Messages

301

The Green Room / the rat

« on: Mar 01, 2006, 06:32 pm »

His failing was that he wrote it all out."

I laughed when I read that - it was great!

As for the muppets - I thought that there was a rat who was the SM for a long time - complete with headset.  At least in one of the movies I swear it was a rat - I've always wanted to find a stuffed one, especially if it had the headset.

-Centaura

302

SMNetwork Archives / Casa Bonita

« on: Mar 01, 2006, 06:24 pm »

You must go to Casa Bonita.  The locals should be able to tell you where it is.  Tell the waiter you want to sit near the water.

-Centaura

303

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / sheltered

« on: Mar 01, 2006, 06:10 pm »

At the time, I had been very sheltered from any kind of sexism in my life - I was not at all sure how to deal with it.  And I was caught between the fact that, yes, I knew what I was doing, but he was faculty and the show's scene designer, and I was trying to be respectful.  Basically, I was trying to not be him and make a scene in front of the crew and the ASMs.

Later, when I started touring as a young woman and I hit the deep south for the first time, I was much more opinionated on telling older men that I was the one who knew what I was doing, and was able to get respect on some occasions.  Though I feel for the person who said that they worked in the south - everywhere from hotels to venues to everything else, the sexism got so overpowering sometimes!  There were days that they wouldn't give me the receipts to sign at hotels 'cause I wasn't "a man" - "'cause it was ALWAYS a man" I had it explained to me one time.  In defense of the south, they do have some of the best manners around, but its still an interesting culture down there.

The last touring company had an episode once when they wouldn't let the tour into the building 'cause the TD was female.  They sat outside the theatre for almost an hour while the presenter was contacted and told about the situation.  Thankfully, by the time that I got to that venue, that person had been replaced, but still - the fact that the theatre had to warn me about it before we got there was a bit chilling.

-Centaura

304

The Hardline / venue battle with local IATSE

« on: Mar 01, 2006, 03:07 pm »

Greetings,

I just started work full-time at an IATSE roadhouse [in a non-union postion].  One of the first things that I've noticed is that there seems to be a on-going fued between the venue and the local union, one which I don't quite understand, but I also don't have the full history on yet.  While I am working on being nuetral - until I have the sides figured out, I am in the position of hearing each side bitch about the other side.  Part of my job is being the venue contact for the local BA.  They're going to be in contract negotiations at the end of the year and its going to be ugly.  Does anyone have any experience with fueds between houses and their unions?  Any recommendations or bits of advice?  

One of the things being threatened is putting the union out of the venue; does anyone know of a case where this happened?  And what the venue did for crew afterwards?

At a loss and in the middle,
-Centaura

305

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / where you talk

« on: Mar 01, 2006, 01:48 pm »

I had a really tough experience in college when the new faculty member that they hired was totally anti-women.  It came to a head during the tech for the final show.  It was my last show as a departing senior - I had been sming all 4 years there, and knew more about anything in that theatre than he did - let alone how the shows ran there - as he'd only worked there for a few months.  He totally humiliated me in front of the running crew - he came to my backstage end-of-the night meeting and interrupted every single thing that I told the crew - trying to contradict me or find things that I was telling them that was wrong.  The worse part was that he didn't listen to what I was saying to the crew, so the meeting went something like this:

Me [to the crew]:  Call tomorrow is 6pm.

Him [to me]:  I don't think you've got that right, [to the crew]: Call tomorrow is 6pm.

Me [to him]:  That's what I just told them.

Well, I went through with the meeting, with him interrupting every single thing that I said, and then after the meeting I pulled him aside that told him that I hadn't appreciated his comments, and that in the future if he wanted to say anything to the crew, he could feel free to talk to them on his own, but I did not want him present for my own meetings.  He did not take it well, but I told my advisor the next day about the incident and he supported me.

The one thing that I learned from that experience was that he made himself look bad - the crew totally lost respect for him, as he was the one making himself look bad.  He also didn't last long at the university 'cause he couldn't keep his sexism out of the work place.

-Centaura

306

SMNetwork Archives / what's under the carpet?

« on: Mar 01, 2006, 01:26 pm »

What's under the carpet?  The stage or a platform?  If its a platform - you could try some other type of mark - say a large painted washer screwed into place.  Or some other such item that's screwed into place.  Or, depending on how much the furniture is dragged, using corsage pins to pin a bit of fabric in the appropriate spike spot.  Corsage pins work 'cause you can slid them sideways into the pile of the carpet, and they're large enough that they stay put fairly easily.  Or, if they move, they can be bent under the carpet and then taped there where they tape won't be rubbed.

-Centaura

307

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / depends on the age

« on: Mar 01, 2006, 01:21 pm »

I have to agree in wanting to know what ages the actors are, and with what regard are the 'adults/parents' thinking of you.  If the actors are your same age, and the other 'adult leaders' are older than all of you, then there might be a perspective problem that you'ver never going to fix.

I had a problem with I first started touring, a young woman in her 20's going into union houses and trying to get respect from the local crews.  It was hard, and there were times when you just had to put up with it 'cause nothing that you're going to do is going to change the local attitudes.  It took me aging a few years, and returning to venues to finally get myself listened to.

I don't want to make any disparaging comments against teenagers - 'cause there are those out there that are exceptions, like yourself - taking responsibility for your actions.  But if the 'kids' that you're working with are teenagers your same age or a few years younger, then it might take a miracle to get them to take you seriously.  Teenagers often don't take much of anything seriously, especially minding their manners or their tongues.

Your best bet is to try to get the other 'leaders' to take the issues seriously, but if that isn't the case, then I'd approach any job there knowing that that is how their company is run, and there isn't much that you can do about it.  Its something that I've learned about a few of the theatre companies that I've worked for - that they've had serious issues that they don't want to change or correct, and I have just understood in going back to them that that is how things are run there, and if I don't like it then I need to find someplace else to work.

-Centaura

308

Employment / how you play it

« on: Mar 01, 2006, 01:10 pm »

People back out all the time. It's more a question of backing out gracefully and not making it a habit!

I agree with this one - its all in how you back out, and the circumstances around the back out.  And, not making it a habit.  The job I'm at now I got totally unexpectedly, after giving a tentative verbal 'yes' to go out as a replacement on a tour.  

I had inquired of the touring company if they knew yet whether they would need a replacement for the spring (it was a company I had worked for for several years and had a good rep at) and as of the Fri of that week, their person wasn't going to quit (he'd been threatening).  So, I did some job hunting over the weekend.  On Mon. things had changed - the guy did give his notice, and they wanted me as the replacement, and I said 'yes'.  (this was all during the tour's hiatus)  Well, the Thurs of that week I found out that I was on the short list for one of the companies I had sent resumes to over the weekend.  Now this was a case of debating between a 6month tour contract with a company that while they liked me, I was ambivalent about them - to a full-time, year-round, salaried with benefits position at a road house that paid more.  I couldn't pass up the offer.

I was honest with the touring company, and they agreed that I couldn't pass up the other offer.  I helped them get ready for the spring part of their tour, doing some of the prep work that their departing person hadn't done, and I have been helping them with info on the venues that they're going to.  If I ever decide to leave the new job, I will be welcome back at any time there.

It does bring up a crisis of conscious though - and I think that anyone who does it on a regular basis should be looked at twice.  I was horribly torn between the two commitments when I found out that I was being considered for the second job, and I really hope that I never have to be in that position again.

-Centaura

309

Employment / intro to tour

« on: Mar 01, 2006, 12:49 pm »

If you're into children's theatre, and want to a basic "intro to touring" experience, I'd recommend AFT / ATAFY = American Family Theatre or American Theatre Arts for Youth - www.atafy.org

They put add out on Backstagejobs.com a lot.

Its about one of the smallest scale tours that are on the national arena, and folks usually end a tour either hating them or going back out tour after tour.  In my experience with them, the folks that hated the company usually didn't have 'touring' personalities.

I reccomend them 'cause you can get hired young, don't need previous touring experience, and it gives you a taste of life on the road.  It'll introduce you to the range venues available in the US, the kinds of folks you'll find at those venues, and it'll teach you a LOT.  It doesn't pay great, but if you go into it with a positive attitude you can have a lot of fun.  Its a bit late for their spring tours, but you could try for a fall tour - which is shorter anyway and a better 'quick test' if you're going to like tour.

My 2cents on the subject.

-Centaura

310

SMNetwork Archives / goat

« on: Dec 11, 2005, 11:00 pm »

While the best story about a live nativity scene onstage that I've heard involved a goat giving birth, I alas have had few holiday shows that I've worked on.  The only Carol that I did, I did as a replacement SM for a tour, and all the fun happened before I arrived.  Such is the holiday season.  Though, I will say that flying home late at night on xmas eve is probably the best time of year to fly - the airport is practically empty.

This year its production company - I've been up to my eyeballs in xmas since before Thanksgiving.


-Centaura

311

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / saftey with a peg leg

« on: Dec 11, 2005, 10:12 pm »

I've never worked with a peg leg before, but I think I would treat it like any heavy physical exertion - that is easing the actor into it.  Working himself up to the two hour show time by slow incriments.  Maybe during the first week of rehearsal he starts walking around for 15 minutes or so while he's not being rehearsed, to get the feel of walking that way.  Then working up to more and more time, slowly fitting it into rehearsal when you get to working scenes.  Learning to walk on a rake now is going to be invaluable!  He can have time to get comfortable with it.

-Centaura

312

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / It's Half-Hour: Do you know where your SM is?

« on: Dec 07, 2005, 11:47 pm »

they went outside for a fag


Off course, having the dirty mind I have . . . this meant something else . . . never mind.

Never ask a Brit for an eraser.

Anyway, I'm with the folks who advised that you ask why the policy was put there.  I'm almost wondering if it was for the FOH staff, either from before they had walkies or just because they wanted to talk to you in person.  For me its the last thing that I do before half is stop and talk with the FOH, and then I go back and call half hour.

-Centaura

313

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / asm n props

« on: Dec 07, 2005, 11:33 pm »

Greetings,

I did an apprenticeship at Mountview in London and was quite shocked at the fact that my job title was "ASM" but I was doing what I would call in the states the 'prop master's' job.  I also got into a bit of tricky water as it was expected [by everyone else, I had no idea] that I was supposed to produce a specialty piece of make-up.  I was never sure from that whether it was just a quirk at that school or whether that was how it was in the British theatre circuit.

Though, one of my fondest memories was going to the production company and saying that I was going to 'hire the stuffed goose'.  (for any Brits, in the states the verb 'to hire' would only be used for a person, and generally only in the context of a job.  Anything not-alive would be 'rented'.)

And for the Aussie - there were several times when one of your neighbors (a kiwi) had to save the day with translations.  The biggest one was hessian.  I had no idea what it was, and the Brits had no idea how to tell me.  It was definatly a moment of blank stares - 'til the kiwi assistant director produced the word 'burlap'.

-Centaura

314

SMNetwork Archives / I have a diet

« on: Oct 02, 2005, 11:52 pm »

About the oddest thing that I have from a tour is a diet that I had to create for a show about a group of women in a weight loss club.  I had to create a whole diet package, from a planner book to a clothing catalog, to a beauty-pagent like sash that one of the actors wore at the end.  All in a lovely shade of lavender.  The pieces sit on my shelf with my prompt books.  Adds a bit of color.  

-Centaura

315

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Drop Count

« on: Oct 02, 2005, 11:43 pm »

I had one tour when the daily injury/sickness or urgent care run became the daily performance report item.  That and the version of the show we were doing.  As in which two characters were doubling up that day (we didn't have an understudy).  It was a cursed tour.  I made somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 dozen emergency room visits in a little over a month.  Everything from dislocated thumbs to vitamin C overdoses.  Yes, it is possible to overdose on vitamin C.  Trust me, you don't want to know how much you have to take to overdose, but I did have an actor who found out the amount.  Twice.

-Centaura