Messages

1861

Employment / Re: From the other side of the resume (low key rant - personal advice)

« on: Dec 15, 2007, 07:33 am »

I would strongly discourage 2-page resumes earlier in you career.  You should find out the typical sm format and stick to that – and this coming from someone who has a 2-page resume – but I have 20 years experience in the business.  (20 years, god I am old). 

Again, I think people need to be really careful from deviate form a normal resume format.

1862

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Study Abroad

« on: Dec 14, 2007, 12:30 pm »

I remember an Italian small opera theatre doing a student SM internship.

I can't for the life of me remember the name - but it was not a large Italian City.

1863

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Production stage managing

« on: Dec 10, 2007, 01:53 am »

Production Stage Manager, Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager are terms used to described different members of the team - what the team members are assigned to due, is up to the team.

At my theatre, as PSM, I over see a show with ASM, Production Assistant (read that as a non-equity ASM) and a Stage Management Intern - on a typical show.  But on the reps I am currently working on, I was PSM, over 2 equity SMs, 2 Production Assistant and 2 SM Interns. 

I think your director has very specifics wants and/or needs for you as PSM, and you should sit down and ask what he expects.  As PSM you may just be asked to oversee the entire production, ala a production manager, or he may expect you to be the lead SM.  There are all different sorts of break downs - especially what production level you model yourself off.

1864

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

« on: Dec 02, 2007, 07:13 pm »

The big note I would give in shadowing is don't use is a backdoor to get an interview or drop off a resume - it's okay after the observation to send a thank you and a resume, but don't spend the show trying to get a job.  That's annoying.

1865

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

« on: Dec 01, 2007, 12:38 pm »

I offer this to pretty much anyone who asks me during performances.  I think it is very important for young stage managers to drop in and see how professional stage managers work, and get a sense of what the life is like. 

I had a chance in grad school to apply for a travel grant, and ended up going to NYC for 8 days and shadowing on 12 Broadway shows - which really me get a realistic view of that level of work.  I also got to go vegas for shadow on two Cirque shows and a maybe 5 other shows on the strip (I can't remember what I saw to be honest, is was a nice mix of old vegas, new vegas, and headliner - and I Chicago was playing, I remember shadowing on that.

It helped me personally get a sense of these shows and the difference between stage managing shows in school, in regional theatre with big commercial productions like New York and Las Vegas - and actually gave me tremendous focus to my career.

1866

The Hardline / AEA as PA

« on: Nov 24, 2007, 12:42 pm »

I am trying to wrap my head around this. 

I have recently received someone applying for a PA position that already has their AEA card.  I know that a lot of young SMs in NYC, will PA on shows and it's fine.  But for some reason, I can not wrap my head around this at the LORT level. 

Does anyone have any insight into this?  Have you done this before?  Does it work or not work?  (I am not just talking about the rules, but also just the psychology of the situation?)  I think someone just needs me to help get past my own personal hangups about this.

1867

Students and Novice Stage Managers / KC Scholarship Fund Application

« on: Nov 24, 2007, 10:51 am »

The KC Mehl Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established in memory of Stage Manager KC Mehl who died on March 19, 2005 at the age of 21.  Before her death, KC had begun a promising career as a Stage Manager in Philadelphia’s theatrical community. She had fostered mentor relationships with several experienced Stage Managers in order to learn the delicate art of Stage Management.  Although she was not yet an official member of the Stage Managers’ Association, she was active with Philadelphia’s SMA events and showed a commitment to the ideals of the SMA. This Scholarship is meant to encourage such attributes in others.

This fund would provide a one-time gift to young Stage Managers to cover the initiation fee and the membership fee of a one year Associate Membership in the SMA. Any person who demonstrates an intent to pursue a career as a professional Stage Manager is eligible for Associate Membership. An Associate Member may attend all meetings and gatherings, and serve on committees, but has no voting privileges. 
 
Stage Managers who are 19 – 22 years of age should send their Stage Management resume, one letter of recommendation from a professional Stage Manager* and a letter of commitment to a career in Stage Management to David Coffman at davidlcoffman@gmail.com.
Documents should be sent in a format that is PC compatible.
Please put [SMA] KC Scholarship Fund in the subject line. 
Application deadline for 2008 is Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 11:59pm
*Individuals who have not worked with a professional stage manager may submit a letter from an established theatre professional with whom they have worked, be it a professor, director, actor, or designer.

Stage Managers who are 23 – 26 years of age should send their Stage Management resume, one letter of recommendation from a current Member of SMA and a letter of commitment to a career in Stage Management to Jeremy Ward at nyartist1978@yahoo.com.
Documents should be sent in a format that is PC compatible.
Please put [SMA] KC Scholarship Fund in the subject line. 
Application deadline for 2008 is Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 11:59pm

There will be three Scholarship Recipients each year: one from the Eastern Region, one from the Central Region and one from the Western Region of the United States.
2007 Scholarship Recipients will be named in January 2007.


The Application process for 2009 will be in November 2008 and Recipients will be named in January 2009.

1868

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: MFA?

« on: Nov 14, 2007, 03:13 pm »

There have been other threads about this before.

The MFA is not a make or break in this business, but it's really about are your marketable in the market you want to be.

You are a business of one person, and you need to be as prepared to enter this workforce and compete with everyone else in the marketplace for jobs.  If you feel you can do that without further education, then go for it.  Why waste the time and the money?  There are positions out there, mostly attached to the education facilities, where it will be tremendously easier for you to work if you have the MFA.

If you have any specific questions, show me an IM.  I am a grad school graduate, and I can go on and on about the pros and cons, but it comes down to a personal choice. 

1869

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Reports during technicals

« on: Nov 12, 2007, 08:59 pm »

I think this comes down to what the purpose of your reports are.

If someone does get injured, at my theatre, they fill out an accident report.  (and plus, everyone was in the theatre. That is the official way to note an injury.   Having been through the entire someone was injured thing going to court, I try very hard not to have multiple documents reporting the same incident.   (If an accident report happened in a normal rehearsal or performance, I state someone was injured - a brief description - and then note that an accident report has been filled out.  I have learned from past experience - I try not to have too much information on a report - due to privacy issues and the number of people who receive a production report.  Also, if there is some conflict in two reports, that is a problem in a legal situation.

I think this totally depends on the situation you are working on.  If I handed a report to the designer the next day, after they sat through tech, then tech notes, I think they would be a little pissed.  (Trust me, just asking about something after tech notes, a side meeting, and a director talking to them - is enough to send them over the edge.)

BUT, I can see that there is a situation where Stage Management is the most senior person responsible for the show and you are going to want to document everything that was given in notes.   If I anticipated an issue that may need to be documented, then I would start some sort of paper trails.

Unfortunately, there are times when you are working on a show that is just too large to be apart of every discussion after tech notes.  For example, on my recent shows, stage management was in at 10:00a, teched from 12:00n - 12:00p - during dinner there was a 2 hour blood meeting, tech notes went to 1:00a, and then there was three different side meetings - not all of which I could attend, if I wanted to get the call done before 2:00a, and be back the next day at 10:00a.

Now, doing a short report that states this was our hours, this is what happened, this is what we covered, and then listing anything special that may have happened - with the note that tech notes were given directly may not be such a bad idea, but I am not sure I would do my full production report style.  (Nor have I ever had a production manager ask,need,  or expect a report during tech.)

It really depends on your situation and your style - remember stage management is an art and it comes down to the style that works best for you at the level you are working at.

1870

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Reports during technicals

« on: Nov 12, 2007, 05:25 pm »

I never do a report during tech.  Because after 14 hours, I am not spending anymore time in the theatre.

Since Production Management and all departments are present, it really would be a waste of time.

1871

Employment / Re: SM Portfolio?

« on: Oct 28, 2007, 07:20 pm »

For professional jobs, all they are ever going to ask you for is your resume and an interview.  Maybe for internships or entry level jobs, or possibly applying for school, they may ask to see a copy of a production book or sample paper work.

Your teacher is right, everyone is going to assume you know the basics.  But pictures?  I am not sure why.  I didn't design it.  A simple set show could be very, very complicated. 

1872

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Snappy SM

« on: Oct 19, 2007, 01:37 pm »

We are forgetting . . . there are someone people who deserved to be snapped at.

There are.

We are assuming that all people are pleasent, talented, well suited for their job, etc, and all working towards the final goal of opening a good, safe, artistic show.

That's not always the case.

1873

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Tech or Church?

« on: Oct 18, 2007, 11:59 am »

I think the request is 100% reasonable, the timing of the reqyest is the issue.

When he receieved the tech schedule, he should have discussed his issues with the production manager that any Sunday rehearsals before noon are impossible.

Theater is a job; religion is something bigger then that for most peple.

1874

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Snappy SM

« on: Oct 18, 2007, 11:56 am »

Can I side with the SM for a moment?

Someone should have told the SM before starting the rehearsal (the ASM, TD or Production Manager).  What you don't know is the SM is notes may have been discussing traffic patterns for that an hour, and that's what they are coming out to work - if he knew everything was going to have to change, it would have been nice to know an hour before hand that things were going to change.  (I am give an example of what could be going through the SM's mind - not just because this SM could be a friend of mine, but I know that I am going into day 3 of 15 day tech process and I am going to get snappy - but I use my snaps, hopefully in a more positive manner.)

1875

Employment / Re: University/drama school Vs. real world experience

« on: Oct 18, 2007, 11:49 am »

The key to me is college AND expereience.

College is a time to learn about yourself, learn a lot of life skills - it's not just job preperation.  It helps you become a more well rounded person, and that will help you be a better stage manager.