Messages

16

The Green Room / Re: Movies to musicals

« on: Feb 21, 2014, 03:27 pm »

Huh? Why?

$

And I don't mean that in a bad way.  If people are going to buy tickets that's good news for everyone in the business.

Yes it is...Plus most of the movies these musicals are based off of are based off of novels anyway so just think of it that way.

17

Introductions / Re: Hey Everyone :)

« on: Feb 21, 2014, 03:26 pm »

SM the SM...nice! Must be fate then. Enjoy Hello, Dolly! It is truly one of the greatest shows written!

18

Employment / Re: Locations and Area Codes

« on: Feb 21, 2014, 03:08 pm »

Your google voice number is also really great for situations when you know you are about to be spammed. Like I am currently shopping loans and they require you to put in a number but this way I dont get the calls coming in all day, they go to voice which I am less protective about, and it is a lot quicker and easier to delete messages , etc.

19

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Dear Abby: Gay students in the dressing room

« on: Feb 21, 2014, 03:04 pm »

Each situation is unique, so  I can only answer questions and help clarify but cant say exactly how you should handle it. That requires you to observe and decide what is best.

It seems as though with the topics of gay marriage etc....more and more students are coming out as being gay. How does one deal with a situation with a gay teen in the cast with only two dressing rooms? It is also making some other cast members uncomfortable (possibly because of the complete foreignness of this situation) and we do have several very young cast members who don't even know what being gay means.

You deal with situation by putting boys in one and girls in the other. The young cast members don't really need to know what it is, and if older kids are saying inappropriate things then maybe the young ones should be moved to a separate dressing room. Which is typically what happens professionally anyway.   Most likely it is just the fear of the unknown, maybe they don't want a gay person undressed around them or looking at them undressed, well remind them that it is pretty much the same as going swimming, ... just help them realize that it is the reality of living in the world and that the gay person will not do anything different from anyone else in the room, especially since they don't know if anyone else is or isn't gay.

It was brought to my attention by one of the students in the current cast that the current situation regarding dressing rooms was rather awkward during our last show and did not elaborate. How should this situation be dealt with? How does one typically divide dressing rooms with gay casts? Do special arrangements need to be made in a situation like this? Also, is calling it "gay" even the correct word? Or is there a more politically correct reference?

As for the older kids, you have to specifically find out what their fears are and address them.  If they don't elaborate you cant help. You don't divide the dressing room, any different than you would normally, no special arrangements are necessary unless the situation escalates. But more often that not I have to seperate people because they dont like each other. Yes gay is the correct word.

I live in a very small conservative town, and quite frankly I have never met a young person like this before and know that the situation is extremely delicate. Thanks.

While the situation is delicate, the kids are not.  It is a learning opportunity for all the parties involved and you shouldn't tip toe around the situation if it is a problem address it and if it is not then let it go. Helping too much and preventing people from solving their own problems is almost as bad as not helping at all.

20

The Green Room / Re: Personal Budgeting

« on: Feb 21, 2014, 01:58 pm »

Lots of people suggest Mint.com, I don't personally use it but I've heard good things. I just dont feel all that comfortable giving a third party access to my accounts.

I've used Mint for a while, and wouldn't recommend it. I find that it's just as easy to forget about or ignore as checking your bank statements. Since it's mostly automatic, it doesn't have the same effect as sitting down and doing the math to see how much money you have.

Believe me I don't have the problem of "forgetting" to budget. I check all my accounts everyday. Plus I am buying a house so I definitely have to be on top of things. I just don't feel like sitting down with a spreadsheet anymore, it takes too much time. Mint seems to be working well for me.

21

Introductions / Re: Well Hello there from snowy upstate New York.

« on: Feb 17, 2014, 01:59 pm »

Well glad you finally committed to us!

22

The Green Room / Re: Short Rant: Why Can't You Number things Consistently in Your Script?!

« on: Feb 17, 2014, 01:57 pm »

I'm laughing, cause I just spoke to composer of a new show I worked on last year after he presented a new song from the show. I saw the sheet music and saw #3 and I asked him if he replaced old number #3 and he said "no." Then I asked where the song fit into the show, and it is definitely not where old/current #3 is, but I didn't tell him that. During production we had a music assistant, but now who knows whats going to happen. There were already enough A,B,C,Ds in the show to begin with...

23

Introductions / Re: Found my calling

« on: Feb 17, 2014, 01:52 pm »

Congratulations! It's funny how that works isn't it?

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The Green Room / Re: Personal Budgeting

« on: Feb 17, 2014, 01:51 pm »

I might have to try it then. It would be great to have all the information in one place and not have to go searching and making spread sheets.

25

Employment / Re: Cutting the Cord

« on: Feb 17, 2014, 01:49 pm »

I don't know what your financial situation is with your parents but that plays a big part. I didn't have this issue cause I mostly told my parents what I would be doing, of course I could only do that because I was financially independent of them That being said I ALWAYS listen to my parents advice.  Before  I accept any offer I call my mom to go over it, I may not always agree with what she says and may have to use my own knowledge of the business but it is still helpful. If I am getting a new job or moving I  include them and let them know that I have a good plan in place, that goes a long way towards building their confidence in you.  Just don't spend too much time being angry with them for not understanding, it's not their fault. I would just remember that even though it seems like they are trying to prevent you from going after your dreams, they do it with your best intentions in mind. As they say "Parents just don't understand."

26

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: On the Verge

« on: Feb 17, 2014, 12:42 pm »

Quit....just kidding, I'm sure someone whois more helpful will chime in with serious advice.

27

The Green Room / Re: Personal Budgeting

« on: Feb 17, 2014, 12:38 pm »

Lots of people suggest Mint.com, I don't personally use it but I've heard good things. I just dont feel all that comfortable giving a third party access to my accounts.

28

Employment / Re: WHAT NOT TO PUT ON YOUR RESUME . . .

« on: Feb 08, 2014, 04:26 pm »

I just can't... I totally understand what they were trying but, wow...It's sort of sad because people have no idea how small mistakes like that can make a huge difference and no one ever tells you. But we received a HUGE mistake resume the other day, a two-parter done with clip art probably in MSpaint.

29

The Green Room / Re: 2013 Univ of Iowa survey is live!

« on: Feb 08, 2014, 04:21 pm »

Reading now!

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The Green Room / Re: LINK: The Aggregation of Marginal Gains

« on: Feb 04, 2014, 11:25 am »

Great article. I think it is good for stage managers who sometimes try to do too much all at once and then get frustrated with lack of results. I know I used to suffer from that "trying to be the best" mentality. Sometimes focusing on small goals lead to bigger, better, and longer lasting results.