Messages

151

The Green Room / Re: Stage managing and relationships

« on: Apr 22, 2011, 12:40 pm »

I don't have much experience with this topic. I didn't get into a serious relationship until I got a more "civilian" position.

I do have two friends who have been together for 25 years this month. One of them worked in theatre for most of his life. He did so many national and international tours it's hard to keep track. They made it work by communication and understanding. The one with the "civilian" job would go out and visit him and when his tour was close to home he would come home every night. Then when the tour was done he would take a lot of time off to be together. I'm sure it wasn't as easy as I made it sound like.

I also believe that he give his partner a lot of presents when he was on the road.

152

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Re: ESCRIPTS: Post your requests for electronic scripts here!

« on: Apr 14, 2011, 02:05 pm »

Vocal score to Falstaff. Pdf is fine.

Thanks

153

Employment / Re: To Break or Not to Break

« on: Apr 13, 2011, 10:47 am »

I broke a contract and it didn't go well.

In August of 2006 I was offered an ASM position at an opera company. The job was from December-March. I was excited as it was going to be my first opera production.
Between August and December I was looking for work for when I was to be done with the opera. In late October I sent a resume for a position at a University, and I thought it would take a while for them to get back to me.

Not only did they get back to me quickly, but within two weeks I had two interviews and an offer. They wanted me to start in December. To me it was a no-brainer. The university job was full time with excellent benefits and an opportunity to get my MFA for next to nothing. It was also in a town that I really liked and I had friends living there. I accepted the offer.

Since it was over a month out, I thought I gave the opera company plenty of time. They didn't feel that way. They sent a not so nice email and wanted me to pay for my plane ticket. The next day I saw the job posted here and the following day the job was filled. I never emailed back, and they never followed up.

I don't regret breaking the contract. I was just surprised at their reaction giving the nature of this  business.

154

Self-Promotion / Re: M4M in Central Park

« on: Mar 29, 2011, 04:37 pm »

Congratulations! I worked with their Prop Master years ago.

155

The Green Room / Re: Funnest Tech Run Ever

« on: Mar 03, 2011, 03:01 pm »

My most fun tech? ART - we did everything easily, quickly and efficiently and went home early. Period. That's mine.

My tech for "Fully Committed" was like your tech. We teched the show in one afternoon, and got home early every night.

156

The Green Room / Re: \"Have you thought about accounting . . . ?\"

« on: Feb 07, 2011, 11:14 am »

I don't know if my conversation started the process. All I know is that she kept on interning at other theatres for a few more years before she decided to do something else.

I didn't like having the conversation. I was hoping that it would do was to light a fire inside of her. Have her say "I'll show you" and then go out and prove me wrong.

157

The Green Room / Re: \"Have you thought about accounting . . . ?\"

« on: Feb 07, 2011, 09:51 am »

I actually had a conversation with my asm during pre-production.

The theatre I used to work at had two asm's and for a one person show I was working on, the PM gave me the weaker one, in the hopes that I could get her in shape. She didn't have the skills, the know-how, and was very, very shy.

I sat her down and I was very honest with her. I tried to be delicate, but still tell her that she wasn't cut out for stage management.  I explained to her that her weaknesses outnumbered her strengths. I said that I would be more than happy to help her, but she would have to come to me to ask for help. I told her that she should go ahead and prove me wrong and show me that she was meant to be a stage manager.  The conversation did upset her, but she told me that NO ONE ever told her what she was doing was wrong. 

She never asked for help. She didn't improve throughout the rehearsal/tech/run. The show was really easy, so I didn't depend on her that much.

She went on to intern at other theatres for two more years. Eventually she went to school to become a dental assistant.

158

The Green Room / Re: This one goes to Eleven!

« on: Jan 26, 2011, 01:53 pm »

congrats PSMKay - and given how many folks are still in school or were children then, I don't want to go back to where I was in the year 2000......

I hear ya. Loud and clear

In 2000 I was stage managing a touring children's production. Me, 5 actors, and a van. (the theatre closed) Later that summer I stage managed a terrible production of Much Ado About Nothing (the theatre since closed). In the fall I stage managed a terrible production out in New Mexico. (the theatre since closed). Despite the show being bad it was the first time I drove across the country. I would then do it three more times.

Congrats SM Network!

159

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Sign-in Sheet for Rehearsals

« on: Jan 19, 2011, 02:21 pm »

I would have a sign-in-sheet for larger casts and not for smaller ones.

Looking back, I would probably have a sheet for all casts and all rehearsals. Once we got into tech, it was more of an effort to locate them to remind them to sign in.

160

The Green Room / Re: Dracula in NYC

« on: Jan 13, 2011, 11:26 am »

Didn't we finally learn our lesson after Lestat...  Dracula stories just don't work onstage.

No. We didn't learn with "Dance of the Vampires" either.   

161

The Green Room / Re: Happy New Years!! My Resolution is....

« on: Jan 04, 2011, 09:53 am »

Well I'm turning 40 this year and I'm getting married. I only have two resolutions

1) Look hot at 40
2) Get my thesis about 65% done by the time the wedding happens.

162

The Green Room / Re: Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark

« on: Dec 22, 2010, 09:05 am »

I have to wonder how I would be if I was an ASM on this production. I can't even begin to imagine what the PSM is feeling.

I would like to think that I would be the one who would remain calm under pressure, always be quick with a joke, and be completely on top of things. The stress would never get to me.

Then I think of the reality. The folks working on this production have been in "tech/preview" mode for months now. There is $65 million dollars invested in this, the NY times writing an article about the process every day, a demanding (albeit a genius) director, and Bono. How could any human withstand the pressure?

Is the art worth all of this?

163

Tools of the Trade / Re: Gifts!

« on: Dec 09, 2010, 10:41 am »

So, what's everyone hoping for for Xmas/Hanukkah/generic holiday gift-giving?

Personally, I'm hoping for a new rehearsal bag, like this one:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/40308?from=SR&feat=sr

That is a really nice bag.

For Christmas I want that and my MFA.

164

The Green Room / Re: Best mentions of a stage manager in the press

« on: Nov 29, 2010, 11:43 am »

The stage manager for Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark is getting some nice write-ups.

The intermission began at 8:19 p.m.; it was still under way 34 minutes later when some in the audience began to clap in unison, as they passed their two-hour mark inside the theater. Mr. White, the production stage manager, then said over the microphone, “I know, guys, I know, I beg your patience,” and the clapping stopped.


Someone buy that man a drink.

165

Stage Management: Other / Re: Film Assistant Director

« on: Nov 12, 2010, 10:07 am »

First of all, congratulations on getting the job!

I have some film experience, and from what I remembered the first AD was the loudest person on the set

Before the shoot, the Firsts' main task is to create the filming schedule with the Director. When drawing up the shooting schedule, First ADs must also be aware of budgetary constraints, cast availability and script coverage.  Preparing the storyboard, overseeing the hiring of locations, props and equipment, and checking weather reports, are all key pre-production duties for Firsts.  (I remember always checking the Weather Channel's hour by hour weather)

First ADs' core responsibility is to keep filming on schedule by driving it forward, so they frequently make announcements and give directions to co-ordinate the cast and crew.  They also control discipline on the set, supervise the other Assistant Directors, and oversee the preparation of the daily 'call sheet' (a document detailing daily shooting logistics, which is distributed to all cast and crew).  Firsts are also responsible for health and safety on set or location, and must take action to eliminate or minimise hazards at all times.

So it's alot! I think if you did a quick Google search you can find books that can help you more.