Messages

31

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: They're making this job so difficult!

« on: Feb 02, 2009, 01:30 am »

I'm approaching the directors/writers (who just happen to be the same two people). I have made many formal requests to them throughout the past 6 months. I understand that it's diffiult for them to give me a final script, but at least let me know what the changes are, because apparently that's not important. That's my big thing. The last incident that they didn't tell me about what the deletion of a complete song out of the program and the switching of songs around. From my point of view, if I get messed up during the show, that show is going down as I am calling the cues. Sometimes I feel like they really dont need me and I'm doing all this for nothing. Ioono...then again, it's not only them, its also the board. Because of all the changes that are being made, they have to pass all of them by the board first. if they dont like it, they have to fix it. And that's pretty much what's been happenign for the past 6 months. the show is either not long enough, or somethings wrong, or the skit doesn't make sense...it's amazing how many things they find wrong. This is a small town production that is by no means professional...I dont see why they need to make it perfect without any flaws.

But, I think what will happen is exactly what loebtmc stated. I'm not going to get a final script until somewhere between the week before and the day before. It'll be a hard week trying to get my script up to par, as well as the rest of the stuff for the show as they are making rediculous demands right now. I've never called a show on the fly and I dont think they want that either because the  show is changing so much I honestly have no idea what the show even entails anymore lol. Last year it was different. We had a finalized script by the beginning of Jan with little or no changes added to it so I knew exactly what the show was by the back of my hand and I called some of it by memory...but never all of it. I'm very dependent on my prompt book (which could either be good or bad) I dont know. But thanks so much for all the suggestions...i might just take this to the board. :S

Thanks

32

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROFESSIONALISM: Director and Stage Manager at the same time???

« on: Feb 01, 2009, 08:59 pm »

I'm currently the SM for our local theatre show. It's all volunteer and I also want to write. Usually, the board says that if you write, you're directing. Problem is, i'm the stage manager and they want me to stick with that position too. So...has anyone ever written, directed and stage managed before...all at the same time? I have two years to get this script/prompt book up and running (the show runs in february so i'd need it ready for Feb 2011). Anyone think that's possible? I'm planning to present the script, prompt book (totally completed) with all my ideas inside, as well as all the other stuff like list of props, set design...etc. Any suggestions??? Thanks

33

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / NEW WORKS: They're making this job so difficult! (Script changes)

« on: Feb 01, 2009, 08:31 pm »

Omg...I really dont know what to do here.

I'm currently SMing for a non-profit production in a small town. Everyone is volunteer and yet, there is a board of directors who make final decisions. The show is running this year from Feb 25-28 with our Tech's on 23 and 24th. NOW the problem. I've been asking since september for a final script. It is now February (A MONTH AWAY) and i have yet to receive a final script. The keep telling me the current one is final but they keep changing things, moving songs, DELETING songs (without telling me) and messing around with it. I'm trying to make my own copy of the script with all the cues on it (which is a very difficult and time consuming thing when its a 2 1/2 hour show). My prompt book is up to date, and everything is in order on my end...but they keep changing everything! And the worst part is, when they do change stuff (such as lines or moving things around) they dont even tell me about it. when I confronted them about it, they said that it wasn't that important that I know about it anyways. I honestly wanted to ask them what they thought a stage manager does and...if i'm calling the show...why they think it's not important for me know that a whole section of the script was removed. I dont know what to do here. HELP!

34

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Fill in the BLANK...

« on: Feb 01, 2009, 02:24 am »

I was kinda surprised when one of the vocal directors came to me (at a totally different activity away from the theatre) and told me that "As a stage manager, it's your job to keep the directors in line". Um...no? The directors should be keeping themselves in line. I work with a very lax and very informal production every year and we have first time writers this year. There was some debate whether or not it would work and so far it has. But we hit a glitch where things werent' running as fast as everyone hoped it would and they brought that up to me. I politely told him that that's not my job. This is where a nice thing I like to call a job description would come in handy. I'm not saying that if someone else isn't doing their job that I wouldn't step up for them and help, but they shot down the idea of a job description because the show is very lax. I dont agree with that. I dont know...sometimes the Kabaret Board stresses me out lol Oh well

35

College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM schools in Canada???

« on: Oct 16, 2008, 09:08 am »

Alright, thanks a bunch. I'll look into that.

36

College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM schools in Canada???

« on: Sep 24, 2008, 02:36 pm »

I've also checked out U of V in BC, and they have one too...but...do you know if you have to go through the theatre program first and then do a graduate in a specific area, like production or SMing, or can you just jump directly into the SMing specifics?

Checked out U of A in Alberta...and I looked at the equivilant courses that I'd need from Ontario...it seems pretty harsh, or am I just looking at it wrong?

Lol...I'm having a lot of trouble with this hahahaha It's really hard to find things on those websites (especially from Western Canada :S)

Thanks

37

College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM schools in Canada???

« on: Sep 20, 2008, 03:10 pm »

What are all these programs labelled under??? cuz i've looked at U of A, and all I found was a theatre program. I know it's not labelled under Stage Management lol same with Ryerson...?

38

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: HELP! The director is taking over my job... :S

« on: Sep 12, 2008, 08:31 am »

Definitely...but that's the problem. I told her that! lol...she's just unwilling to give me one apparently But I'll try that on Sunday, see what she does or if she even brought on with her.

39

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: HELP! The director is taking over my job... :S

« on: Sep 11, 2008, 10:19 pm »

I think I might just try that lol

But because this is a volunteer thing, there's only one thing higher than her, and that's the Kabaret board members...of which she is a part of. lol

But thank you so much for you opinion, it's really helping in the decision that I'll be making (I think life would be simpler if this was a paid thing...but life sucks like that lol)


THANKS SO MUCH!!!

40

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PEOPLE: "Overstepping" Director

« on: Sep 11, 2008, 07:59 pm »

Problem...the director is taking over my job.

I'm volunteering as SM in an annual show in my town that I've been involved with for the past 6 or 7 years now. She's a new director, with no experience. We have the same personality (which, let me admit, is kind of scary lol) and I really don't know how to solve this problem.

I know getting up in her face wont work, but I've talked to her before about this stuff and she's always said 'Oh yeah! Sorry! It wont happen again' and it always does.

The story: I SM'ed the show last year (for my first time) and ended up firing half my crew because they decided to go swimming on our tech rehearsal night. We only had 3 backstage crew (including myself) the the whole run (which worked out fine...dont get me wrong!). So this year, I get 7 people on my crew who are ready to work and who I know are good workers. Lots of them are very artistic, but she decides (without asking me) that she's bringing in one of her friends from her band to do painting because she wants to (after she's already told me that I don't need a big crew because there isn't that much to do this year...). Ok. I don't agree with it, but if she's already said yes to her, then fine. But i asked her not to do it again without consulting me on it first because I like to be in charge of my crew and pick who I know are going to stick through it and do hard work (so now...I'm up to 8, not including myself). She said that she was sorry and that it wouldn't happen again. WELL! All of a sudden, last week she decides to bring in this other guy who's supposably my ASM (and now i'm up to 9 people in my crew, excluding me. and that's only backstage. I have seperate sound/lighting/makeup/hair/wardrobe crew!). We've never had ASM's in this theatre before because, frankly, we don't need one. It's a small enough production that we just, dont need it! Not only did she almost give my job over to him, but he's almost taking it too (at least that's how I feel because he's very proactive..and I'm just probably getting the wrong impression).

I'm just about ready to tell her that she has to let my crew be MY CREW and not bring anyone else in. I don't know how to tell her this and still keep the peace. She's just like me and I know how I would react to that kind of situation if I was in her position.

Can anyone help me? How do you keep the peace and tell someone to back off at the same time?! (just for reference, I understand she's the director, but she also told me that I'm on the same level as her and have just as much authority. I kinda get the feeling this is an age thing since I'm only 19? could that be?!)

PS. Totally off topic..but if you have any ideas on how I would tell her that, before I can get started, I need a script and a props list (not even..just a script would work). I've been asking her for the past week now, and she's telling me that her and the co-director are tweeking it. She promised it to me 3 days ago after her and her co-director/writer tweeked it, and I've asked her three times. She has yet to send it to me...she's also made the decision that she was just going to bring it to me on Sunday (at rehearsal) without informing me. I had a meeting today with my "ASM" (notice the quotation marks) and I had to cancel because I had nothing to show him without that stuff. Can anyone help me :S I'm lost...

Edit to subject line-Rebbe

41

College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM schools in Canada???

« on: Sep 11, 2008, 01:36 am »

thanks for the replies. To answer those questions Goldbird, I really don't have a preference for any of that. A job would be nice I've looked at U of A before, and I couldn't really find anything on their website. It pretty much told me that I had to do the theatre part of it first, and then move into a major in a specific area (which really baffled me...because some tech people just REALLY aren't actors lol). So I might have gotten that wrong...But I also dont want to have to go through a theatre course for 3 or 4 years before I get to the technical side of theatre (i'm doing the theatre course at Canadore College in North Bay Ontario next september...that'll take me about 3 years and then I'll be off to find a school. But I'm A type personality so I like to have a map in front of me before I do anything). But i will check out National Theatre school of Canada...that sounds interesting. Hands on experience is an awesome way to learn. Thanks so much

42

College and Graduate Studies / SM schools in Canada???

« on: Sep 09, 2008, 10:40 pm »

Hey everyone

Just thought i'd pose the question about Stage Management programs in Canada. Does anyone know of any? I've searched everywhere for one but they mostly show me theatre programs (acting) and some technical theatre courses but never saw anything there about managing. Any suggestions??? Anyone know of one???

Thanks

43

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Manager Portfolio

« on: Sep 09, 2008, 10:24 pm »

Omg...this thread actually helped me out a lot too...i'm in the same situation. Good suggestions, thanks

44

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Sep 09, 2008, 10:14 pm »

I totally agree, but here's my question.

I don't actually work in a theatre, it's pretty much voluntary basis for the shows I work with. So, we don't exactly have a 'dress code' for people who walk in the door (unless you're wearing clothes that are totally innappropriate...you know what i mean). Is that the same thing for other theatres? What about theatres where people are actually hired for the jobs they do, or does that depend on the theatre/standard of the theatre???

45

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Do you call from house or backstage?

« on: Sep 09, 2008, 09:52 pm »

One wonders how long it will be at this rate before SMs become redundant in calling a show - a computer program will 'read' the script, following along with voice recognition and visual cues by camera, giving Qs to the computerized lighting, sound and flies as noted in the script. This would imply a SM would have more time to watch the show for notes, but more likely, the expectation is that we'll be there to simply override an errant computer. And for that, you could be anywhere....

OMG...does anyone see how disasterous that would be? *shudders*

I can't see that happening for a long time though...but when it does... that's the day i'm going to leave the business and ask them when acting onstage will become computerized too! The problem with that is actors aren't always accurate...so if the SM needs to see the smallest cue, and the actor does the same thing in another part of the show...that will totally mess everything up and then someone will have to override it or fix it...or something. Too complicated.

I dont think I'd ever call from anywhere but backstage. But, I've only done it backstage myself. So I have no booth experience. From the productions that I've called, my crews haven't been totally reliable to the point where I'd trust them to be back there, doing their jobs alone or out of my view (but I'm also...I wouldn't say controlling, but wanting to know what's going on at all times). I know SM's aren't suppose to move, but I do. It was impossible for me not to move last year because I didn't have an ASM to help me so I didn't have a choice. But I like moving. I think it better ensures the success of some things back stage. But you also have to know the cues off by heart, and know when you can and cannot leave your station.