Messages

316

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PRE-PRODUCTION: Noises Off! How to be Prepared?

« on: Aug 22, 2013, 01:36 pm »

Also, go to the BTDT listing and email SMs who've run it. They will share the traps and surprises they found (like the sardines discussion) that you won't think about until it's too late. And after you've read the show several times, ask how they solved problem x or y (props, costumes, set shifts, whatever).

317

The Hardline / Re: Director Notes

« on: Aug 20, 2013, 07:23 pm »

Yes - the point being, as the SM you watch the actor and know who can, and who can't handle being told things between half-hour and places - or at intermission (in emergency only!)

318

The Hardline / Re: Director Notes

« on: Aug 18, 2013, 02:05 pm »

Sometimes there's nothing you can do - but in at least two circumstances, I have had success with 1) telling actors to close (and lock) their dressing room doors when inside after half-hour (but making sure all are unlocked before show starts) with particularly intrusive and unaware directors and 2) taking the director aside and privately telling them I will take notes down, that certain specific actors (whose names are not shared) had asked that they have their time to prepare without being disturbed, but I will make sure the info is passed along.

Protecting half-hour and backstage really does need to be in all contracts.....and codes!

319

Introductions / Re: New, still in High School!

« on: Aug 17, 2013, 07:41 pm »

Anyway, I'm happy to be here and I can't wait to meet most of you! 

anyone in particular you are dying NOT to meet? <g>

320

Tools of the Trade / Re: Virtual Callboard

« on: Aug 15, 2013, 05:51 pm »

Did you do a search? because I remember at least two discussions about this, one relating to the system at the USITT in Long Beach, and one a general discussion by some folks who were playing with it.

321

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Navigating break-giving (and directors who won't break)

« on: Aug 14, 2013, 06:54 pm »

As a pure hypothetical (because I'm not going to allow it to get to this point): is it ever okay, as an SM, to announce a break anyway? Say, go on stage and say that it's break time and it doesn't matter if they're halfway through a scene. I know it would create unnecessary tension through the entire rest of the rehearsal period, so I don't think I would ever do it. Have you ever had to do something along those lines?

I would wait for a natural breaking point. But I know actors, too, who don't like to break. But when I see their brains fill up and stop being able to absorb new info, I tell the director that we need a break.

322

The Green Room / Re: HOME!

« on: Aug 11, 2013, 07:52 pm »

WELCOME HOME!!!

323

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament IV: Trivia's Revenge!!

« on: Aug 07, 2013, 03:37 am »

Oh my, Saturdays continue to be ugly.....just a different topic of ugly!

324

Articles from the Old Site / Re: How to hang, focus, and strike basic lighting instruments

« on: Aug 02, 2013, 04:35 pm »

thank you for fixing the link!

325

Employment / Re: PAY: Daily Rate

« on: Aug 02, 2013, 12:18 pm »

what Ruth said - what I meant to say - cuz 4 days in a week doesn't include the prepro work and meetings and prep you must do before those 4 days, so a full week is fair.

If they really need you to quote for 4 days, divide the weekly rate by 6 (or 5 is you usually take 2 days off), then add back 20-25% because you won't be able to find work for those missing days, and quote that.

326

Employment / Re: PAY: Daily Rate

« on: Aug 02, 2013, 10:03 am »

Not sure why you need a daily rate if you are dealing with a weekly pay scale, unless you need to declare it for unemployment, in which case just divide it by the number of days worked.

327

The Green Room / Re: Director in Booth!

« on: Jul 30, 2013, 07:40 pm »

You absolutely have the right to say what you need to say - nicely, with respect and no emotion, stated clearly. If your director makes you nervous, he should not be in your booth. Period. That is your territory, he has no right to be there. Feel free to tell him why (again, nicely) - that he makes you nervous and distracts you from your job. And your director should not be giving notes to you DURING the show. Not ever. It is totally appropriate to say "hold" and "please give me notes after the show" since you need to pay attention to the show in addition to calling cues, and him distracting you keeps you from doing your job.

328

The Green Room / On surviving a life in theater

« on: Jul 24, 2013, 12:59 pm »

Interesting article that hopefully will spark some constructive discussion - and not just amongst we the believers.....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/jul/23/paul-bhattacharjee-cory-monteith-acting

329

The Hardline / Re: Half Hour Call

« on: Jul 24, 2013, 12:57 pm »

Regarding the myths surrounding the "requirement" for a "half hour call" during a rehearsal, a couple of days ago someone said this to me: "On a ten out of twelve Tech Day. The actors are due one half hour call per day  They have a half hour to get into costumes for the early session, but not for the later session.

I have worked with a few busy directors who have also been actors (some Broadway) who believe this and were shocked when I disabused them of this notion. No idea where they get this idea - after a 2 hr lunch break we then add a formal half-hour for costume and make-up? No idea where this notion came from, and it makes little sense.

330

Employment / Re: Thousands in back taxes ride on one question:

« on: Jul 20, 2013, 11:58 pm »

This is pretty terrifying........