Messages

196

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Balloon Management

« on: Jul 14, 2014, 09:25 am »

For those who, like me, needed aid with the "teeny weeny font" - here is their solution (since this is not a contest, not sure why it wasn't in a read-able font initially)

The main problem we identified is that the balloons needed to be stowed somewhere, or else they were blowing all over the place. We also found that a domestic trash container could only handle 6-9 balloons (depending upon how inflated they were) without forcing them in and risking blowouts. 6-9 actually isn't very many -- and means we have a dozen big cumbersome containers littering the backstage halls.

Our eventual solution was to raid the costume storage for extra-extra-extra-large laundry bags, with drawstrings instead of zippers. These could handle 12-15 balloons (by stretching to accommodate all the bulges), and were also much easier to transport than trash bins: after they were inflated, we sorted them into laundry bags and stationed them by the appropriate entrances just in time for "BALLOONS GO. BALLOONS GO. BALLOONS GO."

No torrents of balloons blowing through the halls; no trash bins getting knocked over mid-show; nothing popped or broken. Worked very well!

And - to avoid things like popping or getting loose, esp accidentally running into any offstage booms in wings, I might have suggested using something that wasn't a balloon but looked like one, a light, fire-safe prop construct that could live offstage on sticks

197

Tools of the Trade / Re: Scheduling Software

« on: Jul 12, 2014, 06:55 pm »

(see, this is why I need to take some classes in computer programs - this is what I was thinking when I posted a suggestion, but with all wrong lingo and without the ability to put the concept on paper).

198

The Green Room / Re: SM Over The Head

« on: Jul 12, 2014, 06:34 pm »

Again, everything on this show was exasperated by too small of a theater (too young of a thetaer) trying to do something too large.

That's the key, I think - producing over their abilities. But in this case, similar to some situations I've experienced, I'd have moved the SM to the deck "because he knows the show better than anyone else" and moved someone with more tech experience into the booth. You can often call a show without knowing it intimately, but less so a deck.

Guessing there was no AEA ASM? In which case, well, less experience with high tech shows translates to either more dry tech time, or a different SM, unless they catch on quickly. But good on them for keeping him thru the various incarnations, because normally that person is left in the dust, bitter and muttering about fairness and opportunity.

199

Tools of the Trade / Re: Scheduling Software

« on: Jul 11, 2014, 01:49 am »

so, sort of an "if/then" program

I wonder if you could just do an excel spreadsheet where name, payroll and costume fields were tied so when you selected for the night's group it would generate a nightly master list that serves multiple functions

200

Tools of the Trade / Re: Scheduling Software

« on: Jul 10, 2014, 02:22 pm »

Is this the non-pro choir that's been under discussion for low these many months?

If I understand the situation correctly, I wouldn't worry about scheduling software, but treat it like a pick-up orchestra and deal thru the MD/choir director to make sure the compliment is full nightly. I might even use one of the PAs or other folks to be a choir wrangler.

Of course, getting to know a little abt these folks is a good thing, which will be your wrangler's job to report to you, since knowing who is responsible and who has to be found will help immeasurably.

And - good luck! (well, break legs)

201

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Taking Show at the Last Minute

« on: Jul 08, 2014, 10:16 am »

Remember to breathe.

Be early. Walk thru w the SM. Get paperwork, script and anything else you can ahead of time. Bring a note pad and take copious notes for yourself (drawings work well - and much better than photos, cuz by drawing.writing stuff in, like handwritten notes, it locks into your brain and you can label w language that will make sense later).

Hopefully the ASM has written SOMETHING down. Unless you are replacing someone for incompetence, see if you can chat w the current ASM for any QC/handoff or special care/feeding issues.

Dress is when everyone is still figuring stuff out, so no need to panic.

And breathe.

202

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament IV: Trivia's Revenge!!

« on: Jul 07, 2014, 02:40 am »

Can I just report how frustrating it is that my computer has decided to freeze at random times and for random amounts of time? And that sometimes while the eternal circle is eternally circling, my computer decides I have clicked on a random answer (or none at all). ARGH!!! Gotta find out what's wrong and get it fixed!

203

The Hardline / Re: AEA Meal Break Query

« on: Jul 04, 2014, 01:29 pm »

What Ruth said. My understanding is that, like the 6-hr day, the vote allows the option but does not dictate it.

204

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Outdoor Theatre

« on: Jun 28, 2014, 03:14 am »

have you done a search? there have been at least two discussions on this topic -

205

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Rehearsal Room 101

« on: Jun 27, 2014, 07:40 pm »

Bring something quiet, like a video game (w sound off) or a book for when you're not being used on stage. Better yet, use the time to learn your lines/music. 

Always tell the SM or ASM if you need to you leave the room for any reason. Always.

You will get breaks. Please stay present until then, and please use the breaks when they are called. They will vary in length, but please honor the time allotted, whether it's 5 minutes, 10 minutes or an hour.

Be on time. In theater, that means at least 5 minutes before your call. And expect to stay til the end of your called time.

Do not bring cameras into the room. You will also not be allowed to use your phone's camera function. If, on a break (and only on a break), you get give specific permissions from people whose photos you wish, you may take their picture, but if they say no or are not asked, photos are not allowed.

Bring a sense of humor and patience to this process. Things take time, lots of time, to put together. Think of it like a theme park ride, that long wait in line rewards you with a few moments of sheer delight.

Notes only come from the director, musical director or stage manager. No one else should tell anyone what to do. If you have an idea or a concern, take it to your stage manager or director and let them deal with it. And when you are given a note, don't argue, just say thank you. Just that - thank you. And nothing else. If you need clarifying or to understand how to accomplish it, grab the director after notes or tell the SM, and they will help you.

DO NOT move/touch/play with props or costumes or set pieces. Especially if they are not yours. You will be responsible for replacing any broken/torn props or costumes if that happens when they are not in play.

(I am sure there's more - this is just off the top of my head)

 

206

Introductions / Re: Glad to meet you!

« on: Jun 26, 2014, 10:30 pm »

yes, we can take this off the main board - but we always had lots of student groups, from Penn Players to Mask & Wig and PennSingers along with dozens of others - just nothing was official and graded, all extra curricular.

However, I was there when Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig were on campus, along with a bunch of other folks now in production - and when Bernie Gerstein worked for Joe Papp as a stage manager, Hal Prince came down to dedicate his theater space, all the artists came to dinner as part of their deal with the theater, and people like Twyla Tharp and Jerzy Gratowski did a workshop in the lobby. It was quite a time.

207

Introductions / Re: Glad to meet you!

« on: Jun 26, 2014, 09:57 pm »

It's amazing to me that you are a Penn SM, because we had none when I was there (in the dinosaur days, of course) - but I am fascinated to learn there is a real theater program now! I look forward to meeting you when i come back to visit my sister and her family -

208

The Green Room / Re: NYT interview w Pippin PSM

« on: Jun 23, 2014, 12:21 am »

Thanks Ruth - just got back to the computer and was about to look up the Kentucky Nurses decisions - and yes, it included qualifying for union membership and union negotiated benefits. Thanks for saving me some work!

BTW (off topic) we are hoping to talk TCG into having a stage management segment with the next conference. Even tho it took a little initial prompting (from me and from the two other SMs present), it was really really great to hear all those producers/directors/designers/playwrights vociferously acknowledge the vital role of the stage manager as a vital part of the creative team and the key link between the creative and technical sides of things.

209

The Green Room / Re: NYT interview w Pippin PSM

« on: Jun 22, 2014, 09:33 pm »

There were a series of lawsuits about nurses as employees versus managers that came to AEA as a discussion about the role of stage managers, and whether we were, indeed, to be classified as managers or as employees for things like OT and deductions. I will find the info and post - just got back from TCG and I need a minute to unpack and locate things. 

210

The Green Room / NYT interview w Pippin PSM

« on: Jun 22, 2014, 11:29 am »

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/22/business/corner-office-for-michael-passaro-all-the-working-world-is-a-stage.html?_r=1

Interesting that the series says it is interviews with top executives. So I guess a PSM is a top exec? And I wonder if he himself used the term manager or if the article was edite to call it management rather than stage management - that slippery slope we are trying to avoid.

Nice to see this recognition. And so cool for this PSM!