Messages

46

SMNetwork Archives / A question of loyalty

« on: Oct 24, 2005, 01:01 am »

adam said all I wanted to say....bravo for putting it into words!
-isha

47

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / JOB DESCRIPTION: Assistant Directors vs. Stage Managers

« on: Oct 14, 2005, 12:09 am »

Has anybody worked with an Assistant Director on a show?  

How do SM responsibilities change when you have and AD in a show?

Does it affect your relationship with the director? (since SM's are usually the director's right hand man/woman) Does it change the relationship for the better or worse?

Has anyone ever addressed the differences between the 2? It seems like I've looked but haven't found much useful info.

I can't quite figure out what to say to the director about this:
The director at my school (the guy who directs the fall play...I'm not stage managing, but a friend is...I'm the production stage manager (I work with the teacher who does the musical)) calls his SM the assistant director, and his  Assistant stage manager the stage manager. (he's a teacher volunteering to direct, so he really doesn't know much about theatre) He asked me exactly what a stage manager is/does. I've been thinking about how to answer him, and  how to say diplomatically that there is no difference (in the way he works) between his Assistant director and SM responsibilities. I hoping to figure out a way to get him to switch over to my way of thinking, (calling the SM the SM) and if he wants an AD, to use his AD for directing stuff only, and to let his SM do the SM stuff.

The problem is, I've never worked in a situation with an AD, and I don't know exactly how that would work. In my opinion, the the AD would strictly do what her/his title says, assistant DIRECT, (he/she would be the directors right hand man for artistic decisions,) but the SM is still the stage MANAGER, and they still manage the actors and the technical happennings for the show.
^ Any suggestions will be appreciated
-isha

48

The Hardline / HAVE I EVER READ THE RULE BOOK?

« on: Oct 09, 2005, 02:35 am »

....burn them.......MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!


..sorry..random outburst of stress that..
-isha

49

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / training assistant

« on: Oct 07, 2005, 01:43 am »

tashi's method will work if the point of having her is to free YOU up, but if you're actually training her for actually Stage management that wouldn't be the best way to do it. Try delegating some actual responsibilities, or have her shadow everything you do. It might get annoying, but if she's observant and a good learner that will help her learn more than doing your busy work would.  I know because I do a lot of SM gopher jobs (at the college in my town), and I learn the most when the SM lets me shadow what she/he is doing.  When the SM has the time she/he explains what and why they are doing certain things certain ways, and we usually have a time when I can ask questions etc. ...but that might be my learning style, and shadowing doesn't always work for everybody...you could always ask her how she learns best, and try to cater to that. visual, audio, "big-picture", detail-based etc.

50

SMNetwork Archives / Interesting (and unusual items) - what have you accrued?

« on: Sep 04, 2005, 04:42 pm »

I've been made the production stage manager over the auditorium at my highschool, and I was going through some boxes of random stuff (setting the auditorium to rights is now my responsibility) and found a box of recorders...like the plastic clarinet thingys. The randomness of it made me happy.
-isha

51

SMNetwork Archives / PC vs MAC

« on: Jul 31, 2005, 05:59 pm »

I'm not a proffesional stage manager, so maybe my opinion doesn't count, but I say macs all the way! I've grown up with both, and I definetly prefer macs...people say windows is a lot more user friendly, but I don't believe that. It's always been easier to use/fix our mac than our PC. And like scoot said, with the pc program designed for macs, you can use any PC software on a mac.
So technically a mac is 2 in one. Even if it's a little more expensive, it's like getting a double value.

52

SMNetwork Archives / sore throat tech

« on: Apr 29, 2005, 02:07 am »

take time for yourself...I know this is hard for a stage manager..but it's true..plan in your schedule 5 minutes where you can sit and do NOTHING!! It's hard but worth it. If you do this each day for tech week you won't get sick. Just plan those 5 minute breaks just for you..when no-one else is at break, and it can be just yours, and just breath... (it's hard..I know..I always planned it right when everything had been set up; the actors were getting in costume and I had assigned every techie a 5 minute job ; )
that and eat lots of carrots..there good to munch on for stress relief and chock full of natural vitamins..EAT healthy!!! drink lots of water..
And if you're religious pray for strength, from whatever god you believe in. This helps me..

53

The Hardline / AEA or IA?

« on: Apr 11, 2005, 12:09 am »

isha - that happens with some frequency in local 99-seat code theater - producers bring in the SM a little before tech week and we cram the show from there....

sorry, I know it's off topic..but what do you mean by that? whats a 99-seat code theatre? is that non-equity theatre? And I'm assuming you are talking about LA.
..Somehow it seems like ^that (a little bit before tech) would be against some rules somewhere....

54

The Hardline / AEA or IA?

« on: Apr 09, 2005, 06:55 pm »

^ EEK! Just before Tech!!!! are you serious!!!! that's horrid!
That doesn't even..ahhh...thats horrible/awful/nasty.....
I can see now why unions are important..they stop producers from doing that to us. Are any of you guys NOT in a union?

55

SMNetwork Archives / Last month: Building Networks.

« on: Apr 03, 2005, 03:30 pm »

learn from interns!! *gasp* hehehehehehe
I've always thought that if you do really good work on everything you do, and be positive/kind/nice to others it wouldn't be too hard to find other jobs...I never really thought that you had to do other things...

But you still have to do the marketing side...

What has worked the best for you guys? it seems to me that actual relationships (you know the person you are talking to) would be more effective than sending a resume out to random people. But I don't know much about SMing either...what do you think?

56

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / how do you get their attention?

« on: Apr 03, 2005, 03:21 pm »

do actors get more mature about being on time and focusing as they get older?

In my experience, yes and no......at least you do have the option/threat of reporting them to their union if it gets really out of hand...

Erin

hehehhehe...I guess thats true..
Highschool its just soo bad because they know they can get away with it. My director doesn't really enforce it either. So I had to start out really mean to maintain enough scare factor.....

at points it felt like acting, trying to get mad at people when I was supposed to...I didn't WANT to be mean at them, but my director either asked me to go be mean to them, or it was the only thing they responded to. Some of the actors I could just tell them the problem and they would stop...but there where 3 that being mean was the only thing that worked...

57

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Lights? Electrics? Elex? What do you say?

« on: Apr 03, 2005, 03:16 pm »

eek! that would be bad...what do you do with them?
Electrics and LX do really sound like better ideas than lights...I think I'll try using them and seeing which one works better for me...

Should your board operators have some say in what word you use? If one is more convenient for them do you use that? Or do you just tell them to get used to a different word?

58

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / warnings verses stanbys . . another poll

« on: Apr 03, 2005, 03:12 pm »

thanks! It really seems to be easier with techies, because they seem to understand better. You can pretty much rely on them to be doing what they need to be doing...

so mostly,you just need to communicate to them when you are having a problem, and then work it out. They should be able to help you with the difficulties, by doing their part without major babysitting. ok..got it..
Thanks again!

59

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / how do you get their attention?

« on: Apr 03, 2005, 03:02 pm »

do actors get more mature about being on time and focusing as they get older? In highschool its a pain to get anything accomplished, you kinda have to almost give up on starting on time and having short breaks..

does it get any better in the professional world? like with the getting everybodies attention? Or is it about the same level of responsibility?

60

SMNetwork Archives / on the other end of the headset spectrum

« on: Apr 03, 2005, 02:59 pm »

that would have been interesting..I'm sorry.....good thing you worked it out tho...
you came up with a really good alternative working solution. You must be a really good stage manager