Messages

31

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: sharing rehearsal room- and props??

« on: May 02, 2010, 12:22 am »

I have to agree with everyone else.... its absolutely inexcusable for someone to continually use another productions props/set/costumes or whatever else it may be without getting permission.     Nmno makes a good point about being in that desperate moment, but it baffles my mind that the other SM thought it was okay and continued "borrowing" them.   I would be curious to know what they are using for props now that you have moved out of the room.  Did the SM acquire the stuff him/herself or are they just "borrowing" from another production?

Even if you ignore the issues of sanitation, this just shows a lack of respect and courtesy for the other people around us.

32

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: In need of spike tape

« on: Apr 25, 2010, 08:42 pm »

I almost always use Production Advantage for all my supplies, consumables and other purchases.  They are based in Vermont but ship everywhere.  The Northeast is usually next day delivery if you order before noon.     I have never had a problem with their service.

http://www.productionadvantageonline.com/

(800) 424-9991

33

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SHOWS: How The Other Half Loves

« on: Apr 06, 2010, 11:23 pm »

I did "Loves" a few summers ago.   Its a very fun but busy show.     The best advice I can give is to keep on top of all the props as much as possible.  We had problems like "where did spatula #4 end up after it was thrown across the room?".   Its just one of those shows were everything needs to be very detailed or it turns into a cluster f*ck very quickly.      We used real soup, and real eggs, but I think that was the only real food we had.   Of course, lots of water all over the stage.   Make sure you keep a mop/ broom handy during tech.

If you have specific questions, please let me know and I will be happy to help.

Have fun!

oh.. and try to stay out of the splash zone! 

34

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROMPT BOOK: Organization?

« on: Feb 22, 2010, 11:58 pm »

With the exception of reports, I like to have everything else at the front the binder with the script in the back.    For me, it just seems to provide easier access to other paperwork.  The script is always the biggest block of the binder, so therefore easy to find.    A few years ago, I started putting reports at the back on a long run show because as I gathered more and more reports the last few pages of the script were getting destroyed by the raised spine of the binder.  So I choose to "destroy" the copies of the reports and preserve the script.

However, echoing others... its whatever works for you.    Anyone that says there is only 1 "right way" of stage managing is full of it.

Edited word for language-Rebbe

35

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS Archive June 09-Dec. 10

« on: Feb 11, 2010, 04:13 pm »

I just found out that I am also working on "Pajama Game" this summer.  If anyone has an electronic copy, I would appreciate it!

Thanks
Eric

ejbehnke AT yahoo.com

36

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TECHNOLOGY: Anyone else using Google Sites?

« on: Jan 15, 2010, 03:08 am »

hello Marcie!

Jen in the TYA office set up the site.  I am not sure if she is planning on doing it for your show or not.  Yes, I am the lighting director on "Chasing George"...  we met very briefly when we played through NY. 

As for people checking into the site... I get the general impression that people on the tour do not actively check the site.  They may look at it from time to time, but it is certainly not the primary mode of communication.   Similiar to what Dallas is doing, we are using this as a trial basis, I don't know if its something the company will continue.

37

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Anyone else using Google Sites?

« on: Jan 13, 2010, 10:50 pm »

I am currently out on the road as the lighting director for a national tour out of the Kennedy Center.   This year, they decided to set up a google site for the tour.   They have our schedule, tour manual, hotel list, etc posted on it.   Its stays pretty updated, so we can always check into it while we are on the road.    Its nice to have an easy way to check our physical paperwork to make sure it is up to date.   The only issue that we have noticed is that we have not figured out away for those of us on the road to "subscribe" to the page.  Ideally, if the office updates something, googlesites would then notify all of us that a change was made.  However, there does not seem to be away to do this.

So, yea.... so far so good.

38

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS Archive June 09-Dec. 10

« on: Dec 05, 2009, 06:23 pm »

hello everyone!

I just got a list of shows for my summer season.  If you have any of the following, I would appreciate it, please email to ejbehnke AT yahoo.com     

Thanks
Eric

Agatha Christie's Spider Web
See How They Run by Phillip King
Brigadoon
Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks by Richard Alfieri
The Andrews Brothers by Roger Bean

39

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Performance Reports Excerpted or Made Public

« on: Nov 26, 2009, 11:49 pm »

I have always considered the reports confidential, however, I had a reality check a few years ago.  I was stage managing a relatively large musical at a summer stock theatre.  After a performance, my ASM came up to me and said that she believed one of the musicians was intoxicated during the show.  I know that the musician was late to call because he came from a wedding, so the possibility was definitely there.  I talked to the MD about it, and the MD said he was not sure but also agreed it was possible.   There was not any noticeable problems during the performance, but I felt it was something that needed to be noted.  (if for nothing else in the event of future problems).    I put in the report that there was suspicions of the musician being intoxicated, but also that there were no problems.     A couple days later, I get called in the AD/ Producer's office.  He very politely suggested that things of that nature should not be included in reports but rather emailed to the producer exclusively.  Apparently, our TD had read the note and was talking to some locals who happened to be friends with the musician.  Of course the TD shared the note from the report and there was some unhappiness as a result. 

I still consider the reports private, but I have also realized that if something is really sensitive information, sometimes you need to send out a separate email to only the concerned parties. 

40

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Barrell-Through Tech

« on: Apr 06, 2009, 12:53 am »

I'm not sure why you feel like you do not have enough time for an actual work-through of the show.  However, if you are being pressured from higher up to do a "Barrel-through" then it will be up to you in order to make it work. My advice is for you to be as prepared as absolutely possible.  Anything that you can do in order to anticipate problems or do any form of pre-tech will mostly work to your advantage.   I would also suggest that you take at least a little time to sit down with the tech crew as well as the cast and explain exactly what the plan is going to be for the tech week, so that everyone is on the same page and there are no surprises.  (okay.. lets be honest... as few surprises as possible).

While I don't like the idea, I would love to hear how it all turns out for you.

41

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Barrell-Through Tech

« on: Apr 05, 2009, 01:56 am »

I have been apart of shows using this method twice.    Once was for a relatively simple show (basically lights up/ lights down) so that one turned out relatively okay. 

The second time was for the national tour that I am currently on.  We made it till the 1st scene change (about 10min into the show) and crashed and burned.  At that point we stopped that and talked/ worked through the full show like we should have from the start. 

42

Tools of the Trade / Re: Technical Theatre Publications

« on: Mar 18, 2009, 09:05 pm »

I don't know of any geared specifically towards stage managing. However, American Theater tends to be a decent general theatre magazine.  (Or so I have been told... I have never subscribed to this one).   "Stage Directions" is another general theatre magazine, however, I personally do not care for it. 

I am also a lighting person, so I personally like both "PLSN" and "Light & Sound America"

43

Tools of the Trade / Re: Useful applications for Blackberry

« on: Mar 06, 2009, 02:25 am »

Where did you get the "chronograph" application?

44

Tools of the Trade / Re: Conquering Spam Filters

« on: Feb 26, 2009, 11:31 pm »

I was just reading through the "When Hiring SM's" thread and followed the thread here.  

I was interested to hear that people are having problems with yahoo.  I have used it for years now as my primary email and I have yet to have a problem with it.   Of course that have been occasional important emails the end up in my spam box, but nothing that I didn't catch before I emptied the folder.   I just always read through the the subject lines before I delete them to see if anything looks important.  Of course, maybe I am just lucky and don't get as much spam as some other people.

At any rate...  any addresses in your address book should bypass spam checkers completely and go straight to your inbox. (I know yahoo & hotmail work that way.  I suspect most other email servers do the same)  That is the simplest work around that I know.

45

The Hardline / Re: Dear Abby: AEA issues with show hand-off

« on: Feb 21, 2009, 10:43 pm »

I was in a similar situation where I almost had to take over a show as a non-AEA member.  The Equity SM walked out on the show on Tuesday of tech week (Friday opening).  I was the ME/ LBO on the show and was asked by the producer to take over.  It went so far as him calling his Equity rep to figure out logistics.  Thankfully, another SM was able to take over.  (although I did end up running tech for 3 days)