Messages

241

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Essential Theatre Books

« on: Nov 01, 2006, 12:37 am »

Has anyone used this book:   
 
Stage Management Forms and Formats: A Collection of over 100 Forms Ready to Use
by Barbara Dilker

Through the grapevine, I heard that the woman who wrote this was actually a terrible stage manager.  I can't give specifics, but they weren't positive.  As they say, paperwork is only PART of stage management....

Erin

242

The Hardline / Re: [SMA Scholarship] Who are your gifted young stage managers?

« on: Oct 28, 2006, 10:44 pm »

The scholarship was set up by KC's mother, and I believe these categories were set up with her input and desire.  There will also be a finite number of these scholarships until the fund runs out.

I will, however, mention this to our board.  It certainly is a valid suggestion.

Erin

243

The Hardline / [SMA Scholarship] Who are your gifted young stage managers?

« on: Oct 26, 2006, 09:30 pm »

Hello All!
 
The new 2007 guidelines are now posted for this year's KC Mehl Scholarship.  In addition to reading below, make sure you take a chance to read how this year's scholarship winners have used their SMA memberships at http://www.stagemanagers.org/#kcmehl (you may need to click again on the KC Mehl title to get the details). 
 
--
The KC Mehl Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established in memory of Stage Manager KC Mehl who died on March 19, 2005 at the age of 21.  Before her death, KC had begun a promising career as a Stage Manager in Philadelphia’s theatrical community. She had fostered mentor relationships with several experienced Stage Managers in order to learn the delicate art of Stage Management.  Although she was not yet an official member of the Stage Managers’ Association, she was active with Philadelphia’s SMA events and showed a commitment to the ideals of the SMA. This Scholarship is meant to encourage such attributes in others.
 
This fund would provide a one-time gift to young Stage Managers to cover the fee of a one year Associate Membership in the SMA. Any person who demonstrates an intent to pursue a career as a professional Stage Manager is eligible for Associate Membership. An Associate Member may attend all meetings and gatherings, and serve on committees, but has no voting privileges. 

Stage Managers who are 19 – 22 years of age should send their Stage Management resume, one letter of recommendation from a professional Stage Manager* and a letter of commitment to a career in Stage Management to Megan Allen at kcmehl19@stagemanagers.org
Documents should be sent in a format that is PC compatible.
Please put [SMA] KC Scholarship Fund in the subject line. 
Application deadline for 2007 is Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 11:59pm
*Individuals who have not worked with a professional stage manager may submit a letter from an established theatre professional with whom they have worked, be it a professor, director, actor, or designer.
 
Stage Managers who are 23 – 26 years of age should send their Stage Management resume, one letter of recommendation from a current Member of SMA and a letter of commitment to a career in Stage Management to Alfredo Macias at kcmehl23@stagemanagers.org
Documents should be sent in a format that is PC compatible.
Please put [SMA] KC Scholarship Fund in the subject line. 
Application deadline for 2006 is Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 11:59pm
 
There will be three Scholarship Recipients each year: one from the Eastern Region, one from the Central Region and one from the Western Region of the United States.
2007 Scholarship Recipients will be named in January 2007.
 
 
The Application process for 2008 will be in November 2007 and Recipients will be named in January 2008.

244

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Running Tech, etc.

« on: Oct 25, 2006, 03:57 pm »

I use a 6' rule as a straight edge and put all of my cues in the expanded left margin.

I hope you mean 6" (inches not feet).  Or else you're a really STRONG stage mgr, who likes to go overkill on straight lines in the script.  Ha.

Erin

245

Stage Management: Other / Education Department Websites?

« on: Oct 22, 2006, 06:21 pm »

Okay, I really don't know which forum I should post this in, so since I'm doing it for an opera company I stuck it here.  Moderators, feel free to move it if you've got somewhere better...

So, I've recently been "promoted" (at least in title and number of hours I can work at my part-time hourly job) to Production Manager/Stage Manager for the Educational Department where I've already been stage managing.  One of my new duties is to try to figure out how to jazz up our area of the website.  (And, no, not necessarily a typical Prod Mgr duty either, but hey, I'm the most computer literate of us and most flexible schedule.)  So I've been asked to poke around other companies' sites and get a feel for what "works" and what doesn't.  I'm not asking you guys to DO all my work for me, but if anyone has suggestions of really good example websites let me know.  Then again, I guess bad ones, too, so I know what to steer away from doing for ourselves.

I'm wondering what would be good for content.  We plan on putting of course descriptions of each of the shows we tour, and making their study guides available for download.  (I've been working on those today, and converting to pdf.)

Thanks for any help/advice/direction,
Erin

246

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Running Tech, etc.

« on: Oct 20, 2006, 08:53 pm »

While I often don't have many specific cues before going into a plotting session, any time I know of ANY potential light cue I write it in my book, especially when we get into the week before tech.  Sometimes it's because the director's said, "We're going to want a special here", or the obvious light shifts at the end of the scene.  If there's something you know ahead of time, might as well go ahead and put it in...especially during a runthrough you probably say out loud "blackout" to the actors/director before you do a scene shift.

Erin

247

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Out On Tour

« on: Oct 20, 2006, 08:48 pm »

Oh, and what's a 'TYA' tour? Job description says, TYA contract. Never heard of it. Help?

Go to Equity's website on contract agreements and look up the TYA Rulebook and Addendum.
http://www.actorsequity.org/library/library.asp?cat=3

You would have to join Equity to do this tour.  See other discussions elsewhere on the board whether you "should" turn Equity or not.  It's a big decision.

Erin

248

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Prompt Book Help

« on: Oct 18, 2006, 11:02 am »

I'm about the same as Matthew as far as "for cues".

As for "and other notations"...if you mean blocking, I'm sure there are lots of other threads on here as to how to even take it.  I tend to write a number in the script and have the blocking written on the opposite (blank) page.  So no other real space needed on the script page or in a margin.  And I'm one of those who doesn't have a separate blocking script (usually) - the script is on my left page and the blocking (since I'm right-handed) on the right.  So when reading left to right the very first things you see are the cues.

Now I do often create a margin space on the side of the page opposite my cues (usually near the rings of the binder) for things that happen backstage, so I can remember to doublecheck how that's going if it's a tight cue for them, especially during tech.

And margins at the top and bottom of the page for cues (unless there are so many that they simply get their own page of the script - seems the biggest chunk of cues happens when you're running out of room in the script!) or notes to "TURN PAGE!" for a quick cue on the next...

Erin

249

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stage Management vs. Production Management

« on: Oct 17, 2006, 04:00 pm »

Stage Managers are in the rehearsal hall, dealing with the actors and director, and taking notes for all production departments.  Stage Managers deal with scheduling of the rehearsal hall and communicating what happens in there to everyone else.

The Production Manager deals with all the production technical/design aspects - hires the designers and tech staff, does much of the coordination of load-in schedules, crew hiring...it varies from theatre to theatre, but the PM deals more with the full tech of everything.

This is the most basic of job descriptions, and how much crossover there is varies between theatres...and also who runs the production meeting varies at theatres whether it's the SM or PM.  In an Equity theatre, for on thing, the stage manager does not deal with payroll at all (other than a Resident Stage Manager over other stage management staff).

Erin

250

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Diva Musical Directors

« on: Oct 13, 2006, 07:32 pm »

Erin- Do you have a copy of that sheet anywhere? I start pre-pro for Big River next week and would love to take a look at it.

I just uploaded in the forms forum.  Enjoy!
Erin

251

Uploaded Forms / Music Breakdown

« on: Oct 13, 2006, 07:31 pm »

Here's a form I use when doing a musical, so that when someone needs to know where to pick up for a certain song, I can give the song number (used by orchestra), song title, script page (director), score page (music director), vocal book page (actor/performer), and who is in it (me!).  This particular show had 5 people, so I was able to give them each a column.  For a full-size musical, I would simply have one column for actors involved and then list, for example "Laurey and Ensemble Girls" (and if needed, the last names of said ensemble girls).

Erin

252

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Musicals with lots of dancing.

« on: Oct 12, 2006, 09:33 pm »

I had to go to my storage place anyway today, so I took a little bit of time to locate my book.  Well, I was a little off....

The little purple book is for music: Pocket Manual of Musical Terms (Fifth Edition) , edited by Theodore Baker.  It's still handy for that.  The listed price on the back is $5.95

The dance book I have is a little bigger, though it's only about 140 pages.  Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet by Gail Grant.  The back section has illustrations of the numbered positions of ballet for arms and feet, as well as some other poses.  Mine has a sticker saying I got it for a whopping $1.98 at Half-Price Books!  (The listed price is blacked out.)

Erin

253

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Running Tech, etc.

« on: Oct 11, 2006, 05:28 pm »

I try to keep things light with a casual joke at break times, when holding for a light cue, engage the actors in quick conversation, and continually keeping them updated on what we are holding for.

AND (as I'm sure Matthew does), be sure to say it over headset, too.  You may just get a response like, "Oh, we're done!" from whomever you thought you were waiting on (especially, if you can't see that person yourself to see if they're still busy pushing buttons, etc).  And be sure to have your assistants backstage keep people informed what the holds are for too.

Erin

254

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Help please

« on: Oct 10, 2006, 02:17 pm »

Take a look at the forum about forms.... http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php?board=15.0

And try the "search" feature on this website...

Erin

255

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Book and Tabs

« on: Oct 10, 2006, 02:14 pm »

This production bible was in a 4 inch binder. It sucked to carry around.

This post (mine, typing right now) doesn't have to do with the tabs, but with the binder and carrying it.

I found some zip binder covers by Mead in their Five-Star First Gear series.  It came with a removable 3-ring binder on a plastic backing.  I removed that, and was able to slip in my own full binder, so that I can interchange binders between shows.  I then took a spare clip-on strap/handle that I had from another computer bag - I seem to have lots of these floating around - and ran it through the center of the cloth cover.  I clipped the two ends of the strap to itself, and it fits in a sort of "tunnel" of the binder so it's totally free from the zipper.  It has been very sturdy for me, and gives me something to sling over my shoulder yet doesn't have to fit inside any other computer bag, etc.  And the cloth binder has a couple other pockets for pens/pencils, velcro cover pocket that I tend to put my post-it flags in, and a back inside pocket too.  I actually have a couple, and use one for my guitar music, too.  You can have loose papers in the binder but nothing falls out as you move it (because it's zipped shut).  I think, however, the biggest binder I've ever fit in it was 3 inches.

Erin