Messages

16

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

« on: Apr 07, 2010, 05:10 pm »

I don't see anything wrong with starting as an EMC now.  I started the summer before my senior year in college.  But you might want to check with Equity, because I can't remember if EMC points/weeks expire after a certain period of time.  I know I was rather thankful that when I did fully join Equity I had a $100 less to pay as I had paid them my $100 for EMC 6 years previous to joining. 

Just be mindful that when you are in the EMC program once you reach a certain amount of weeks you can no longer SM or ASM non-Equity Shows.  Also note, that being an EMC is not a requirement prior to becoming a full member.  At any time anyone can be offered an Equity Contract on a show and become a full member.  This is what happened to me.  I think I had about 20 EMC weeks and then before I finished the amount of weeks required by EMC I was offered a contract.

Feel free to contact Equity directly to get all the details of the EMC Program.     

17

Employment / Re: ShowBiz Expo in NYC

« on: Mar 28, 2010, 02:39 pm »

Just came back from the Expo.  I didn't sign up for any of the extras, I just walked through the free portion of the Expo.  It seemed more geared towards actors than anything else.  The Expo floor was tiny and couldn't have had more then 50 exhibitors.   A lot of tables were promoting online networking and website design as well as several headshot booths.  USITT's Expo blows this one away by far.   

18

Employment / ShowBiz Expo in NYC

« on: Mar 25, 2010, 05:10 pm »

I was wondering if anyone has been to the ShowBiz Expo in NYC or LA.  I'm planning on attending this year in NYC and am not sure what to expect.  The website says to bring resumes and business cards, both of which I have.  I am familiar with the USITT Expo.  Is this anything like it?  Has anyone had success at networking/job seeking through this event?

19

The Hardline / Re: Excluded from Opening Night Tickets

« on: Feb 06, 2010, 05:32 pm »

Hi All!

Thanks for your thoughts. 

My thoughts were along the lines of many of yours. 

I spoke with the GM and I have been placed at the top of the waiting list.  If someone cancels or chooses not to use their Opening Night Ticket then I will receive it.  It's a compromise at least.

20

The Hardline / Excluded from Opening Night Tickets

« on: Feb 05, 2010, 01:22 pm »

So here's my situation.  I'm working on a Mini Contract for a commercial production at a small venue (62 seats).  I was informed this morning that the PSM and myself (ASM), are not being offered tickets to Opening Night, however all of the members of the cast (5) have been offered tickets.  All of the Actors, PSM, and myself are AEA.  The Mini Rule Book states: Each Actor shall receive no less than 4 complimentary tickets, subject to availability, during the run of the Production.

What are your thoughts?  Is there any way I can argue this with the GM or AEA?

This is a pretty hot button issue for me...Producers/GM's treating Actors separate from Stage Managers.  It also doesn't help that is is my first Opening Night in NYC.

21

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: SM Internships??

« on: Dec 24, 2009, 04:22 pm »

I would start by talking to your professors; see who they know and where they have worked.  As you will quickly find getting work is mostly based on who you know.  If the WMU in your screen name is for Western Michigan, I know that Mark Liermann has worked quite a bit in Chicago. 

Most large regional theatres offer season long or show long internships in stage management, where you will typically serve as a PA.  Many don't post on search sites so you will need to go to their websites to find requirements and deadlines.  Summer internships are the most competitive, so if you are able to take a semester off you may have a better chance of landing an internship, but you would have to check with your university.  A great resource for postings is ArtSearch, which usually has listings for summer stocks and many smaller theatres. Apply early as I found, in the past, that most places fill all of their slots by March.

22

Employment / Re: Remy Bumppo Theatre in Chicago

« on: Nov 13, 2009, 12:24 am »

I as well have not worked for Remy Bumppo, but they are a great company.  What I remember from a few years back is that they were very nice.  I used to SM in the same theatre complex and remember them having the same SM for most of their shows.  They have their own rehearsal space which is a huge plus, they work with a lot of the great Chicago actors and their performance space is pretty decent.  It's definitely a company I would want to work for if I was still in Chicago.

Good luck!

23

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Broadway SM arrested

« on: Oct 17, 2009, 02:47 pm »

This is just appalling.  As stage managers, much of our job is about trust and discretion.  To even think someone would do something like this turns my stomach.   

24

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PEOPLE: Performer is creator

« on: Aug 03, 2009, 07:42 pm »

I did a one man show with the wife as the director, several of the performer's friends as the designers and the performer was also one of the producers.  A few issues came up during the show. 

I found open communication to be a bit challenging as the performer and director would discuss and change things without remembering to include me.  Maintaining the show became a non-issue as the performer would do whatever he wanted and I just had to go along. By the time the show closed, I had a very good relationship with the performer as each night before and sometimes after the show we would hang out.  This helped me gauge his mood, which greatly effected the tone of the performance and also gave him a small reminder that even though it was a one man show there were really two of us creating the show each night, as I ran sound and lights.

One other thing that you may not run into but I did, was disagreements between the non-performer producer and the performer.  I found this to be a bit difficult to navigate because the producer wanted me to "tattle" on the performer if things were not going well, which they weren't. 

Hope some of this helps. 

Good Luck!

25

Employment / Re: Working in LA

« on: May 22, 2009, 02:06 pm »

Since Disney has been recommended, I just want to throw this out there.  They are on a hiring freeze until at least September.

26

The Hardline / Re: Stage Manager's Association

« on: May 11, 2009, 06:41 pm »

Oh, the SMA debate. 

I've been a member for 2 years now.  I can't really say that it has helped me out in any way, but since it costs so little this year I rejoined.  The SMA does send out job postings every so often.  They are typically NYC based and non-union, occasionally Opera a few AEA.  They do provide contact information for all of their members, which some people find useful, however to this point I have not.  Even though the SMA is the only professional stage manager's organization very few of its members are working Broadway, Off Broadway or LORT.  Just as with this site most people seem to be students or fellow struggling Stage Managers.  If you are in NYC there are meetings every so often and these can be pretty useful.  A friend who happened to be in town a few months ago went and she received great information about networking and freelancing.  There are also monthly chats, but being on the west coast I have not sat in on one yet. 

 I'd love to hear for anyone who has found being an SMA member greatly beneficial.

27

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Considering additional training...

« on: Apr 16, 2009, 09:48 pm »

Does anyone know anything about the Show Production and Touring degree from Full Sail that is advertised on Backstagejobs?  With the job market being down, I've been considering additional training as most of the job posting I have seen are more for the technical side of theatre than the stage management side.  But I'm a bit wary since I've not heard of anyone attending this program except for the one post to this site a few years ago that no one answered.

Any thoughts?

28

Employment / Re: Job/Gig searching in the new economy

« on: Apr 10, 2009, 10:48 pm »

Is anyone out there finding work? 

I just graduated with my MFA and have been looking for work since December.  I've tried applying for AEA, non-union jobs, cruise lines, theme parks; basically everything that has been listed on AEA, ArtSearch, Backstagejobs and Playbill as well as a few local sites.  But I have not received anything more then "thanks we got your resume" and that's if I'm lucky.  It's not like I don't have any experience or that I'm looking at a limited region.  I've been working professionally for over 5 years and will be more then happy to move anywhere in the world, though I'm currently based in Las Vegas.  I even went to USITT looking for work but all anyone wanted were interns and that is not something I can financially do at this time. 

I'm just wondering if others are having as much trouble as I seem to be having.

29

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Compilation of grad schools

« on: Aug 05, 2008, 06:18 pm »

You might want to double check on NYU.  I believe they do not have a Grad SM program as they usually hire AEA SM's.

30

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Grad School Interviews - Any Advice?

« on: Feb 21, 2008, 10:56 pm »

I am currently in the MFA Stage Management Program at UCSD.  Here's my advice.  BE yourself.  The interviews are really just a chance for both the faculty and students to get to know you.  It's also your chance to see if you like the people you would be with (pretty much living with non-stop) for a few years.  A program could look amazing on paper, but if you meet the profs and students and don't feel welcome take that into consideration.

Here we all (the students) try to spend a bit of time with the applicants to just get to know them a bit.  The students may have a bit of influence on who is selected into the program.  Be prepared to be asked several times why you want to go to the specific school and what you want to do after grad school. 

Generally be friendly and relax.  We all know you will be nervous as we've all gone through it ourselves.

Good Luck!