286
The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament IV: Trivia's Revenge!!
« on: Jan 03, 2014, 12:03 pm »
19 WINS? HOLY COW RUTH!! - well, thanks for allowing a few of us to win occasionally, it feels nice! So generous.....<g>
News:
14 Jan 2021: Happy 21st birthday, SMNetwork! I replaced the old broken mobile theme. -K
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287
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stage managing negative shows . . .
« on: Jan 02, 2014, 11:52 pm »
yeah - I've had those conversations w directors, choreo/MD types, etc. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. As you said.
288
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stage managing negative shows . . .
« on: Jan 02, 2014, 07:04 pm »
I agree with Ruth that most of the time, "the fish stinks from the head" - I've had to literally separate a director from a set designer about to come to blows (in rehearsal, in front of actors) and deal with directors who bad-mouthed the company or artistic director at every turn in front of everyone, who took joy in making actors cry or who were never, ever happy about anything at all ever. But I have also worked w some actors who hunt for ways we are not following the rulebook no matter the circumstance (some of whom I know you know) and turn a lovely environment into a power-of-petty-authority one, or actors whose egos were so large there was no room for anyone else. I have also had crew/ASMs who hated being there and made that clear to all around; I have usually (but not always) been able to turn poison at least into neutral, but not always been able make it a fun place to be.
Mostly, I make sure I do something fun on my day off, and mostly I make sure I do everything I can to find the joy in the gig, from baking to in jokes w crew/cast to celebrating tiny things (the actors said the right line! Chocolate all around!) or anything else we can come up with. And I pray every night to keep sane and find a reason to celebrate every day, until the day after the show closes. (Which works MOST of the time.)
Mostly, I make sure I do something fun on my day off, and mostly I make sure I do everything I can to find the joy in the gig, from baking to in jokes w crew/cast to celebrating tiny things (the actors said the right line! Chocolate all around!) or anything else we can come up with. And I pray every night to keep sane and find a reason to celebrate every day, until the day after the show closes. (Which works MOST of the time.)
289
Employment / Re: Dear Abby: advice on how to choose between offers
« on: Dec 29, 2013, 12:56 pm »
How about a pros and cons list - esp stress the cons. Does either company do something/have a rep that makes your instinct itch?
It may come down to a coin toss. But do your research, then ask yourself the question just before you fall asleep. See what answer you get when you wake up, before you do any kind of thinking.
It may come down to a coin toss. But do your research, then ask yourself the question just before you fall asleep. See what answer you get when you wake up, before you do any kind of thinking.
290
Employment / Dear Abby: advice on how to choose between offers
« on: Dec 28, 2013, 07:52 pm »
From a stage manager deciding between two opportunities:
I'm currently in the lucky position of having to choose between two jobs over the summer, and I'm really not sure which to take - any help people can give would be gratefully received! I believe it essentially boils down to what will look best on my CV, but others may have different thoughts.
Job A is working as a DSM on one production for a mid-level opera company based around two hours outside my hometown. I worked for this company last year in the same position, with the same team, and I absolutely loved it. Rehearsals take place in my hometown, and I would daily commute for days onstage and performances. The contract would run for 7 weeks.
Job B is working as a DSM on one production, and ASM on another, for a different mid-level opera company, based in my hometown. I have never worked for this company before, but I am friends with a lot of people who have, and they all speak highly of it. I currently live with the Head of Production. The contract would run for around 11 weeks.
Pay would be approximately the same for each DSM position, with an appropriate drop for an ASM. As far as budgets go, I believe Company A is slightly better funded, but is not as well equipped.
I'm currently in the lucky position of having to choose between two jobs over the summer, and I'm really not sure which to take - any help people can give would be gratefully received! I believe it essentially boils down to what will look best on my CV, but others may have different thoughts.
Job A is working as a DSM on one production for a mid-level opera company based around two hours outside my hometown. I worked for this company last year in the same position, with the same team, and I absolutely loved it. Rehearsals take place in my hometown, and I would daily commute for days onstage and performances. The contract would run for 7 weeks.
Job B is working as a DSM on one production, and ASM on another, for a different mid-level opera company, based in my hometown. I have never worked for this company before, but I am friends with a lot of people who have, and they all speak highly of it. I currently live with the Head of Production. The contract would run for around 11 weeks.
Pay would be approximately the same for each DSM position, with an appropriate drop for an ASM. As far as budgets go, I believe Company A is slightly better funded, but is not as well equipped.
291
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: calling cues
« on: Dec 28, 2013, 11:37 am »
agree w Ruth - I say "S/B lights (or sound) X on a visual" or (for ex on a phone ring) "s/b for sound x and sound y on a visual", and leave it at that.
292
The Green Room / Re: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PSMKAY
« on: Dec 27, 2013, 10:45 am »
What really surprises me is that Kay wasn't overwhelmed with appreciation and good wishes from the 100s of SMs on this site who read it and ask questions/advice/help every day.
You have created a community - a strong, vibrant, international community of stage managers, something no one else has accomplished. We get to learn about as well as from each other, exploring all kinds of facets of our profession in both important and interesting ways and sharing masses of helpful information. I don't know about the rest of you, but those resources which are "each other" have been incredible, helping with all kinds of challenges, including practical solutions to shared issues [rail cue sheets? done; fake goose? done; vomit in God of Carnage? done]. Many of us have even been delighted to meet quite a few SMNetwork SMs F2F as we or they travel. And this doesn't include the list of jobs/internships we might not otherwise have known about.
Hope your bday was amazing and filled with all kinds of celebration, and once again, thank you on so many levels for skills and foresight in making this site the resource and vibrant life-to-life link that it is. Deepest appreciation for everything.
You have created a community - a strong, vibrant, international community of stage managers, something no one else has accomplished. We get to learn about as well as from each other, exploring all kinds of facets of our profession in both important and interesting ways and sharing masses of helpful information. I don't know about the rest of you, but those resources which are "each other" have been incredible, helping with all kinds of challenges, including practical solutions to shared issues [rail cue sheets? done; fake goose? done; vomit in God of Carnage? done]. Many of us have even been delighted to meet quite a few SMNetwork SMs F2F as we or they travel. And this doesn't include the list of jobs/internships we might not otherwise have known about.
Hope your bday was amazing and filled with all kinds of celebration, and once again, thank you on so many levels for skills and foresight in making this site the resource and vibrant life-to-life link that it is. Deepest appreciation for everything.
293
The Green Room / Re: "The Sound of Music" Live on NBC
« on: Dec 23, 2013, 01:05 am »
Amusingly - esp as I actually do prefer the play version - the original movie was on tonite. And holy cow what a difference actual actors make in the lead roles, not just in the supporting cast!
294
The Green Room / HAPPY BIRTHDAY PSMKAY
« on: Dec 22, 2013, 10:54 am »
Thank you for this site, a gift that gives to all of us every day. Have a gloriously fun day with tons of presents and lots of good times with good friends!
295
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS: Post your requests for electronic scripts here!
« on: Dec 20, 2013, 10:56 pm »
Flyin' West by Pearl Cleage - anyone?
296
Employment / Re: Keeping in Touch
« on: Nov 26, 2013, 11:39 pm »
You can always send a note wishing them a happy TG/winter holiday and letting them know (briefly) that you have fond memories of your time with them, maybe how you've put into practice some of the things you learned while observing.
297
The Hardline / Re: New EMC Rule
« on: Nov 23, 2013, 11:57 pm »
No - this is the kind of deal the theaters set up with AEA before their EMCs hit 50 weeks. They finish the contract at EMC/nonEq rate, just that any new contracts need to be AEA. Call your rep, if this is happening, this was prearranged.
298
The Green Room / TODAY ONLY geeky Dr Who thrill
« on: Nov 23, 2013, 03:02 pm »
TODAY 11/23 Google's doodle is a Dr Who game, getting him in and out of different levels, with the Tardis and phone booth and, well, all kinds of geeky fun.
299
Employment / Re: Leaving an AEA contract early
« on: Nov 18, 2013, 05:34 pm »
especially if you can help cover yourself - I took over a show at tech recently, and because the SM called me and reviewd sched and was able to say "I have this other job but this person whom you know and trust is avail to take over" meant a clean and easy trasnfer.
300
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student Stage Manager Challenge #20: The wrong show
« on: Nov 13, 2013, 06:56 pm »
I know I am not supposed to weigh in yet, but thought folks reading this shd note that this can happen more often than you think - with an actor (especially senior actors) going up. Several very, very famous folks have script pages lining set pieces and props to keep them on track.