Messages

421

Tools of the Trade / Re: Stage Management History

« on: Feb 02, 2010, 09:44 am »

Oooh! A favorite time period of mine. While I've never watched them specifically for stage managers, a couple movies from that time period that I can think of off the top of my head: All About Eve, Some Like It Hot (music, but lots of backstage antics), and possibly Singin In The Rain, though they're making a movie (but to me, it feels a lot like putting on a show). These are all early-mid-1950s movies, but I think that'd be your reference point. Have fun!

422

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Professionalism: Pre-show drink

« on: Jan 31, 2010, 11:41 pm »

Oh, after, definitely. I'm no lightweight, but it'd make me nervous I'd be sleepy!

423

Tools of the Trade / Re: An iphone app specifically for SMs!

« on: Jan 31, 2010, 11:38 pm »

I went to the iTunes store to look at it.  I totally see the points made by ABennett.  If it had syncing ability and you could make your own your categories it might work.  We keep track of a lot more that spike marks and props!

I mean, it WAS made by a lighting designer. 

424

Tools of the Trade / Re: Kit: Box vs. Bag

« on: Jan 31, 2010, 02:13 am »

I use a box simply because it has a lot of tiny compartments for everything I carry.

425

Tools of the Trade / An iphone app specifically for SMs!

« on: Jan 29, 2010, 04:52 pm »

My friend pointed me this way:

http://isquint.net/2010/new-iphone-app-for-stage-managers-showtool-sm/

Showtool SM. I don't have an iphone, so I have no idea how it is, but it looks pretty neat (I like the built-in preshow checklist). Somebody should test it and report back.

426

The Green Room / Re: Musical Misfortune

« on: Jan 29, 2010, 04:41 pm »

I did a show that involved a lot of original music written by a pretty neat indie rock band. (Cloud Cult, for those curious.) I loved their music and got a signed CD from them, but the show involved a lot of intricate light/sound/video sequences cued off the music. I can't hear some of the songs without having a mini-panic over the onslaught of cues coming up.

427

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Have I overstepped the mark?

« on: Jan 29, 2010, 12:57 pm »

While I agree that sometimes the SM is the problem, I don't think that it's the job of the SM to cater to everyone. Ultimately, you can't please all people all the time, so you can do your best to create a strong, healthy work environment that is the most efficient. It is ALSO the responsibility of the actors, crew, etc to meet you halfway and be cooperative with the structure that is set down.

428

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROFESSIONALISM: What SMs Should/Should Not Say During Casting Process?

« on: Jan 28, 2010, 06:26 pm »

This topic was split from the thread  "PROFESSIONALISM:  Have I overstepped the mark?" http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php/topic,5185.0.html  -Rebbe

Another (hypothetical) situation I thought of today: Let's say I'm in the audition room for a show I'll be working on. One of the people auditioning is a person I've worked with before and had difficulty with...late to rehearsals, disrespect for cast and crew, etc. During the casting process, is it appropriate to bring up my past experience with the actor? In my opinion, yes, because this is someone I would potentially have to work with again and do not want to. However, it's ultimately the director's decision. What say you folks?

429

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Have I overstepped the mark?

« on: Jan 27, 2010, 09:58 pm »

I've actually been on the other end of this situation- I was brought in for a show where the lead was precast (a semi-"name" actress). Before we even started, someone who had worked with her that I knew pulled me aside to tell me she was a diva, demanding, difficult to deal with, everything. So we started rehearsal, and if she had any complaint I found I was already a little against her and found myself taking it too seriously. And then a week or so later, I realized...she was fine. And I didn't have a problem with her for the whole contract. The person's friendly advice had created a bias for me against her that wasn't really fair.

430

The Green Room / Re: A thief caught by F. Murray Abraham

« on: Jan 26, 2010, 07:17 pm »

Wow! My theater has had a couple thefts in the last year, including someone who came in through a backstage door and stole $500 from the dressing rooms during curtain call. It's ridiculous. I'm bringing up this story tomorrow to remind everyone why we lock the back door (and why they should give me their valuables!)

431

The Green Room / Re: On The Boards

« on: Jan 26, 2010, 10:53 am »

If you're in NYC, lots of archival recordings of productions are available in the Lincoln Center archives or New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. They have a ton of resources, and it's free. However, I love that this company wants to film smaller shows with high-quality footage...I could see it also becoming a good resource to show examples of your work!

432

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How much time to prepare before auditions?

« on: Jan 25, 2010, 10:46 am »

I try to do as much as I can before the first audition day/tech meeting...getting ahead before I get behind, as they say. I'll even do bare-bones forms that I'll need after the show opens, just to take stress off my future self. I've been lucky with my current show- Cherry Orchard is a very large show, but there's a lot of information and resources available that I've been poring over for help.

433

Tools of the Trade / Re: Securing your gear

« on: Jan 23, 2010, 11:13 pm »

I'm lucky that the theater I'm in now has a rehearsal closet- only 2 people have keys (myself and the production manager), so it's used to store show props, any expensive costume pieces, and all my SM stuff. As for my prompt book, I keep it in the booth, which is also locked with a key only available to a few people in the building. A spare set of keys is kept at the office, so if something were to happen to me, they could still have access to all my stuff.

434

Tools of the Trade / Re: Running Shoesy

« on: Jan 19, 2010, 12:19 pm »

IHOWEVER, I am switching to a pair of MBT's (http://us.mbt.com/)

Those look amazing, but a little pricey for my blue collar wallet.

Yeah, but if you really want them, I suggest finding one of their stores...I got my first pair at one of their stores in a discontinued style, so they were maybe $45. Not bad for shoes I wear nearly every day.

435

Tools of the Trade / Re: Running Shoesy

« on: Jan 19, 2010, 12:22 am »

I've been wearing solid black Puma running shoes for a long time (can't find them online, but they're the only matte solid black shoes I could find) because they're very comfortable  and have arch support. HOWEVER, I am switching to a pair of MBT's (http://us.mbt.com/) because I have back problems, and they're designed to take pressure off your spine. I've been wearing a regular pair for a while now and really like them, and they FINALLY started making all-black pairs!