover into a blackout or low-light scene on stage. 

And finally, I still carry my trusty maglight around.  Because it's still just a great all-purpose flashlight.

apparently I'm a flashlight hoarder in addition to other office supplies (refer to my recent post in this forum about cleaning out my office).

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Cleaning out an Office - what to do with all that STUFF?!

« on: Jun 04, 2011, 12:33 pm »

Hi Rebbe,

I don't suscribe to the idea of stage managers providing everything, but I think when you do work with companies that have very little (and no money to buy anything else, and isn't going to buy anything else, not even a binder for you), it can make everyone (including myself!) happier and more comfortable when the basics plus a little extra are there.  Coffee pot is my personal extra that I've had because I've had an office for the past several years - same thing with Pilates ball...I use it more often than others to sit on during rehearsals.  =)  It's items such as those that I'm struggling with most. 

I think I'm almost done....I have enough book shelf space in my apartment cleared for the books I've had there, enough storage space in our basement to throw my tubs of prompt books, and enough shelf space in my closet to store the extras - kit, tape bag, and spare miscellaneous supplies that I've collected.

Call me a hoarder...but at least it will all be clean, organized, and ready for usage! (and the way I go through legal pads...I can never have too many).  =)


 

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Cleaning out an Office - what to do with all that STUFF?!

« on: Jun 03, 2011, 03:22 pm »

Thanks for the advice so far - I have a very vested interest in teaching (one of the reasons why I went to graduate school), as well as research/writing, so parting with production books is not really an option.  I did recycle a few boxes of notes and old paperwork that wouldn't really mean a whole lot down the road - which was a tough decision since I am one of those stage managers that tends to write notes in random places and I keep every single scrap of paper/post it/notecard/etc. that I use throughout the course of a show. =)  I also work for a lot of dance companies who tend to put pieces into their rep.  I always turn over a copy of the call and other pertinent paperwork to the company, but like to hang on to my own copies as well.  As an example, I worked for a company last fall that is now remounting the same show here in town and then taking it on tour to the Dominican Republic - I'm going to be working on both productions.  I just pulled out the book again yesterday!

Progress so far - done a lot of cleaning out of my closets in my apartment and am planning to set up a mini "supply cabinet" of all my spare supplies (paper, notepads, binders, tape, post-its, etc.) on one shelf of the closet, and then have one complete kit with all the essentials (stapler, three hole punch, pens and pencils, post-its, personal items, etc.) that I can grab and go.  I'm setting up one of those three-drawer plastic things with all the miscellaneous power strips, batteries, etc. to keep in the bottom of the closet, and then will be putting together a rubbermaid bin that is the complete "mobile office" for when I really do have to bring everything to a gig - coffee pot and filters, hot water pot, foam roller, Pilates ball (as I said - I work with lots of dance companies!), file box, etc.

I'm eliminating the drawer unit I had set up in my apartment that had miscellaneous office supplies, paper, etc. and just folding all that into the stage management supplies stuff in the above paragraph.

So that's the news so far.....keep the suggestions and ideas coming; it is great to hear how other folks organize their freelance lives!

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The Green Room / Re: show us your booth!

« on: Jun 02, 2011, 09:38 am »

I realize this is an old thread...but its been a while since I've been around here!  I love taking pictures of my booth/calling station set ups and I love looking at other people's!  I think it's such a literal and metaphorical representations of who we are as stage managers and it's also such a uniquely personal thing.  What a fun topic.

Three images below -

1) My most fun "booth" shot.  This was from an event I did a couple months ago called "Skaters Care: A Benefit for Japan" at the Citizen's Business Bank arena in Ontario, CA.  On the ice below are such fine athletes as olympians Jeremy Abbott (men's figure skating) and JR Celski (Short Track Speedskating).

2) & 3):

These are a couple booth shots from "Threepenny Opera," a UCSD production at the Potiker Theatre at the La Jolla Playhouse.  One shows my whole set up - I like to sit close to the window, and high up so I can see everything, so I had the guys move the tables apart and just had a music stand and tall chair.  You can see the infrared monitor and maestro-vision to my right; page mics/god mics/cue light box to my left.  =)  And the view overlooking the script is just...a cool shot!

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Tools of the Trade / Cleaning out an Office - what to do with all that STUFF?!

« on: Jun 02, 2011, 09:23 am »

Not sure if this belongs in "tools..." but thought I would start here.

I'm in the process of cleaning out my grad school office - 3 years of shows, classes, and a small apartment have led to...well....a lot of STUFF.  I have two FULL shelves of production binders, class binders, books bound from classwork, show notebooks, etc.  I have at least 5 drawers of office supplies, tape, tools, and various notepads, labels, and other paper-type products.  I have 3 different versions of "kits" in three different kinds of bag - a tackle box, a toolbag, and a little black bag type thing.  I have a mini-coffee pot, a ton of power strips and extension cords...just...stuff!

I live in a 450-sq foot apartment with minimal basement storage and if I move, chances are it will be to an even smaller space without any basement storage!

I've never NOT had an office since finishing college several years ago (had a resident position right out of school), so for me, the move out of this office is so much more than just cleaning out - it represents a transition from a stable, settled, regular position to the world and life of the freelancer (cue dramatic music theme here).  So all this crap has been great because I've had a separate home for it; I've had my apartment life and then my office life.  And now I don't have that...now I just have...well, my apartment life!

So...where does the keeping of all this stuff end?  How much do I hang on to because I'm a stage manager and I might need that someday - and how much do I give away/donate?  I'm curious - where does everyone else draw the line at what they hoard and what they decide is not worth hoarding?  Freelancers especially - this is new territory for me and I'm really interested to know the psychology behind what you keep and what you decide is not worth keeping! 

I know there is a huge long thread on "a stage manager's kit" but I'm trying to go just a little deeper than that...

Thanks for your help & support!

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The Green Room / Re: Suffering from what I call "theatredox"

« on: May 31, 2011, 11:44 am »

I just have to comment on how this thread is about time OFF between shows...and yet (with the exception of a few posts), everyone talks about all the things they DO during time off!  We stage managers are a funny bunch.  Can't just enjoy the time off by doing nothing, we have to fill the days with something!

But, I think that's one of the personality traits that drive us to do what we do in the theatre! 

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The Green Room / Re: SM Hobbies

« on: Nov 13, 2010, 03:02 am »

Sitting for long periods of time is a little difficult for me...so my downtime from the rehearsal room is actually my active time!  I am a runner.  Favorite distance: half marathon.  I also figure skate - currently working on my pre-gold dance tests.  And when I can find a class at an hour that works I do yoga.

I also like to journal and read when I need to check out from other people.

And I like to EAT (actually that's the real reason I run).  I love to try new restaurants and new food! 

30

Tools of the Trade / Re: Android Phone Apps

« on: Nov 12, 2010, 10:55 am »

I am a Verizon user and recently converted from a blackberry to the Droid X and I love it.  I am a mac user and we're all fine and happy together.  I am done waiting for Verizon to get the iPhone, because the Droid does exactly what I need.  Now, it is a google platform, so if you don't use google or don't have gmail it will be slightly more difficult for you but it still works. 

It syncs up automatically with my gmail account, any google calendars, saves my contacts, etc.  Unfortunately, I have been so busy I haven't had time to convert from my old Palm Desktop (yes, I am an old Palm user!) so I still have to refer to that desktop calendar and address book sometimes, but my dad recently went through the same conversion and said he had a relatively easy time of it.  I'm looking forward to getting everything running on one device.

It's really user friendly and lovely and, although slightly bigger than the iphone is actually much more lightweight.

My plan is technically an old Alltel plan (I was on Alltel when the merger happened and haven't wanted to change my plan because it's so great).