Messages

46

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PEOPLE: Tense Director During Tech

« on: Feb 03, 2007, 03:51 pm »

So I'm sure everyone's worked with a director that just seems not to allow you to make a single mistake during the tech/preview process.  We have moving panels backstage on the show I'm PA'ing that myself and three other crew members are moving with ropes, and during one shift today during our rehearsal one of the ropes was pulled the wrong way so we had to stop and re-set.  The director was like, "What the hell happened?"  I explained to our SM that we simply had made a mistake that would never happen again, and the response was, "Yeah, please don't let it happen again or it's going to be a very long day."  It's not like the rope was *intentionally* pulled the wrong way and we wanted to mess up the set change.  How do you all deal with the pressure and not take it personally.  We did shrug it off, but I think it's totally un-cool that some directors don't seem to allow for an inch of human error.  What the hell!  The actors have had *weeks* to learn what they're doing, the rest of us aren't even allowed a brief learning curve...again-suggestions?

47

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: help with "real" stage management

« on: Feb 02, 2007, 03:56 pm »

Another vote for the Kelly book.  There's also a very helpful book called "Backstage Forms" (some versions of which you can find here) that has forms for every possible thing you can think of.  Another helpful thing is this website-use and abuse all of us!   

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College and Graduate Studies / Re: College Stage Management Guide

« on: Feb 02, 2007, 03:48 pm »

I did something similar to this for a local theatre in Chicago.  If it's all about your particular theatre, then I think the basic info should include the location of light switches, dimmers, air conditioning/heat, bathrooms, etc. and everything else you need to turn on/off to use the space/run a show.  Safety measures are good too-location of fire extinguishers, who to call in case of emergency, etc.  Campus buildings are usually locked at "off hours", so unless your SM's are equipped with a full ring of keys, it would be good to have a number for who to call if they need to get in.  (I know frequently this was an issue on Sundays when I was in school.)  Good luck to you!

49

Employment / Re: Follow Up Thank-You Letters

« on: Jan 30, 2007, 10:40 pm »

I agree with folks-I think thank you notes are very appropriate if they are short and sweet.  Re-affirms to the employer that you valued them hiring you, etc.

50

Employment / Re: To tattoo or not to tattoo

« on: Jan 30, 2007, 10:20 pm »

I agree completely with KC SM.  I have 6 tattoos, all of which can be covered by long sleeves or socks.  If Disney is where you want to end up, perhaps get your tattoo after you work with them?     But tattoos have never been a big deal anywhere I've worked-I usually have them covered at an interview with a new company, but have never had anything said about it later when they were seen.

51

Employment / Re: summer jobs.

« on: Jan 30, 2007, 10:14 pm »

Check out Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp (not sure of their web address, so I'd suggest using Google).  It's a great learning environment and the head stage manager (who often also serves as the production manager) is usually a seasoned professional who's great  at being collaborative and teaching.  They probably have an ad on BackstageJobs.com.  Good luck in your search!

52

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Paying for parking

« on: Jan 30, 2007, 09:51 pm »

Hey everyone.  Meg asked to keep you posted, so it's resolved.  We do have to carpool, but no one has to pay.   

53

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Guys and Dolls

« on: Jan 30, 2007, 09:38 pm »

I've not dealt with a turntable up to this point in my experience, but as for what to do during rehearsal, I would agree w/ everyone else.  You really should never do anything NOT show related in a rehearsal, even if it is just for music.  It's a great time to catch up on paperwork, and in a musical a fantastic time to get to know the score.  You'd be amazed how many Q's you'll end up calling w/ music and not necessarily a lyric, so it's good to know exactly what's going on.  I don't think I've ever had nothing to do in rehearsal as an SM.  Guys and Dolls is a great and crazy show, so I'm sure you can find things to do.  But if you choose to read in *any* rehearsal, it may also send out the vibe that you don't care about what's going on, which is the last thing you want to do I'm sure.

54

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Paying for parking

« on: Jan 26, 2007, 07:40 pm »

Thanks to everyone who responded.  However, I will be more careful about what I vent about on here as this may not have been the best place for this topic and I shouldn't have posted when I was frustrated.  Please understand I am a very hard worker, I'm just completely broke (living on bare minimum student loans) and don't think it's fair that un-paid grad students be taken advantage of.  We're not on contracts, we get assigned to work on these shows.  Anyway...I will certainly bear in mind what was said.

55

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Paying for parking

« on: Jan 26, 2007, 12:09 pm »

I would love some advice on this situation.  I'm currently working as an un-paid grad student P.A. for a regional theatre that works with a very large seasonal budget.  We are rehearsing off site (I am being reimbursed for mileage) due to lack of space because of other shows using the spaces.  When the show moves down to its performance venue this weekend for tech and beyond, I was told I might have to pay for parking, which is *ten dollars* a day.  As an un-paid PA, I refuse to do this.  Would it be entirely inappropriate to tell stage management that I cannot do the show unless I am provided with a ride to and from the theatre free of charge or they get this taken care of?  I know they're working on it as it affects everyone.  I would assume our Union cast members will throw a fit and ultimately the Union will step in and tell management they have to take care of this.  I just don't want to get screwed in some way because I'm a non-Union P.A.  Please help!  Any ideas?

56

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROFESSIONALISM: Unprofessionalism (Student SM not showing up)

« on: Jan 08, 2007, 09:36 pm »

Hey all-wondering what folks think of this situation.  I'm a PA on a show at a major LORT Theatre with a fellow grad SM.  We were supposed to report to the office today to go over to the rehearsal space and set up and tape, etc.  So she didn't show up having told the SM that she had a class that had been scheduled that afternoon.  Later I found it it's a ballroom dancing class which is totally optional and not something you get credit for if you're not an actor.  So she basically is blowing off rehearsals to take a dance class.  Should I mention this to our supervisor?

57

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

« on: Jan 06, 2007, 05:14 pm »

Hey everyone...curious to get opinions on this.  I'm a first year grad SM, and the head of the department recently told me that my style of dress is too casual and may actually prevent me from getting jobs in larger theatres.  In interviews I'm dressed business casual or better, and at work I take my cue from the director or others who work at the theatre, though in my past experience folks are dressed casually-jeans, sneakers, and t-shirts don't seem to be uncommon.  However, I'm now being told that I need to be dressing "nicer"-if I'm going to stick w/ my jeans, I need to be wearing nicer shoes and be more dressy on the top half if I want to be taken seriously.  What are people's opinions on this?  Do you think that's true?  That dressing casual reads as a casual approach to the job?  Or that me dressing casually effects me getting a job or not?

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Maintaining

« on: Dec 23, 2006, 10:52 am »

Show maintenance is tricky for any length of a run I think.  I agree w/ Mac, that the main consideration should be maintaining the director's original intent.  I think 9 times out of 10, actors settling in to their roles is only going to help that, though if they start taking artistic license, that's a problem.  I know that the more experience I've gained, the more I've learned how to really watch a performance and be able to tell if an actor is really making a new choice that may be compromising that vision, or if they're just improving on a pre-existing choice/intent/action.  If you see something that's raising a red flag in your gut, your instinct is probably correct.  Also, learning how to give actors notes is a skill over time as you're the SM, not the director so the way it needs to come from you is a bit different.  Good luck!

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / FORMS: Interesting request for performance reports...

« on: Dec 08, 2006, 11:50 am »

Has anyone ever been asked to add the specifc time (like on the clock) to their reports for *everything*?  i.e. Act I up and down, intermission up and down, etc.  I was just asked to add that to a report.  I've also down the time for curtain up and down, just not the other stuff.  I was asked to do it simply because the box office manager didn't want to do the math to figure out when the intermission was.  But does anyone do it on a regular basis?  Just curious...

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Rehearsal Suggestions

« on: Nov 11, 2006, 10:55 am »

After reading several folks response, I want to modify my original statement about stage managers being seen and not heard.  I meant to state that yes, you *should* point out anything that could cause physical harm to the actors, impossibilities due to scenic elements, etc.  However-I've worked with primarily young and inexperienced ASM's who would pipe up when the director was asking the actors questions, or answer a question that was directed to the SM.  I've found most directors don't want suggestions, but are open to you saying, "Just so you know, there's a low hanging part of the awning there, so they shouldn't stand there."  Hope that helps.  I realize that it's important to point out potential problems, but many young SM's don't know their place in what to say and what to be quiet about.