Messages

31

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: First Show SMing at my College

« on: Jan 22, 2009, 09:27 am »

Congratulations on SMing your first college show!  I second what SMRose said about getting a good book.  The big tip that I have for keeping things running smoothly is just remain calm and cool.  Also, take lots of notes...even if you think you will remember things.

Also, I did some work with the theater program at College of DuPage prior to moving to New York.  It's a great program with nice facilities..and I love Jon and Don.  They are great resources and you should use them if you have any questions or concerns.  Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, it's been awhile since I've been there but I keep up with some of those people still.

32

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Staged Reading?

« on: Jan 09, 2009, 07:16 pm »

Staged readings are pared down...treat it like you would any new work and keep track of any script changes made, etc.  Make sure you know what your director wants to accomplish within the two days of rehearsal to ensure everything is ready for the reading.  With two days of rehearsal will it actually be staged, or just the actors reading at music stands?   Is it a public reading, or an in-house reading?  Also, be sure to have binders for the actors as they will not be expected to memorize.

As far as reading stage directions, that depends on the reading.  I've done readings where the stage manager has been the stage direction reader.  The majority of the readings I've done, however, do have an actor cast for stage directions.  If you are the one that will be reading the stage directions find out from the director which directions they want.

Good luck and have a fun time!

33

Tools of the Trade / Re: Holiday SM Gifts

« on: Jan 03, 2009, 11:45 pm »

I got a new container for my kit to help be more portable.  It's a Plano tackle bag with 4 plastic, divided containers inside.  I love it!!

34

The Hardline / Re: How did you get your card?

« on: Dec 30, 2008, 11:17 pm »

I got my card about 4 months after to moving to NYC.  I managed to get a job as a production assistant at one of the larger theater companies in their off-B'way space.  The PSM and ASM really liked me and convinced the company that they needed me to remain on staff for the run of the show (I was originally contracted only through opening).  Of course, I lept at the opportunity to learn more from these folks, so agreed to stay on. 

The show ended up extending but the PSM had a prior commitment and couldn't stay.  It was only a 2 week contract, so it was my choice if I wanted to be sponsored for my card (and pay for it myself) or take over the ASM track in a non-union capacity.  Given the choice, I picked up the contract.  I learned a lot on that show.  I am forever thankful for the stage management team that had faith in me, negotiated with the GM to keep me on for the run and ultimately, get me my card.

35

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / COMMUNICATION: Getting a hold of actors...

« on: Dec 15, 2008, 10:24 pm »

I start rehearsal for a show tomorrow and in the week of prep one of our actors has been difficult to get a hold of.  I don't mean that he doesn't return calls, but his voicemail is consistently overflowing so you can't even get in to leave a message.  Sometimes when you email and tell him, he will respond with a phone call.  Sometimes the email also bounces back.  One day when it  the asst. costume designer was unable to get in touch with him schedule a fitting prior to rehearsals starting, his agent was called.  The agent's response made it seem like this was standard operating procedure for the actor.

Has anyone encountered a similar situation?  What was your plan of action?

36

Employment / Re: Questions for Interviewing SM's

« on: Dec 10, 2008, 01:53 pm »

I feel like I'm really hit or miss when hiring, but feel like I'm getting better.  I've actually conducted the vast majority of my interviews over the phone.  One questions I always ask, and feel gives me a good idea about the candidate, is what they like about stage managing.

37

Stage Management: Other / Re: Quesitons Needed for a stage management workshop

« on: Dec 03, 2008, 08:31 pm »

I've also been in a class where we were given 2-3 people and two stage set-ups so you had to choreograph transitions...

38

The Green Room / Re: I can't believe I just had to do that...

« on: Dec 02, 2008, 03:50 pm »

When doing outdoor theater this summer we had a family of 3 foxes living in the theater (amphitheater, building behind the audience that they came through and gates backstage).  Now, I've had raccoons, rats, mice, squirrels, etc. but never foxes.  It started with Papa Fox scoping things out and visiting occasionally then it turned into a nightly endeavor, with all 3 foxes, where they would run around backstage, the audience, wherever they wanted.  We would alert house staff over the walkie talkies then the house staff would try to chase the foxes backstage where my crew would try to get them out the gates.  One night after a tech, the production manager and myself ended up chasing a fox out of the building at 4am.  I just felt bad for my crew person who would clean up the indoor run rooms after the fox relieved himself in there one night.

Another time where I wondered what I was doing was when as a props person I was gluing cheesecloth to a bowling ball so we could paint it some outrageous color.

39

Employment / Re: Taking Time Off

« on: Oct 08, 2008, 07:35 pm »

If you really want to experience something like The Peace Corps or another volunteer agency of the sort, I'd say do it now.  As SMrose expressed, theater will always be here. 

Keep in touch with those people that have expressed an interest in working with you and reconnect with them once you are back and doing theater again.  An experience like the Peace Corps will enrich you as a person and a stage manager.

Best of luck in what you choose to do!

40

SMNetwork Archives / Re: I could have kissed them!

« on: Sep 29, 2008, 09:11 am »

When, after a 5 hour tech for a 2.5 hour musical that's part of a festival, the majority of the cast thanked me for getting us through the show smoothly.  And one of my actresses said the only things she was worried about for the performance was putting her chair on spike and if her hat was going to fall off. 

Another one of my actors brought a cupcake in for my assistant and myself - and was going to wait until closing, but brought them early since he knew it was my ASM's final performance with us.

41

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Alley Staging

« on: Aug 31, 2008, 05:17 pm »

I've worked on a show with this seating configuration before and it worked well.  As everything, it does present certain difficulties but it didn't seem more so than any other show.  The big thing for us when we set up the room was making sure there was audience seating set-up on either side of the acting area so the cast gets used to the idea of the audience being on those two sides.

As far as blocking: I took blocking as I would for a regular proscenium show, I considered where I was sitting the audience and everything else was normal.

We had a large enough stage management team that we were able to have one person sitting on book across from us.  The assistant director often sat on the opposite side from the director and they would switch sides periodically.  This too was to remind actors to play to both sides.

Good luck!

42

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: NY Cell Number?

« on: Aug 31, 2008, 05:12 pm »

I personally have maintained my out-of-state cell number.  Primarily it's because this was my primary contact info when I moved to the city and had already sent out numerous resumes.  Now so many people have this number it doesn't seem prudent to change it.

43

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Ricola

« on: Aug 29, 2008, 09:37 pm »

They change went into effect June 1st and the shipping fee varies by region - still a great deal though with the amount of ricola they donate to theaters!

44

The Hardline / Re: Possibly Stupid NYMF Question

« on: Aug 09, 2008, 12:01 pm »

There's also SPF - Summer Play Festival.

Lots of Festivals in New York...

45

Tools of the Trade / Re: [FAQ] Electronic Prompt Copies

« on: May 08, 2008, 08:22 am »

If my page numbers don't match the original script when I am done, I go through and mark my pages with the original script's page breaks and page numbers so that I can use them when referring to things with actors (or anyone else not using my version). 

This is also what I do.  If I can keep the pagination with the mainstream script, then I try to do that.  However - the show I was just working on was a musical and didn't have any of the song lyrics in the script.  So, I went through and put them into my calling script and the scripts given to designers.  I marked in the margins the page numbers that matched with the director and the cast.