Messages

256

Stage Management: Other / Re: Some Opera Questions

« on: Aug 02, 2008, 05:24 pm »

X/X/X= page/ staff/ measure

Stage and Piano rehearsal = full tech, lights, costumes, scenery but with piano accompaniment only (ie. 1st dress rehearsal)
Stage and Orchestra = full tech, lights, costumes, scenery with FULL orchestra (ie. final dress rehearsal)- strict union rules usually apply in this rehearsal

also of note: Sitzprobe- seated rehearsal with singers and full orchestra (usually held after staging is complete right before moving to technical rehearsals)

water table- coffee/ tea set up.  Usually have 3 large coffee makers. 1 for caf, 1 for decaf, 1 for hot water.  Have lots of teabags (variety), honey, lemon, sugar, creamer, etc.  Helps to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer here (and on all props tables and SM tables).  It is important to keep all items well stocked and fresh.  Singers tend to be very particular about their drinks.  I also try to supply hot water kettles for star dressing rooms when possible.

257

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Help! Beastly show and actor!!!

« on: Jul 27, 2008, 02:15 pm »

Again, I think there is perhaps an age and gender angle to this situation - where I feel like as a middle aged man, I can take childish people yelling at me and sort of shrug it off - it's amazing how often I get complimented on how I don't let it get to me and how I don't get sucked up into it - and how I actually I seem more in control of a situation by just letting it bounce off me. 

But again, that is my personal style.

You probably also gained a lot of patience being a father. . .

258

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Help! Beastly show and actor!!!

« on: Jul 18, 2008, 12:33 am »

I have to agree with loebtmc.  A few years ago, I was engaged in a hostile conversation with a co-worker and thought that it would be better to end the conversation and walk away than to say "anything that I might regret later."  This turned out to be a mistake on my part and angered the person greatly.  I should have had the strength to stay and listen rather than fight back in such a way.

As stage managers, we must hold ourselves at the highest standard.  Even if we are "off-duty" or in a non-professional situation.    This includes turning the other cheek, accepting blame when blame is not due, listening without judging and not disrespecting someone no matter how much they disrespect us.

This is, of course, impossible since we are still human.  But we must try our best.

259

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Tips for Packing?

« on: Jul 16, 2008, 11:02 am »

If you have a pair of socks, underwear, shoes, whatever that are on their last legs, pack them, wear them once or twice and throw them away.  You will then gain that extra bit of room in your suitcase for something you will buy along the way.

Also (and this is tough) DO NOT feel compelled to take the shampoo, lotion, soap from EACH hotel.  It took me forever to learn this lesson.  Usually it is really low quality and 20 bottles of half used shampoo is a HUGE waste of space.

DO take the cheap free pens from each hotel. When someone asks you for a pen, give them one of those.  You won't care if you get it back or not and you won't lose one of your good pens.

If you end up buying a large/ heavy item on tour, just mail it to your home or office.  Don't lug it around with you for a few more weeks.  I once bought an extra suitcase to fill with crap I bought on tour.  By the end of tour, was so sick of lugging around that extra suitcase . . .

Pass on your books.  If you bring/ buy a book on tour that you do not necessarily want to keep, pass it on to your tourmates or a local.

Lastly (and this might be TMI) fold your underwear in thirds not in half, they fit better.  And don't roll your socks, just fold in half once as a pair.

I am a packing obsessed packer.  I could go on for hours, but my laundry calls because I am leaving on a 2 week stint in CT on Sunday!

260

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Blocking question: non-dance, movement based

« on: Jul 15, 2008, 10:50 am »

My first suggestion is to video tape that particular section.  This will only work if this is a non-AEA show and you have the permission of all parties.  But it is the most accurate way to record a choreography.  Video taping is standard procedure in dance but is tricky in theater settings.

I also suggest drawing pictures of the movement in snapshots.  Either the bird's eye view or a front view.  You can use arrows to indicate direction of movement and draw stick figures of the performers to show body positions better than words can describe.

261

The Hardline / Re: Ensemble Studio Theatre in NYC

« on: Jul 14, 2008, 03:50 pm »

They use the mini contract.

262

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Shadowing Broadway's A Chorus Line

« on: Jul 13, 2008, 08:19 pm »

I have shadowed several shows.  You will probably be asked to arrive about 1/2 hour before the show.  The SM(s) will probably show you their office, walk you through the preset check and set up you up with a headset and a seat near the calling station.  You will watch the show as they see it (monitors, etc) and be able to ask questions during down time.

It can be a great learning experience even for SMs with a good deal of professional experience to watch other SMs in action.

263

Employment / Re: What comes next

« on: Jul 11, 2008, 01:07 pm »

What have you been doing as your day job?  Is there room there to advance or transition?

264

Employment / Re: in between work...

« on: Jul 11, 2008, 01:42 am »

My first advice:  Take a vacation!!!!

To fill in I do: electrics/ crew work; sub for other SMs; take consulting jobs (theatre related)

In addition, this summer, I am doing a brief stint at a summer camp that involves a small amount of SM (final recital) but mostly involves helping occupy the "down" time to keep kids/ teens out of trouble.

More on subbing:
Summer is a great time to sub.  People need weekends off to go to out of town weddings/ family reunions.  Contact SMs in your area to see if anyone needs a sub.  This is especially good to do for festivals.  You can end up subbing multiple shows in the same venue.

265

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Aging in stage management (those late 20's)

« on: Jul 07, 2008, 02:07 pm »

I agree with everything that ljh has said.

I wanted to throw my two cents in.  As a stage manager in the last year of my 20s, my biggest advice is to always take that next step forward.  This unfortunately might mean turning down work that does not pay enough (or whatever) and being unemployed from time to time waiting for the right job to come.  Trust yourself and your work that the right opportunity will come.  Don't pressure yourself into taking a job that is below you.  You will only resent the people you work with and be angry at yourself.

266

Tools of the Trade / Re: Things that went wrong with your technical equipment?

« on: Jul 03, 2008, 06:00 pm »

I have had to call a show on cell phone when the headsets died as soon as the show started. I was on the phone to the light op who relayed cues to sound. And I used hand signals to give deck cues across the stage. It was guerrilla theater at its finest.

267

Employment / Re: Stage Management Salary

« on: Jun 29, 2008, 03:26 pm »

I freelance in AEA and AGMA. My salary ranges from 600/week to 1300/week. I live in nyc.

268

Articles from the Old Site / Re: Unpaid/Underpaid Positions

« on: Jun 29, 2008, 02:01 pm »

I feel this way about some of the union work out there. Some off Broadway contracts offer lower salaries than unemployment

269

Tools of the Trade / Re: The Blackberry

« on: Jun 25, 2008, 11:52 pm »

I am in fact responding from my blackberry right now. It is fairly new so I have not fully explored the sm advantages but am enjoying many of its aspects. Love having instant email access.

I like the calendar. As well.

270

Tools of the Trade / SM uses for CAD Software

« on: Jun 10, 2008, 07:17 pm »

Mod note: this is a split from the second half of JoshAnderson's post in "What Software do you Use" - kmc307

I notice a lot of people use AutoCAD or equivalent programs in their work.

What exactly do you use them to create? Any examples you can share?

I'm lame and usually just make my ground plans via photoshop; however, I can see how AutoCAD would be much more accurate!

Thanks,

- Josh

1- It is more accurate.
2- Most designers create the plans in a CAD program.  Usually I can get them to send it to me.  Which means I don't need to re-draw the groundplan. I can select what I want and copy and paste.
3- I use it to communicate changes or specifications from rehearsal/ director to the designers (set and lights).  I do this by marking areas, highlighting dimensions or moving things around.
4- My real real reason though is for taping out the floor.  No need to print groundplan and measure with a scale rule.  CAD has a dimension feature and I just have to draw a dimension line between two points to know the measurements.

Attached is one page of an example of Reason #3.  I did a play that had about 12 scenes and the director often changed her mind about where furniture and moving scenery should play.  I created these shift plots from the designer's originals and was able to keep all parties up to date.