Messages

436

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Paying for parking

« on: Jan 26, 2007, 03:09 pm »

I have to side with Rebbe on this one.

Most people (theatre or not) pay for their own to-and-from work travel- subway fares, gas, parking, oil etc. 

Sometimes companies are generous and reimburse you for your travel in some way.  But not all and you certainly can't demand that of a company.

437

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / FORMS: First and Last Names

« on: Jan 22, 2007, 11:31 pm »

I am wondering what do you do on your paperwork (rehearsal calls, sign in sheets, dressing room signs, etc).  Do you use the first and last names together or last name with Mr./ Ms. or just first names?

How have you found the cast reacting to or having an opinion to this?

I ask because I traditionally use both first and last names.  The SM on my current project (I am ASM) prefers Mr/Ms Last Name.

I am of the opinion that outside of opera and a few dance companies, everyone goes by first name without question, therefore using first name with last name on paperwork is less confusing for others to read.  

I found this to be particularly true on this production when I made dressing room signs and mirror station signs with Mr/Ms Last Name and came into the dressing room and the actors had written their first names on the signs.

When does respectful become stuffy or just plain annoying to performers?

438

The Hardline / Re: Straight 6, 5 and 4

« on: Jan 17, 2007, 11:38 pm »

For me, I prefer the straight 6 over the "vote for one hour lunch."  If I can't get a full 1.5 to eat, check in with departments, deal with 2nd half of day, then I'd rather have the whole day be shorter and deal with stuff by coming in a little earlier and staying a little later.  On one hour lunch breaks, I find myself forgetting to eat anyway.

439

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Printers

« on: Jan 15, 2007, 10:39 pm »

I have HP 450.  I love it.  Good speed.  Not the quietest, but what printer is?

I have cats so it is great that I can put away the printer when I am done.  Less fur in the mechanisms . . .

I have taken it our tour with great success.

440

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: marijuana and theatre (I dont know where to put this)

« on: Jan 15, 2007, 10:20 pm »

There is no place for drugs in the theatre.  If there is an accident it opens up the theatre to law suits.   

There is a place.

It's called the cast party.

Even that is a tad dodgey - especially if it is an actual company event (ie formalised and not organised on the side). I know in AU that an employer is responsible for ensuring the safety of all employees whilst at a company function or do (that includes the trip home - so if drunk, it is the employers responsibility to ensure they take a taxi home, and to pay for it). The standard response from management seems to be "Officially, we are not organising anything, although So-and-So is throwing a party on Closing night and I believe they have invited everyone... maybe you should ask them for details."

Mac, you are missing my point.

My point is that what you do extra-curricularly is your business.  What you do on my time is my business.

If you want to snort coke off the bare belly of a russian hoker everynight but you still come to work ready willing and able to perform your tasks, great.  If you need that to unwind, fine.

If it bleeds into your ability to do your job, then we have a problem.

441

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Printers

« on: Jan 15, 2007, 09:12 pm »

Portable printers:

I have one.  It is the second portable that I have had.

I love it.  This one is bluetooth compatible (which made it a bit more pricey but totally worth it).

Lightweight, fits in my laptop bag.  Prints color and b/w.  Goes on tour.

Set it up in one location when you arrive.  Print from anywhere in the theatre.

Plus, I live in NYC and therefore my apartment in TINY.  It is nice to not waste space on printer set up.  Pull it out when I need it and put it right back away when I am done.

Did I mention, I love Bluetooth?

442

The Hardline / Re: Straight 6, 5 and 4

« on: Jan 15, 2007, 08:59 pm »

Exacxtly. But cast most vote unanimously to allow this.

443

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: marijuana and theatre (I dont know where to put this)

« on: Jan 15, 2007, 08:57 pm »

There is no place for drugs in the theatre.  If there is an accident it opens up the theatre to law suits.   

There is a place.

It's called the cast party.

Do what you want on your own time.  Whether it be drinking, drugs or whatever.  But leave it all at the door when you come to work.  No matter what your job is.

444

Employment / Re: To tattoo or not to tattoo

« on: Jan 15, 2007, 01:53 am »

I have two half sleeves and a good chunk of my back tattooed.

The only job that I ever had a problem at was when I worked at Panera Bread (for about 1/2 hour until the manager saw me and fired me).  That was in college.

I once went on an interview with an opera company and was careful to keep them covered because I know that opera is a little more formal than theatre or dance.  It turned out to be an over-reaction because the PM had more visible tattoos than me. (that was also in college).

Needless to say, it has been a number of years since college.  A number of non-judgemental, problem free tattoo years.

I do sometimes cover my tats if I want to avoid attention, but rarely because I am afraid of what people will think.  I would not recommend getting something on your face or hands, that might be too much for some people.  But really what people look at is how well you do your job, not if you have some ink.

445

Tools of the Trade / Re: Bingo Dabbers or Daubers...

« on: Jan 15, 2007, 01:44 am »

Hmmm, questions:  (not being a particularily bingo experienced person)

does the ink bleed through to the back of the page?

what do you do if you delete or move a cue?

but would probably be cheaper than buying post-its or stickers.

Hmm.

446

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Jan 12, 2007, 01:19 pm »

Dressing for the age of your co-workers. . .

I often work at a college (and a fairly free-spirited hippy one at that) and have taken a cue from the staff, faculty and students in my dress.  I often wear fun or interesting clothing.  Nothing that interferes with my work, but definitely bold statements.

I gained so much affection from the students that one young choreographer designed costumes for a piece based on me!  I was so flattered.

Now when I am working among more "adults" I do tend to calm the wardrobe down.  But I feel that having a splash of color or special piece of jewelry can help break the ice when dealing with a group of strangers.

447

The Hardline / Re: AGMA?

« on: Jan 12, 2007, 01:15 pm »

I recently was offered a position that would require me to join AGMA.  I am already an AEA member and am excited to join up with the sister union.

My friends that are already AGMA do complain that it doesn't protect you as much as AEA with meal breaks, prep time, etc.  But pay is often higher.  Insurance is often handled through a fee-per-performance method.  (i.ei you get a fee that you can apply directly to medical care or use to pay cobra payments on other insurance.)

For me, not all benefits of union membership are monetary or on paper.  There is a sense of accomplishment I get from being in the unions.  It does not necessarily make me more professional, but it might make a difference on my resume.

I will gladly keep posting about my AGMA process.  (Since I just accepted the job a few days ago, I haven't been contacted by the union yet.) 

448

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Digging Out in Denver

« on: Jan 07, 2007, 06:01 pm »

Well, it is surreal to be in Florida now and wondering WHERE IS THE SNOW?  (Since my boyfriend's truck was stuck in snow outside our apartment last I talked to him on the phone.)  And the humidity is killing me...


Erin
[/quote]

We folk in New York are saying that too.  I think it hit 70 degrees (F) yesterday.  Global warming.  In 15 years Manhattan will be underwater (or so my more alarmist friends are saying).

(Side note, I don't have control of the heat in my apartment, so it was on all day.  I came home to a melted chocolate bar on my dresser because heat+heat=sauna in my room.)

449

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Digging Out in Denver

« on: Dec 29, 2006, 11:10 am »

Well, I try to keep a positive attitude about it.  It is their country, they are in an area of extreme turmoil, I am a visitor.  And I would rather get searched and carry nothing on the plane and be safe than the alternative.

Also the rest of my trip was amazing.  There are great things worth seeing that you can only see in Jerusalem, so the ordeal was worth it for me.

450

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Digging Out in Denver

« on: Dec 28, 2006, 01:11 pm »

Israeli airport adventures...

Well, I had been briefly detained and questioned on my way into the country, so I was kind of hoping that I could avoid any hassle on the way out.

So wrong.  I was so wrong.  I guess I fit a profile (non-Jewish 20-something American woman with dyed red hair traveling by herself with pretty extensive travel history including an Arab nation).

I was immediately sent off into a separate line (before I could even approach the check-in counter) and taken aside for questioning:

"What is the origin of your last name?  What religion do you practice?  What lagnuages do you speak?"  and (this is weird) "I am sorry to ask such a personal question, but what is your job?"  (It's nice to know that even though my religion and ethnicity are not personal, my job is.)

Then they put yellow stickers on all my bags and passport.  Off the x-ray (still not at check-in counter).  Go through x-ray and get sent off to another screening area.

I wait for about 15 minutes as they select other people to search, but don't take me.  Finally, I am picked.

They take my passport and ask me more questions.  More about my job, who I was seeing in Israel, my previous trips to the middle east, etc.

Then they start the search.  Something is wrong with one of my bags.  They won't tell me what.  But they ask a lot of questions about it.  Where/ when did I buy it, what do I usually use it for, who has used the bag, what is this tear here, etc?

They tell me I can't take the bag on the plane.  They tell me I can't really take anything on the plane.  I am allowed to bring my wallet and after some bargaining on my part, my tampons.

Everything else must go in the checked luggage (incuding cell phone).  Which they then start to examine.  They take the clips off and scan them separately, they go through my dirty underwear.  They talk to each other in Hebrew a lot.  (I imagine they are making fun of my socks, at least I hope that's what they are saying).

While they continue to go through my bags, I am taken aside by a lady (the men still have my ticket and passport).  I go into a room and wait.  And wait and wait.  I ask what time it is.  (They have begun boarding my plane)

Then I get searched.  Metal detector, wand, pat down, shoes, belt, etc.  I get through this just fine and no body cavity search is necessary.  But they did check my chapstick a couple of times.

Then I am taken back to the area where my bags are.  They are all re-packed.  And I am handed a sealed box.  "This is all the stuff we couldn't fit back in."

They had checked me into my flight (relief) and repacked my bags while I was away (not as much relief).

A man escorts me to the bag check area (kind of dangling my passport in front of me like a carrot), we drop of my bags (in two separate locations which makes me nervous).

Then the guy takes me directly to passport control.  Do not stop at duty-free, do not go to the bathroom.  (I was actually told this directly).

Anyway, that's most of the adventure.  I get painlessly through passport control with my wallet and tampons and make my flight on time.  Amazingly enough so did my luggage and the extra box.

Thankfully, I had left my leatherman at home . . .