Messages

31

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

« on: Apr 15, 2011, 04:42 am »

Also, as a male SM, do any of your female actors find it awkward coming to you for tampons if the need arises? I'm still working in a collegiate setting and am friends with most of the actors - male or female - and that seems to be somewhat of a personal thing. It really doesn't bother me, I just didn't know if there was another use for them.

I am a girl, but I can answer this question. The need for asking for a tampons may be a little embarrassing for some, but they do have another use. I learned from another SM that the tampons without the applicator (OB I believe is the brand) are great for a bloody nose. They are clean and sanitary right out of the package, which is better than standard tissue or paper towel and are meant to soak up blood. A little gross, or weird, but works.

I definitely used my kit in college because it was required by my class. Now, most theatres I have worked with provide a well stocked first aid kit at the very least. I have had props designers provide me with supplies to touch up paint on a prop or glue or something to fix a prop in case the need arises. Most professional spaces I have worked with have a stock SM kit that belongs to them with spike tape, gaff tape, glow tape, batteries, reading lights, highlighters, and general office supplies. If there is something missing, there is usually some sort of SM budget that I can buy what I need and then put the rest into the stock kit for future SMs

However, I have found that most theatres tend to stock Band aid brand items. I am allergic to latex and most band aid brand band aids are latex. I carry my own supply of fabric and non latex bandages and tape, gloves etc for myself or any other actor with a similar allergy.

Other more random supplies I like to keep on hand:
honey-good for a few things, sore throats and diabetic actors. They need sugar fast, and it's a natural and effective solution until you can get them to the hospital
sewing kits- nothing big, but hemming glue is useful, needles, couple colors of thread, scissors, and lots of safety pins
hair supplies: bobby pins and elastics bands
hot glue gun and super glue-during an intermission, I had an orchestra member come to me for super glue to repair his instrument. Would have been bad to not have him able to play in the second act!
I also carry a screw gun-there have been many occasions where I was glad I had this, but it might be overkill for most productions

More common items I carry:
flashlight
batteries
multi tool
advil/tylenol/tums
deodarant
riccolas
pencils (I was gifted some in bright, obnoxious colors with my name on them, I always get them back because of it!)
hold punch
stapler
tampons
tweezers
alcohol pads

I have found that a full kit isn't always necessary, so I try to build my kit to the show and leave the majority of my supplies at home. I worked as an ASM once for a haunted house. I carried passport sized necklace I had filled with band-aids, alcohol pads, tweezers, gauze pads, spray antibacterial ointment, flashlight, batteries, advil and tylenol. We had a full first aid area with paramedics if needed, but for the most part actors would get splinters or small cuts that just needed to be doctored up a bit.

Once you know the show and the work involved and the supplies provided to you, it's easy to see if you need a full kit or just a few pieces.

32

Tools of the Trade / Re: Software for Stage Managers & Theatre Companies

« on: Apr 15, 2011, 03:46 am »

I think the software is a great idea.

I have recently started working with a few brand new companies and a lot of them don't know all the ins and outs of a company, such as who to keep in the loop and basic stuff like that.

For example, I was hired as a stage manager for a brand new company. When I came into my first rehearsal (they had started rehearsals already) there was no contact sheet sent to the actors, there were no designated break times for actors, there was no communication between director and choreographer and such.

Coming into a mess like that, I started doing all sorts or paperwork and e-mail lists and files. I used google docs a lot because of the ability to post online and have the group access it.

The opportunity to have something that all the information could be posted for the company would be great.

It would be useful to have a tech side and a performer side as well. Performers require different notes, check in, contact information, conflict sheets, calenders and the tech side has a completely different set of notes, production reports, a separate calender. I love the idea of everything being in one place!

Could also be useful for uploading new versions of script pages if you are working in a company with a new work or work in progress where the script changes almost daily. Then everyone will have the most up to date version available.