Messages

16

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Actors who direct....

« on: Mar 21, 2005, 11:18 am »

We are stage managers, not parents.  We shouldn't have to be concerned over whether or not these grown actors are becoming too reliant on us.  If they seem unappreciative of your directions, quit giving them and hand out maps and yellow pages instead.  

I also believe in helping actors as much as possible, but if they're going to blame you instead of thank you, it's not because they're can't take care of themselves.  It's because they'd rather make you look bad than admit they were wrong themselves.  I wouldn't worry about their ability to take care of themselves; they're just abusing your kindness.

17

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Leaving the booth??!!?! (part 1)

« on: Feb 22, 2005, 07:43 pm »

I'd say in an emergency setting, leaving the booth might be the best option.  Example: In the last show I did, one of the actors starting passing out onstage.  We met him in the wings and his feet just went right out from underneath him.  Our SM asked me if she should come down and my hands were too full of this actor to even answer, so she knew she'd better come down.  I was still on headset, so I kept the light and sound operators informed of what was going on.  I mean, if you have to stop the show, you might as well get outta the booth, right?

18

SMNetwork Archives / The Cardinal Sin

« on: Feb 18, 2005, 08:38 pm »

So I committed what I believe to be the cardinal sin of stage management 2 days ago.  I was late for rehearsal.  By an hour.  Fortunately, there were fittings going on and I'm just a lowly intern so all I had to do was make coffee, but I felt horrible for the rest of the day.  Ugh.  Somehow I just got it in my head that we were starting an hour later than we actually were.

But perhaps this isn't THE cardinal sin of stage management.  What do you think is the one thing a stage manager should avoid at all costs?

19

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Birthday cakes

« on: Jan 24, 2005, 12:02 pm »

AND claim it on your taxes!

20

SMNetwork Archives / kit

« on: Jan 09, 2005, 11:11 pm »

post-it notes and a variety of pain medication - 2 things I use every rehearsal

21

SMNetwork Archives / on the other end of the headset spectrum

« on: Dec 08, 2004, 11:19 am »

cabled, temporary

22

SMNetwork Archives / on the other end of the headset spectrum

« on: Dec 04, 2004, 09:58 am »

I know we've had a discussion about low-end headset solutions.  I am looking for the opposite; what do you think is the best headset out there?