Messages

16

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: RUNNING: "We have a 45 minute hold for the Obamas."

« on: Jun 09, 2009, 12:46 pm »

I worked for a theater that had a poor lighting system. So bad that any actor that wasn't in the current scene had to be upstairs in the loft area where the dimmers were and shimmy the switches if they received a text from me because at random times the lights would all just go out because of a poor electrical job or something. The whole run was like this but I won't go into details.

Anyhow one night at the end of Act One something big happened with the lights. Not sure what. But I knew they were not coming back on. The director and another production staff started working on it during the intermission.

The intermission lasted an hour.
He never apologized to the audience.
He never said anything.

But this was his type of behavior during my entire time there on many different issues.
But that was the longest. A one hour intermission because of some crazy light issue.


Oh...during this same show we had to hold the show for about twenty minutes because I got a call from one of the principals that went like this...

"Hi Sly"
"Hi *****. Where are you?"
"Ummm. I forgot to wear panties."
"What?"
"Yea, I forgot to wear panties. Do you know where I could go buy some?"

(There was a scene in which she strips down her her underwear and song a sung and she was responsible for bringing, wearing, and washing the underwear since she was very particular about it. How she forgot to wear underwear in the dead of winter was beyond me. I directed her to the nearest place I could and by the time she got there, the show started 20 minutes late)

17

The Green Room / Re: How do you keep in shape?

« on: Jun 01, 2009, 03:28 pm »

Some of my routine always suffers when I do a show. I forget to take my vitamins. I forget my weekly face mask scrub.


However I cook a lot more versus grabbing Chipotle and Thai. Because the hours are long. I cook things and prepare snacks and they consist of lots of vegetables and tofu. Almonds and Nuts for snacks. Among other things. And I end up drinking lots of water. So I definitely eat healthier when I have a show.

Mentally....I have to have me time. Even if its five minutes. Five minutes of NO theater. NO emails NO reports. NO nothing. Just sit in bed and read and book and forget that theater even exist. And then after my time is up, I feel refreshed and the only thing that matters is theater.

Mentally during a show...I also feel revitalized artistically. I'm surrounded by artist and designers with great ideas and experiences and we're literally making magic. So my creative mind is in a candy store. As a writer as well, I develop so much material when I'm working on a show.

I also ride my bike to and from a lot of rehearsals and shows. So that's a physical workout as well.

18

Tools of the Trade / Re: Twitter.

« on: Jun 01, 2009, 03:09 pm »

Twitter is free. Just like facebook. I have yet to find a good reason for why I created an account on it. But I'm interested in finding one.

19

Employment / Re: Websites

« on: May 18, 2009, 09:11 am »

SLY: Just wanted to let you know I was snoopin' on your site & I LOVE the media you added!!  :-)

Thanks! I'm always looking for feedback on how to keep it up to date.

20

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Docs?

« on: May 13, 2009, 05:15 pm »

Most theaters I work with at the very least use Google calendars...I like that! But for some reason I just can not get with the google docs. I believe its because as mentioned before, I lose some of my formatting. I just probably need to use it more.

21

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: May 06, 2009, 12:37 pm »

One, I think you should dress appropriate as mentioned in someone's past post about a girl who's jeans were cut too low. The show I'm currently working on, we have one girl who gives a show of her own every night when she bends down to move props and what not. Its distracting and distasteful. So I'd say that's important.

Two, I once had a manager who said you should dress for the next position. In a theatrically sense what this means to me is that on interviews I dress business casual...suit without the jacket...but sometimes I wear the jacket. Image and Perception plays a huge role in everything. I want the director or production manager to know they are getting someone professional, put together, organized and about business. I keep my resume's in a portfolio, I show up early, and I don't wear a tank top and shorts.

In the rehearsal process..it truly depends on the show, the people, the environment. I worked on one show that had 600 pounds of dirt that I and the ASM had to wet, till, move, and do all sorts of things too. The director even asked the actors to wear the same stuff...so their laundry bills wouldn't go up. We left rehearsals filthy.

Sometimes I go to rehearsals right after work...but at my day job...I wear extremely casual clothes. So that translate to rehearsals sometimes.

Now during the the show...that's my time to shine. I love wearing dresses! I absolutely love it. So even for the show where I had to till the dirt beforehand...after it was done, I'd change into my dress, climb into the crow's nest (the booth) and run the show. Always in black though.

22

Self-Promotion / Re: Add your Industry Night info here!

« on: May 01, 2009, 09:54 am »

Industry night for Collaboraction's Sketchbook 09 Festival is EVERY night! More info can be found at www.Collaboraction.org All you need to do is show proof...business card, resume, headshot..anything. If you use code 304, the $15 industry ticket goes down to $12!

23

Employment / Re: Read your contracts carefully

« on: May 01, 2009, 09:47 am »

I second that. Make sure you read your contracts. Make sure you have a copy. And make sure the appropriate person has signed it.

I have caught things added in my contract that were never discussed when considering the job and responsibilities and I made sure to have the adjustments made before I signed. I go over dates and any vague description or responsibility.

Different companies require different things and it is important that you take the time to go over everything!

24

Employment / Re: Websites

« on: May 01, 2009, 09:43 am »

I started a website towards the end of last year.

www.sheenalyoung.com

I'm able to track the traffic, so I know that there are people looking at it.

I also attach the website to everything that I can. Its on my stage manager business cards, the bottom of emails and such. Its on my letterhead. I don't know that I've ever gotten a job because of the website...but after an interview, I often see a spike in traffic...as if the theater is looking at it to check me out. I'm assuming they are pleased, because I often get the job.