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Introductions / Re: Greetings from Sunny San Diego!
« on: Jun 15, 2014, 04:33 pm »
Yes, there are quite a lot of us down in San Diego! It would be great to meet SMNetwork contributors in person.
News:
14 Jan 2021: Happy 21st birthday, SMNetwork! I replaced the old broken mobile theme. -K
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17
The Hardline / Re: SPT Previews
« on: Oct 05, 2013, 10:11 pm »It's more complicated than if the audience has paid or not. Was the performance advertised publicly?? Then, it's a public performance. Even if it's free. Was everyone invited privately to a rehearsal? Then, it's a rehearsal. Money does not enter into it.
I'm certain this is a calendar for internal use, not the one for the public. I think they just made a clerical error, which is a relief.
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The Hardline / Re: SPT Previews
« on: Oct 04, 2013, 10:17 pm »
Thanks for your responses!
The use of "first public performance" throughout the rulebook was a bit confusing, and I'm glad to see that many of you were having the same issue I was in terms of how to distinguish performances. That being said, what Matthew said makes sense:
I brought this to the attention of the producers, who then looked at the calendar and realized that they accidentally wrote in another preview instead of calling it and invited dress rehearsal. That being said, it looks like it's supposed to be an invited dress and 5 performances. I'm interested that some of you said that the invited dress should count as a public performance, when its name includes rehearsal in the title. Has anyone run into this issue before? I will definitely check with Equity on this portion of it, because the problem of paying for an additional performance would still exist if that's the case.
In terms of work hours, even with 5 performances and an invited dress, the current schedule keeps all rehearsals and performances under 30 hours, so that's good there.
The use of "first public performance" throughout the rulebook was a bit confusing, and I'm glad to see that many of you were having the same issue I was in terms of how to distinguish performances. That being said, what Matthew said makes sense:
"Opening" shall be defined as the first paid public performance.
So, although a theater may define a performance a preview for marketing purposes, I read the contract that your first paid public performance would be opening - and thus all performances, marketed a preview or not, would count towards your performance count.
I brought this to the attention of the producers, who then looked at the calendar and realized that they accidentally wrote in another preview instead of calling it and invited dress rehearsal. That being said, it looks like it's supposed to be an invited dress and 5 performances. I'm interested that some of you said that the invited dress should count as a public performance, when its name includes rehearsal in the title. Has anyone run into this issue before? I will definitely check with Equity on this portion of it, because the problem of paying for an additional performance would still exist if that's the case.
In terms of work hours, even with 5 performances and an invited dress, the current schedule keeps all rehearsals and performances under 30 hours, so that's good there.
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The Hardline / SPT Previews
« on: Oct 03, 2013, 09:00 pm »
Hi Everyone,
I'm working on an SPT-4 contract and had a question regarding previews versus performances after opening, and I'm hoping someone can help! In the SPT-4 contract, performances are limited to five per week. After the fifth performance, there is an increase in pay for each additional performance. For this particular production, there are three previews scheduled, followed by opening night and then two more shows, for a total of six. Do the previews count as rehearsals or performances in terms of shows per week? Considering that they have paying audiences, I'm inclined to think the latter, but I'm not sure. I've worked at SPT theatres a lot, but I've never run into going over the "allotted" performances during the week of previews and opening before. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thank You!
I'm working on an SPT-4 contract and had a question regarding previews versus performances after opening, and I'm hoping someone can help! In the SPT-4 contract, performances are limited to five per week. After the fifth performance, there is an increase in pay for each additional performance. For this particular production, there are three previews scheduled, followed by opening night and then two more shows, for a total of six. Do the previews count as rehearsals or performances in terms of shows per week? Considering that they have paying audiences, I'm inclined to think the latter, but I'm not sure. I've worked at SPT theatres a lot, but I've never run into going over the "allotted" performances during the week of previews and opening before. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thank You!
20
Tools of the Trade / Re: Tool Belt
« on: Jan 23, 2012, 04:40 pm »
Thanks for all of the tips! It looks like a trip to the army and restaurant supply stores is in order. I'll let you know when I find a good one!
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Tools of the Trade / Tool Belt
« on: Jan 13, 2012, 01:28 pm »
Hi all! I'm soon going to be ASMing a show where I'll be the only crew member backstage and need to keep my hands free for quick changes and set changes. Does anyone have any recommendations for a light-weight, sturdy tool belt (or something like it)? It just needs to hold a flashlight, pencils, and a few other small items. Thanks!
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The Green Room / Re: The Great SM Gift List
« on: Nov 15, 2011, 08:44 pm »
I'm hoping for a good, durable bag this Christmas. I realized the other day that I'm still using the same corduroy backpack I had in college, and while it's lasted a long time, it makes me look like a student. Fingers crossed!
And I agree on making scarves! They're easy to make and make a big impression.
If you're looking for a fun and inexpensive gift for a stage manager, check this out: http://www.imprintitems.com/custom/spl/4114896?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=SPLfeed
And I agree on making scarves! They're easy to make and make a big impression.
If you're looking for a fun and inexpensive gift for a stage manager, check this out: http://www.imprintitems.com/custom/spl/4114896?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=SPLfeed
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The Green Room / Re: audience callbacks- the ones you want, the ones you don't
« on: Sep 01, 2011, 04:04 pm »
I was working on a production of Marat/Sade a few years ago, which is quite a disturbing piece if you haven't seen it. It takes place in an insane asylum in the 1800's. Anyway, at the end of the play, all the inmates start ripping the set apart, kill the asylum guards, and just go nuts, all with strobe lights going, screaming, pandemonium. Then everyone just left the stage. As the lights came up one night, the audience sat in stunned silence until one frightened college girl squeaked, "What just happened?" It could not have been more perfect!
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Employment / Re: Resume Workshop - Have you attended one?
« on: Sep 01, 2011, 03:36 pm »
I attended a resume seminar when I went to USITT in Houston a few years ago and it was extremely informative! They had a panel of production managers, technical directors, and stage managers go over the basics, highlighting what they looked for and what they despised. They covered all the basics, but they also took the time to do one-on-one resume reviews. I was able to get instant feedback and it really made an impact on me. The head of the workshop also offered to take home a resume from everyone and then mailed them back with comments. That may be a good option if you're looking to help, but don't want to make everyone stand in a line while you critique each one.
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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Gratuitious Paperwork
« on: Aug 23, 2011, 08:21 pm »Rehearsal run sheets/scene by scene tracking documents are the only paperwork that I really debate with myself about. You need clear information to do run throughs in the rehearsal space, and in a complex show carrying your binder, or flipping back and forth between scribbled notebook pages as you move props/costumes SL/SR isn’t always possible. Plus, if others are helping to do rehearsal run throughs, but they’ve been on book or something else the rest of the time, a printed guide is certainly helpful. On the other hand, spending time formatting and updating docs that will quickly become obsolete when you move to the stage doesn’t make a lot of sense, so lately I’ve been trying to simplify these things as much as possible.
I've found having rehearsal run sheets to be invaluable for me. I agree that it's cumbersome to carry it around with you during quick changes, but it's a great cheat sheet to keep next to the script, especially in prop or furniture heavy shows. I'll usually study it for a minute before a big scene change and leave it at the table. In some instances I've gone so far as to create mock shift plots for rehearsal run-throughs. These of course are for the larger shows, with multiple people moving scenery and props, just in the rehearsal space. But like most people here have said, it depends on the show. I'm certainly not going to make a rehearsal run sheet for a two-person play with a five props and a park bench.
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