Messages

166

The Hardline / Re: Tech Week Bumps II

« on: Jun 06, 2007, 03:22 pm »

Matthew, thanks for the calculator link. That's great.

Hmm...tech week bumps during pre-pro week...that's an interesting idea. I wonder if it may be negotiable as to when you could receive your bumps. For example...we are not offered parking spaces, and parking is a nightmare here on campus. Public transportation is free, but the buses don't generally run when you really need them. It's great for "just rehearsal" days, but when you're in rehearsal and calling a show, it's almost impractical. I wonder if it's possible to negotiate the tech week bumps at the start of the season to pay for a parking permit? I'd much rather spend that money on something frivolous, but having to walk half a mile to your car or wait 45 minutes for the last bus after a show is a bummer.

scoot, that's what I've always thought, but I think it evens out when I do my tax return.

167

The Hardline / Re: Tech Week Bumps II

« on: Jun 05, 2007, 05:17 pm »

scoot, it's a LORT D contract. Indeed; AEA understands the restraints of a university payroll system, hence the rider for the biweekly pay. It's not been a problem; sometimes it actually helps me to save more money. (Ha!) I'm just wondering if it actually evens out, tax wise, if one is paid biweekly as opposed to weekly. Those vacation, OT and tech week bump checks seem to get whacked with taxes. There should be a chart (paperwork!!) that outlines this sort of thing...for example: if you get paid $X and you claim X and you are paid on a biweekly schedule, then you can expect to net $X, whereas if you're paid weekly in the same scenario, you can expect to net $X. I hate money.

168

The Hardline / Tech Week Bumps II

« on: Jun 04, 2007, 04:35 pm »

I work for a theatre that is part of a university, hence, I am on a biweekly pay schedule as per a contractual rider. Most university payroll systems are notoriously difficult to alter, and the biweekly schedule is at least preferable to the faculty monthly paydate. For this past season, I negotiated my tech week bumps into my salary, so it made my weekly pay a bit higher, as opposed to getting one check at the end of the season for that extra cash. I sort of missed having that extra cash; I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were concerning how you prefer to receive your tech week bumps, if you have options, and if your payroll system hinders or helps you to negotiate for future seasons?

169

Uploaded Forms / Re: Reports and minutes (Performance, Rehearsal, meetings)

« on: Jun 03, 2007, 06:28 pm »

This is what I use for my performance reports, in Word format. The running time table is an embedded Excel worksheet; I still use a stopwatch, as well. I usually round up or down, depending on where the act actually finishes. If the act runs, say, 59:30 or higher, I'll round it up to 1:00:00 since for management purposes, the extra :28 seconds aren't going to make much of a difference. If the act runs 59:30 or lower, I'll round down to 00:59:00, as per the example above. I still keep the exact running times, but the embedded calculator makes things easy. A time entered into the "ACT I DOWN" and "Intermission DOWN" boxes will automatically be entered into the appropriate corresponding boxes for "Intermission UP" and "ACT II UP." I have a three-act show calculator, as well; if anyone wants it, I'll be happy to send it along. Just send me a message.  The notes are numbered for easy reference, i.e. "As per performance report dated 3 June 07, note #5...blahblahblah...(something I learned from one of my mentors) and if you double click on the number corresponding to a note, a dialog box should pop up enabling you to change the number when you start a new report. I always start with Note #1 for the first performance report and carry on until we close. Sometimes, of course, this means I may be referencing Note #350 but, it makes it easy to find, if necessary.

170

Uploaded Forms / Run Sheets

« on: Jun 03, 2007, 06:02 pm »

Here's my example of a "run sheet" though I call them "shift plots." I usually annotate per each production's needs since my crew members are students who might not be familiar with backstage terminology. I have noticed the other thread entitled "Scene Shifts"...does anyone else consider these the same document? Or do some folks consider the extrapolated, individual crew tracks as "run sheets" and the composite a "shift sheet/plot"?

171

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Jun 02, 2007, 04:31 pm »

...in your first meeting, cover clothing and hygene expectations.

Mac, that's a great point; I will certainly cover that in my future introductory meetings, since I am getting a promotion to SM next season (I've been the calling ASM for the last two). Sometimes, it's easy to take for granted that which seems blatantly obvious.

What they're not understanding is the difference between peer acceptance and work acceptance.

centaura, you also bring up a good point. It's a difficult battle in the educational arena, sometimes, as TechGal echoes your sentiment. I also teach a class from which we cull our crew; I have outlined a very strict dress code in their syllabus. Of course, I get crew kids coming in with all manner of inside-out-t-shirts and jazz pants, but it frustrates me that there has to be some sort of punitive measure in place to urge professionalism from our students. This is obviously another thread so...[/rant]

TechGal, I agree that it's not a lack of mentors and I know this forum is full of intelligent, well-respected peers. I tried, in a most inarticulate manner, to express my general dismay at the lack of respect that some of today's students hold for anyone in a position of authority. Ack! I'm becoming my parents!!

172

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Stage Management Colleges

« on: May 31, 2007, 11:14 pm »

I recommend looking into the University of Iowa if you don't want to go far from home. It's a stellar program. A great mix of undergraduate and graduate students, plus the added bonus of creating new work, makes for a varied and comprehensive training program. Just make sure you choose a school that's right for you, no matter what anyone else says.

<Shameless Plug> I SMed the production of Angels featured on the splash page. It remains one of the best experiences of my life.

173

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Girl trying to get her start in the Rock'n'Roll industry

« on: May 31, 2007, 11:02 pm »

I spent five years at the venue (10,000 seats) in my hometown as a house production staff member, mostly an electrician. This was almost...well, a long time ago. We produced mostly concerts and sporting events and I made it a goal not to be "that girl." Mac and tempest are right...know your s*** and don't let anyone's scuff get you down. Be intelligent, aware and efficient. Don't be afraid to use your knowledge and exude confidence from every pore. (One of my secret dreams was to be a rock-n-roll LD; I got halfway there. In addition to SMing, I LD, but not for rock-n-roll.)

"Haul those trusses up and get 'em up those ramps..." Sigh...I sorta miss haulin' 4-aught through beer and discarded nachos...

174

Uploaded Forms / Re: Actor/Scene Breakdowns

« on: May 31, 2007, 10:36 pm »

Entrance and Exit chart for "Meet Me In St Louis," in Excel format.

Note: the symbol legend is in the footer of the document.  Symbols used are listed below, but obviously you could select your own.

< = entrance
> = exit
<> = entrance and exit on same page
OS = lines delivered offstage

I use similar symbols in my horizontal breakdowns, too, Didaskalos.

I've attached a small cast version of a French Scene Breakdown that I've employed on many small cast shows.

175

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: May 31, 2007, 09:07 pm »

Jessie: "Pull up your pants" can certainly let your offending PA know you disapprove of their apparel; I was wondering if other SMs ran into this problem with the frequency that I do. I work with a lot of students, most of whom think this is perfectly acceptable production attire; it freakin' boggles my mind that they think this is "professional looking." I know this should be another thread, but...whatever happened to leading by example? Not to say that I am the epitome, (far from it) but...I have to wonder: where have all the mentors gone?

176

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: May 29, 2007, 01:33 pm »

I agree with all the previous posters stating that comfort, ease of movement and gak sotrage options are essential to your wardrobe choices. If you're not comfortable in your clothing, you may unconsciously broadcast this unease in other ways. Cargos or jeans, a nice, fitted t-shirt (layered with long sleeves in winter) and clean Converse sneakers are my particular favorites. I find I can perform any task, anticipated or not, while in my most comfortable, functional attire.

I do NOT want to see your leopard print thong every time you sit down, so please tuck in your shirt or otherwise mind the gap back there.

   
If I had a dime...this seems to be a trend among quite a few PAs with whom I have worked. This may be another thread topic but does anyone have a polite but firm way of requesting of younger SMs and PAs that they "mind the gap"?

177

SMNetwork Archives / Re: The new SMnetwork

« on: Jun 20, 2006, 01:40 pm »

Wow! What a  great makeover! All the new bells and whistles are fab-oo! Congrats!

178

Students and Novice Stage Managers / You Can "Print" a PDF

« on: Jun 11, 2006, 10:26 pm »

If you have MSOffice/Word 2003, you can choose to print to .pdf and create a .pdf document that way, as well. Choose File and then choose Print. Look at your drop down list of installed printers, and there should be an option for "Adobe PDF." Just choose that and you'll have a handy dandy .pdf in no time.

179

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Criminy!

« on: Mar 25, 2006, 09:40 pm »

That complaint reads like a ABC afterschool special version of John Grisham's The Rainmaker.

180

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / The SM times are a-changin'?

« on: Mar 13, 2006, 12:47 pm »

A few questions for other students out there - I'd love to know how other universities work with SMs maintaining shows, particularly faculty-directed productions. What kind of authority do you have in terms of calling understudy rehearsals? If there is a consistency or discipline problem, does it need to go to the director first, or production management? Do acting faculty members get involved?

When I was in grad school, this was always a problem. As a graduate student working with faculty directors and designers, there was an expectation that the MFA SM act as a peer on the artistic/production team. It was difficult for many of the younger SMs, simply because of the lack of life experience, to negotiate the waters of professional peerdom while afloat in a dinghy on the Faculty Sea. The faculty and the SM committee encouraged autonomy in the SM, yet the leviathan of "studentism" was always lurking under the surface. Peer/student/peer/student...auugggggghhhh! Some students used this as a crutch, though, and played the student card when a misstep landed them in lukewarm water.

Often, the SMs were more familiar and on the same peer level as the MFA and undergrad actors, which created another, more sticky wicket, when it came to discipline and maintenance. Our runs were only two weeks, 10-15 shows, with the director almost ever present. I found that in rehearsals, it was benefical to take the broad stroke director notes, and pay close attention to notes sessions after rehearsals, picking out a few important beats and events for each character. I didn't really get to exercise much "artistic maintenance" but I could here and there give a note I felt sure was appropriate to the direction of the show. This has served me well in the professional world, and now I have the added insurance of a conversation with the director before he or she leaves. (On a side note, did anyone attend USITT in Toronto? Winston Morgan gave a great and all too brief session on note giving. I'd love to attend his full workshop.)

As for understudies? Ha! Don't make me laugh! Didn't have that luxury.