Messages

31

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Proactive Drug Policy questions

« on: Nov 18, 2009, 04:59 pm »

If drug use/trafficking is something that is only a rumor, I'd be inclined to simply mention it in passing rather than go loaded for bear. Why not wrap it up into your "first day" speech? After introducing yourself and letting your cast know how to contact you in an emergency, just do a casual 5 minute review of policies: tardiness, appropriate footwear in rehearsals, the drug & alcohol policy, etc...  

I would also talk with the producer/director or community theater officers prior to your arrival in order receive clear instructions on how they wish you to proceed if there is a policy violation. Be very frank about the rumors you've heard and the concerns you have. If you are at all dissatisfied with the organization's response, don't be afraid to walk away. Better to avoid the mud rather than be mired in it!

32

Tools of the Trade / Re: THE Sharpie topic

« on: Nov 09, 2009, 06:13 pm »

New favorite: Sherpa!  A Sharpie holder..

http://www.sherpapens.com/

33

Stage Management: Other / Re: Technical Riders

« on: Nov 06, 2009, 02:46 pm »

UPDATE: Rena Shagan's book has been updated and is now titled "Booking & Tour Management for the Performing Arts" (Allworth Press, ISBN 1581150954)

34

Tools of the Trade / Re: Useful iPhone apps?

« on: Nov 05, 2009, 11:39 pm »

Just added Documents To Go and I LOVE it! I've gotten my last few performance reports half-way done during intermissions. I also use the stopwatch and countdown features of Clock during every show.
Stanza and Shakspeare are two good apps for having texts available.

35

Tools of the Trade / Re: Eartec headsets

« on: Nov 05, 2009, 11:24 pm »

These are some of the most reasonably priced headsets around. Don't be afraid to make an investment in yourself and your comfort!

36

Stage Management: Other / Re: Technical Riders

« on: Nov 05, 2009, 10:55 pm »

You should check out the book "The Road Show" by Rena Shagan. It deals with a wide range of issues for touring companies, both large and small.

37

The Green Room / Re: audience callbacks- the ones you want, the ones you don't

« on: Nov 04, 2009, 05:34 pm »

An educational tour of the opera CARMEN in Kentucky. When Don Jose slapped Carmen a young voice called out "Don't you be takin' that, girl." At the finale of the same performance after Carmen stabs Jose the same child cheered "He's earned two. Cut him again!"

38

The Green Room / Re: Best one-liner from a performance report

« on: Nov 04, 2009, 05:20 pm »

"Audio department needs more condoms"

39

Stage Management: Other / Re: How to get into Opera SMing?

« on: Jul 29, 2009, 07:51 pm »

Does your school have a theater program?

40

Tools of the Trade / Re: [FAQ] What goes inside a SM Kit?

« on: Jul 06, 2009, 08:05 pm »

Don't you always need the one thing that's not in the kit!!!
For years I kept an old-fashion bicycle bell on a 6" piece of broom handle which served as telephone rings, doorbells, and on one occasion a bike bell. I gave it to my nephew last Halloween as part of his mini-Lance Armstrong costume and I didn't get it back. Now I need one in hurry and have to pay as much in overnight shipping as I do for the bell itself.

41

Stage Management: Other / Re: new to opera and kind of scared

« on: Apr 11, 2009, 10:08 pm »

ernlin,

Just curious... do you know which opera(s) you will be working on this summer?

42

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera tips

« on: Nov 10, 2008, 09:16 pm »

Vicky,
The Who/What/Where, or WWW is a master document which tracks all elements of a production. Check out ljh007's sample in the "File Cabinet/Uploaded Forms/WWW form...anyone?" thread. Some companies only use a Who/What/Where as an archive document and for others, it is the running sheet for the ASMs.  Everyone has their own way of formatting the document, and you should read the comments in the thread for opinions of what should or shouldn't be in there and why.

43

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Oct 17, 2008, 06:04 pm »

For the public trivia game a minimum of 7 players must play in order for scores to be posted. GO TEAM!

44

Stage Management: Other / Re: Some Opera Questions

« on: Aug 09, 2008, 06:13 pm »

In most companies, the water tables are in the SR & SL areas backstage where the performers can get a drink of room temperature water, a tissue, and maybe a throat lozenge just before stepping onstage. Similar to your rehearsal room hospitality table, but without the hot beverages (which may be in Green Room or dressing rooms). These are typically maintained by props crews or ASMs. Be sure that quiet paper cups rather than plastic are used backstage during performances!

45

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: When to give an actor a note...

« on: Aug 09, 2008, 06:05 pm »

[I even had an understudy tell me to my face that she would change what I'd given her the note about "if the director says something about it" but that otherwise she was the actress and it was her perogative.]

Is the director supposed to be maintaining the quality of the production and giving performance notes? If so and you are just filling in during his illness, I'd suggest putting your notes in writing. Post a copy on the call board by the sign-in with a space for each performer to initial that they have received the note (not that they agree to do anything about it). Keep the signed copy and email the notes to the director (and possibly the artistic director) so that s/he is kept up to date with what is happening. If things KEEP going wrong, don't get bent out of shape, but simply add "2nd note" or "3rd time given" after the note. This will also serve to plant your notes in the director's mind so that the next time they see the show they will be more likely to pinpoint the same things you have been seeing.

Good luck. I've not done "Homecoming", but I've done "Smoke on the Mountain" three times. Once stage managing, once playing Dennis and once as the Rev.