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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Non-Union Pay Rate
« on: Jan 03, 2007, 10:47 am »
Not sure about the going rate in the Bay Area, but the topic EMC pay as an ASM has a discussion of non-AEA rates that might be helpful.
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242
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Legal Pads
« on: Dec 31, 2006, 06:34 pm »
I've seen the spiral kind at Staples and Office Depot.
Personally, I prefer the purple legal pads sold in the office supply section of Target. The pages are sturdy, they tear cleanly, and I haven't had them fall out at random. People also never mistake my legal pad for their own. I'm not sure which brand they are, though.
Personally, I prefer the purple legal pads sold in the office supply section of Target. The pages are sturdy, they tear cleanly, and I haven't had them fall out at random. People also never mistake my legal pad for their own. I'm not sure which brand they are, though.
243
College and Graduate Studies / Re: Texas Schools
« on: Dec 30, 2006, 09:33 am »Hi! Both Texas Christian University and UT have great reputations for their theater schools as well.
UT has an excellent graduate program in theatre, but their undergraduate program is not quite as strong because most of the emphasis is on the grad program, and most (if not all) of the design assignments and acting roles go to grad students. Also, their undergrad course of study is really geared to those who want to be theatre teachers and is more of a survey of everything (sets, costumes, lighting, directing, acting, etc) as opposed to being concentrated in one area of study. I know several people who transfered into the theatre program at Texas State after spending a semester at UT.
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SMNetwork Archives / Re: Script Analysis
« on: Dec 25, 2006, 09:03 am »
Look at the production analysis in the Prepoduction forms topic under the Forms Forum.
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SMNetwork Archives / Re: Merry Christmas All
« on: Dec 24, 2006, 06:29 pm »
It's still Christmas Eve in the states (about 5 1/2 hours until it is officially Christmas...)
Merry Christmas to all!! Safe travels to those who will be visiting family and friends!!
Merry Christmas to all!! Safe travels to those who will be visiting family and friends!!
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Employment / Re: Summer Intern/Apprentice High School
« on: Dec 18, 2006, 10:14 pm »
In my experience, most theatre companies who offer internships for high school students only offer them to "local" students, meaning they wouldn't be offering housing. I would suggest that you look up the contact info for the Production Managers of your local theatres and write to them inquiring about possible internships. The theatres might also have something on their websites about summer internships with instructions on how to apply.
And where are you located? Some of the local SMs in your area might have ideas of theatres they have worked at that would offer an internship program.
And where are you located? Some of the local SMs in your area might have ideas of theatres they have worked at that would offer an internship program.
247
Tools of the Trade / Re: Creating a prompt book in word...using comments for cues
« on: Dec 14, 2006, 11:29 pm »I am running under the assumption that all of these things are being done to a script that you re-typed yourself. Does anyone know if there is a way around that? Isn't there a way to scan a script or something?
The theatre I am currently working for provides me with an electronic version of the script when I arrive for pre-production. The production interns scan the script using OCR software and then go through and edit for the inevitable typos associated with scanning in a document. I make margin and other adjustments for my blocking and prompt scripts.
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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Too many ASM’s… (who’d have ever thought!)
« on: Dec 13, 2006, 11:53 pm »
I'm in the middle of a run of R&H's Cinderella, and I couldn't imagine doing it without two ASMs. However, I'm in a regional theatre with a crew of nine, massive set pieces, lots of stuff flying, and complicated transitions. During the rehearsal process, we often had split rehearsals, so I would keep one ASM with me and send the other to run the music or dance rehearsal. It was also nice to have the two of them set up the rehearsal rooms while I checked in with departments. And when we moved onto the stage and it was just us in rehearsal, they were AMAZING at quickly setting up scenes sans our running crew.
Check out the thread ASMs vs SMs for some other thoughts on how to utilize two ASMs.
Check out the thread ASMs vs SMs for some other thoughts on how to utilize two ASMs.
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The Hardline / Re: Breaks During Run-Throughs
« on: Dec 12, 2006, 11:53 pm »
46(B)(3) [Rehearsals; Breaks & Rest Periods] of the COST contract says basically the same thing as the LORT contract. However if you cannot find anything in the SPT rulebook, you can always call your AEA rep. It's always possible that they might make a special concession for your particular circumstance.
250
Uploaded Forms / Hours Tracking Forms
« on: Dec 09, 2006, 12:10 am »
I looked all through the forms forum and could not find a topic specifically related to hours tracking forms, so I'm starting this one.
As I mentioned on the topic Interesting request for performance reports..., here is the the hours tracking form that I use to calculate rehearsal and performance hours. I got it from another SM I have worked with, and made a few of my own modifications. I have left an example of both a rehearsal week and a performance week.
As I mentioned on the topic Interesting request for performance reports..., here is the the hours tracking form that I use to calculate rehearsal and performance hours. I got it from another SM I have worked with, and made a few of my own modifications. I have left an example of both a rehearsal week and a performance week.
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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Interesting request for performance reports...
« on: Dec 08, 2006, 11:53 pm »I just hated adding up the totals of the different segments - I had a calculator that could add times once...
I don'tknow how to do this, but I know a stage manager who can get Excel to add times. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to look up...
I have a form (that I got from another SM I worked with) that I use to calculate rehearsal and performance times in order to track hours. I find it helpful for determining the total run time. It doesn't actually add the times (the formula it uses is based on subtraction), but I'm sure that there is an Excel formula that you could setup. I'll upload it to the forms forum as soon as I get a chance.
Ditto to all the above posters who include Act 1 Up/Down; Intermission Up/Down; Act 2 Up/Down; Total Run Time; Total Elapsed Time. I also include Announce Up/Down if we have a live announcement. I once had a Producer accuse me of not starting shows on time. The live announce was starting on time (or relatively close to), but it was 2-4 minutes long depending on who was talking, so Act 1 up definitely wasn't at curtain time. After that conversation with the Producer, I always included Announce Up/Down to prove that the show was starting on time.
252
The Hardline / Re: AEA Deputy selection process
« on: Dec 04, 2006, 03:39 pm »
don't know if I've ever been in an election where it has been read.
I've only read it once; on my first show actually. I asked the company if they wanted me to read it, and as there were several new AEA members in the company, they asked for it to be read. Many of the veteran actors tuned me out and proceeded to start filling out paperwork/looking at the research boards around the room.
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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Reports - Getting actors to read them (from Tools of the Trade)
« on: Dec 03, 2006, 10:35 am »However, I did have some problems with people not reading them. The way I fixed this problem was by requesting something from one of the people in question in one of my reports. Then when I had not received it by the next production meeting i just called them out for it. I haven't had a problem since.
The problem I foresee with this method in an educational setting like the one swood09 is in is that the people he would be calling out are most likely faculty based on my previous experience at that particular university. It's a tricky line to cross, because they hold your future SM assignments, grades, and recommendations in their hands. Once they decide that you create too much trouble, they practically blacklist you within the program. It's unfortunate, but I've seen it happen.
My ASM and I took a proactive approach to following up on notes in the rehearsal/performance reports by making rounds to the shops in the afternoon before rehearsal. We would take a notepad and a copy of the previous nights report with us and check-in on progress/to make sure they understood all of the notes. They thought it showed we cared a great deal about the show (which we did, of course), but most of the time we were really just checking up on them.
When possible, I still do the same thing now. I make myself available in the various departments before rehearsal starts so that they can ask me questions/give me updates on progress. And I just love seeing my show being built and to go in to the shop and see new pieces coming to life!!
254
Employment / Re: Hiring and references
« on: Nov 30, 2006, 01:33 am »Therefore on my CV I have put please contact me for contact details of referees. Is this OK or would this aggravate/ annoy you as an employer? Am I being too weary with there contact details??
On the resume I have posted on my website, I have listed "References Available Upon Request" because I don't want to have their contact details just out there for anyone to grab. I even do a reduction in my own personal info, listing only an email address because I don't really want to have my cell phone number or address out there on the web.
However, if I am serious about a job when I submit my resume, then I include my references and their contact info. I always talk with the people I have listed as references and give them a head's up that I'm sending resumes out and confirm that they are still willing to be one of my references. If they didn't want me to include their contact information, then I would probably put someone else on the resume, but mention in the interview that they could also contact John Doe, who I worked with on X production as (fill in the blank).
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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Warm-up/ Games
« on: Nov 29, 2006, 09:11 am »
I don't recall ever working on a show that played "games" as part of the rehearsal (unless scene based improv where they paraphrase dialogue counts). In college, I remember some pretty extensive warm-ups that the various directors/choreographers/vocal coaches had come up with. On Chicago, this warm-up included a "crunch session" for the dancers--a 10 minute ab workout. There were even heated discussions as to where it should fall in the warm-up. I usually took the warm-up to relax before settling into the nitty-gritty of rehearsal. I was in the room and double checked that I was totally organized and ready for the rehearsal, and then would alternate between seeing that the actors were on task (although the director/choreographer/vocal coach [a faculty member] was usually there to lead them) and chatting quietly with my ASM(s).
I have yet to work on a professional show where the full company does a warm-up together. I have had individual actors come in before half-hour to use the stage to warm up. I'm present simply because I'm there overseeing my crew and making sure we're all set for the performance.
I have yet to work on a professional show where the full company does a warm-up together. I have had individual actors come in before half-hour to use the stage to warm up. I'm present simply because I'm there overseeing my crew and making sure we're all set for the performance.