Messages

211

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Sketchup

« on: Jan 05, 2010, 12:30 am »

It's a great program!  We use it quite frequently at my theatre.  The designer usually sends me a 3D model and I can navigate around the image, to get different perspectives. I can even take jpeg images of those perspectives to distribute to others (if need be). Our lighting designer can take a jpeg of the top view of the set and lay a grid and lights over it (we are in the round so it's quite helpful).

If you have someone who is particularly proficient with the program, they can:
-Download furniture and people to place in the set and move around
-Give different surfaces textures and finished looks
-Take virtual tours of a finished set

All in all, it's a pretty nifty program.

212

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How do you do your reports?

« on: Dec 19, 2009, 12:43 pm »

Since I'm calling spot cues and running lights, sound, and SFX myself (Goddess bless QLab!)

Agreed! A fantastic program indeed!

For the show I am currently working on, I am the sound and lighting designer so a nightly report isn't necessary for myself.  Any costume repairs are handled by myself or my assistant, so no real reports there either.  Our artistic director helps out during shows, so he's there to judge audiences and here feedback, so no report necessary. I'm also the directing assistant so any character work/notes I handle...no report needed there.  I usually do weekly reports that include general notes like audience reactions, anything that needed to be fixed, etc... as well as a weekly, or daily report depending if there's an event or a strange show time, to the cast and staff.

I do keep a notepad next to me for times, dates, and note-taking.  I write fairly quickly and clearly so I find it's do-able during a show.  I have a plethora of writing utensils in my booth so I never am frantically searching for one.

213

The Green Room / Re: "How to get a job as a stage manager"

« on: Dec 17, 2009, 02:25 pm »

Hah, excellent find!

214

The Green Room / Re: Fearless at DIY

« on: Dec 10, 2009, 01:29 pm »

I helped gut and refinish my girlfriend's older borther's new house.  Tore down all the drywall, knocked down some walls, new floors, new bathrooms, etc... Definitely wouldn't have been able to do it without my scene shop experience.

215

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How to back up the career of choice.

« on: Dec 10, 2009, 01:27 pm »

-And what other careers I could do with a degree in Drama/Stage Management/Theatre Arts. (Besides teaching)

A lot of jobs just want to see you have that piece of paper (a little cynical, maybe, but often true)...an individual I know is a recruiter for the Navy and proudly displays his degree in theatre on the wall of his office.  Individuals in theatre management tend to have excellent people skills, management skills, and think outside the box/creatively.  Maybe get a job working in another aspect of theatre, like a distributor (ATR Treehouse for example).  You're still involved, doing tech, meeting people, etc...

I just graduated from college and am in the upper portion of MatthewShiner's range for salaries.  I am a staff member of a local theatre in RI...but my job encompasses a llaaaawwwt more than stage management (M.E., run the show off of Qlab, sound designer, co-designer, carpenter...you get the idea).  So maybe when looking at colleges, look at following more than one theatre tracks (mine was management and tech...I even acted in a few plays).  Be as well rounded as possible, which it sounds like you are doing.  I think all SMs can agree on that!

I had the same issue with my parents..."Why don't you go into Math or Science? You were always good at those..."  Try bargaining with your parents on a second major/minor.  Also, don't throw out teaching just yet.  I never thought I would have any interest, but after TAing in college, I am seriously considering it for later in my career.

Good luck and keep us updated!

216

The Green Room / Re: Holiday countdown!

« on: Dec 02, 2009, 02:13 pm »

I love this thread!

about 75% of holiday shopping done...
couple hours before seeing my college theatre department's musical as an alumni for the first time...
4 days until rehearsals start for my next show...
18 days until current show closes...
22 days until Christmas dinner with the family...
23 days until Christmas day...
29 days until the start of a new decade...
54 days until my birthday...

217

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: Grouping Standbys

« on: Oct 29, 2009, 02:34 pm »

I think the way you're calling it is fine. The less numbers to confuse, the better.  You don't want to warn with: "LQ 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 and SQ A, B, C, and D," but rather with your method.

Also, the board op should know that they are in warn for the next cue through the last cue you listed is fired. I know when I board op, I don't relax until the last cue I'm warned for in a group gets a "go."

218

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Help, I'm being sabotaged!

« on: Oct 23, 2009, 01:31 pm »

This seems like a complicated situation.  I would go to the producer.  You've already started CC-ing and asking them for the correct information,  so why not bring up the problem? A mediator like the producer could be what this situation needs, just tread carefully.  It sounds like blame/name-calling/etc... is exactly what will aggravate the situation.

Maybe this Office Manager/Managing Producer should handle all the scheduling and meetings if she's "threatened" by the job.  That would probably just open up more problems though.

Good luck!

219

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Broadway SM arrested

« on: Oct 18, 2009, 06:47 pm »

Have to agree to all 3 responses...it is an incredibly untrustworthy thing to do, but I'm sure it happens a lot more than is publicized.

220

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Advice for a newbie

« on: Oct 16, 2009, 04:45 pm »

hey tess91!

I don't really understand why I have to do the book technically correctly when it's only me who has to be able to see and understand it.

Like everyone else has been saying, it's a matter of someone else being able to interpret what you have recorded. However, customization of prompts and paperwork is something that every SM goes through, so despite being told to organize a certain way, do so in a manner which you find most comfortable to you.  But never forget that someone else is reading your paperwork/prompt book so they will need to understand it too (bus-proofing...awesome btw missliz).

SMing for an actual company varies a lot.  You might be in a position at a company where you get to have creative input or help in the directing process.  Or, you might have to organize information, run rehearsals and the show because everything else is taken care of (this is more like summer-stock, but still an example).

kiwitechgirl: what a job!

My question for you: How do you like SMing? What was it that drew you into management?

221

Tools of the Trade / Re: Useful iPhone apps?

« on: Oct 15, 2009, 02:57 pm »

Found a new one today for those of us who do a little drafting and carpentry work.  It's called math tasks and it provides you with all those different formulas for figuring out shapes and coordinates.

222

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance

« on: Oct 13, 2009, 01:16 pm »

I'm currently working on a one man show (I Am My Own Wife) and we had a cell phone go off about 10 minutes into the first act.  The individual with the phone was clearly panicked and it seemed everyone around them was sufficiently annoyed.  The public embarrassment of creating such an interruption is sufficient punishment for me.
At the theatre I work for, we have a portion of our pre-show announcement that asks people not to text, look at, etc...their electronic devices during a show.  Some people just seem to think it doesn't apply to them and will not even check.  Not much else you can do for these audience members.
When seeing a show, I will happily ask someone near me to stop using their phone.  Anyone else do this?

223

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: First Aid: what do you do when the skin is gone?

« on: Oct 09, 2009, 05:45 pm »

Seconded on the newskin treatment.  It will indeed sting like hell, but it will create a protective layer for the healing process.  We used it on our hands in HS on the gymnastics team.

Was the dancer using new shoes or a worn out pair perhaps?  I don't think there's anything to do to speed the healing, but any ideas for preventative measures in the future?

224

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re:

« on: Sep 16, 2009, 10:52 am »

Apologies for getting the thread off topic...just to clarify:

When blocking a "right hook" type punch in an upstage downstage type scenario (like in a proscenium theatre), you have to aim at the face of the person, also called the ZMD, Zone of Maximus Destruction.  Your fist is 12-16 inches away from their face, as well as an understanding between the two combatants.  Aim and accuracy is important, otherwise it's sloppy and dangerous.

And the firing the weapon, I am aware of not firing it directly at a person and am quite familiar with the "Crow" story.  The specifics of my story, which I should have included, were when working on Les Mis, an actor unconvincingly fired the gun.  It was supposed to be pointed at a specific target against a wall, and he fired it towards the ground, without miming the correct kickback or holding it properly.  These were cap-gun type rifles, no ammunition.  It took a few rehearsals to teach him how a real rifle would fire.

Again, apologies to the forum for the bit of lash-back that was created by my post.  Got to be more specific next time. Thanks and appreciation for the discussion on safety everyone.

225

The Green Room / Re: "I can't do that on stage."

« on: Sep 15, 2009, 09:46 am »

Drink from a flask, pretending there is liquid in it - the way she's doing it, if there were liquid inside, it would spill all over her front.

For some reason, drinking without actually drinking has always been a huge problem.

Fight choreography has always been tough.  You don't punch someone like this, because it looks like you're punching them in the shoulder. You actually have to aim for their face!  When you shoot off a stage gun, you should actually aim it at the intended target.