Messages

346

Employment / Re: From the other side of the resume (low key rant - personal advice)

« on: Oct 13, 2007, 11:43 pm »

I agree with those saying that SM resume should include only SM, ASM, PA credits (if possible).

If an ad asks for a certain skill or experience in another department, put it under special skills or mention it in your cover letter.

I guess an exception would be if the job is a PSM/ LD or PSM/ TD or ASM/ AD position where you will not just be asked to have skill in an area, but be performing dual roles.

But if a job decsription just mentions that you will need to run the light board, you don't need section of your resume listing how many times you've board oped.

347

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Jesus Christ Superstar

« on: Oct 12, 2007, 09:01 pm »

JCS is a sung-through musical so there is no intermediary dialog.

As far as obtaining a props list from the lyrics, there are a lot of hints in the words.  You could also watch a filmed version of the play and take note on what they used.  Don't copy the design, but you can get the idea of what might be needed.

In the case of JCS in particular, watch ANY story of Jesus' last few weeks and you can get the idea.  . . Need a cross, need a crown of thorns, need palms, need bag of 40 silver pieces

348

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Jesus Christ Superstar

« on: Oct 12, 2007, 06:25 pm »

I too have done JCS but I did have a score.  I put in the a 2 ring binder and put score of left side and blocking pages on the right side just like I do with straight plays.

I a curious why you don't have access to the score.  But maybe I am not understanding your question.

349

Tools of the Trade / Re: Line Note- POST ITS!

« on: Oct 11, 2007, 10:04 pm »

I have received favorable feedback from actors on using post-it notes.  They like to stick the post-it on the appropriate pages to serve as a reminder.

I don't usually have a problem with post-its getting too unruly on script pages.  They are around long enough to fall off and get confused.

350

Uploaded Forms / Re: Line Notes (for going "off book")

« on: Oct 11, 2007, 10:01 pm »

I love this idea!

Me too! Do you double up, as in back-to-back pages of the script, to save on pocket protectors? Doing Lear might make for a pretty thick book, with all that plastic...

Idea for long plays, use two or three binders and divide by act.  That way more than one person can get notes at a time, even.

351

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Tech Haiku

« on: Oct 11, 2007, 09:58 pm »

One-off, bus and truck
Can't get sound to work on time
Three to go this week

Thirteen hours truck
Stuck in traffic pouring rain
Fall down stairs hurt knee

Thirteen hours three
people in twenty-six foot
truck in New Jersey

352

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Does anyone have a template for wallet cards?

« on: Oct 07, 2007, 10:04 pm »

I too do quicklist of contacts on one side and schedule on reverse.

353

Tools of the Trade / Re: SM Software

« on: Sep 29, 2007, 12:21 pm »

Sarah not sure I agree with you here! 

10 years ago cell phones would never replace land lines and email would never replace snail mail.  Both are well on their way!  It's only a matter of time before someone is able to create an effective SM package.

Cell phones were useless during 9/11 -- only landlines were working.  Just saying...

Umm.  I don't know where you were but landlines weren't really working so well either that day.

354

Articles from the Old Site / Re: So...do ya think you're theatre is haunted?

« on: Sep 26, 2007, 08:42 am »

I used to live in a haunted house.  I lived there for 2 years and during that whole time we were never able to hang a mirror.  We would hang one (numerous attempts with numerous mirrors and numerous methods) and within a day it would fall down.  It usually wouldn't break, but it would always fall down.

355

Articles from the Old Site / Re: Drunk Actor

« on: Sep 26, 2007, 01:08 am »

I also have a story about an actor with a drinking problem.  We will call her Jane.  She is with Lilz's Bill in the Big Rehearsal in the Sky.

For an 8:00 show, I get a frantic phone call at about 7:05.

Jane: Jessie, come get me.  You HAVE to come get me. COME GET ME!
Me: Ok, Jane.  Yes, I will get you.  Where are you?
Jane: Come get me. Come get me. Come get me.  You have to get me.
Me: Ok, calm down.  Where are you?  I will get you.
-sounds of someone wrestling the phone out of her hands-
Voice: Hello this is Officer John from the City Police.
Me: Hello, officer.  Are you with Jane?
Officer: Yes, we have Ms. Jane Smith here in custody at City Police Station.
Me: May I ask what happened?
Officer: We have arrested her for DUI.
Me: Ok.  Is she allowed to go?
Officer: Yes but someone will need to get her.  The car has been impounded and she is not able to drive.

So I got the producer, we held the curtain.  Producer went to go get her (45 min away) and Jane was still falling down drunk when she arrived.   We slapped her wig on her and somehow got throw the show.

After threats from producer, she shaped up (kind of) she ending up staying sober until the last few performances.  That is sober before the show.  After all bets were off and we all toke turns driving her home.

Sadly, she passed away a few months later from cancer.  (Freaky considering her character gets cancer in the show).  I wonder if she knew and hence the drinking.

356

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: The Most Qs Ever

« on: Sep 25, 2007, 12:59 am »

Are you doing Poor Superman?

Hmm.  As for my highest, I will need to ponder and return with an answer.  Does fashion count?  That's a cue every 20-30 seconds for 15 minutes straight.  (But I probably have that beat somewhere else)

357

Employment / Re: From the other side of the resume (low key rant - personal advice)

« on: Sep 22, 2007, 09:08 pm »

On advancement.

Go ahead apply for jobs that are out of your league.  A take a risk, try to move up.  But be realistic.  Ask yourself if the tables were turned would you consider taking a risk on someone of your qualifications.

But if a job description states that you need a certain kind of experience (ex. dance) and you don't have any, you had better write a really good letter explaining what you HAVE done that can approximate or equal it.

Part of of being a good potential hire is good self-awareness.  It is not self aware to apply for a job if you are grossly under qualified.  It is subtle but important first step in me (as your potential boss) not trusting you.

Don't apply for a job that you won't do a good job at.

358

Employment / Re: Conductors on an opera resume

« on: Sep 17, 2007, 12:47 pm »

I suggest you chose (per opera) which name to show.  If on certain operas you want both the director and conductor, only put both for that particular and chose just for the other operas.

Ex:
Tosca           Opera Co #1     Dir: Name
Turandot       Opera Co #2     Con: Name
La Boheme     Opera Co #3     Dir: Name/ Con: Name
                               or       Con: Name

That way you are not wasting space on names you don't "need"

359

The Hardline / Re: AEA Actors coming when not called

« on: Sep 10, 2007, 04:17 pm »

Questions:

-Does actor understand that since he is not called, he is not getting paid for those hours/ days?
-Does the director want a closed rehearsal (ie only those called are allowed in the room)?
-Has he been asked to volunteer his time or does he just want to soak up the atmosphere/ get into the play and watch the process?
-Is he being used in scenes?

My opinion is that as long as the payment is clear and the director/ cast does not mind having him present, you should allow him to exercise his personal prep time in rehearsal.  I mean does it matter if he sits at home and memorizes his lines, or if he sits in rehearsal.  He should also not monoloplise director's time by having discussions or working scenes that are not scheduled.

If the producer is uncomfortable with this situation, I suggest you have them talk to the actor specifically.

360

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Good Rep Daily Call Form

« on: Aug 16, 2007, 10:11 am »

This form is looking good.  I think that I would split the Show columns in two again.  Have 1st column in Show A be time; 2nd be activity.  I think it might read a little better.

Also consider (if the producers, etc need it) making a section at the end with a section for each studio.  Could be very simple, but just to show when it will be occupied so that various departments know when they can go into the space.  You could also use that to remind TD/ props if large items need to be in several studios during the day so they know when to move them.