Messages

226

The Green Room / SM Hobbies

« on: Mar 07, 2010, 01:11 pm »

We can't work all the time, and for some people, we can't even work the amount we want.  And Lady knows, stage management is a stressful job, yet somehow full of people with crazy senses of humor.  So, what do you do to "play," when the opportunity arises?

I'm a costume freak, so I like to attend local events that involve dressing in outlandish clothes, frequently in public.  Steampunk masquerade balls, the renaissance festival (which I don't know if that counts as play, since I actually work there), Piratepalooza, and last night, a group of twenty or so like-minded crazies donned horrible costumes made out of boxes and invaded the traditional Dragon*Con hotels for the first annual Cardboard*Con.  It was the most fun I've had in months, and I left before everyone started drinking mai tais!

On more sedate days, my husband and I enjoy playing cooperative video games, together, but costumes beat that out any day.

So, what's your favorite crazy play day?

227

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: COSTUMES: How involved do you get with costumes and wardrobe?

« on: Feb 19, 2010, 01:57 pm »

I do a lot of my work at a small theatre that does not have a wardrobe person for the run, and occasionally, VERY amatur or overloaded costumers.  And once we open, the designer is no longer part of the equation.
I've had costumers ask me what sort of format I'd like their information in, ones who have given me genius paperwork, and ones who've handed me hand-scribbled costume plots (which I then typed up in my prefered form).  I've had costumers who have NEVER given me plots, and I've had to generate them from what I see onstage.  Generally, unless their paperwork is brilliant, I'll take it, thank them, and then type it up in the form I'm used to refering to, and keep both on hand.
And during runs, I will definitely do repairs.  At my usual theatre, it's the option of myself (an experienced sewer and historical costumer) making a good repair during half hour, or the ATD slapping some gaff tape on something, or doing some very clumsy stitching, on Monday, days away.  I'll do the repair myself, so I know I don't have to worry about it the rest of the run.
But, like everyone's advice, my experience is very site specific; I wouldn't dream of picking up a needle at a "fully stocked" theatre with a dedicated wardrobe crew, or giving any paperwork advice to a designer who's got their act together (well, perhaps except for my tried and true "special laundry instructions" form!)

228

The Green Room / Best bit of advice from a Stage Managment book

« on: Feb 15, 2010, 01:08 pm »

My parents, after hemming and hawing whilst I was in high school about my choice of careers, have finally accepted that, yes, this is what I'm doing with my life.  A dozen years later, they're showing their support in what ways they can; for Christmas this year, they got me The Stage Management Handbook by Daniel A. Ionazzi.  I'm just now reading it.  There's some good examples of forms in there, though I'm finding the rest of it a little simplsitic for where I am in my career (I really don't need a reminder as to what goes in a prompt script, or what "plaster line" means).  I just ran across the two most helpful sentences for the rehearsal part of the job. 

You will perform your job better if you understand that you are managing change.  You must learn to love chaos.

This is something that I know I have a problem with, and try to be conscious of it, and conquer it more, every show.  I've just never seen it in such simple, eloquent terms, before.
So, regardless of what you thought of the rest of the book, what's the best, quick standalone advice you've gotten from a SM book, or any book, for that matter.

229

The Hardline / Re: Opera pay..

« on: Feb 11, 2010, 03:42 pm »

Blanton, I won't be AGMA, but that's an excellent suggestion, thanks!

230

The Hardline / Re: Opera pay..

« on: Feb 09, 2010, 09:18 am »

Hey, all, sorry to ressurect a thread from the far distant past, but I could use a bit of advice, and there was, already a pertinent thread. 
I just got offered an ASM gig for a great opera company that I'm really excited about.  The SM really wants me, and wants my contract "signed and sealed" by the end of next week.  I'm supposed to talk with the Production Manager over the next few days about pay scale.  Before my interview with the SM, he mentioned $X sum, but it was a little less than I can take, and still make sure my bills are covered.  I realize it will be a lump payment at the end of the run, and I do have the Emergency Fund to cover my bills in the meantime, but 'll need to replenish it, and $X won't do it.
I was just wondering if anyone would be able/willing to tell me what they've been paid in the past for an ASM position in a "brand name" Opera Company?  If you don't feel comfortable putting it in public, would you be willing to PM me (soon, please,  I'm supposed to e-mail him this evening) and letting me know privately?  What I need to cover bills and gas is not too much more than $X, but we're talking strictly bills and gas; no stopover for a hamburger on the way home from a 12 hour rehearsal, not even enough spare to buy a bottle of shampoo.  If I have an idea of what other ASMs have been paid, I'll be better informed as to what sort of counter offer I can make.
Thanks so much, everyone!

231

The Green Room / Re: Healthy eating as a SM

« on: Feb 08, 2010, 11:22 am »

In addition to long rehearsal hours/second job, I also have an hour long drive to get to work and another to get home, every night, so I find myself eating in the car, a lot.  You can acutally make sandwiches, like ham or turkey, and cheese and freeze them.  After sitting in my lunch bag for about three hours, they're thawed, but still cool, and ready to eat.
I also try to locate as many "healthier" fast food places along my driving routes as possible.  I've become a big fan of Moe's tacos (smaller than the burritos, without all the extra rice, and you can buy a cup of guacamole with the money you save!)  I also keep a stack of menus for local restaurants that will take to-go orders and give them a call about 30 minutes before meal break/end of night.  Shrimp pad thai is way tastier than a cheeseburger, and probably healthier, too.
I will admit to also living off Starbucks, when nothing else is a possibility.

232

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: New Stage Manager

« on: Feb 08, 2010, 11:15 am »

A variation of the "used prop table," that I've used to some success, is a "prop dump" basket.  I'll just put a spare laundry basket at all exit points; glo tape makes it even easier to see, and if you've got fragile props, line the bottom with a nice squishy blanket.  I like the basket, because it has the added benefit of portability.  At the end of the night, I can just pick it up, and make a tour of the props tables, re-distributing the props in one go.  I've found it a favorite with hurried actors, though I do still find myself going through pockets and raiding dressing tables to retreive props, once in a while.

233

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROFESSIONALISM: Pre-show drink

« on: Jan 31, 2010, 01:51 pm »

Here's a non-theoretical theoretical for everyone

I'm working in a very casual environment for a cabaret, this weekend.  One of the Executive Producers is a friend of mine, actually my sister's roommate.  The Exec. Prods., who are also both performers in the show, like to have a drink or two before the show and at intermission; this has never affected their performances in any negative way that I can tell.  It's a very laid back show with very professional performers, and no safety issues beyond the normal issues you expect when a group of people gather in one place (people tripping over their own feet, etc.).  Occasionaly, a group will have a drink together at the theatre, after the show.  This is the second time I've worked for this group.

Last night, the Exec. Prod. who is my sister's roommate offered me a beer before the show.  It was a micro-brew I had never tried before, and I like trying all sort of diferent beers.  And, as this is a relaxed environment with others drinking before the show, I was tempted.  Ultimately, I decided no, because, "Sometimes, in certain circumstances, it's okay," is a slippery slope I don't want to be on when it comes to alcohol and work, and you never know when some sort of strange disaster is going to happen when you need your full faculties (not that I really thought one beer was going to reduce my faculties!)

So, given that it's your Executive Producer offering you something to drink, would you have had one beer before the show?

Edited formatting of label-Rebbe

234

The Green Room / Re: Thread to vent about / Actors behaving badly / As haiku only

« on: Jan 30, 2010, 01:55 am »

You cannot find light!
Always stand with head in shadow.
Feet are prettier?

235

The Green Room / Musical Misfortune

« on: Jan 29, 2010, 01:46 pm »

The last three shows I've worked on have all, in some way shape or form, included the song "Single Ladies," and it now seems permenantly embedded on my psyche (unfortunate as that is).  In addition, my inner DJ keeps mixing it with "All That Jazz," and "Rule Brittiana," both, also, from the current show.  Ocasionally my brain will jump tracks in the middle of a line, or put lyrics from one song on the tune of another, and it's really getting annoying.

What musical mayhem is your current show wreaking on your brain?

236

Tools of the Trade / Re: Securing your gear

« on: Jan 24, 2010, 01:28 pm »

The theatre I work at, most, does not have a secure space for transient (SM/ASM/designers) personel to store belonings or paperwork.  I've asked for something, a locking filing cabinet, a drawer backstage, anything, several times, but as of yet, my requests have not been honored.  (Also, the "valuables cabinet" is only 4" deep and a joke.) 
There is a limited number of people who have keys to the booth, so a lot of the time, I'll put my stuff there, if I absolutely have to leave it.  However, it's such a pain to transfer books, kit, laptop, laptop bag, sound computer, etc. up to the booth, most of the time I end up staying in the theatre over breaks, to guard stuff, instead of going out.  It sort of galls me, but, there it is.  I've resorted, more than once, to shoving my valuables under a seat in an out of the way section of the house, and praying.
Once we're into tech, the prompt book stays at the theatre.  It lives on the tech table so designers can refer to it when I'm not present, and then lives in the booth the duration of the run.  The booth is pretty secure, but it's such a mess and so overcrowded with other stuff that storing anything much more than the prompt script isn't an option.
I do keep all paperwork (contact sheets, reports, health forms, etc.) in a separate book than the script, which stays with me.  I've never really felt that there was a security issue with this arrangement.

237

The Green Room / Re: 2009 Stage Management Survey Results!

« on: Jan 16, 2010, 05:52 pm »

Wonderful!  I was wondering when we'd see the results on that; it was so neat in '06.
I particularly love the inclusion of the comment about "stealing" from other Stage Managers all the time.  Whenever I have the chance to watch someone else work, I always come away with new ideas.

238

The Green Room / Re: 10 things actors can do to get off to a good start with a stage manager

« on: Jan 14, 2010, 06:50 pm »

10)  Clean up after yourself.  A stage manager has a million things to do more important than picking up your half empty water bottles, but if you don't pick up after yourself, they have to do that, too.  Want super-extra brownie points?  Pick up after other sloppy cast members, or remind them to do so.

I will always love and adore a particular actor I worked with two years ago.  We were in four different rehearsal spaces, sometimes all in the same day, and after a week of taking five minutes, every time we moved, to clean up water bottles and candy wrappers, I issued a lecture about respecting rental spaces, cleaning up after yourself, the fact that I would also like a break when we moved shop, but I can't take one if I'm cleaning up their trash.  Out of a cast of five, ONE picked up his garbage, and everyone else's from that point forth, AND asked if I needed help with anything.  I'd work with him again, on any project, in a flat minute.

239

The Green Room / Re: Mind Games

« on: Jan 08, 2010, 02:00 pm »

I kinda view my maglight and leatherman in this category.  I tried to go without them the first time I got home from tour (as in 'yeah, I'm on break - I can take the tools off'), but found that it was so ingrained in me to reach for them, even when not at work, that I finally gave up and wear them all the time - whether I'm at the theatre or not.

-Centaura

If someone asks me for the time, I'll reach for my chest...whether or not I'm wearing my stopwatch...

240

The Green Room / Re: Mind Games

« on: Jan 07, 2010, 10:55 am »

Being right handed, but raised by a left handed mother, I was already screwed up about directions before SR and SL even came into it!  I learned a trick drilling with the marching band in high school.  If you're in a situation where directions are and issue, squeeze your left fist tightly as a physical reminder of "left."
Of course, I right "SR" and "SL" really big on the upper interior corners of my script binders, so I don't have to think!