Messages

16

The Green Room / Re: Road Life Advice

« on: Feb 11, 2010, 02:51 pm »

I'm on my third tour this season and in our office we have a few rules that we all try to live by.
1. Don't be a jerk.  To your company members, to the locals, to the bus driver, to the truck drivers, or to yourself.  Remember you are going to be annoyed by everyone at some point and everyone will be annoyed by you at some point. That is just the nature of so much together time.
2. Drink lot of water.  It will help you adapt to anything.
3. Bring a hoodie.  I am rarely out of mine, unless it is getting washed. 
4. If in doubt, review rule #1.

17

The Green Room / Re: Healthy eating as a SM

« on: Feb 10, 2010, 03:05 am »

What a great topic!  This is something I struggle with daily.  I am out on my third tour and eating healthy has never been my strong suit.  I recently cut out all soda (unless it's with some whiskey) and cut out caffeine this week. (Insane I know, but I wasn't sleeping well, and I am a grump without my sleep.)   I have been drinking tons of water and it has been helping tremendously.  I also swear by fruit strips.  I get them at Trader Joe's or Target.  It's like a fruit roll up, but without all the junk.  Other than that, it's hard to do. 

18

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: New Stage Manager

« on: Feb 06, 2010, 03:21 pm »

Welcome to the boards Danni! 

Another thing you might try is to say something like this, "Hey John Doe, I see you're having a problem finding your props every night is there something I/props master can do to help you or something else you need to make this easier for you?" 

I find letting people voice their frustrations and be heard does a world of good for the person and the situation.  Sometimes saying out loud, yes I need xyz or no I have everything I need can really fix the situation. 

Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes. 

19

The Green Room / Re: 10 things actors can do to get off to a good start with a stage manager

« on: Feb 03, 2010, 04:41 am »

10- If you're having a problem with something please let me know.  Although I try to anticipate problems, I can't think of everything.  I would much rather solve your problem on day two or three, then let it fester for a week or month until it is unbearable to you.  I can't fix what I don't know is broken. 

20

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: What SMs Should/Should Not Say During Casting Process?

« on: Feb 02, 2010, 03:36 pm »

Sometimes I think the best answer is "Yes, I would hire the person again." or "No, I would not hire them again."  It is a very diplomatic and safe way to answer the questions. 

21

Tools of the Trade / Re: Running Shoes

« on: Feb 02, 2010, 02:00 pm »

I wear a pair of black earth shoes.  They are lightweight, comfy and flexible enough to throw in my work box. 

22

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

« on: Jan 07, 2010, 12:31 pm »

Other great places to look for internships are playbill.com, backstagejobs.com and ArtSearch.  The first two are free, but there is a fee with ArtSearch.  Check with your school, many theatre departments have a subscription to the hard copy or to the online job ads.

Best of luck in your search!

23

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Resume questions

« on: Dec 19, 2009, 12:19 am »

Take a look at the Resume Browser.  There are many real resumes up there in all sorts of styles and formats. 

For myself I keep my resume to one page, my CV is obviously longer.  As for listing references, I like to have mine on a separate page and only send them if they are requested.  I find most people don't call my references.  They look at my resume and call people I've worked with previously that they know and trust. 

Best of luck. 

24

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: COMMUNICATION: Describing Audience Reactions in Performance Reports

« on: Dec 14, 2009, 06:16 pm »

I think many of us have this same problem.  I find myself trying to find memorable moments of the night that landed or didn't land.  In the show I am currently working on we also include a house count so I will find myself saying things like "small wednesday matinee attendance with quiet responses."  And at times I say the same thing over and over.  If nothing else it lets everyone know that the show is getting a consistent response. 

25

The Green Room / Re: Holiday countdown!

« on: Dec 12, 2009, 02:21 pm »

2 Shows
2 Load Outs
1 Load In
48 Hours until 4 weeks off!!!

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. 

26

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Wave - SMNetwork Sandbox

« on: Dec 12, 2009, 02:15 pm »

Please invite me!

Candy

--invite sent!--

27

The Green Room / Re: Video of an SM at Work from "In The Wings"

« on: Dec 08, 2009, 08:51 am »

What a cool clip!  I had no idea they did those.

Candy

28

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Transferring?

« on: Dec 06, 2009, 12:53 pm »

Hey Sea Town

I suggest you take a minute and read MattewShiner's post in the Best School for SM thread.  He has outlined some fantastic questions to answer about any program you are looking into.  If I'm doing this correctly the link is below.

Candy

http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php/topic,3825.0.html

29

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What is a ASM suppose to do??

« on: Dec 04, 2009, 12:54 pm »

I am an ASM right now and I do all sorts of things for my PSM.  I take care of the call boards, and make sure everyone has signed in.  I run a deck track during the show and help with any first aid things or discipline issues during the performance.  I also know the show call so the PSM can sit out front and take notes.  I know the lighting focus in case the PSM has to be gone for any reason.  My job is really to be a second set of hands and eyes, or a pinch hitter just in case.  During rehearsal I took a TON of line notes and some blocking, I prepped paper work for days and created the call script.  For me it has been a great exercise in learning how to be flexible.  I have been a PSM many times before, so it has been interesting to learn how to work under someone, especially when they do things differently than I would. 

30

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: Musical number where I can't hear....countdown software?

« on: Dec 02, 2009, 10:15 am »

I have been in a situation where I could hear what was going on, but my feed was 2-3 seconds behind, which was awful for calling precise cues, I was late on every cue.  To fix it I wore one of the hearing assistance devices the theatre had.  It kept me much closer to the actual time.  I don't know if the place you are working has that as an option, but it would be worth looking into.  It might help cut through the drum line.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes!