166
Tools of the Trade / Re: Fake Braces
« on: Aug 22, 2010, 08:19 pm »
Thanks for the input everyone!
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167
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: HOUSE MANAGEMENT: Do you spill the beans about your famous audience members?
« on: Aug 21, 2010, 03:19 pm »
I don't feel it necessary to inform the cast about any possible "famous" audience members. I'll relay a message from a family member or friend, but that's usually it.
I don't ever discuss who is in the audience, not before, during, or after the performance. Yes, there are actors who don't want to know, but it's mostly because I don't care. I am not the least bit celebrity-struck, am unfamiliar with most pop-culture icons, and know that theatre people, even prominent ones, are just people like me. All of these folk should be able to come to the theatre, enjoy it like any other audience member, and go home without being disturbed, if that's what they desire. (Plus, I don't recognize anyone, pretty much no matter how famous, unless someone else point them out to me.)Agreed. I tend to answer most "famous person" references with "Hm?"
168
Tools of the Trade / Fake Braces
« on: Aug 21, 2010, 01:33 am »
An upcoming production requires a cast member to be wearing braces. I am wondering if anyone has any first-hand experience with fake braces. I am aware of options online, but I'd like some opinion first. Were they easy to use? Price? Did you use something pre-constructed or made of a paper clip? Any safety issues? Any sanitation issues?
Thanks!
-Max
Thanks!
-Max
169
The Green Room / Re: Funny definitions
« on: Aug 18, 2010, 09:23 pm »
Zombie Audience: A group of individuals attending a performance that seem to be alive (small lazy movements/strange noises) but show no indications of life otherwise.
Zombie Mode: When upon the completion of a performance or performing basic theatre tasks, one suddenly realizes they cannot remember the elapsed time. Often caused by excessive repetition or exhaustion.
I am definitely guilty of AAO. I was debating enrolling in an Awkward Accessory Overload Anonymous class, but then I had a dream about MacGyver being disappointed in me, so I opted not to.
Zombie Mode: When upon the completion of a performance or performing basic theatre tasks, one suddenly realizes they cannot remember the elapsed time. Often caused by excessive repetition or exhaustion.
I am definitely guilty of AAO. I was debating enrolling in an Awkward Accessory Overload Anonymous class, but then I had a dream about MacGyver being disappointed in me, so I opted not to.
170
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CAST: Practical jokes on final performance?
« on: Aug 17, 2010, 11:22 pm »I don't know if it's the same in the US/On Broadway, but in the West End over here most shows add practical jokes, either to the final performance or a 'Muck-Up Matinee'. The sheer number of Avid Musical Fans/Stage Door-ers who come and see a show 4 or 5 times for a cast often come to the last performance purely to see the practical jokes, and say goodbye to the cast in their own way. As an example, when the cast of Wicked last changed (back in May this year), the writing on Dr. Dillamond's blackboard was changed from 'Animals should be seen and not heard' to 'Oh Shiz!'. As fair as I know, no one complained, and it generated huge laughter from the audience.
2p
Wow I really need to see one of these...
171
The Green Room / Re: Why is it that...
« on: Aug 17, 2010, 12:19 pm »
Why is it that I take a day off and end of more tired and/or sicker than when I was working for 3 weeks in a row...
172
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: Watching 100% of the show.
« on: Aug 17, 2010, 12:15 pm »Again, just underlines an area of stage management that is often just talked about in universities settings but rarely experienced.
Agreed. In college, even though it was required to take directing, I never realized its important in stage management until I experienced it for myself. I find most of the notes I take during a show are directing related now.
About watching the show: I find it difficult to watch 100%, not only because I'm focused on cues part of the time, but because in my venue, I do other work during the show - crew & house management specifically for this show.
173
The Green Room / Re: "Seasoned" - yikes
« on: Aug 05, 2010, 10:17 am »I suppose they could have called you bland, naive, green or unpracticed. Given the option, I'd prefer to be lightly seasoned.
Much rather be season than undercooked...
174
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Cake
« on: Aug 03, 2010, 03:12 pm »
If you could find foam in a white/off-white color that resembles actual cake, you could frost with foamy shaving cream - we used Gillette. We've used it for pies and bowls of whipped cream in plays before in the round, so it does stand up to audience scrutiny. Although baking does seem like a tastier way of doing things...
175
The Green Room / Re: What's on your screen?
« on: Jul 28, 2010, 02:07 pm »
Love The Big Bang Theory when I can catch it.
If I ever get a chance for TV:
Mythbusters
Eureka
Stargate (movies, SG1, Atlantis, or Universe)
Daily Show
Colbert Report
Supernatural (I just catch it every once in a while and get pulled in)
Any made-for-TV-scifi-flick on the syfy channel.
Metalocalypse, Robot Chicken, and the occasional Anime on Adult Swim.
To add: any movies that are out/coming out that people are dying to see?
Personally, I cannot wait for the next group of DC Comics movies and Tron.
If I ever get a chance for TV:
Mythbusters
Eureka
Stargate (movies, SG1, Atlantis, or Universe)
Daily Show
Colbert Report
Supernatural (I just catch it every once in a while and get pulled in)
Any made-for-TV-scifi-flick on the syfy channel.
Metalocalypse, Robot Chicken, and the occasional Anime on Adult Swim.
To add: any movies that are out/coming out that people are dying to see?
Personally, I cannot wait for the next group of DC Comics movies and Tron.
176
The Green Room / Re: What did you learn today?
« on: Jul 21, 2010, 08:51 am »
I learned about an obscure baseball rule thanks to the Dodgers/Giants game:
8.06: "A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher's automatic removal from the game. ... A manager or coach is considered to have concluded his visit to the mound when he leaves the 18-foot circle surrounding the pitcher's rubber."
8.06: "A second trip to the same pitcher in the same inning will cause this pitcher's automatic removal from the game. ... A manager or coach is considered to have concluded his visit to the mound when he leaves the 18-foot circle surrounding the pitcher's rubber."
177
The Green Room / Re: Being friends with other stage managers
« on: Jul 18, 2010, 11:51 pm »
I really don't have many stage manager friends anymore 
i Did in college however. The tough part was not working together, since we all had similar styles and were being taught in the same manner, it was when someone was openly favored in front of another SM. Then it was awkward. Example: I had a former employee today say I was the best SM they had worked with, within earshot of their current SM. I like a little thanks like everyone else, but I felt bad it had to be at their expense!
Many of my close theatre friends are multifaceted people, working as actors, SMs, AD's, crew, etc...so if SMing comes up, we can talk openly about it without worrying if someone is going to have their feelings hurt, since the conversation is likely to change quick anyway. I also have a lot of friends outside theatre.
i Did in college however. The tough part was not working together, since we all had similar styles and were being taught in the same manner, it was when someone was openly favored in front of another SM. Then it was awkward. Example: I had a former employee today say I was the best SM they had worked with, within earshot of their current SM. I like a little thanks like everyone else, but I felt bad it had to be at their expense!Many of my close theatre friends are multifaceted people, working as actors, SMs, AD's, crew, etc...so if SMing comes up, we can talk openly about it without worrying if someone is going to have their feelings hurt, since the conversation is likely to change quick anyway. I also have a lot of friends outside theatre.
178
The Green Room / Re: Thread to vent about / Actors behaving badly / As haiku only
« on: Jul 12, 2010, 11:20 pm »
please do not email
ideas of how it should end
unprofessional
just cause you're on break
does not mean go for bike ride
holy crap, really?!
ideas of how it should end
unprofessional
just cause you're on break
does not mean go for bike ride
holy crap, really?!
179
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: The Seafarer- SM trying to figure out some card tricks
« on: Jul 03, 2010, 02:22 pm »
Are the actors wearing long sleeves? I would just deal 5 cards as normal and have the actors switch those 5 cards them mid-card game. Then there's no complicated deck stacking or hiding an entire deck.
180
The Green Room / Re: COLLEGE GENERAL DISCUSSION: Is the traditional four year college worth it now?
« on: Jun 27, 2010, 01:49 am »
First off, excellent topic.
Second, my response to the question posed:
Now onto a stickier question:
Some aspects of theatre do require a degree - but if you were presented with a candidate with more than adequate experience and no degree, would you hire them?
Stepping outside the theatre box for a moment...my decision to go to college was one I would definitely make over and over again. It was a place where I learned and developed as a human being. I lived off campus for 3 years and had my own finances so I could save my parents money (the too high cost of education). I put myself out there, met people, developed my personality, enhanced my alcohol tolerance...
To conclude (cause I could talk about this for days), I would gladly go to college all over again knowing what kind of debt I have placed myself in. It was an experience that landed me a job right out of college, left me well-rounded, gave me numerous friends and connections, as well as helped me grow.
Second, my response to the question posed:
Given, the current economic crisis and the sky rocketing cost of a college education, is it a smart move to get a traditional four year degree from an university?Currently, no. I do not believe a college education in certain fields is worth the burden. Theatre, depending on your work ethic, talent and sheer luck can be one of these fields. I work with some individuals who swear by their decision not to go to college, but instead to get yourself out there and work hard.
Now onto a stickier question:
Some aspects of theatre do require a degree - but if you were presented with a candidate with more than adequate experience and no degree, would you hire them?
Stepping outside the theatre box for a moment...my decision to go to college was one I would definitely make over and over again. It was a place where I learned and developed as a human being. I lived off campus for 3 years and had my own finances so I could save my parents money (the too high cost of education). I put myself out there, met people, developed my personality, enhanced my alcohol tolerance...
To conclude (cause I could talk about this for days), I would gladly go to college all over again knowing what kind of debt I have placed myself in. It was an experience that landed me a job right out of college, left me well-rounded, gave me numerous friends and connections, as well as helped me grow.