Messages

151

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Cake

« on: Aug 03, 2010, 02:33 pm »

Floral foam usually comes in an unappetizing green color, but I bet with some cheap craft paint you could easily paint/dye it a cake type color, but then you'd need to pre-cut the slice and paint the facings on that as well...

maybe baking would be easier after all

152

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Cake

« on: Aug 03, 2010, 01:33 pm »

I would vote for floral foam and real icing because it would cut cleanly with even a fake knife, and they come in rounds like cakes at most large craft stores

But if real cake seems the easiest, I'd say something dense like a pound cake would be best as far as being sturdy

153

The Green Room / Re: What did you learn today?

« on: Jul 27, 2010, 02:42 pm »

I learned that a friendship can truly be measured by whether or not you will help them move in 90 degree weather.

154

The Green Room / Re: Being friends with other stage managers

« on: Jul 18, 2010, 08:08 pm »

I have several SM friends, people I went to school with, people I've worked with and people I've met through festivals, friends, relationships, etcetera.  I think it can be an important networking tool as far as passing along work, discussing companies, and having a pool of people to pick from when you are lucky enough to pick your ASMs on a show.  Also no SM is and island and we can all learn things from one another from paperwork to crisis management, etc.

Very early on I tried to shy away from becoming too friendly with my co-workers on shows and remain completely professional 100% of the time, but man that got old fast and I have learned through trial and error how to feel people out as far as if we will be friends, and some of my closest friends are producers and SMs I've worked with over the years.

There is a bit of career jealousy that arises from time to time, but I step back and look at the reasons behind why they got the better job.  Sometimes it's their personal contacts. Sometimes it's their MFA versus my BFA. Sometimes it's just luck. It all keeps me focused on what helps people land jobs and what I need to work on to stay competitive.

155

The Green Room / Re: What did you learn today?

« on: Jul 18, 2010, 07:56 pm »

today I learned that the 16oz. diet coke my bodega sells fits much better in my purse than the 20oz and saves me a whole dollar.

and off topic-- blockheads is my summer vice, spent many an evening there, and sometimes at Motherburger too because their margaritas are the same price

156

Employment / Re: CAREER GROWTH: Taking control of your career

« on: Jul 10, 2010, 05:29 pm »

such an interesting thread...

I agree with Matthew...

I do wish the career was less and less about who you know, and more and more about the experience you carry and type of stage manager you are.  The system in place tends to reinforce bad stage managers who stick with it . . . and young stage managers who will work for next to nothing.

I can't tell you about how many times I work on a project where people are amazed that they have a good stage manager. Floors me.

But back to the topic at hand -- I've thought a lot about how to take my career "forward" and everything usually circles back to networking and doing the best job possible.  Honestly I'd like to say just knowing the right people gets me work, but time and time again it's working a terrible show with the right people and weathering the storm that gets me work.  Having people see you shine in unfortunate circumstances is better than any resume credit, in my opinion.

That being said the few things I've focused on doing pro-actively this year are knowing how much my time is worth, and continuing to challenge myself.  While I could work for an Off Broadway show (Funny story Matt--I was on the list to be interviewed for the PA position on 39 Steps) I have sat down and decided I cannot and will not take work that doesn't pay me enough to live and thrive on. Risky? Yes, especially in a city where newer SMs will do musicals for $300. But also it has kept me focused on finding work that wasn't going to make me question my career choice while I ate ramen for 3 months.

The second, challenging myself, is more of a personal choice I suppose. I find that if I'm working on a show where I'm 100% comfortable, things go smoothly, where there's enough time, enough money, and no challenges or new opportunities (such as working with new technology, fly rails, automation, pyro...etc) then  I feel pretty stagnant and non-competitive in the industry. So I make it a priority to make myself well rounded and willing to take on new things.

Just my $.02

157

The Green Room / Re: Are there any AEA SM moms?

« on: Jul 10, 2010, 04:56 pm »

I love this topic as it has been a question I've had for awhile as well as raising a family is also a priority for me. Hope the thread keeps moving forward, can't wait to hear more!

158

The Green Room / Re: UNPAID INTERNSHIPS: Interesting Article

« on: Jul 02, 2010, 03:15 pm »

What a great article--- I was in that situation when I got out of school and I got offered all of these AMAZING (or so I thought) internships with well established companies in NYC but I couldn't take them because they were unpaid and I was supporting myself. Made me sick to my stomach to have to pass up on them. Similarly, jobs that don't pay a living wage (*cough*SHOWCASES*cough*) make me equally frustrated.

However, after spending a year working in retail to pay the bills,  the prevalence of unpaid/underpaid internships also pushed me to sharpen my skills and interview techniques so I could land paid jobs that were in my field. So far, so good. My last project I was the PSM and all of my interns were actually only 1-2 years younger than me, but were taking the job to build up their resume.

Unfortunately, with the way the economy is I don't see there being a big upheaval against unpaid internships anytime soon. It is a genius business model, free eager labor. As the article states, the only way it'll go away is if no one is willing to work for free...

159

The Green Room / Re: COLLEGE GENERAL DISCUSSION: Is the traditional four year college worth it now?

« on: Jun 27, 2010, 03:45 pm »

I have to admit when I was looking at colleges I had only an "end game" in sight: must get into a good college, to get good grades, to get a good degree, to get a good job. Period. My family and socioeconomic background had groomed me for that mentality. With my grades and SAT scores I was told it would be ridiculous to NOT go to college. At that point I had already decided I'd be doing theater and had lofty dreams of Broadway and national tours.

Now, through my four years of (a very expensive private university) I realized slowly that what I was getting from college was more personal growth and a great liberal arts education, with a side helping of technical theater training. I had moved across the country, left all safety nets behind, and those four years I spent exploring my university while working towards my degree helped me find a footing before heading out into the "real world."

Looking back, and knowing what I know now would I still spend all that money on my BFA? Probably not. Do I regret it? Not a bit. It helped shape me into the person that I am, which is capable of having a career in the field that I love.

My advice to people looking into colleges is that it's a personal decision, a BFA or MFA isn't going to guarantee you anything in this industry because it is all about the experience and networking. It's more about knowing what you need as an individual that worrying about everyone else and their credentials.

...Just my two cents.

160

The Green Room / Re: Tony Awards

« on: Jun 14, 2010, 12:59 am »

It was an exciting night for our industry-can't say that I agreed with all the awards but definitely love seeing everyone celebrating the season..

I can't seem to find the credits for the lighting/sound/sm's on the Tony's tonight..anyone find that info mind posting it? It's not anywhere on the Tony's website

161

The Green Room / Re: Thread to vent about / Actors behaving badly / As haiku only

« on: Jun 09, 2010, 11:12 pm »

We know you're clever.
We have a director
Please at least try his version of the play

You want line notes?
Here's one.
Learn your lines!

You don't need to tell me
your beats, your intentions, your choices
just do the damn blocking.

exactly how I have felt many times... bravo.

162

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How Many times have you stage managed?

« on: May 22, 2010, 11:07 am »

in the past 6 years I've sm'ed about 35 shows/events professionally and 10 academically

163

The Green Room / Re: THOUGHT OF THE DAY: What's your day job?

« on: May 19, 2010, 12:24 am »

I'm middle management at Old Navy--I refer to it as my "civilian job" it's much like stage management, just more pants!

164

Employment / Re: Promissory Note versus Contract

« on: May 19, 2010, 12:21 am »

the phrase "director/producer/lead actor/production manager/artistic director/writer" sent up a huge red flag for me. Very rarely do all of those hats get worn by one person effectively...

Kudos to following your gut, and for the record even when I was non-equity (and even when I do dance and other event related things that fall outside of AEA) I always require a contract. Never had a problem with it with any company in the past 6 years.

165

Tools of the Trade / Re: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones

« on: Apr 04, 2010, 12:20 am »

I had an iPhone for a little over a year, now I'm using a Blackberry, and will soon be getting a Droid. Honestly, I don't think I could go back to stage managing without a smart phone.  Getting up to date e-mail, google calendar and contact info is just that important in this crazy freelance world I live in.

One of my favorite new tools: gchat. I've noticed the trend towards most of the people I'm working with having gmail accounts and since no one really leaves their e-mail alone anymore, everyone is always lurking on gchat. During rehearsal before a break I can warn a producer in the office 75 feet away that the director is headed their way fuming. All without using a text message (which to those without unlimited plans can get spendy...)

Just my $.02