Messages

181

The Green Room / Re: The Great SM Gift List

« on: Dec 06, 2014, 09:20 am »

I recently purchased a Limefuel LP200X battery pack.  and think this would make a great SM gift.  To give you an idea of how much juice this holds, 20,000 mAh will give you about 10 full charges on an iPhone 5, or nearly two full charges of an iPad air.  Great for those on tour, on the go, or heavy phone/device users.  And with 10 phone charges, you've got enough juice to share and be everyone's best friend.

Normally $85, but there's a deal going on to get it for $35, but it expires in three days.

182

The Green Room / Re: Peter Pan Live

« on: Dec 05, 2014, 01:03 pm »

How did I miss this???  Didn't even know it was on.   

183

December Madness 2 / Re: SOCIAL, Round 1: Facebook vs Yelp

« on: Dec 03, 2014, 05:08 pm »

Hmm, I don't really use either one (though I'm growing steadily convinced I'm going to have to join FB for networking purposes, and in film there are things I can't learn about any other way than with FB). Actually, my social media network of choice is Twitter, which is great for learning about new theatre opps (and even getting free tickets sometimes).

I'm not sure I agree that you need to join FB for networking purposes.  I'm actually quite jealous you've held out this long. 

Granted, I'm no longer in live theatre, but I have two distinct categories of social media profile - Personal and Professional.  And, as the line from Ghostbuster goes, don't cross the streams.  My LinkedIn and Twitter are for professional purposes.  LinkedIn for networking, Twitter for discussing, engaging, discovering.  Facebook is 100% social, I don't do anything professional on there.  If I deleted my Facebook my professional networking would not take a hit.

184

December Madness 2 / Re: SOCIAL, Round 1: Facebook vs Yelp

« on: Dec 01, 2014, 07:39 pm »

Facebook will probably win this one, but I voted for Yelp based on the fact that I struggle to find a productive use for Facebook in the professional world.

Yelp, on the other hand, is incredibly useful for its purpose.

185

December Madness 2 / Re: December Madness 2: Digital Boogaloo (Starts 12/1/2014!)

« on: Nov 25, 2014, 10:18 am »

The "Software" division is going to be brutally competitive!  A lot of great tools in there. 

186

The Green Room / Sean Avery...

« on: Nov 06, 2014, 09:38 am »

So, this happened.

A former athlete and lifetime hot mess with no training or experience can't cut it on stage?  I'm shocked, I tell you.  Just shocked.

187

Employment / Re: Social media links on website

« on: Oct 27, 2014, 12:40 pm »

If you are going use social media, make sure the accounts are used in ways that contribute to discussions or engage people in a positive way.  Also, make sure they are active.  If you have your Twitter account linked and your last tweet is 13 months ago, what's the point? 

In addition to LinkedIn, I recently re-purposed my Twitter account from a personal (read: inactive!) account to something I'm using for professional reasons.  It involved deleting most of my old tweets, changing my profile description, picture, etc... 

188

Tools of the Trade / Re: protecting mics

« on: Oct 17, 2014, 08:22 pm »

What's the pie substance?  If it's something soft / whipped-creamy and not liquid, how about using windscreens on the mics?  They'll be available from the manufacturer and will provide a small element of protection, at least - probably enough to protect from errant blocking since you've indicated the mic-side of the face will be away from the pie. 

Mics work by sound pressure waves impacting the diaphragm - if you put a material over the mic that prevents any air from getting through to the diaphragm you'll change the way the mic receives the acoustic energy.  Normally it's direct from the user's mouth.  If you add a hard barrier, e.g. plastic, the pressure waves will hit the plastic, then the plastic will transfer a certain amount of that energy on through to the mic's diaphragm.  If the covering is even a bit loose you'll lose a significant frequency set on the high end as a loose covering will absorb more as opposed to passing it through.

That's in a vacuum though and also assuming the high end isn't getting cut out by a bad EQ, insufficient loudspeaker coverage, or an operator with an ear for the low-end (common in inexperienced operators).  If you're in doubt the plastic wrap will definitely protect the diaphragm, but in my opinion you'll be sacrificing more performance than is necessary.

189

Employment / Re: Production Assistants Needed

« on: Sep 29, 2014, 08:11 pm »

What is the focus of the mentoring?  Is the internship targeted towards students?

If so, is there a structured set of objectives intended to provide supplemental experience to that obtained in a classroom setting?  What type of feedback will be provided to the student's professors or advisors? 

IMO it's important to distinguish between a structured, thought out educational experience versus an experience primarily targetting free labor under the guise of an internship.

190

Stage Management: Other / Re: DANCE:teaching dancers how to move set

« on: Sep 26, 2014, 01:21 pm »

Treat it like choreography, not like a scene shift.  Can you give them numbers from center for each shift in addition to the spike marks? 

191

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Professional Prompt Book for Audition

« on: Sep 16, 2014, 09:54 pm »

There is a search function at the top of the page that will go a long way to answering your questions!   

192

Tools of the Trade / Re: Cheap Spike Tape?

« on: Sep 15, 2014, 01:33 pm »

I think you'll have a difficult time finding quality cloth tape under $6 a roll.  That really is not very expensive.  Budget constraints can be painful, but quality equipment and materials do cost money.

193

Employment / Re: "...interviewing locals only..."?!

« on: Sep 10, 2014, 09:42 pm »

To add on to Matthew's post in  - if you feel it's a "locals only" situation, in addition to omitting your address you can always get a free phone number from Google Voice of the local area code in the city you're trying to work.  This tactic could be seen as a bit underhanded by some employers, but it wouldn't be difficult to put a positive spin on it and sell it as a demonstration of just how serious you are about relocating.

Though what if that employer asked you to come in for an in-person interview? What would you say?

"Let me start by saying thank you for the interest; being considered for the position at your company is extremely flattering.  Now that we're able to have a discussion outside the confines of my resume I should clarify that I'm in the process of relocating to X from Y.  I'm several steps into the process and expecting to be settled by Z date.  In addition to A, B and C a fourth step I've taken for the move is acquiring a local phone number, though please pardon any confusion on my current location.  Until I'm settled I'm available immediately for a phone or skype interview, however if an in person interview is preferred I will make myself available in person.  Thanks again for your interest and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to interview with your company."

Now - for that to work you've actually got to be seriously willing to relocate pretty quickly, and willing to get to an in person interview if they ask for it.  It's a little bit underhanded, sure, but it's not a lie (so long as you never say you actually ARE local).  The job market is competitive, take any [ethical] edge you can get.

194

Employment / Re: "...interviewing locals only..."?!

« on: Sep 10, 2014, 08:39 am »

To add on to Matthew's post in  - if you feel it's a "locals only" situation, in addition to omitting your address you can always get a free phone number from Google Voice of the local area code in the city you're trying to work.  This tactic could be seen as a bit underhanded by some employers, but it wouldn't be difficult to put a positive spin on it and sell it as a demonstration of just how serious you are about relocating.

195

The Green Room / Re: The Next Great Adventure

« on: Sep 09, 2014, 02:05 pm »

That is a pretty interesting thought, very opportunistic.  It leads me to wonder how much other SM paperwork could practically be farmed out and done remotely.  You may be on to something!