Messages

376

Tools of the Trade / Squeaky shoes on stage? New trick!

« on: Feb 06, 2007, 12:06 pm »

When my cast can't use the stage for rehearsal, our theatre's rehearsal space is an abysmal little basement room with old fashioned school-tile type floors.  You know, the ones that EVERYONE'S shoes squeak on?  And one of our actresses was wearing new boots.  It got very distracting in rehearsal.
Solution?
Grab some spray-starch from the costume department, spray on bottom of shoes, allow to dry, viola!  Much fewer squeaks! Not slippery!  And leaves no residue on the floor!  If it works on those tiles, it's got to work on a stage surface. 
Thought I'd share!

377

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Happy Stage Management Memories?

« on: Jan 26, 2007, 11:51 pm »

I got a happy stage management memory today!  (although it made me worry that one of my actresses had been 'neglected' by her SM in the past).
We were doing heavy blocking, changing this, switching that, just playing with getting around the space before we settled on the blocking for the scene, and all the different versions of the directions the director was throwing out there somehow got muddled when my actress transcribed them to her script.  She said she was confused and asked me what the blocking we had decided on was.

"Well, you get up on this line, pace SR, check out the door, come back SC just below the bench while he gets up and orates SL.  He'll circle back towards you C during his speech, and you escape US of the bench towards SL on this other line," I rattled off immediately, glancing at my script.

She stared at me in openmouthed astonishment and then looked at our director and said in deadpan, "She's good!"

Jeff grinned at me and said, "Yes, she sure is!"

While it feels REALLY good to be impressing my cast and director (and actually being appreciated daily!) with my abilities so early in the process, I'm worried about what SMs they've had before me!  I consider everything I do as BASIC SM duties, and apparently, my predecessors haven't been fulfilling them!!!  My poor cast, director and crew!

378

Tools of the Trade / Re: Trees on stage

« on: Jan 09, 2007, 11:12 am »

A few years ago I was part of a production of Misalliance, which takes place in a conservatory, and we used trees borrowed from our campus's greenhouse.  The big issue with the live trees was their care.  After each performace they had to be heavily watered (as the hot stage lights were drying them up) and dragged out into the lobby so they could get sunlight.
We had our share of spilled dirt, spilled mud, broken pots, drooping and dropping leaves, but really, the effect or live plants on stage ended up making it worth it.

Good luck finding someplace to get your trees for free/cheap, if you do decide to go that route!  Perhaps a trade for advertising space in the program might offer an incentive to local businesses?

379

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Pre-show Blues

« on: Jan 09, 2007, 10:59 am »

"It all works out in the end"
"How"
"I don't know... it's a mystery"

<snip>

Extra points to whoever can identify the opening quote.

I'm pretty sure it's from Maskerade by Terry Pratchett.  If not, it may as well be!

380

SMNetwork Archives / Re: word usage?

« on: Jan 08, 2007, 12:52 pm »

And "please" and "thank you" will get you anywhere

Funny, I once had my master carpenter berate me for saying please and thank you to him after he did anything for me.  He thought it was condescending, and implied that he was below me.  His exact words to me were "There is no assistant after my title."
<snip>

That?  Boggles my mind.  I've always been taught that "Thank You" is the appropriate response to just about anything in theatre.  It may not always mean "thanks" but does always mean, "I've heard/acknowledged/understood/etc. what you've just told me or done."

As in,
"This is your five call, ladies and gentlemen."  "Thank you, five."
or
"We need to hold the house for a few minutes while we get this wheelchair in place."  "Thank you, house," when you're really thinking why can't the bloody house manager seat everyone on time even one night!

381

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Non-Union Pay Rate

« on: Jan 04, 2007, 02:19 pm »

I recently left a show that was a long running show (5 years).  As SM for a four-show week, I started at $180/wk and was making $225/wk when I left just over two years later.  It was an entirely non-equity theatre.

382

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: I need everyones opinon...

« on: Dec 27, 2006, 09:50 am »

I've called from both front of house and a backstage "booth."  Given the option to be front of house, in the light and sound booth, with reliable ASM's back stage, is my first choice, but I don't know that I'd like to be right in the house.  With your setup, it sounds like backstage is the way to go.  Let us know what you choose and how it works out.

383

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Digging Out in Denver

« on: Dec 27, 2006, 09:47 am »

Sorry about your snow jam, but my holiday travel delays got you a little beat . . .

Try being detained by Israeli security on Christmas Eve.

At least it all turned out well in the end and I did make it home for Christmas.

   Yikes!!!  Glad everything turned out all right for you!

384

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Pre-show Blues

« on: Dec 27, 2006, 09:46 am »

I will enthusiastically second (and third) about stage managing HS theatre being difficult.  I remember one of my high school shows (probably my third or fourth time stage managing), we had a little diva-ette.  I was sent to call the cast from the green room into the theatre for notes after a rehearsal.  Everyone got up and moving except this one girl.  When I repeated, "Mr. Farmer wants everyone in the theatre for notes," she said, "If Mr. Farmer wants me, he'll come get himself."  I shrugged, said, "That's what he's got me for," and left her sitting alone in the green room.
About ten minutes later, when no one else bothered to come to issue a personal invitation and cater to her sense of ego, she sheepishly slipped into the back of the theatre.  I hid my smile in my script.  She never gave me any more trouble.

385

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Script Analysis

« on: Dec 25, 2006, 01:14 pm »

You can also readily make one on almost any Word Processing program that does tables, or even a Spreadsheet program.

386

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Flying Carpet...

« on: Dec 13, 2006, 11:33 am »

I don't know the specific effect you're looking for (swooping high vs. a smooth glide) but you could borrow an effect I saw in Yeston/Koppit's Phantom.  For the boat, they filled the orchestra pit with smoke or fog (the orchestra, of course being situated elsewhere), put the boat on rolling stilts, and viola, looked like it was floating on a misty lake.  You could put ramps in the bottom of the pit to roll the carpet up and down so you got some level changes in your 'flying' through the clouds, as well....

387

The Green Room / Re: Things You'll Never Hear a Stage Manager Say

« on: Dec 13, 2006, 11:27 am »

"I've got a bit of a cold, nothing big, but I don't think I'll be coming in today."

388

The Green Room / Re: Things You'll Never Hear a Stage Manager Say

« on: Dec 07, 2006, 12:02 pm »

just tell the actors, I don't need to know

I currently work with a director who seems to live by this one.  He tell the actors about line changes, costume changes, blocking changes, etc, but not me.  About once a week, I find myself staring at the monitor, cursing, saying, "What the hell is X doing out there?"

Add to the list of things you'll never hear a stage manager say:
"I don't know and I don't care."
"I'm slipping out early, the actors can lock up."
"Sure, you can bring your two-year old to rehearsal!"

389

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Cleaning a Scrim

« on: Dec 06, 2006, 10:46 am »

I've had luck washing everything from a hand-made silk wedding dress to a Victorian tapestry, by hand washing it with Ivory Snow soap, cold water in a large basin (usually a bathtub, but I don't think that would be big enough for a full stage scrim, not sure what would be).  Hang dry.

But, it has to be Ivory SNOW laundry soap, not just the regular Ivory.  It's the only stuff that's super gentle enough.

Good luck!