Messages

166

Employment / Re: ShowBiz Expo in NYC

« on: Mar 26, 2010, 01:46 pm »

I'll be at the one in NYC this year just to poke around--didn't pay for any extra "table discussions" even though there was one for Stage Managers. Just interested to see what it entails and if it is useful at all.

167

The Green Room / Re: Favorite Easter Candy

« on: Mar 25, 2010, 02:50 am »

Cadbury Caramel Eggs.

There are literally 3 duane reade's and 1 7-11 in manhattan that sell them. I've looked everywhere else

They are what have gotten me through tech the last two weeks

168

The Green Room / Re: Best bit of advice from a Stage Managment book

« on: Feb 16, 2010, 12:18 pm »

"Nothing is more ridiculous than two grown men [sic] getting upset over a play"

Reminds me that what we are doing is supposed to be enjoyable and is usually something we choose to do rather than it being thrust upon us, and in the chaos sometimes that idea can fly out the window.

169

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: COSTUMES: How involved do you get with costumes and wardrobe?

« on: Feb 16, 2010, 12:01 pm »

I am all about facilitating communication ("so and so needs to be able to do x, y, & z in her shoes") and generating paperwork and being there for costuming/wardrobe for questions and concerns through rehearsal & tech.

I also have a background in wardrobe so I tend to generate also a lot of empathy for what that department goes through especially when it comes to opera and large scale musicals...so I may be a little more doting than some stage managers in that area... While sympathetic, I don't do anyone's job--it falls in the same vein that I wouldn't want the wardrobe crew to be giving a 10 minute call or collecting valuables. For me it's a 'stepping on toes' issue more than anything.

170

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Wave - SMNetwork Sandbox

« on: Feb 10, 2010, 03:29 pm »

still haven't gotten an invite--would love to play!
nomierae@gmail.com

171

Tools of the Trade / Re: Prop: Drugs on stage

« on: Feb 04, 2010, 06:06 pm »

I can vouch for the herbal cigarettes, as well as baby formula/crushed vitamins for cocaine.

However, I also recommend as ScooterSM did not to allow the actual snorting to occur. It just opens the door to so many medical issues--not worth it!

172

Tools of the Trade / iPad: What do you think?

« on: Jan 27, 2010, 07:45 pm »

Thought I'd start the ball rolling to see what stage managers might think about the new iPad that Apple is putting out...

personally I was way excited about it until I realized it is more of a huge iPhone and wouldn't replace my laptop in that there is no camera built in, and no cd/dvd drive. If apple creates a docking station with the keyboard that includes a cd/dvd drive I will probably be first in line to get one

I love how light it is, that it would allow me to take it EVERYWHERE. also there's the interesting possibility that you might be able to run Word/Excel/Final Cut/etc on it and edit/and use it for electronic scripts and paperwork on the fly.

Just wanted to hear what other people thought-pros, cons, wishes, etc.

173

The Green Room / Re: A thief caught by F. Murray Abraham

« on: Jan 26, 2010, 07:30 pm »

In the past year I've seen nearly a dozen laptops get stolen from theaters. Unfortunately, it's often internal theft by people who understand how theaters work/are set up/not heavily guarded.

let this be a warning to theater theives! F. Murray Abraham will get you

174

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: 2009/2010 Stage Management Internships for The Shakespeare Theatre Company

« on: Jan 21, 2010, 03:29 pm »

Would you accept submissions for the Stage Management positions if someone was already Equity? This seems like just the track I'd like to steer my career towards, and will be applying for 2010/2011

Thanks for the info!

175

Tools of the Trade / Re: Running Shoesy

« on: Jan 19, 2010, 12:03 am »

Nurse shoes! They're easy to find usually at Walmart/Kmart/Target and aren't very fashion forward but are usually lightweight compared to boots, slip resistant, and comfy to stand in for hours on end.

They're always carried in the basic "nurse white" but they usually have a few black pairs hanging around as well.

Bonus: they're usually $20 or less so if I ruin them on a show it's not the end of the world.

176

The Green Room / Re: 10 things actors can do to get off to a good start with a stage manager

« on: Jan 18, 2010, 03:32 pm »

10. Remember Stage Managers are people too. We have feelings, bad days, and limits. While we may never let our personal life interfere with our work, understand that outside of rehearsal and performances that we have lives and other people we care about.

While I do hold a dear spot in my heart for my casts and creative teams, there's only so many hours in a day to take care of everyone

177

The Green Room / Re: Road Life Advice

« on: Dec 29, 2009, 12:56 am »

I did a pretty small tour, and had a blast. I agree with all the advice already given (don't blow your perdiem, get some alone time..etc)

My biggest thing on tour was just being open to new people/experiences. Why bother eating at an Applebee's when you can eat at a hometown diner? Always ask the locals for places to eat/drink. Network with the local crews, it's a small theater world.

things that come in handy: iphone or other smartphone with google maps. laptop with instant netflix. deck of playing cards. liquor.

Hope you have a great time

178

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How do you do your reports?

« on: Dec 20, 2009, 12:34 pm »

I use a formatted PDF file for my performance reports, so I just make sure that I have blank copies with me for each performance so I can fill in information to type into the report later to email out. I find that it keeps things consistent both with me and my team, and saves me time when typing up the report because everything is already in its appropriate box (timing, wardrobe, etc)

179

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Are your shows safe from busses?

« on: Nov 11, 2009, 11:50 pm »

I take 'bus-proofing' very seriously ever since I was literally almost taken out by a bus near 42nd street on my way to call a show. I had the only copy of the prompt script in my bag. Talk about a BAD IDEA.

I try to always keep 2 books up to date with cues/paperwork and I'm fairly certain that I could hand off my books without too much difficulty to someone who would sub in.

My best test of clear cues/paperwork came on a one man show I was doing (about 80 LQs run on a 2 scene preset board, and sound run off 2 discmans with manual fades...((Don't ask.))) I had to train my replacement in less than 48 hours after they were hired. Met her, she watched a matinee, watched me run a show, and the next day she ran it on her own quite successfully. Talk about a sigh of relief!

For me it depends on how long the run is in how much effort I put into bus-proofing. Case in point: currently i'm doing a dance show where I'm the ASM on deck to do scene/gel changes with a 3 person crew. I made several copies of the master of the Who/What/Where paperwork and posted them/handed them out. It's simple enough that anyone could be plugged in at the last minute and still understand what's going on.  For a 4 performance dance show am I going to generate more paperwork than that? Nope.

180

The Hardline / Re: Photography at Rehearsal

« on: Nov 01, 2009, 12:10 am »

had a very angry photographer on my last staged reading.

Scenario: we're part of a festival (which will remain nameless) of staged readings. we were told that the photographer would be by "sometime this week" but we'd get our 24 notice...first rehearsal he shows up half way through the day and wants to take pictures. I tell him that we had no notice he was coming and he'll have to come back tomorrow.

Cue angry company manager and photographer ripping me a new one for doing my job. Oy. The actors were grateful that I stepped in, and eventually the photographer came back and we moved on with our lives. I got reamed for observing a rule that isn't stated in writing on the AEA staged readings guidelines....