Messages

406

Tools of the Trade / Re: Useful Literature

« on: Nov 13, 2010, 11:10 am »

Off the top of my head I'd say any of Jeffrey Gitomer's books, like Little Red Book of Selling. Sounds completely off-base, but when you realize that stage managers have to sell themselves and their work, it's valuable to pick up any information you can. I've also read One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success; one of the first examples is a theatre director slash computer programmer. It talks about how having more than one career can make you happier in general, and also how to manage your personal life while participating in multiple careers. Good for those of us in cities where the arts can't offer a living wage.

407

The Green Room / Re: I can't believe I just had to do that...

« on: Nov 12, 2010, 02:32 pm »

However, the tub was an antique and did not have a drain.  This meant that at the end of the night I had to grab a hose, run it to a drain in the vomitoriums and run a siphon by sucking on the end of the hose. ICK. 

Thankfully, after seeing me sucking back bathwater one night, arrangements were made for a small pump to be bought so that I wouldn't have to get a mouth ful of dirty water every night.

That seems incredibly unnecessary and unsanitary. Did you ever suggest the pump before putting your mouth to the hose? I would refuse to do it if that was the first suggestion.

408

The Green Room / Re: Did he REALLY ask me that?

« on: Nov 12, 2010, 12:11 am »

One of my actresses asked me the other day how I balanced on the ladder during the whole show.


Apparently she didn't know there was a booth, and thought I was sitting on a painting ladder, calling the show...

That's really odd. Wonder how she got that idea into her head?

409

The Green Room / Move from SM to other management/administration?

« on: Nov 11, 2010, 11:09 pm »

I recently concluded an interview with Long Wharf Theatre and have another interview at Yale School of Drama on Tuesday, both are positions that aren't affiliated with stage management, but in their ads said SM experience was preferred. At some point I knew I would take my SM skills and decide to apply them to Company Management or Arts Administration, and as luck would have it two opportunities showed up at the same time.

My question is: has anyone else made this move, from SM to management or arts administration? How did you feel moving from an environment backstage to an environment in the back office? What took some getting used to? What was easy to let go?

410

The Green Room / Re: 10 things actors can do to get off to a good start with a stage manager

« on: Nov 09, 2010, 10:13 am »

I had a similar situation last week, only less intense but just as annoying.
We had no sound board op so it was up to me to cue up the tracks, and one older actor kept telling me the day after I got the CDs for the first time that I was messing them up. I didn't respond, except to say we were still playing around with the timing and levels.
Then at fight call the same actor told me I wasn't running fight call correctly! After we ran through the last fight he asked me, quite condescendingly and in front of the group, "Is there anything else I need to know that you forgot?"
I said deadpan, "Yeah, you're dropping lines."

Somehow they expect perfection from us the second the production requires something, but some of them need three months to get off-book.

411

College and Graduate Studies / Re: USITT Conference

« on: Nov 07, 2010, 01:20 pm »

Thankfully it's in Charlotte NC this year so I'll be able to find out first hand without spending a ton of money. From the looks of the vendors, aside from colleges I don't see anything connected with stage management at all. I'm curious as well to see if anyone else has gone and took anything away from it.

412

The Green Room / Re: Best one-liner from a performance report

« on: Nov 05, 2010, 07:34 am »

Last night's report included, "The saint is missing her kneecaps. Not a huge deal, but we need to keep an eye out for them."

413

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Blocking Script vs Calling Script

« on: Oct 27, 2010, 12:54 pm »

Unless there is blocking that directly affects a cue (wait for a performer to get out of the way, the blocking is essentially the cue, etc.), I don't include any blocking. When I make my book, aside from the script with cues, I usually include pertinent venue information including 'in case of emergency' numbers, run sheet, performance report, lock-up procedures, local information including nearest hospital, announcement in case of technical difficulties + announcement resuming the show...anything that will allow a monkey to take my place.

414

The Green Room / Lip-syncing at Cosi open

« on: Oct 19, 2010, 03:12 pm »

Thought this would start an interesting discussion: was this the right choice?

http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/theater_review_cosi_fan_tutte/Content?oid=1077697

415

Employment / Re: Dear Abby: How can I discreetly put myself on the market?

« on: Oct 18, 2010, 10:33 pm »

If this were me, after you had your first freelance gig lined up, give notice to Theatre X. Then, with permission, I would write a formal letter/email to production staff (PSM, Artistic Director, etc) stating what a great experience you've had there, etc etc, but that you feel it is time to expand yourself and work on a freelance basis (also that you would have no problems doing just that for Theatre X should they have need). This will start the positive word getting out that you're available and hopefully the word will spread.

Write another formal letter/email saying basically the same thing you told Theatre X, and send them to anyone in your contact list that you think will either hire you or would know someone who would hire you. Attach your resume so they don't have to ask for it. Tell them to feel free to pass the email along to whomever is interested. If you have Facebook, put a shorter version in your status update; do whatever on Twitter; post another update on LinkedIn (if you have one, if not - set it up!). Always have a positive vibe to the message, and you should get some interest.

Good luck!

416

The Green Room / Re: I can't believe I just had to do that...

« on: Oct 15, 2010, 04:43 pm »

Less funny and more, "What are people thinking!?" 
I just had to ask our house manager to post a guard by the set any time the audience is wandering (pre-show, intermission, post-show, post-talkback), because they are stealing and eating our prop mints.  A different style show, I'd just set the mints at places, but that's not an option for this house!

I'm already anticipating problems for our show opening in-the-round next month. Gold coins, big bags stuffed with skeletons and bodies, benches, stools, paper...and some sections of the audience have to pass through the set to get to their seats. Very strong temptations apparently. The last time we did it this way we had audience members looking through the very meticulously placed jewelry in a closed jewelry box.

I'm thinking of standing by with the god mic and making an announcement anytime someone starts touching props before curtain. Just kidding. Maybe.

417

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: Light Board restart WWYD?

« on: Sep 28, 2010, 12:57 pm »

Agreed, keep the show going. It isn't a big enough problem to stop the show and make an audience wait for the fix to happen.

418

The Green Room / Re: Elect the new SMNet feature!

« on: Sep 26, 2010, 09:22 pm »

Hooray for new toys 

419

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Getting the Rights to a show

« on: Sep 22, 2010, 08:34 am »

Most rights can be had through Samuel French, for future reference.

420

The Green Room / UNCSA Southeast Regional Entertainment Technology Conference

« on: Sep 13, 2010, 12:25 pm »

Held by the technical staff of various Cirque shows; I'm attending Sept. 30th - Oct. 2nd...anyone else going?

http://faculty.uncsa.edu/techconference/

Never stop learning