Messages

16

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: BRAND new stage manager, would appreciate any advice!

« on: Oct 09, 2008, 01:27 am »

Your questions aren't by any means stupid.  It is better that you ask them rather then be caught not knowing what you are doing on opening night.  Also my first time stage managing a show was a very similar situation but in college.  Many actors branch into it. 
     As for your question about your prompt book, I copy each page of the script at 130% -140%.  In college I used the college copy machine and now I just go to fed-ex (I had it copied once and it cost me $20 for a 50 pg script, I did it myself at the place last time and it only cost me $4 for a 70 page script.  Then I just 3 hole punch and put the script in a binder.

     As for calling cues, in a high school situation it can really depend on weather or not you have a board op, and if the director needs you backstage.  In a professional setting you will always be calling cues, but I have had many smaller shows (off off broadway with like 5 light cues) just have the board op remember when to have them go, so that I could help backstage with props (we had no ASM), but I have also had shows where I needed to run the boards.  Traditionally you will just call a standby and a warning for the board op on every cue over a headset.  I would discuss with your director if this is what she wants.

17

Tools of the Trade / Re: Help with my book please.

« on: Sep 29, 2008, 12:37 am »

I have had professors in college tell me that I was terrible at this, and I have had employers on the professional level tell me that I am amazing.  No madder how good you are (or bad) there will always be people with differing opinions.  What matters is weather or not you like what you do, and at the end of the day you know you put 100% into your work. 

Edited subject line to remove caps - kmc307

18

Employment / Re: Resume question (replacment SM)

« on: Aug 07, 2008, 12:39 am »

Thanks, SM sub sounds like it would look good without exaggerating my position.

19

Employment / Resume question (replacment SM)

« on: Aug 06, 2008, 07:13 pm »

I am getting ready to replace a PSM on a show for the last week of the run.  I was just curious the proper way to list that on a resume.  If I should list it as PSM, SM or specify replacement SM?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

20

Employment / Re: Reliable sources/good theatres to look into?

« on: Jul 08, 2008, 04:56 pm »

I look on playbill.com, backstagejobs.com, and craigslist.org.  Also artsearch (tcg.org), but you need an account for that.

21

Employment / Re: Money Matters...

« on: Jul 03, 2008, 12:38 pm »

From what I have noticed most festivals don't pay much.  I just graduated college and have been trying to work as much as possible to get experience.  Fringe seems to pay an average of about $500 a show.  Most people working these shows also have a day job.  The pay is lousy but I can say from what few "festival" type shows I have done in NYC, they really do help you grow as a stage manager and make connections.

22

Employment / Re: Stage Management Salary

« on: Jun 29, 2008, 02:31 pm »

I just graduated from college and am in NYC.  So I am doing off off broadway.  My show pay ranges from $100 a week to about $500 for a 2 month rehearsal and run.

23

Tools of the Trade / Re: What software do you use?

« on: Jun 09, 2008, 12:55 pm »

I'm a Vista user.

Word
Excel
Powerpoint
Publisher (most under appreciated Microsoft program ever)
Access
Photoshop
image ready
dreamweaver
Auto Cad

24

Employment / Re: Needing advice taking a job or not

« on: May 27, 2008, 03:11 pm »

Thank you, that really does help.

25

Employment / Needing advice taking a job or not

« on: May 27, 2008, 02:43 pm »

I am a recent college grad who has just moved to NYC.  I have been applying to theaters for stage management internships like crazy, but I have also been applying for crew positions.  I recently got a job offer to run sound board for a show for 1 month.  The pay is only $250 for the month, but it isn't a lot of hours and it seemed like it might be a good way to get my foot in the door.  What worries me though is that I will accept this and then get a call from one of the jobs that I really want to do, or one that pays better. 

Can anyone give me any advice?

26

Tools of the Trade / Re: Cue light system

« on: Apr 09, 2008, 12:09 am »

My school recently put one in just for fly cues, I personally think it makes things easier once you get used to it.

27

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Co-Stage Manager Rant/advice

« on: Apr 06, 2008, 12:46 am »

Thank you, but tonight was closing night anyway, and they had my co call it.  This was the first time my school has tried this and I was informed they will not be doing it again.    Thank you all again for your advice.

28

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Co-Stage Manager Rant/advice

« on: Apr 05, 2008, 11:42 am »

I am in my senior year of college (undergrad) and was put on Into the Woods as a CO stage manager.  Now we were not sure how the "CO" thing was going to work because my professor told both me and my CO SM that she would figure it out when the time came.  So like a week before tech she decided that my CO-SM would call the show during Tech and the dress rehearsals, then the first week she would also call.  I was told to watch her from the booth then take over calling the second week.  Well when it became my turn I took over (not ever calling the show before) and in a show of about 300 light cues alone I messed up somewhere around 12 (called early from nearvousness mostly).  After being lectured by my director and the department chair for a short period of time I went back and worked for and entire day on calling the cues to the soundtrack.  The second performance went well (few minor mess ups)  I was told it went well.  Then came the 3rd performance (neither the director or the lighting designer were there).  I thought it went ok accept one major part I jumbled calling and messed up a blackout.  The department chair again lectured me. 

I just wanted to know anyones opinion on this, my confidence has been shot although my friends keep telling me it is my professors fault for not giving me rehearsal time to practice calling it.

29

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Disease Prevention Techniques

« on: Apr 02, 2008, 03:28 pm »

I switched out my daily coffee with vitamin water, and have managed to stay healthy and keep up my energy.

30

Employment / Re: Non-AEA Resume Semantics: Dishonesty or Acceptable?

« on: Mar 29, 2008, 03:38 am »

What about non AEA houses that hire SM interns to Stage manage there shows?  Technically I was a SM intern for a theatre but that had me actually Stage manageing shows.  Can I put down that I was the SM on those shows even though I was an intern for the company?