331
Tools of the Trade / Re: What Type Of Drill Is Best?
« on: Nov 29, 2007, 12:53 am »
I would count on my Dewalt 14.4v in any situation. I love her.
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14 Jan 2021: Happy 21st birthday, SMNetwork! I replaced the old broken mobile theme. -K
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332
The Hardline / Re: AEA as PA
« on: Nov 25, 2007, 07:24 pm »It becomes really tricky in the LORT world when there is not an Equity ASM in place.
The Equity "P.A." then naturally does the work of the ASM without benefit of the contract showing 2 things:
One - That the work is valid and needs to be done
Two - There are AEA individuals willing to do it without benefit of contract
Kinda like shooting ourselves in the foot...
I don't believe those specific issues apply in this case. There is an AEA ASM in place on this contract.
In the job posting that Matthew put on this site, it was mentioned that the position is an non-equity stage management slot. In my opinion, this would disqualify an AEA ember from holding that position.
Ask the business rep though, they might have dealt with this in the past.
333
SMNetwork Archives / Happy Thanksgiving
« on: Nov 22, 2007, 11:26 am »
Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating!
334
Employment / Re: Going to NYC?
« on: Nov 21, 2007, 07:48 pm »
If you want to stage manage, start getting experience. Community theatre, small professional theatre, etc. If you think you will still want to pursue stage management even after a couple of years of business school, why go to business school.
Where do you live now? Is there a place you can intern or ASM and build some professional creds on your resume before moving to NYC?
Where do you live now? Is there a place you can intern or ASM and build some professional creds on your resume before moving to NYC?
335
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Onstage Hangings
« on: Nov 21, 2007, 09:35 am »Use a black out and a trap door sound effect. This way the audience still gets the idea that someone was hung but no one gets hurt. including your budget. Whatever you do do no put a secured noose around an actors neck. There is always the chance that they could fall off the platform and hang themselves.
Even if they don't actually hang themselves, the potential for injury is quite high when dealing with any kind of ligature. Don't mess around with it. It's like pointed a gun loaded with blanks at your head. Too risky. Hire a professional rigging company or not at all.
When we did Chicago we had our actress place a very loose rope hoop around her head, then cut to blackout with a sound effect and a stylized projection of a woman hanging. However, if you are not already using projections in your show, this might not work.
336
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Report on SM's role in industrial and fashion shows
« on: Nov 19, 2007, 01:46 am »
This fall I worked as a sender/ show assistant for the MB Fashion Week. The structure that our show team followed was:
-Director (runs rehearsals, supervises backstage and stage set up, advances show with designer and venue, actually calls show- light cues, sound cues, spot cues and models)
-Sender (physically sends the models out onto the runway as called by director, assists with backstage set up)
-Show Assistants (physically lines up models to go onstage, assists with backstage set up)
Backstage set up duties include: catering, clothing racks, show cards, posting signs, set up quick change areas, organize dressing area, direct traffic
Major differences from theatre/ dance/ opera:
-cameras of every kind are every where, interviews, tv, the works
-touching- weird, but it is common practice to touch the talent (as in take them by the arm and lead them where you want to go)
-celebrity walk-throughs (random celebrities will hang out backstage)
-pre-show can almost be a party (dj's, booze, food etc)
A show call is usually 5 or 6 hours. 4 hours of prep, then show, then strike.
-Director (runs rehearsals, supervises backstage and stage set up, advances show with designer and venue, actually calls show- light cues, sound cues, spot cues and models)
-Sender (physically sends the models out onto the runway as called by director, assists with backstage set up)
-Show Assistants (physically lines up models to go onstage, assists with backstage set up)
Backstage set up duties include: catering, clothing racks, show cards, posting signs, set up quick change areas, organize dressing area, direct traffic
Major differences from theatre/ dance/ opera:
-cameras of every kind are every where, interviews, tv, the works
-touching- weird, but it is common practice to touch the talent (as in take them by the arm and lead them where you want to go)
-celebrity walk-throughs (random celebrities will hang out backstage)
-pre-show can almost be a party (dj's, booze, food etc)
A show call is usually 5 or 6 hours. 4 hours of prep, then show, then strike.
337
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Furniture
« on: Nov 01, 2007, 01:42 am »
Ultimate Responsibility to Provide Physical Item- Props Masters
Ultimate Aesthetic Decision- Set Designers
Of course Directors often get a pretty strong voice in the matter too.
Ultimate Aesthetic Decision- Set Designers
Of course Directors often get a pretty strong voice in the matter too.
338
Employment / Re: SM Portfolio?
« on: Oct 29, 2007, 11:32 am »
When I first graduated, I made myself a portfolio with sample of calling sheets, run sheets, etc.
I never once used it for anything. In fact, it is still in my closet untouched. I am sure it is beautiful, but it hasn't been useful.
However, for a few recent interviews, I did bring along a few pages of sample paperwork. But that was mostly just to show off (make me memorable) because they were in Chinese.
I never once used it for anything. In fact, it is still in my closet untouched. I am sure it is beautiful, but it hasn't been useful.
However, for a few recent interviews, I did bring along a few pages of sample paperwork. But that was mostly just to show off (make me memorable) because they were in Chinese.
339
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Calling attention
« on: Oct 29, 2007, 11:24 am »
I have stage managed large groups of children ranging from age 5 to 18. I have never used a whistle and probably only once yelled. I usually would clap loudly and raise my hand. Even if all the kids didn't join in the hand-raising, it still got people's attention.
340
Employment / Re: full time or part time?
« on: Oct 26, 2007, 12:50 pm »ArtSEARCH isn't cheap - but it can be worth it.
-Centaura
$60/ year isn't too expensive either, though.
341
Employment / Re: full time or part time?
« on: Oct 25, 2007, 11:20 am »
I too earn (and have earned since before I graduated) my living solely as a stage manager. I occasionally take an electrics or props call during slow weeks, but I have been lucky enough to earn enough money to pay my rent, my bills and still have a life.
It is possible, however, a lot of people I know do have to take other work to fill in gaps. I think a huge reason I was able to succeed straight out of college that I had a scholarship so I didn't have student loans to pay off and could take the SM jobs that didn't pay so well at first.
It is possible, however, a lot of people I know do have to take other work to fill in gaps. I think a huge reason I was able to succeed straight out of college that I had a scholarship so I didn't have student loans to pay off and could take the SM jobs that didn't pay so well at first.
342
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stop The Show!
« on: Oct 22, 2007, 11:18 am »
I had to stop my show earlier this week. Far from the first time, probably not the last. It sure does get my heart pounding every time though.
Dance show on tour. Sound stopped (some sort of mechanical error that didn't happen during dress rehearsal). Crew reacted quickly when I started calling for curtain, god mic, etc. Took a couple minutes to sort of the issue and started back up.
Dance show on tour. Sound stopped (some sort of mechanical error that didn't happen during dress rehearsal). Crew reacted quickly when I started calling for curtain, god mic, etc. Took a couple minutes to sort of the issue and started back up.
343
The Hardline / Re: COST Contract questions
« on: Oct 20, 2007, 04:56 am »
I also worked at a COST theatre in MD. All AEA actors, SM, ASMs and interns were provided with housing at no cost.
344
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Snappy SM
« on: Oct 18, 2007, 10:46 pm »(An ASMs perspective): Grin and bare it.
In this profession, any number of people are going to snap at you, even the very best stage managers (under the worst circumstances, of course). It comes with the territory. Sometimes its justified, sometimes its not. But its NOT valuable to waste your energy assigning blame.
Yeah, kind of. I always say that part of the SM (and by extension ASM)'s job is to be the person that gets yelled at. No, it's not ideal. No, it's not "professional." But it happens. A lot. Develop a thick skin and don't take it personally. (Or at least TRY not to) Good luck. It DOES get easier with time.
345
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Jesus Christ Superstar
« on: Oct 15, 2007, 04:32 pm »
No, just the vocal book. Not a separate typed out script.