Messages

271

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SCENERY: Linoleum Floors for a touring show

« on: Jan 14, 2014, 08:48 am »

Hi jehansam, welcome to SMNetwork.

Linoleum is certainly not made for temporary/touring applications, so I think you'll run into issues if you're putting the floor down and taking it up every day.

How about cutting some plywood to match your 12x14' dimensions and permanently laying the linoleum on the plywood?  When it's time to strike you simply pick up the plywood and load out.  You'll still need to find a way to keep the plywood from moving about the stage, but I think that's a better solution than using a product designed for permanent installations in a touring manner.

I'd also suggest you head over to the Intro's Board and tell us a bit about yourself.

272

Employment / Re: Still no word about payment

« on: Jan 07, 2014, 08:47 am »

No response yet! I drafted a contract with the stipend I'd like (I would be okay with them asking to lower it a bit), and sent it their way. The contract includes a payment schedule, and the email says I'll need it signed before I begin work. Hopefully I'll hear back tomorrow.

In my opinion and with the knowledge of the situation you've provided in this thread, I think this was the right path forward.  Good luck - let us know the results.

273

Employment / Re: Still no word about payment

« on: Jan 06, 2014, 10:36 am »

I agree with SMRose's last point.  If they can't tell you what they have available to pay you it's likely they haven't got anything budgeted for an SM.  If they had budgeted X dollars for the position they'd be able to discuss that with you immediately.  That's symptomatic of much larger issues, but focusing specifically on you: if they don't have the budget nailed down five days before you're set to begin work it's quite possible they don't know how much they'll pay you and, perhaps worse, where they're going to find the money.  It seems as if they're putting the cart before the horse in that they've asked you to SM the production but are just now getting around to budgeting for your work. 

I would use your instinct in this situation.  If you still have nothing else scheduled you're not really going to be at a material loss if you hang on until the last minute (just stressed, frustrated, etc...).  You also need to extrapolate this situation a bit.  If this is how the company represents themselves in talent acquisition, is this how the entire production is going to be?    Whatever you decide, I would not begin work before a contract is signed by both parties. 

As your post is from two days ago, is there any update?  Have they given substantive response to your email(s)?

274

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament IV: Trivia's Revenge!!

« on: Jan 04, 2014, 09:22 am »

There are a lot of new members over the last few months, perhaps we should post an intro for new members and a refresher for the veterans? 

275

Tools of the Trade / Re: Ergonomics and the Tech Table

« on: Jan 03, 2014, 08:53 am »

PSMKay's original post was regarding a work environment that's predominantly sedentary and how to avoid that, so I don't think we're veering too far off topic by branching slightly into personal life (After all, we only have one body.  Our physical health is our health whether we're in rehearsal or at home).  A lot of the conventional wisdom over the last couple of years suggests that we should shoot for 10,000 steps/day to avoid a sedentary lifestyle.  There are a number of relatively affordable devices out there that track our steps (e.g. Fitbit or Jawbone), I found wearing a pedometer a good way to measure how active I've been, and perhaps more importantly how inactive I am some days.  Some devices will even buzz you if you've been sedentary for x number of minutes. 

Once you start to get into the mindset of reaching 10,000 steps/day you find ways to make it happen, even if your job is mostly sitting.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park at the back of the lot, get off one transit stop before yours and walk, etc...  At the end of the day if I'm short of 10,000 I will walk around my living room while I watch TV instead of just sitting on the couch.  I'm sure it looks pretty goofy to my neighbors in the next building over, but it's a good way to get in some extra steps while relaxing.

276

Employment / Re: Florida Job Advice

« on: Jan 02, 2014, 10:02 am »

Congratulations on the gig in Boca and welcome to SMNetwork.

I have lived in Miami for a bit over 7 years - what type of work are you looking for?  Most of the larger houses in the tri-county area (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach) are touring houses, so they come fully staffed.  You may check them out to see if there are full-time resident positions available. 

Some of the large touring venues ff the top of my head:
Kravitz CFPA - West Palm Beach
Broward CFPA - Ft Lauderdale
Adrienne Arscht CFPA - Miami
Fillmore - Miami Beach

Some companies / smaller venues in the area you may check out for show-specific opportunities.  This is very Miami-centric as I rarely venture North of county-line road if I can avoid it 

New Theatre - Coral Gables (Miami)
New World Sympony - Miami Beach
Florida Grand Opera - Miami
Actor's Playhouse - Coral Gables
GableStage - Coral Gables
Miami City Ballet - Miami Beach
Gusman CFPA - Miami

The arts scene in Miami in general has really developed over the last few years so I am sure you can find a number of other companies in Miami, but I imagine most would not be capable of paying a living wage.

I have been out of Stage Managing full time since I moved to Miami so I have not actually worked for any of these companies, so please treat this as more of a list than as recommendations of where to seek employment. 

Good luck in your search and please keep us posted!

277

Employment / Re: Resumes and Cover Letters......The Nitty Gritty Part of Stage Managing

« on: Dec 31, 2013, 08:49 am »

Does anyone have a cover letter and resume they can send me I can use as a guide?

I do have a resume which I update after each show, but I would love what I could improve on.

Cover letters are very personal and [should be] specific for each job to which you're applying.  The cover letter is the document in which you showcase your personality, strengths, goals, etc.. - a lot of the subjective things about you that you can't put onto a resume.  While a CV/Resume is a form document that is much easier to pick and choose styles you like, a cover letter should be specifically your style. 

278

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CC/BCC and Email Etiquette

« on: Dec 31, 2013, 08:35 am »

If the only thing an intern learns to do over the course of an internship is the method of sending a proper email, then I'd say the internship is 100% worthwhile.

Without going into a diatribe on replies to all, redundant emails, etc... I will just say that I 100% agree with your 100% statement!

279

Employment / Re: Dear Abby: advice on how to choose between offers

« on: Dec 30, 2013, 08:09 am »

From the facts you've outlined below it seems that opportunity B is a bit better immediately.  Longer contract and two shows instead of one, and it seems that opportunity A would have four hours of daily commute once you're in the performance space?  Don't underestimate that.

But, I echo what the others have said previously - what do you think is the better opportunity long term?  In addition to what you've mentioned you need to factor in opportunity cost/benefit.

280

Tools of the Trade / Re: Camera Relay Software

« on: Dec 30, 2013, 08:01 am »

Hi Jempage. I think the software you're thinking of is called CamTwist (http://camtwiststudio.com) but if it isn't it should be able to do what you described.

Hope this helps.

Looks like the OP's last active date on the site was November 30, hopefully he comes back to check in soon.  The software in your post looks to be along the lines of what Jempage was originally referencing, so thanks for sharing that.

281

Introductions / Re: From Pittsburgh to a Magical Place...

« on: Dec 30, 2013, 07:57 am »

Welcome to SMNetwork!

If you are open to exploring other avenues in effort of reaching your goal you may consider DCL.  Cruise ships are often a road less traveled and your current employer happens to own a cruise line.  Of course it's a totally different experience than a park or other land-based SM work but more than a few of us on the boards here either got our start or gained significant experience and contacts in the cruise industry - worth checking out.

Good luck to you and happy posting.

282

The Green Room / Re: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PSMKAY

« on: Dec 23, 2013, 08:55 am »

Happy Belated Kay! 

283

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Unpaid Interns, Complicit Colleges

« on: Dec 16, 2013, 01:34 pm »

When in college, my mentor (an old vet of the navy and IATSE) advised us to reach and apply for actual, paid positions.

This. 

I approached my stage management career* with the same attitude.  I did an internship in high school with a reputable regional theater, but during summers in college and upon graduation I only accepted paid positions.  After graduation I was offered a couple positions as a PA, with PA wages.  I politely declined because I knew I was qualified to ASM smaller regional or summer stock shows at the market rate of an ASM.  Shortly thereafter I accepted a full time SM position with an excellent wage for someone straight out of school, with some basic medical benefits included.  Had I accepted the frighteningly standard Intern->PA->ASM track I'd have found myself on a much worse path financially. 

I know it flies in the face of much of the conventional wisdom in the industry and many reading this may disagree, but at the very least - set your target for a real, paid position.  There's no reason to immediately target unpaid work and accept the unpaid labor path as fait accompli.  Now, if you're coming out of a four year college/university and the only thing you're qualified to do is intern, then you need to do some soul searching and figure out what you just paid for.

Is it right that some companies take advantage of unpaid labor to the degree they do?  I don't think so.  But if you're willing to work for free, then you shouldn't expect to be paid.


* my stage management career was admittedly short, though that's a symptom of financial reality in the industry above all, and is likely the source of most of my opinions on this subject.

284

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: Sleep no more UNPAID interns

« on: Dec 12, 2013, 04:12 pm »

Regardless this is just pathetic, there is just no excuse anymore, pay people or don't hire them. Privilege, experience, and connections are wonderful but they are no longer something you can rely on, these things need to change.

If you were hiring someone to mow your lawn and one person was willing to do it for $50 while another was willing to do it for $0, which person would you choose? 

285

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Prop Fire Extinguisher

« on: Dec 10, 2013, 03:29 pm »

If you are going to use a real fire extinguisher there is potential risk involved with CO2.  CO2 extinguishers extinguish fire by injecting a high concentration of CO2 into an area; this removes the O2 from the area which is, as we know, what fuels fires - that's good!  But O2 is also what fuels humans, so removing that from an area inhabited by humans is bad.  They're used primarily in areas with mission-critical electronics - e.g. datacenters, control rooms, etc...  The benefit is that they put out fires without dousing expensive electronic equipment and surrounding area with water, but there is real hazard for the operator (let alone someone in the path) of the extinguisher if this is used in a reasonably confined space.  The person operating this would also need to wear some PPE - gloves and pants - as if any part of the canister comes into contact with exposed skin during or immediately after operation you risk cold burns (I realize PPE is not always available in a fire, but if you're planning to use CO2 you can plan to have PPE).  I would not recommend this for special effects.

ejsmith's question is important - does the effect specifically call for a fire extinguisher, or do you just need a lot of fog in a hurry?  Low fog systems are good for this, or dry ice if you're on a budget.