Messages

1846

Employment / Re: Two sided resume?

« on: Jan 09, 2008, 01:22 pm »

Here's a question along the lines of 1-2 page resumes. Would back and front printing be acceptable?  For example, I've got my resume down to one page with the exception of my references.  Could I put something like "see reverse side for references" at the bottom of the 1st page and then list them on the back?

I would say not to two sided. 

It's just harder to photo copy, and again not the standard.

1847

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Actors' agents and managers

« on: Jan 06, 2008, 11:08 am »

In my current production, when I want the said actor to show up, I call his agent, his agent calls the performer.

Don't assume any rules, contact the actor/agent/manager and ask how the performer wants to be contacted.

Often with stars, we call the manager/voice mail/whatever daily to give them the call directly, as opposed to calling the hotline.  We also, often, talk before they leave to discuss availability the next day before I set the call.

1848

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Grad Schools for SM... tuition stipend?

« on: Jan 05, 2008, 02:41 pm »

Check out University of Iowa . . . when I was applying, they made a big deal about graduating with NO debt.

At UC SD, you pay tuition your first year, and then the rest of the time it was paid for you.  Again, that is when I was a student.

1849

The Hardline / Re: Doing It Alone

« on: Jan 01, 2008, 11:57 pm »

It's funny - I used to do it all the time - work with without assistants.

Now, I don't think I could.  At least, not performer with the level of detail I am used to.

1850

The Hardline / Re: Cleaning the greenroom

« on: Jan 01, 2008, 11:50 pm »

I find this very interesting . . . I have worked with some young/green ASMs before, who, even at the Equity level, want to jump in and help during tech, and end up with a track to run during the show.

Again, this leads me to the concept of a SM revolution . . . what if all stage managers were only to work the maximum number of hours allowed on the contract, billed for overtime, and ONLY did what was allowed by their contract.

What would happen to American Theatre?

1851

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Props Question....

« on: Jan 01, 2008, 01:13 am »

Every theatre is going to divide things up differently - and it is ultimately the production manager's job to decide who will take care of things.  Production meetings are huge for this.

My typical pattern is EVERYTHING ends up on the prop list.
Props goes . . . that's costumes, that's scenic.
I follow up with costumes and/or scenic - and if the agree - then I document that.
If there is a conversation that needs to happen, then there's a production meeting agenda item.

Every theatre is different.

1852

The Hardline / Re: Cleaning the greenroom

« on: Jan 01, 2008, 01:10 am »

Ruth - I would mop it up.  God knows I have mopped it up, even when it was not clean.

But, that is who I am.

To be fare, I would also make sure the green room was clean - either with my staff or myself.

In the end, I'd do it because it needs to be done.

The big thing in stage management is knowing where to draw the lines.  As a group of people, stage managers, we are by nature VERY self-sacrificing.  We put in long hours, we come in early, we stay late, we often do it without billing for overtime.  It's part of our programming - I don't know if it comes from being a stage manager, or those with that programming are the ones called to Stage Management.  (It is a calling.)

But everyone has to figure out what they are willing to do ABOVE AND BEYOND the contract.  I don't think AEA Police would come sweeping in if you cleaned the green room.  But there is a valid point that for every stage manager who does do extra duties asked by management, makes it harder for the next stage manager down the line.

Ruth's example is an emergency situation - that's one thing.  But making it part of our daily job?   If Ruth was asked to deal with all plumbing issues at the theatre, it seems like that is really odd - and I am pretty sure Ruth would say no to that.

Now, there are issues with management for making it your responsibility - and that is for you to decide on if and how you will take a stand.  I am not sure how I would deal with it - as I work in a fairly large theatre, with a fairly large staff, half of them non-equity.  So adding little duties is pretty common to me.

NOW here's the real question, how did I get management to understand it's not an AEA ASM's job to move scenery backstage?

1853

The Hardline / Re: Fittings on a Straight-Six day

« on: Dec 31, 2007, 02:02 pm »

Yes, on an Occasional straight-six hour day (NOT A WEEK OF STRAIGHT SIXES) your costume fittings need to happen in those 6 hours.

If there is a vote for a week of straight sixes, and you are indeed scheduling a week of straight sixes, you can have 2 hours outside of those 36 hours for costume fittings.

1854

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: "Shadowing" Stage Managers?

« on: Dec 28, 2007, 01:47 pm »

It just comes across like filler - I have no experience working at your level, but I have watched other people do it. 

Why not list all the shows I have ever seen?

It may have it's place on an educational resume - when applying for internships or possible first job outside of school, but it should go away very quickly.


Posted on: December 28, 2007, 03:43:42 PMI just thought where this could go . . . in a C.V. - I can see it having a place there since CVS seem to go and on and on and on and on.

1855

The Hardline / Re: LORT rehearsal/performance hours question

« on: Dec 28, 2007, 09:21 am »

In situations like this, I often, officially, treat it like three shows.


Show A
Show B
and Show A/B

I usually ask someone in the Show A/B category to keep on eye on my and keep the honest.  I also ask the overlapping actors to just check in with me.  Sometimes even working the "rules" can be too much - so I try to to make sure those running back and forth and being taken care of. 

As far as hour tracking, those for Show A keep track of performance hours, those in Show B keep track of rehearsal hours.  Those in both shows keep an eye out for themselves.

1856

The Hardline / Re: LORT rehearsal/performance hours question

« on: Dec 27, 2007, 10:45 pm »

wait . . . .

they signed a new contract?  Are they being paid double?  If they are on two contracts, being paid double - then they can rehearse as much as you can schedule as long as each contract is being followed.

NOW . . . if they are ridered . . . and one contract it's complicated.  Then the actors in both shows are held to the following:

They can rehearse 5 hours a day (if they voted against the rehearsal on a two show day, they can be rehearsed 5.5 hours).  That is as long as the show is under a certain amount of time, if your show is over 3.5 hours (inlcuding half-hour) you start deducting 30 hour blocks.  If you are doing a show with a 5 hour show call (eee-gads), then you can only reherase 5-1.5 hours or 3.5 hours.

It will be hard to give a meal break during the rehearsal day and the meal break at the back end and still fall in with in the 12 hour turn around, 12 hour span of day - but I guess you could.  (remember they need a 2 hour break, unless they voted for the 1.5 hour break.)

Yes span of day is from first call to the curtain down at the other show.

The overlapping actors can only rehearse 20 hours per week.

Now, you can always do more, but remember that overtime must be paid.

Make sure there are no specific changes in a rider to the contract.

1857

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Preshow (turn off your cellphone) announcements

« on: Dec 26, 2007, 08:56 pm »

well, I have a cell phones ring in an actor's pocket while he was onstage.  which is difficult in classical, period theatre.

1858

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: "Shadowing" Stage Managers?

« on: Dec 26, 2007, 08:54 pm »

I am not sure how I would look at observations on the resume.  I think it would read as resume filler more then anything.

1859

Employment / Re: Resume Question

« on: Dec 19, 2007, 01:26 pm »

On a mac, you can print to pdf from word.

There are several freeware programs for the pc that can do the same.

1860

Employment / Re: Resume Question

« on: Dec 18, 2007, 01:00 am »

Be careful - not all people read cover letter first.

I look at the resume long before I read the cover letter.  If the resume doesn't have the level of productions I want, I am not going to read the cover letter.