Messages

316

The Hardline / Re: Question about EMC

« on: Aug 24, 2010, 07:47 pm »

EMCs can attend EPAs, but can EMCs apply for Equity ASM jobs?

I was an EMC (about 16 credits in) when I signed an Equity SM contract. Your EMC fee goes towards your AEA fee. I was invited into the project and didn't apply, but I don't see why you couldn't.

317

The Green Room / Re: Your ideal kit bag/box/portable hole

« on: Aug 23, 2010, 04:46 pm »

Between my back problems and the NYC subway system, mine would have to be as small as possible, portable, and lightweight. Probably soft, with lots of pockets/loops for things.

318

The Green Room / Re: Funny definitions

« on: Aug 22, 2010, 10:41 am »

Blind Walk- The memorization of set piece location that enables the SM to walk across the stage in pitch black and not run into anything.

319

Tools of the Trade / Re: Fake Braces

« on: Aug 21, 2010, 06:44 pm »

Don't try the paperclip method...this is now my elementary-school friend ended up with REAL braces.

320

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: First time with Equity

« on: Aug 20, 2010, 04:20 pm »

My philosophy is to always run the show as professionally as possible, no matter how many people, the level, etc. If you set the bar they're going to have to keep up, and it's better to be too precise than too general, I think.

321

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: HOUSE MANAGEMENT: Do you spill the beans about your famous audience members?

« on: Aug 20, 2010, 04:18 pm »

However, if it's someone's spouse or parent or significant other or whatever, not only am I going to tell them about it, if they're the sort of person who will roll with it, I'm totally teasing them about it in my pre-show calls.    (And, of course, if they're the sort of person who wouldn't want the attention drawn to them, I won't.)

But I think family/sig. o./etc is a different case. Most actors know when they're coming, for example, and they (typically) have very little effect on the career (which is where I think the jumpiness concerning famous audience members comes from). The only time I've had both of those converge is when one of the actors was childhood friends with Edward Albee, who showed up one night. The actor knew because they had discussed it, and I knew because I knew his seating, but we kept it a secret from the rest of the cast.

322

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Recording blocking

« on: Aug 20, 2010, 12:14 am »

I have a show right now with 30 actors, including 4 children. People are constantly moving around the set, wandering on and off, and conversations are overlapping. Timing is ESSENTIAL, and there is no way I'd remember it all if I didn't write it down.

I photocopy each script page individually  onto an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper so i have PLENTY of margin space. on the backside is a sketch of the set to record where people are/move to during the course of the facing page. Sound and light cues go in the left-hand margin. I use a lot of shorthand, and I have very small handwriting. It all manages to fit.

I also invested in a large eraser.

323

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: HOUSE MANAGEMENT: Do you spill the beans about your famous audience members?

« on: Aug 20, 2010, 12:06 am »

If actors want to know, I tell them after the show. Especially true with industry folk so they can send a follow-up letter or note if they want.

If they ask before the show, I tell them it doesn't matter because it should be a good show every night. I doubt it's going to make for a better show anyway.

324

The Green Room / Re: SM Joke

« on: Aug 19, 2010, 09:42 am »

An actor walks into a bar....the stage manager yells for someone to glow it.

325

The Green Room / Re: Funny definitions

« on: Aug 19, 2010, 09:31 am »

Supply Euphoria- the excitement you get from stepping into an office supply shop.

326

The Green Room / Re: Funny definitions

« on: Aug 18, 2010, 01:01 am »

SMAdar: The ability of one stage manager to identify another stage manager based on behavior alone, outside of the normal environs.

I had an SMAdar moment today- walked past a guy on the street who was in all-black with his flashlight, roll of gaff, and stopwatch!

Theater Weekend- Monday.

"I can't, I have a show"- the knee-jerk reaction to most nighttime invitations.

327

Tools of the Trade / Re: PROPS: Dead Birds

« on: Aug 17, 2010, 10:00 pm »

Can you talk to a local taxidermist - they may have some ideas?  We did The Seagull recently and ended up with a real dead (stuffed) seagull, which brought with it its own issues.  We actually acquired the seagull through our Arkadina, who was walking through the central city a couple of months before rehearsals started when a perfectly formed seagull literally dropped dead at her feet....so she got a plastic bag, picked it up, took it home and put it into her freezer and then brought it into the theatre!!  We did have to get all sorts of permits and permission to use it though - and it had to go to a museum after the season ended, as the species is protected (even though it died of natural causes!!).

Gold star for that actor!

328

College and Graduate Studies / Re: BA vs BS

« on: Aug 17, 2010, 09:59 pm »

I totally get missliz's explanation of the "lab time " for the BS degree.  What I don't understand is that how the theatre degree is a BS (Where did you go missliz?). I mean we totally put in more "Lab Time" than a lot of people and we definitely can bs  . But Theatre is an Art not a Science.  But that is just my feeling.
hope this helps

In your credit hours, you technically took productions as labs. IE A mainstage show was 4 credits towards your 18-credit semester or what have you. Because it was working "in field" and not an actual class, they were lab hours. A certain number of lab hours makes the degree a BS and not a BA. Not sure if I'm explaining this well. In terms of specialization, it'd fall between a BA and a BFA.

329

College and Graduate Studies / Re: BA vs BS

« on: Aug 16, 2010, 07:23 pm »

The difference between a BA and a BS is what they call "lab time." IE working in a lab vs. class hours. (I worked in college admissions, and this is how it was explained to me.) I actually got a BS in theater because I earned about half my hours working in theater, which they considered "lab time."

I don't think this makes it any better or worse than a BA or a BFA in theater, just different.

330

Tools of the Trade / Re: PROPS: Dead Birds

« on: Aug 16, 2010, 07:08 pm »

Aha! Funny enough, I had a pair of dead, headless birds for a recent production.

The birds were made out of a rubber dog toy..I forget what they're called, but they're very heavy rubber and look like a snowman. The props person made it with that, covered in paper mache and then feathers. Wings were attached with a little bit of wire left loose...when they were dropped out of the actress' hand the wings fluttered a bit and they had a nice THUD and slight bounce when they hit the floor. The ends of the dog toy (hollow) were filled with fabric that was touched up with stage blood each night, as the actress needed to have some blood on her hands.

I am not sure how helpful this is but maybe it'll give you some ideas. Here they are: