Messages

46

College and Graduate Studies / Re: What can students do to get into a SM job faster and stay in it longer?

« on: May 03, 2013, 01:49 am »

Obviously internships in stage management are important.  To get a more well-rounded experience, try company management or assistant directing or any technical discipline.  Learning basic lighting, carpentry and sewing always useful.  You might use those skills as an SM or open up your job potential.  It is hard to make money early in your SM career, being able to take side gigs doing other theatre jobs will help you stay afloat.

47

College and Graduate Studies / Re: What can students do to get into a SM job faster and stay in it longer?

« on: May 02, 2013, 11:22 pm »

Work on as many shows as you can during college, apply for internships.

48

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

« on: May 02, 2013, 11:01 pm »

10. Bring chocolate

49

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What's the Difference?

« on: May 02, 2013, 10:50 pm »

One major difference in relation to AEA vs Non-AEA is the number of hours you can rehearse per day/ per week.

Lower tier AEA contracts often have limited rehearsal hours assuming that members must also maintain day jobs, the same not always be said for equally low-paying non AEA shows.

50

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Can you earn a living? (2013 Research Data)

« on: May 01, 2013, 11:20 pm »

"As a new, paid hire in New York City, half of you will earn less than the average of $4249 per month. Have a degree? OK, you now have a 50% chance of getting at least $5382."

Can you explain this more, I am a bit confused.

"As a new, paid hire in..." Surely this can't mean straight out of college 22 year old "new hire."  I think the stat would be less than half of one percent would stand even a tiny chance of earning 4K a month at that stage.

I think this sentence should read "As a seasoned professional with 10+ years of experience, half of you will earn less than the average of $4249 per month."

51

Stage Management: Other / Re: first time SMing ballet

« on: May 01, 2013, 10:16 pm »

As a knitter myself I found it weird that they use a drop spindle, but that's what they do indeed use.

It would be slightly challenging to dance en pointe while carrying a full size spinning wheel.

52

Stage Management: Other / Re: first time SMing ballet

« on: May 01, 2013, 08:33 am »

Get ready for the autopause again- Sleeping Beauty has a million internal bows.

53

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Flying actors

« on: May 01, 2013, 08:25 am »

Timing on your stand-bys becomes even more critical.  If dealing with manual flies-- how long do they need to prep vs how long is too long to be standing-by?  If dealing with automation, how long do you leave your artist waiting at a preset.

Anytime someone is in a harness you are risking serious injury.  Flying people requires back-up plans, contingencies and rescue rehearsals.  Be sure to discuss and rehearse everything before running your show.  Practice contingencies with the crew and the artists.

While teching the show, be sure to allow into/out of harness time and harness check times for the artists.  Be very careful where you call your holds/pauses.   Sometimes it is WAY more dangerous to call a stop than to allow a move to continue.

Artists who fly get tired faster than artists that don't.  Keep communication open about when to allow a break/rest time and how many repeats of each move the artist can handle.

When in doubt if it is safe to fly someone -- DO NOT fly them.  If you are not sure it's clear-- DO NOT call your cue.

Feel free to PM me with questions if you want a more detailed answer.

54

Employment / Re: What are you looking for in the next job>

« on: Apr 28, 2013, 04:01 am »

As I happen to be job-seeking, I have given this a LOT of thought lately.  I've reached a certain level in my career where I am wary of taking a job that could be a "step back."

Many of my needs are similar to Matthew's  and I also need to consider the needs of my partner (which is tough because he is not a U.S. citizen) so I am mostly looking for international tours that hopefully we can both work on.  If I were to move back to the US, the job would have to be pretty sweet (money-wise and location-wise) to justify going through the paperwork hassle to get him over.

I have no issue assisting or being the HOD and am focusing more on the type of project (large-scale) versus whether I am in charge or not.

My ideal project would involve an international cast/crew/company as I particularly enjoy speaking different languages and learning new things.

55

The Green Room / Re: Being Human vs. Professional

« on: Apr 17, 2013, 11:25 pm »

It is a tough line to walk.  Of course you don't want to be seen as contently complaining.

You do want to be seen as professional, however you ARE human.  If you can calmly and honestly talk about your workload, that's how you can get help.  If you keep everything bottled in, you will break and at that point it won't be calm.

Be honest with yourself and honest with your superiors about your physical and mental well being.  Part of their job is to MANAGE you.  If you don't talk to them honestly and properly, they can't do their job.

56

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Helping with SM Homework

« on: Apr 13, 2013, 09:51 pm »

I have no issue with the idea of having the Homework Help board.  As Kay has said there have been good things discussed there.

And I agree with Ruth that some of the requests there do seem like the students are asking up directly to do their homework for them.  (A recent request was particularly irritating in that regard) 

I do not think we should remove the section because it can be beneficial. 

I think what I will do in the future when I see a request that is like the one I mentioned, instead of just ignoring it, I can reply with a request to narrow the scope of the questions and prompt an actual discussion.

57

Job Postings / Re: SeaWorld, San Antonio - Seasonal Stage Manager

« on: Apr 04, 2013, 11:04 pm »

Must be willing to comply with all SEA grooming guidelines and employment standards.

What are SEA grooming standards?  No visible tattoos?  No more piercings than just one in each ear?

58

Employment / Re: Telephone Interviews

« on: Apr 03, 2013, 11:10 am »

I have had similar things happen on phone/skype interviews.

My honest recommendation in the future would be to suggest trying to connect via a different phone if the connection is bad.  Or schedule a reschedule.

My recommendation for what to do in response to your current situation is to send an email thanking the PSM for her time, acknowledge to poor connection and let him/her know that you are available to answer any further questions via email or skype if they want to follow up.

If you end up in a bad connection again and there is no opportunity to reschedule or call via different phone, remain calm, speak slowly and don't let the technology get you frazzled.

59

The Hardline / Re: Unions and Circus/Cirque

« on: Apr 02, 2013, 08:45 pm »

When I left the USA to work on a circus show, I applied for (and was granted) a leave of absence from AEA and AGMA.  I don't know if you would be able to do a similar thing for a USA based circus show.

In terms of jobs that are different for circus than from theatre.

-We don't take extensive blocking notes- that's handled by Artistic Coordinator and Show Captains
-We do have lot more paperwork for risk assessments and validations for putting in new artists/acts.
-Unlike theatre- the show changes after opening- ALL THE TIME- this means lots of meetings, lots of rehearsals- keeps you on your toes
-We don't necessarily attend ALL sessions with the artists.  Sometimes the acrobats just need training (technique, etc) and the SMs don't attend all trainings.  We DO attend rehearsals.
-As there is HEAVY cast rotation and sometimes act rotation/changes every show- there is a lot more communication with the cast and crew to make sure each show happens safely and beautifully.

60

Tools of the Trade / Re: Email Best Practices for Teams

« on: Apr 02, 2013, 12:09 pm »

A few months ago, I was setting up internships for my trainees and one of the SMs I approached sent me an email full of "u" "cuz" etc and at the end of it asked for money.

Um, no...