Messages

166

The Green Room / Re: Employment after a Career as a Stage Manager

« on: Apr 20, 2015, 01:52 pm »

Like Chris, I disagree with the premise.  Several folks who post here regularly (two have already posted on this thread) have long and successful careers as stage managers. 

In general though, I'd not stress too much on specifics of employment 15 years out.  I have a BFA in Stage Management, and had exactly one contract as a professional stage manager after graduating before changing.  I certainly didn't plan it that way, but that's what happened.  When I was in school I had never considered working on cruise ships as a stage manager, then I did.  When I was on ships I had no plans to move out of stage management or move to Miami; then I got an opportunity I couldn't pass up, stopped stage managing, and moved to Miami to work for a cruise line.  When I moved to Miami I had no plans to shift to the side of the industry I'm in now; then I did. 

If you had asked me in 2005 what my ten-year plan was I'd have told you it was stage managing professionally either in New York or Las Vegas.  Fast forward to 2015, and it'll be nine years this summer since I've called a cue.  The point I'm trying to make is that circumstances change, opportunities that you had never considered present themselves, priorities change.  Nobody has a crystal ball, so don't mentally lock yourself in to any one career trajectory.

To answer your question specifically - Project Management is, in many ways, a very natural shift for a stage manager.  In general, projects have a defined beginning and a defined end, with set objectives along the way, and one person who is the glue that brings all aspects of a team together - sound familiar?  My job has reasonable hours, I don't have to work too many weekends, and the compensation is, in general, markedly better than theatre.  A sad truth, but a truth nonetheless.

167

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SAFETY: Real weapons on stage?

« on: Apr 07, 2015, 05:44 pm »

What exactly is the concern?  Is the concern with the rifle as a firearm, the bayonet as a sharp blade, or both? 

With the bayonet it will be similar to swordplay on stage.  Assuming there will be an experienced fight choreographer to stage the action, scheduled fight calls ahead of performances, and secure storage and proper chain of custody before/during/after performances, the risk should be mitigated to a level consistent with industry standards. 

With the firearm - these are WW1 rifles.  Is the concern that the specific actors handling the firearms will bring in rifle cartridges of the exact size and calibre needed to fire them, then load and fire the rifle with live rounds?

Most, though not all, WW1 rifles used ammunition of a calibre not used in modern rifles.  Some WW1 rifles did use ammunition that is common today (.30-06, for example), but I would argue that anyone who is familiar enough with firearms to figure that out also knows that firing a 100+ year old rifle without inspection from a qualified gunsmith is a BAD idea.  You risk the rifle quite literally blowing up in your face. 

Playing the firearms thing out to its logical conclusion, I'd argue you're far more likely (though still not at all likely) to have an actor simply bring a modern weapon into the workplace and use that.

As Matthew has said there is no way to eliminate risk 100%.  The job is to mitigate risk to an acceptable level.


Some thoughts on specifics:

- Insist on provisions for a qualified fight choreographer (if that person doesn't already exist).

- Schedule adequate staging time.  Schedule fight calls before each run and performance.

- Have secure storage for any weapons while they are not in use.  This would be a lockable area that only necessary people have keys to.  Each key should be numbered and inventoried, with documentation kept to who holds which key.  If it's a long run, you should schedule periodic audits of keyholders and records.

- Have a clear chain of custody any time the weapons are not in  storage.  They shouldn't be left on the props table, for example. This should be documented and enforced.  Similar to above, periodic audits for long runs should be conducted and documented.

- If the firearms will be fired using blanks, the blank cartridges should be inventoried.  Prior to the firearms being loaded, two people should verify the number of cartridges loaded, and that all cartridges have come from the secure storage area.  When the firearms are being loaded, a second person should be present and verify that only inspected blank cartridges have been used.

- If the actors in question have not used firearms before, it would be a good idea to have a familiarization with firearms in general.  Find an instructor and have the actors fire some rifles (not your WW1 props!) at a target range.  [Sane and rational] People who use firearms develop an immense respect for the power they have and the damage that can be done by careless use.

- With the bayonets, if they are sharp - have a day where they actually use the bayonets (think watermelon or pumpkin).  Again, when they see it cut through a pumpkin they will understand what it can do if they are careless.


Good luck - let us know how it goes.

168

Tools of the Trade / Re: Is Office.com Valuable or a Gimmick?

« on: Apr 01, 2015, 09:34 pm »

Giving this a bump in hopes we can get some feedback on Office.com. 

169

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Docs.

« on: Apr 01, 2015, 05:15 pm »

Depending on your use, Google Drive (new version of Google Docs) can be extremely useful.  The ability to collaborate in real time is a great feature.

I find it falls short in a few areas we take for granted with locally-based programs like Excel and Word; those key areas being formatting and formulas.  Formatting likely being the larger reasoning than formulas.  Most SMs aren't doing heavy formula-based workbooks that get under the hood of Excel.

I think those are what is preventing SM teams from adopting this entirely - maybe I am wrong about that.  If anyone has done a show 100% on cloud-based docs, please speak up.

170

Employment / Re: Everyone's favorite topic: Networking

« on: Apr 01, 2015, 09:23 am »

Networking doesn't have to be an arduous process with form emails, awkward conversations, or pushing business cards on people.  The time to network is when you don't need a job.  The common reasoning behind this thought is that you want your network already in place when you do need a job.  For me, a secondary reason behind this school of thought is that it's much easier to make a meaningful connection with someone when you don't specifically need something from them.  If you're networking because you need a job immediately, it will come across that way and is off-putting to many people. 

Meeting people in a new city is challenging, especially if you don't already have an "in" to introduce you.  Try social settings - e.g. industry happy hours.  The "I'm new in town and just trying to get the lay of the land" is an easy conversation starter.

People also focus a lot on building their networking while neglecting their existing network.  Keeping old contacts alive is not very difficult.  A simple text message saying "Just saw something that reminded me of X production we worked on together, hope you are well!" is usually enough to keep a connection open. 

171

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Bad ASM's

« on: Mar 11, 2015, 09:48 am »

Reading into your post I assume the PSM in question is a student, so by definition this person is not a professional SM (to be clear, non-professional and unprofessional are very different words) 

People use the term "unprofessional" very broadly.  Truly unprofessional behaviors are acts that are dishonorable, unethical, etc...

Piggybacking on Nick's thoughts - I think it's important to clarify the actions or behavior patterns that you find concerning.  Then, differentiate if those behaviors are truly unprofessional or if they're more in the territory of mistakes that an amateur or relatively inexperienced SM might make.  If it's the former, you're likely needing to involve faculty.  If, which I believe to be most likely, it's the latter - then consider it a teachable moment and offer guidance.

172

The Green Room / Re: PSA- beginning of Daylight Savings Time this Sunday

« on: Mar 08, 2015, 11:55 am »

A few years ago I was in Europe the weekend the clocks were turned back. I came home to the US during the following week and got to "fall back" again with the time change in the US. Sometimes it's the little victories in life.

173

The Green Room / Re: Nick Offerman to Star in "Confederacy of Dunces"

« on: Mar 02, 2015, 02:23 pm »

I'd just like to point out that while he's obviously most famous for Parks and Rec, he came to Hollywood from the Chicago theatre scene having worked at both Steppenwolf and the Goodman, to name a few.

For sure, but most of the ticket-buying public will not be aware of that... and that's OK.

174

The Green Room / Nick Offerman to Star in "Confederacy of Dunces"

« on: Mar 02, 2015, 12:54 pm »

Link.

I know some folks have mixed feelings about TV/Movie stars stepping onto the stage, however I'm all for anything that brings positive attention and new audience members to the theatre.

As an aside - if you haven't read Confederacy of Dunces, I can't recommend it enough.  Absolutely hilarious.

175

The Green Room / Re: Odd legal stuff you've learned

« on: Feb 27, 2015, 03:39 pm »

I actually learned one two weeks ago about the specifications of a cable that can and cannot be used in NYC theaters. We tried to sell someone a specific cable and he actually send us the regulation saying we were trying to sell him an illegal extension. Who would have guessed?

What is the requirement, out of curiosity?  LSZH?

176

Stage Management: Other / Re: Rehearsal DVDs becoming obsolete

« on: Feb 04, 2015, 11:33 am »

What's to stop a DVD or USB drive from being copied?

177

The Green Room / Re: Superbowl Half-Time Stage Set-Up

« on: Feb 04, 2015, 11:32 am »

1 24' Long x 12' High Lion Puppet

Best part of the whole evening. I could have watched her ride that lion all evening, I've got such a soft spot for puppets.

I hadn't given this much thought until reading your post, but I do find the decidedly low-tech movement of the puppet  juxtaposed with the all the technology extremely satisfying.

Some [non-entertainment industry folks] at the super bowl party I was at were amazed that the lion was moving, asking how it was done.  I said: "See those people dressed in black  around the legs?  They're moving it."  Kind of funny.

178

December Madness 2 / Re: APPS Division FINALS: Clock vs Text Messaging

« on: Dec 23, 2014, 04:02 pm »

What good is an SMS telling you rehearsal is at 9:00am if you don't know when 9:00am is?

Gotta go with the clock!

179

Employment / Re: Finding jobs for when I graduate

« on: Dec 19, 2014, 09:02 am »

Are you looking to get into Equity or Are you looking for regional work?

Ali

It should be noted that these career paths are not mutually exclusive. 

180

Employment / Re: WHAT NOT TO PUT ON YOUR RESUME . . .

« on: Dec 16, 2014, 01:54 pm »

I read a bit of advice somewhere that I really liked; put one interesting, non-related skill on your resume. It rounds you out as a person, makes your resume stand out a bit, and it gives an interviewer a jumping off point for the dreaded, "So tell me about you, I see you can juggle..."

This can back fire, you have to be very careful with it.  I think juggling is not that out there our weird. 

You can stand out in the wrong way.

Why not stand out based on your skills and show list instead?

I think I've told this story previously on this forum, I once interviewed someone that had a special skill listed as "long-tail cat wrangler".  Considering it was not even remotely related to the position for which he was applying, I think it definitely distracted from the other content of his resume.  Most of the talk amongst the folks making the hiring decision was "Is this the long-tail cat guy?" instead of "Is this the guy with x, y ,z related skills".

I'm torn.  It was pretty cool to ask him about, but it probably hurt his chances long term.  Then again, we may never have picked up his resume had it not been for that tidbit.