Messages

256

The Green Room / Re: Cooking for Stage Management

« on: May 06, 2008, 10:47 pm »

Usually I go off the healthy wagon during tech week.

I used to be like this until I started working for a rep company and have tech every 2 weeks.  Now I try really hard to have healthy snacks (fruit, nuts, yogurt, carrots/celery sticks) ready so I don't end up eating junk every time.  However, sometimes you just need to have chocolate... :-)

One of my favorite tech foods is brown rice with dried cranberries and walnuts (throw it all in the rice cooker together with some dill weed).  I usually add some grilled chicken and broccoli and then freeze it in single portion containers.  I also will put left overs in individual servings in the freezer so when it gets to tech I am not eating the same thing the entire week.  It makes it easy in the morning to just grab something out of the freezer and go, and not have to worry about trying to find the container to put it in.

Sometimes its good to get out of the building to see how the real world is doing.

This is so true!!  I am amazed at how much better I feel after going outside even if it is just for 5 mins.

257

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Theatre Rules For Kids (and adults)

« on: Apr 24, 2008, 12:52 pm »

This may not be an issue for you since it is an international tour, but one of the things at the top of my list is always cellphones/text messaging and when/where they can and can't have them.

258

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Tips and Tricks: Raked stages

« on: Apr 12, 2008, 06:20 pm »

Find out if there is any way to get the costume shoes for your actors as soon as possible once you are on stage, especially if there is any dancing.

259

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Disease Prevention Techniques

« on: Mar 30, 2008, 12:09 am »

Drink plenty of water.
Wash your hands. 
Don't share water bottles, lip balm, eye drops, or anything else that come in contact with any bodily fluid (insert your own joke here).
Wash your hands.
Cover your mouth with your arm (not your hand) if you sneeze or cough.
Wash your hands.
Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer, but make sure you rub your hands together until they are completely dry.
Drink more water.
And finally...  Wash your hands...

Keeping your body healthy with vitamins, etc is important, as is keeping your body hydrated.  However, the best thing you can do is prevent the transmission of the virus/bacteria.  Even something as small as not sharing your pencils can make a difference (you cough on your hands, someone else picks up your pencil and puts it in their mouth, instant contamination).  Don't feel bad about reminding people about washing their hands or using hand sanitizer.  Keep some next to the pencils and kleenex if you have to.

260

Employment / Re: Non-AEA Resume Semantics: Dishonesty or Acceptable?

« on: Mar 29, 2008, 02:30 pm »

There is a difference between lying or saying you did something that you didn't (which you should never ever, ever do because you will get caught) and putting a positive spin on what you have done.

For example:

If you were an intern/PA at a regional AEA theatre, but had the responsibilities of an ASM, list your title as it was noted in the program (which tends to be a higher classification than what you really are) and then (ASM) or (ASM responsibilities).

This is telling the truth about what you did on the show, but makes it appear better than if you just say "I was an intern..."

The same theory applies to special skills and education.  Don't lie, but find positive ways to sell yourself.

SSM

261

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Help! My ASM is USELESS.

« on: Mar 24, 2008, 04:31 am »

One thing to remember is that we all have different work styles.  Has this person ASM'ed before?  Is she used to SM'ing her own shows and hasn't ASM'ed (therefore being unfamiliar with the "assistant" or backstage part of the job)?  Although it is a nice thought, not everyone works well with everyone else.  Even experienced, professional SM's/ASM's sometimes have such different styles that it is almost impossible for them to work together.  So if she has any experience, consider that this might be part of the problem.
If she is unexperienced, it may be that she just doesn't understand what her job is, and how things need to be done.  We all understand that you shouldn't text message during rehearsal, but someone who is new to the process maybe doesn't.   What might be the best thing to do, especially since it is an educational setting, is to sit down with her (and with an advisor/faculty person if you feel it is necessary) and very clearly define what your expectations are from her in how she should behave in rehearsals, how you would like jobs to be done, and what the general role of a ASM is.  It is very possible that no one has ever told her these things clearly, AND/OR that she realizes that she is completely over her head and doesn't want to look bad or admit that she doesn't know what she is doing.  We all had to start somewhere, and as you said, not everyone is cut out for stage management.  If your production has the time and the ability to replace her, give her the opportunity to make the choice to commit to the production or to say "I tried, I'm sorry, but it's not for me" and to walk away.  That way everyone has a clear idea of where everyone else stands, she will know what is expected of her, and you don't have to worry about your actors being squashed by a 400 lbs wagon.  Then hold her to those standards that you set by a certain date, and if she doesn't hold up her end of it, you will have been clear about why you have to replace her.

This is not an easy situation for anyone, and I hope it works out for you!!

SSM

262

Tools of the Trade / Re: Erasable highlighters?

« on: Mar 23, 2008, 01:15 am »

Thanks to the amazing minds of SMNetwork, my conundrum has been solved!  Thank you!!

SSM

263

Tools of the Trade / Erasable highlighters?

« on: Mar 22, 2008, 07:31 pm »

Has anyone else seen an erasable highlighter?  About 6-7 years ago, someone in my family got one as swag from a convention, and knowing my SM love for office supplies, gave it to me.  It was amazing!  It really did erase, and not leave any marks behind.  However, I have NEVER been able to find another one, and there wasn't a manufacturer's name on it, only the telecom company that was giving them out at the convention.

Was this just a one off, SM's dream gadget that never caught on, or has anyone else encountered this pen???

SSM

264

The Hardline / Re: HELP! MY CAST IS NUDE!!

« on: Mar 19, 2008, 07:19 pm »

Something else to think of in a school setting is making sure that your crew is comfortable with the material.  Since many school shows have crews that are there as part of a class requirement, you should make sure that they are aware that there will be nudity and adult content.

If it is a musical, this would also apply to the orchestra.

265

Employment / Re: Interview - What is your weakness?

« on: Mar 19, 2008, 07:11 pm »

I would absolutely agree with what Matthew said.  You want to be both honest and positive with your answer, and then say what you are doing to try to improve whatever it is.

My answer to this question is more skill based than personality based.  It is that I don't know as much about lighting and sound as I would like to, but am working on learning more by reading and observing designers.

266

Tools of the Trade / Re: "Mylar" tape removal?

« on: Mar 12, 2008, 04:40 am »

Depending how much residue you have (if it is a lot, this may not work) a bit of rubbing alcohol on a scrub pad (like the green plastic one you would use for dishes) might work. 

***test it on a small corner of the floor first to make sure it won't remove the finish before you try it right in the center***

267

Tools of the Trade / Re: A stopwatch that doesn't keep accurate time?

« on: Feb 03, 2008, 06:54 pm »

It has a new battery, so no luck on that...  I am working on a show with ghosts in it, so maybe taht is the problem... 

268

Tools of the Trade / A stopwatch that doesn't keep accurate time?

« on: Feb 02, 2008, 06:45 pm »

I just got a new digital stopwatch (Exertech brand), and and after using it in rehearsals for a few days, I realized it doesn't time accurately.  After a run through that seemed unusually short, I checked it against the other 3 stopwatches that I have, and it is 10% slow (it loses 1 second per 10).  I did check all of the other stopwatches against each other, and they all match exactly.

Has anyone else ever had this problem?  It is one of the strangest things I have ever seen... 

SSM

269

Employment / Re: North Shore Music Theatre

« on: Jan 26, 2008, 01:25 am »

I have worked there, and I can say hands down it was the best company I have ever worked for.  I only worked on one show, but every person I dealt with was friendly, supportive, and helpful.  It was almost Twilight Zone good......  They have recently under gone significant management and staff changes, so I can't promise that it will still be that way but it is my understanding that it is.  Feel free to PM me if you want more info...

SSM

270

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: "Lighting" Cigarettes?

« on: Jan 23, 2008, 04:27 pm »

Well, I've done Blue/Orange (love that script, btw!) and we cheated and had the actor light-up very briefly and then had another character stub it right out.  We also kept it to just the one (I can't remember off-hand if the script calls for more).

Depending on where you are located, this could still be a violation of the fire code.  Some cities/states say absolutely no fire/incendiary devices at all without proper permits and fire marshals on site (this is particularly true on the east coast of the US because of the night club fire). 

If you live some where that the fire codes are not as strict, you could do this, or light a match, pretend to light the cigarette, and then drop the match in a glass of water.  Other ideas include using a regular disposible lighter with no fluid, using the strike on box only matches and then "strike" them on anything else (table, other side of match book, etc) so you have the motion of lighting it but no actual flame.  Along those same lines you can take a book of matches, cut the heads off, and just have the motion of striking the match on the book with nothing to ignite.  I have also seen once some clever slight of hand using a very small orange, battery LED light that looked like a lighter that the actor palmed and turned on while cupping his hand around the cigarette and then turned off as he removed his hand.
Just my opinion, but I feel like most audiences now will go along with what you commit to, meaning that if your actors commit to looking like they are lighting a cigarette, and they have a fake puffy cigarette, the audience with take the journey with them and not question where the fire came from.  Also, in that small of a space, more people would be distracted by actual smoking than will be distracted by the lack of real flame.

 :)SSM