Messages

31

Employment / Re: Websites

« on: Jun 28, 2009, 12:35 pm »

I think posting pictures and media from shows you have done are fine as long as you have permission for the right people. The old saying says pictures are worth a thousand words and I agree. You can show what you have done more then just a title of a show would say.

Regarding putting up pages from a prompt book on your website I'm not sure what the reason would be to do that.

32

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Friend as a Stage Manager Advice

« on: Jun 26, 2009, 01:15 am »

oh wow that is hard. I don't envy you. I have worked in situations where when I came in I could see I knew more then everyone else and a lot of stuff needed to change. I would suggest to take it slow don't come at her with a whole list of things because she could get really defensive. You can get a little sneaky about it and say "hey I noticed that such and such isn't getting done did you expect me to do it?" that way you kind of put it back on you and it doesn't look like you are saying she isn't doing her job. take this opportunity to train her because those are things she needs to learn and some day she might thank you.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Making coffee (and other novice assignments)

« on: Jun 25, 2009, 08:14 pm »

For one show that I worked on, one of the actors was night-blind.  In dim situations, i.e. backstage, he couldn't see a thing. My job was to stand just off stage with my arms wide open, and catch him every time he came running off, and then escort him to the green room door.  It was a little peculiar!

That is funny because I worked with an actor that the minute the lights went out on stage for a black out it was like he had no idea where he was and he would wonder around on the stage with his hands in front of him while the prop guys were rushing past him with the set change. eventually he found his way to where I could reach him. I was on a head set that was connected to the wall so I couldn't go far. once he adjusted to the darkness he was fine one show I worked with him on the director suggested he grab a prop and take it off the stage with him and I said no way and explained what would happened and we all had a good laugh.   

34

Tools of the Trade / Re: Digital Prompt Books (Do you use them?)

« on: Jun 25, 2009, 08:04 pm »

I used to just edit my prompt script and take out extra stuff the director had typed in like blocking that I didn't need for the prompt script then my pages were numbered differently and when I would have to attend to something then come back and someone would ask for a line I would be lost and they would keep telling me the page number but it did no good. so now I make sure I keep the old page numbers in the script so I know where I am

35

Employment / Re: Freelancing - How far out do you commit?

« on: Jun 25, 2009, 08:01 pm »

Trust your gut.
For me personally I don't commit months ahead for a one night thing or something that has a strange schedule and I could then loss money on because something with a fuller schedule came along.

I was offered a gig for a show in a one act festival in august and even though it paid decent per hour it had a strange schedule and if it progressed in the festival it would have had added dates and I would have had to have kept those dates free but would have only been paid if we actually performed on those days. Didn't make since to hold days that might not get paid for.

But trust your gut.

36

Employment / Re: your thoughts please (stood up for a craigslist gig)

« on: Jun 25, 2009, 07:51 pm »

Thanks for the input everyone. I definitely learned from the situation and that is probably the most important thing.
Thankfully I hadn't canceled anything major to "commit" to it.

37

The Hardline / Re: Cancelling a performance

« on: Jun 24, 2009, 09:06 pm »

I worked a one man show once that towards the end of the run the audience was getting smaller and smaller. but we went on once with 2 people in the audience.

38

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Desperately Seeking Advice

« on: Jun 24, 2009, 12:45 am »

I worked with a company for several years and more then 10 productions starting as and ASM and eventually being the PSM. As I learned things from working outside shows and reading SM books I would slowly implement new things. I met with some resistance because people don't like change.
My advice to you is to not try to go in and revamp the whole thing. You will hit a lot of walls and people who thinking that how it is done is working fine and it should be left that way. If you make small changes you can get further and you wouldn't get as frustrated or want to quit.

you should definitely learn to take blocking notes even if you don't use them for the show you will need to know how eventually.
Usually choreography notes are not the SM's job to take so you probably don't need to know how to take them.

hope that helps

39

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Director Dilemma

« on: Jun 23, 2009, 12:17 am »

I would suggest you sit down with him and talk over your duties and what is expected of you. This really is a good idea in general because you should never presume that you are on the same page. Everyone has different expectations. Its good that you are learning this so young.

40

Tools of the Trade / Re: Digital Prompt Books (Do you use them?)

« on: Jun 22, 2009, 12:18 am »

The 3 shows I did I typed the cues in and printed it and called from the paper copy. I don't have very neat hand writing when I have to write fast so having a clean cut typed script is great. I've thought about calling off a computer but I know how things can go wrong with computers and i think a paper copy is much more reliable.

When I am also running Lights and Sound I print the script back to back so I have less page flipping to do.

41

Employment / where do you find work?

« on: Jun 21, 2009, 03:34 am »

I know that most work for us comes for word of mouth and from working with people over again but I'm wondering where else to look when there is time between those gigs?
I check Craig's List, BackstageJobs.com and Playbill.com daily. I have found that the gigs on CL don't pay most of the time and the few that do pay are also listed on backstagejobs and playbill.
Doesn't anyone else have additional places especially for the NYC area?

42

Employment / Re: your thoughts please (stood up for a craigslist gig)

« on: Jun 21, 2009, 03:23 am »

I certainly would not send a "thank you' or "consider me for other jobs" after what he did. It wasn't that it sounded like he hired me. He did hire me.
I understand that he would want to save money were he could and I can't really blame him for going with a friend that would do if for free. In some evil way I hope he gets his money's worth.

Another question.
Do any of you accept a job over the phone without a meeting first?

43

Employment / Re: Websites

« on: Jun 18, 2009, 11:34 pm »

Beth, I love your picture with Kristin! She's such a delight to work with.

When did you work with Kristin? I'm sure she is great to work. Every time I have meet her she has been very nice.

back to the website subject. I would definitely not put references on a downloadable resume. I don't even include them on the resume I email people. although that is basically because I send my resume to a lot of gigs on craigslist and I'm never sure if they are going to anyone real.

44

Employment / Re: One of the things I hate about the biz...

« on: Jun 18, 2009, 08:29 pm »

Thanks guys. That's what I had been leaning towards.

45

Employment / Re: One of the things I hate about the biz...

« on: Jun 18, 2009, 04:34 pm »

a couple of questions on this subject.

what is best? having a "cover letter" in the body of the email or attached?
if you attach it what do you say in the body of the email?