Messages

2161

The Hardline / HAVE I EVER READ THE RULE BOOK?

« on: Oct 08, 2005, 12:07 am »

Interesting note . . . after combing the book . . . there is this rule . . .

(b) Each Stage Manager and Assistant Stage Manager shall have a meal break of no less than one hour during each work day at an appropriate interval. (It goes on to list the penalty)

Does this mean that even on straight sixes, the SM and ASM gets a meal break?

Or does the Straight Six rule trump this?

I just found it interesting.

(I swear one time I will pick up that red book and find a rule stating that "ALL SMS MUST CALL THE SHOW DRESSED AS A CHICKEN."  I think new rules pop in all the time.)

2162

The Hardline / A Straight Seven

« on: Oct 08, 2005, 12:05 am »

Damn Equity for not having a 24-hour "non-emergency but just an annoying question" hotline.  But this group is good enough.

I am currently working on a production that due to actors rolling over from a show currently running, plus a lot of conflicts, we are severly limited in times we can rehearse - so much that we are taking 2 days off this weekend.

Anyway, today I scheduled a straight seven.  (A stright seven you ask?  How does one do this - I shall explain.)  I want it to be clear there is both an Equity SM and ASM on this show.  The theatre did not tell us to do this.  The director did not ask, I offered.  (I figured since I we only reheased four hours yesterday, and off Saturday and Sunday, and extra hour within the magic hours was pretty harmless.)  I did tell my assistant last night I was scheduling a stright seven, and he needed to take a break when ever he wanted to.

I opted to not take a break.

Note:  No single actor was called more then 3 hours, it was just a bunch of staggered calls.  

Then tonight my assistant pointed out the following rule  (LORT CONTRACT PEOPLE, TURN IN YOUR RED HYMNALS . . . ):

Rule 62. STAGE MANAGERS AND ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS
 
(I) Working Conditions for Stage Managers and Assistant Stage Managers.

(1) The Stage Manager or Assistant Stage Manager must be present at all rehearsals  and performances.  The Theatre shall not require members of the Equity Stage Managerial staff to absent themselves from rehearsals or performances.

His take on this - and I see his point of view, I just don't agree with it -  is that by asking him to take a lunch break during rehearsal, in essecence I am "require himself to absent himself from rehearsal".  (note:  he did not take a lunch break - nor did I require him absent himself, he work thru, like I chose to work thru - mind you we had 4 20-minute breaks, so don't think we working ourselves to death.)  I would just expect us each to take our hour break at different times.

Now, I have always scheduled in such creative ways, as long as each individual was within the rules.  I feel that it's part of my style to get as much in as little time as possible.  But I am just that way.

What does everyone else think?  Is my assistant entitled to overtime?  Does anyone else do what I do?

Help.

(Note:  I will contact my business rep and check in on Tuesday . . . damn columbus holiday.)

2163

Tools of the Trade / typed script

« on: Oct 05, 2005, 04:46 am »

I tech the show with pencil and script.

Then during half-hour during tech - when everyone else is running around, I put my cues into the computer at the tech table.  I am doing something being productive, but still being able to to be asked questions.

Usually during tech, I may come in 30 minutes early to get it all done.

I am not saying this is for everyone, but it works for me.

The key is I hand over my shows to someone else to call, plus I work on big, complicated shows (not Broadway musicals, but close.)

2164

Tools of the Trade / box word

« on: Oct 04, 2005, 10:35 pm »

highlight text and then hit the border box - making sure top, bottom and both sides are marked.

2165

Tools of the Trade / call out

« on: Oct 02, 2005, 06:50 pm »

Pull out the drawing tool bar.

Callouts are are the pull out menu that inlcudes basic shapes, block arrows, flow charts, stars and banners, and call outs.  

There are a wide choice of callouts, which are basically just text boxes with various functiosn, most have a graphic line which can be placed to text.  I box the word the cue is called on, and then draw a callout box to the left margin (My prompt book is whole bunched on the right side).  I then type the cue in the call out.

I use text boxes as standbuys.

I use the thought bubble for things I need to remember.

2166

Students and Novice Stage Managers / backstage

« on: Sep 27, 2005, 09:14 pm »

my advice, any request like that should be done in advance directly with the SM - showing up and asking.  Friday's may be hard, given their weekend performances, but never hurts to ask.

2167

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Funny things in reports

« on: Sep 26, 2005, 03:12 am »

1) the new joke told offstage every night to get a group of people onstage laughing.  (ASM reported to me the joke.)

2) chairs broken in the performance.  (classical theatre is rough on chairs, very rough.)

3) Also added the name of audience members used in Plaid.

2168

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / when is enough enough

« on: Sep 26, 2005, 03:10 am »

I think it really depends on your personal tollerance.  

I agree with loebtmc, don't worry about not be on  the publicity materials.  It is a fight you will rarely when (six years as resident PSM doesn't get me on the press release, it does, however, get me on the poster . . . which is a nice touch.)

My humble starts in the world of 99-seat theatre sound a lot like yours.  There is a lot of quiet suffering.  But, I found that doing my best under the circumstances given, and going the extra mile got me more and more work, and under better and better circumstances.  Maybe not by the producers, but the director or actor, or somoene involved in the production remembers your name.

Also, if you do get the reputation of being a trouble maker - how hard will that be to shake, even if you are 100% in the right.

2169

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / rsc

« on: Sep 19, 2005, 12:05 pm »

The Shakespeare Theatre Company here in Washington DC has been invited to bring over a production of Love's Labor's Lost to the RSC.

2170

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / call backs

« on: Sep 18, 2005, 11:43 am »

I so rarely find myself in auditions.

I would limit any sort of suggestions regarding casting, other then - I know her, I have worked with him, etc, etc, but only if asked.

I would dred the dead I stated "Hire this actor", and then that actor turned out to be bad, not do the work, quit, be fired, etc, etc.  

Although, on the flip side, if I was outside the audition - at the end of the day - I might mention "So and So was extremely rude", etc.

2171

Tools of the Trade / script in word

« on: Sep 16, 2005, 10:09 am »

I type all my calling scripts in word using callouts.

It someone like's a sample, I can send out my current calling script.

Matthewshiner@stagemanager.net

2172

SMNetwork Archives / Mac Vs PC

« on: Aug 01, 2005, 07:40 pm »

I am a Mac user.  Was won over in grad school.

I have no problem moving files back and forth from PC to Mac, from word files, excel files to drafting files.  (I am actually have more problem dealing with different versions of drafting software among the PCs in my company.)

In reality, what does a SM really need .  . . a word process program, a spreadsheet . . . the word and excel files seem to go back and forth.

I like my Mac in that it very easily takes a word file and saves is a PDF, which I can send to any one, post on the web site, etc, etc.  (And thus the file being circulated by can not be changed.)

This the list of software I use:
1) Word (use for making the calendar, reports, daily call, all written correspondance)
2) Excel (prop list, run book, petty cash forms)
3) Adobe Go Live (use for my personal website and the call board web site I run . . . www.stagemanager.net and www.stccallboard.com)
4) Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator (for making logos)
5) Fetch (basic FTP program)
6) Safari (web browser)
7) Pages (Mac based word processor program - I used for specific desktop publishing events.   Such as covers for my call book - handles text and pictures well)
Itunes (Use for saving, organizing and burning rehearsal cds)
9) Toast (use for copying rehearsal CDs)
10) Vectorworks (use for manipulating CAD set designs)


All of these basic programs are on both PC and Mac (except for Pages).  I  just like the Mac, but I know it all comes down to a personal choice.  

(Note:  Most designers I know are MAC based . . . FYI)

2173

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / INTERNATIONAL: British Stage Managers

« on: Jul 26, 2005, 04:42 pm »

I am looking for someone who is either a British Equity SM or someone from America who has SM'ed in England . . . I am preparing to take a show later this season to England (RSC), and would like to know what I am getting myself into - what sort of differences there are, what different expectactions there are from over here.

Interested to know the differences.

2174

SMNetwork Archives / HIRING: what employers look at

« on: Jul 23, 2005, 12:53 pm »

I think that the origional post had to do with an internship or some early career move.  You know, I do think that is legit for someone coming only out of education experience to ask to present a calling script, sample paperwork from a show.

But you know, as I have looked over paperwork it's not so much the style of paperwork I begin to look at it - I love to look at someones rehearsal or performance reports and see how they look at the show.  (I grimace when someone has a complete rehearsal report with nothing to report - NOTHING - IN 4 - 8 hours NOTHING happened to put on a report.)  In the end the pretty form, the clean calling script, etc, etc, only shows how much you prepare.  (Like asking an actor to bring in a monologue they have been rehearsing for four years.)  But it will always be in the interview where the make or break happens.  I think the 85% of stage management can not be shown on paper.  (Or 95% or maybe 99.9%)

Experience is what is key to this job (why all things being equal, I will take the more experience stage manager.)

2175

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Books: General Management Books

« on: Jul 15, 2005, 11:11 pm »

One of the main aspects of stage management that I feel is not covered enough in education, and even less so outside of the education world, is the "management" portion of the job.  Too often focus is put on the some of the more simple parts of our jobs, and the big white elephant in the room is how we management people.

As I am about to take on two new interns for this season, I am putting together a list of "projects" for them to do outside of their normal work load to help agument the job (some are as simple of putting together a list of what they want out of the internship, or go observe another Stage Manager do their job, some are a little more complex, like a rather length quiz on the LORT rule book.)  One of the projects I want to do is have them read an outside management book - nothing that is particular to stage management.  For example, my favoirte book is "The Heart of Coaching" which never mentions theatre, but as far as a "general management" book, has helped me develope my personal style.

Does anyone else have a "favorite" management book they could recommend?