Messages

331

Employment / Re: Resident SM?

« on: Jul 02, 2011, 07:23 pm »

and on that note... is a resident gig of this type worth it, or is better to stay uncommitted and go where the best offer/show is?  is resident SM a big resume builder?

There is no 'better' or 'best', but rather what is good for you personally and how the position would best help you towards future goals.
I just became a resident SM and I can already tell a few differences from freelancing:

1. You're much more aware of the politics within the company. You're also much more aware of continuous issues behind the scenes.
2. There's more meetings. More than I'm used to.
3. The calendar is set very early on, which still makes you available to freelance, albeit on shorter gigs. With the DNC coming to Charlotte next year, I've already put my name in with a few event planners/companies.
4. Vacation days - after looking at the calendar I'm not sure when I can use them, but it's good to know they're there.
5. Sick days. It's nice to have the option.
6. Health/Dental insurance, retirement plan, etc. This is big for me, since the last time I had any type of insurance was 2006 (and I have a 3 year old...not good) and I can truly begin planning for my retirement.
7. There's adjustments to get used to. Personally I have to get used to having an on-site workspace. Most times after a rehearsal I'd go straight home and do my work from there. After several years of that, I had to remind myself that I needed to work at my desk.
8. Certain things are no longer my responsibility financially. For example, there's no need to carry a kit anymore since there are office supplies and spike tape on-site. I don't have to go to Kinko's to make copies or keep my own FedEx account.
9. I have a voice in my organization. Before if I felt something was done that I didn't agree with - a procedure, for instance - I went about my business and worked around it. Now if I feel something could be done better or more efficiently - especially if it relates directly to my department - I speak up.
10. Job security. Though nowadays the word is quickly becoming an oxymoron, I'm not constantly looking for 'the next gig.' I can relax a little.

This is just what I've noticed right away. Knowing how I operate, I know I'm going to have to take a few side gigs for extra money (trying to fix up my house) and to keep myself from getting too much into a routine.

332

Self-Promotion / Re: Next stop: dream job!

« on: Jul 02, 2011, 06:02 pm »

Congrats and enjoy!

333

The Green Room / Re: Reading Plays

« on: Jun 30, 2011, 11:42 am »

Adding to the list..

Arthur Miller
August Wilson
Tony Kushner
Paula Vogel

And why not throw some Stephen Sondheim into the mix. I have to say I wasn't too familiar with his work; all I knew was that his songs were impossible to sing. I recently saw "Company" at a movie theatre and it was wonderful.

My two cents

Good additions - though I personally am not a fan of Kushner for several reasons, and I can't believe I forgot Miller - and I agree with reading the books of musicals. It's hard to get the whole story just listening to the cast album.

I would also add to the list:
Ionesco
Strindberg
Brecht
Shaw

334

The Green Room / Re: Reading Plays

« on: Jun 30, 2011, 09:16 am »

I gave myself the same goal in high school. I find it's easier to get a collection of works and go through that way. You also get a good idea of a playwright's style and quirks. Here's a few from my collection:

Noel Coward
Tennessee Williams
Christopher Hampton
Shakespeare
Chekov
Ibsen
O'Neill
Tom Stoppard
David Mamet
Neil Simon
Edward Albee...

I hope you have a library card. Happy reading!

335

The Green Room / Re: gaining new perspective

« on: Jun 27, 2011, 08:47 pm »

Once in a blue moon - or every year Haley's Comet makes an appearance! - I decide to audition for something. Anything. It reminds me to empathize with the process actors have to go through. I think we all need those reminders from time to time.

336

Tools of the Trade / Re: File Totes

« on: Jun 20, 2011, 10:03 pm »

I love Knock Knock, especially their sticky notes. I bought the "WTF" stickies for my PM/SM as a fun start-of-the-season welcome back gift. Also got the Slang Flash Cards to use as closing night thank-you's...I like to keep my 'cards' interesting.

337

The Green Room / Re: LINKS: Simple desktops

« on: Jun 14, 2011, 12:11 pm »

Downloaded the Green Eggs and Ham to get ready for Seussical auditions next week 

Thanks for sharing.

338

Tools of the Trade / Re: Covering Tattoos

« on: Jun 14, 2011, 09:53 am »

To add, is there something you can do to treat the fabric itself as well, just in the area threatened by the makeup smearing off? My initial reaction was to double stick a piece of seran, plastic or wax paper to the fabric.

339

The Hardline / Re: Theatres That Have Closed--Can You Say "Emergency?"

« on: Jun 06, 2011, 06:06 pm »

Add Florida Stage - http://www.floridastage.org/

340

The Green Room / Re: What would you do, with a grant for SMing...

« on: May 31, 2011, 01:41 pm »

iPad & iPhone
Website building and support
Take a few classes: music, Italian, French
Take a trip to the West End
Take a trip to a few regional theatres
Attend a couple of conferences
...and adding a few things to the wardrobe might be nice. All black, of course.

341

Tools of the Trade / Re: Spike marks on peat/bark floor?

« on: May 20, 2011, 09:21 am »

I'm having deja vu with this question, I think someone else had a similar challenge last year. The picture isn't a bad idea. Have you thought of taking a thin metal rod/spike with a short colored flag on the top end (the kind landscapers use) and drive it into the 'stage'?

342

The Green Room / Re: Who are we, anyway...?

« on: May 18, 2011, 11:15 am »

Our local unified auditions are much the same way - the largest portion is dedicated to actors auditioning for all the local theatres at once, with a two hour time slot (at lunch break, of all times) for them to go to a separate room for designers, etc. who showcase their portfolios, resumes and chat with perspective employers. I was the only SM present one year and only handed out one resume, everyone else was more interested in speaking with designers...

So of course I always get calls from these same theatres waiting until the last minute to hire an SM.

343

The Green Room / Re: The Stage Manager's Nightmare

« on: May 17, 2011, 08:17 am »

Ugh, I guess it's just that time of year.

Had a nightmare that I was in the house during tech and I called for a star drop to be flown out. It gets halfway there and I hear sounds of struggle from the rail and suddenly it flies out in record speed, I hear a crash and the line drops to the stage. Then one by one ALL the lines start crashing to the ground and the arbor system actually pulls away from the wall and falls over. Once the dust settles the entire arbor system is in a heap onstage. I'm standing there with my mouth open in shock. I look over at my PM and say we have to cancel the show. She says we still have to open in four days and that I need to make it happen.

344

Self-Promotion / Re: SITP: Measure for Measure

« on: May 10, 2011, 01:01 pm »

I'm loving that set.

345

The Green Room / Re: The Stage Manager's Nightmare

« on: May 10, 2011, 12:59 pm »

Had a dream last night that I was exactly 34 minutes late to the first rehearsal of a Shakespeare play. Funny thing is, it doesn't start until July. Oh, and I was late because I was driving the Autobahn with my mother saying how irrationally reckless I was being. It's a little early for these kinds of nightmares.