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« on: Aug 11, 2012, 10:36 pm »
Sorry for your troubles besieged.
Be proactive while working on your calls. If the sound op jumps your G-O, ask them what will help them not do that. Maybe it means changing the way you signal them. Maybe they just have an itchy trigger and nothing can ever be done about it. That show back in November where I had been asking the forum about what to call my projections cues had 3 really inexperienced board ops and I had conversations with all of them when we had cuing issues. Sometimes it was as simple as they couldn't hear me over a sound cue, "ok man, eyes on me, and I'll cue you visually." some cases they couldn't hear the department call in a huge standby sequence. "I'll switch the order and put you first so it won't get lost." flexibility is thy friend.
I have encountered directors like this in the past. The worst thing to do is accept numerous small mistakes as ok. to them, this is akin to killing their work. They'd just prefer you not do it wrong in the first place. They of course forget that youve only had two cracks at this sequence vs the month and a half of rehearsal hes had with th cast. But just like any actor, you have to take the note. If they didn't like your call, start a conversation with them as to what they want different. The worst thing you can do is fight them on it or give an excuse. I'm sure you've seen an actor fight their note before and how annoyed directors get at that. What you can request during a conversation with the director (like bayareasm is talking about) is say something to the effect of "slamming your fists and huffing and puffing won't make the cue that just passed go any differently and it's distracting when you do that. If you take notes, we can talk them through after."
don't pass blame to others. You can only control yourself and your actions. Don't dwell on the blown call, focus on the tomorrow. In your notes session afterwards, Seek clarity from the director as to what about the sequence needs to change. He may come to find its actually an acting note not a stage manager note.
As for the LD: you'll never get them to stop making changes on the board until the show is open and frozen. The only thing you can do is talk it out with them. Before your next run, say you want to walk through their book and yours to keep everything up to date. If there's a discrepancy, you can catch it here vs a run.
So the overall key: Communication. As long as you keep it open and flowing, you should have an easier time. If he's not receptive to it, then it's his own fault and there's nothing you can do except breathe and remain as calm as possible.
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