Messages

16

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Alertness

« on: Jun 11, 2008, 08:26 pm »

I've been known to keep a free weight in the booth and do curls during the show.  It keeps your blood running and tones up your arms fairly quickly.  Just remember to switch arms every once in a while.  Other than that I normally memorize a couple of parts of the show and call them from random places.  A wireless headset is key for that one. 

17

Employment / Re: First Aid/Fire Guard

« on: Jun 08, 2008, 11:47 pm »

I have my first responder cert and my company pays for me to keep it current.  It's just a good thing to have.  But you should always have CPR and first aid no matter what field you are in.  It is just a good idea. 

18

Tools of the Trade / Re: Herbal Cigarettes and other tobacco substitutes

« on: Jun 03, 2008, 08:50 pm »

I don't know how common it is but I have seen more than two herbal shops which offer tobacco substitute smoking substances.  It is basically the herbal smoke mix but can be customized with different flavors and the smoothness is able to be changed also.  One of my friends smoked the stuff on occasion and it didn't even smell like wacky tobacky.  You would have to roll your own smokes but you can buy a roller and blank cig papers with the filters on them for fairly cheep. 

19

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere

« on: May 23, 2008, 07:16 pm »

outside of the theatre world but my buddy just reminded me that he puts a few of the things he learned in SM classes to work coordinating wildfire firefighting efforts for a hot shot crew. 

20

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Guillotine

« on: May 23, 2008, 05:46 pm »

I've seen a couple of similar devices used for magic shows.  From what I have seen there are two options.  A fake blade or a fake head.  I would strongly recommend the fake blade as it is never a good idea to have a working guillotine around.  Unless you are planning a revolution that is.  How I have seen these work is that there is a fake bottom on the stockade which holds the neck.  As the blade comes down the bottom opens and the person inside simply moves downward and the blade covers the hole where the recently severed neck would be.  You can even place some fake blood behind the blade so that when it impacts it shoots blood everywhere.  The actors downward movement is masked by a basket or other head receptical which is sitting in front of the stockade.  Then a fake head is produced out of the basket or better yet the box with the head in it is placed on a table where the box is then removed and the severed head sitting on the table starts singing. 
A few important things to take into account; The blade and mounting bracket should be of minimal weight. If the blade weighs 20lb then there is a chance that it could do some damage.  If the blade is foam with some tin foil over it then the chances of it taking a hand off are very minimal.  Also make sure that the blade is not sharp. 
Whatever you do make sure that there is no possible way that the guillotine can actually behead someone.  Your head carpenter really doesn't want to clean that up.   

21

Employment / Re: Dear Abby: Negotiating contracts

« on: May 23, 2008, 05:26 pm »

There is also the dirty little secret in some companies that you put out an offer that is a low ball.  Most places have some room to move around on the salary.  I wouldn't put out a large salary for a job if I think that someone just as qualified would do it for less.  I would low ball the position and work my way up to a salary that works for me and the right candidate for the job.  Then again many smaller companies put out a number and stick to it.  but definately give negotiation a shot.  Win or lose you still gain some experiance at the table. 

22

Employment / Re: Letters of Recommendation/Reference -- Question

« on: May 14, 2008, 10:57 pm »

If they are giving you a letter of recommondation then put them down as a reference.  I does not hurt to have a couple of extra references on your resume.  Just make sure that the recommendation letters are sealed and signed.  My current resume uses eight references.  It may sound excessive but they each speak to a different part of my knowledge base and span quite a few years of my employment.  And make sure that you tell people that you are putting them down as a reference.  Remind your references that they can always offer more information than is asked about you.  As an employer there are limitations on what you can ask about a potential employee. However if the reference offers information then an employer is allowed to listen. 

23

The Hardline / Re: Production Meetings

« on: May 02, 2008, 10:24 pm »

I hold weekly meetings with my producers, crew and cast.  I tend to keep them all seperate becuase my crew does not need to know what the things that are being discussed with the producers and vice versa.  I guess that falls into the side meeting discussion.  However even when we have been running the same shows for an extended duration i like to have the weekly meetings.  It helps me to keep all of the shows straight.  Considering that I have five shows running today I can occasionally not notice everything that is becomming a problem. 

As far as keeping the meeting on track... Walk in with an agenda and make sure that you are running it.  If there is a side conversation which needs to happen then call it out.  I often times just tell people to side bar that issue after the meeting and get back to me tomorrow.  Just make sure that you follow up your request and ask the parties involved what solution they came to.  I find that my weekly meetings mainly keep me informed and ensure that the needed side discussions are in deed happening. 

24

SMNetwork Archives / Re: For discussions of actors and their underwear

« on: Apr 22, 2008, 09:05 pm »

Many dancer's don't wear underwear.  It's just one of quirks that exists in theatre.  The real problem is when stagehands start wearing Utilikilts.  I did one show many years back where we had a rigger who was wearing a Kilt with nothing under it.  It was a huge joke and done due to a lost bet but a few people found it less than comical.  Espesially the ground rigger. 

25

Tools of the Trade / Re: Headset Side

« on: Apr 08, 2008, 08:56 pm »

I have to have mine on the left ear.  I use my right ear for my cell phone so it has to be free in case I get a call in the middle of a show.  I was actually calling a show this afternoon on headset while talking to the box office on my phone.  It was a little wierd when my box office manager asked me a question about a customer and I responded with "And dismember his hand, Camera 1 zoom and watch hand twitch, Bill down the blood a little, and video fade."  I love magic shows. 

26

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Help! My ASM is USELESS.

« on: Apr 08, 2008, 04:55 pm »

When I have worked with people like this i turn them into a personal assistant.  Not in a bad way but in an educational way.  I have them make all of my notes, type up cue sheets, do the scheduling and more or less do everything for me.  I basically let them become my hands while I sit next to them and dictate.  This way they realize how many things are going on and how much stuff I have to do.  In my experiance this usually takes about a week and then I give them the backstage to manage.  they already know everything that is going on and realize that they are part of a team of stage managers and not just an ASM.  Once they realize your work ethic and how much you have on thier plate they will normally start trying to keep up with you and take pride in the responsibility that you have given them.  But don't let the little things bug you.  So she locked your keys in the shop.  Like you have never locked your keys in your car.  I do it about once per month.  Assuming she has a good sense of humor, make a running joke out of it. 

27

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Set Modifications the SM's responsibility?!?!?

« on: Apr 01, 2008, 10:09 pm »

I've found that in the corporate and bureaucratic worlds when bringing up an issue of safety it helps to verbally talk to the person in charge of it before you submit it in writing.  Once it is on paper or email it becomes a legal record of that person not performing their job to the fullest extent.  When I have a safety issue I always talk to the person in charge of that department in private.  Then if nothing is done I bring up the problem in public.  Just a simple mention of "Hey did we get those stairs fixed yet?" while in front of another person or two.  If I still don't have the problem fixed I put it in writing and cc someone important.  On that email or letter or note scribbled in sharpie I mentioned that we had discussed it beforehand.  Something like "Based upon our previous conversation on 'insert date'..."  This gives them the chance to fix the problem before it becomes something on record.  Some people just get a little edgy when you start writing down safety issues on paper and passing them around.  I have only gotten to the third step once.  But I do keep records off all safety issues and as far as I am concerned it is my responsibility to ensure that everything is safe.  If that means rehanging a point myself because I didn't like the bridle then I might get some grease on my tie. 

28

Employment / Re: Temporary Housing & Transportation

« on: Mar 27, 2008, 02:30 am »

Use Craigslist.com  There are always some great deals if you look around and a lot of them are month to month. 

Also during the summer most College dorms rent out their dorm rooms for a week or a month for fairly cheep. 

http://www.couchsurfing.com/

I used this site when I was bouncing around on the road.  However be very careful with it as there are some unsavory people on it.  I'm 6' 3" and 240 lb so I never had a problem.  Check peoples ratings and talk to them before you stay.  I would always trade out tickets for concerts for a nights lodging.  Most people on the site are fun loving hippies with good hearts but use caution.  Then again i still have couch surfers stay at my house every once in a while so I guess I didn't mind it that much. 

29

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Trouble Finding Support.

« on: Mar 25, 2008, 02:51 am »

My mother never understood what I did until I brought her to a concert that i was coordinating.  I flew her and some friends out to see the one of their favorite bands and all the sudden what had been a hobby and waste of time to her became the coolest job in the world.  I took the time to show my mom the pre production things that I had done and how involved i was in the production.  It was also cool to show my mom how everything came together.  i grew up in a little bit of a hippie family so when i told my mother that I had helped make 40,000 people happy for a few hours she understood what I do and why.

One thing that has helped out a few of my friends is to take their family to the theatre.  Afterwards they sit down for coffee and explain how everything they saw works.  Then they explain that they want to orchestrate all of that and produce art that people actually pay to see.  Then again that is my hippie way of looking at things. And if that doesn't work, show them how much a union stagehand makes and ask your parents to compare that to their salary. 

30

The Green Room / Re: Things You'll Never Hear a Stage Manager Say

« on: Mar 10, 2008, 06:19 pm »

I'm calling this show... by feel.

I've actually done that on more than one occasion.  However they were concerts and not scripted or rehearsed so no other option really. 

How about..

My director and I agree about everything that goes on in the theatre.

Chatter on the headset is very important as it is the only way I stay informed about my spot opps love life.

I have no sense of separation anxiety when someone borrows my flashlight or sharpie.