46
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Warm-up/ Games
« on: Nov 29, 2006, 08:44 am »
I hate getting dragged into actor games.
HATE!
HATE!
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47
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Splitting the jobs between co stage managers
« on: Nov 16, 2006, 10:00 am »
I HATE taking over from another SM at tech week. Probably b/c there are so many shoddy SMs here. I can't decipher the blocking in the promptbook to tell the lighting designer where people stand. Props have not been tracked at all in rehearsal. It slows tech waaaaaaaaay down. With so little time in the space, the rehearsal SM should have prepped for the transition.
48
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stop The Show!
« on: Nov 10, 2006, 04:23 pm »
You can never tell which way gel frames are going to go. They can drop straight down ... or sail off in any direction.
49
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Rehearsal Suggestions
« on: Nov 10, 2006, 03:46 pm »Quote
Another good point about talking/posting anything negative about the company is that any public statements can be seen as inappropriate PR communication.
i.e. Unauthorized talking to the press can result in termination.
I had a reviewer ask me in the lobby (there was no other way to cut through to the threatre from my booth) how the show was going. I said, "Fine." I meant tech-wise, of course. He did not ask me if I thought the show was good or bad in my artistic opinion.
Said reviewer then mentioned this to the Artistic Director at the booth, "I hear things are going fine."
And then the show got a bad review. Since this reviewer often reads reviews in other papers and takes the opposite view, often refuting line by line, it was deduced by the AD and Managing Director that my quick exchange with the reviewer had caused the bad review.
...... So keep that in mind.
Believe me I avoid reviewers if at all possible.
50
College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM Approach Statement for ACTF
« on: Nov 07, 2006, 12:11 pm »
Just make the margins really big and use a large font. Always works!
But seriously folks ...
Definitely sounds like a philosophical approach is what they want. For instance, mine is basically this:
1. Provide an environment in which actors (and even director) feel safe and taken care of so they can be free to be creative. This might mean rehearsal coffee, sweeping the floor before people roll around on it, or even taking out the trash when it gets full.
2. Does it serve the production? This is the golden rule by which to measure everything.
3. Assigning blame is not helpful. Solve the problem and move on. I even take the blame for things that are not my fault if it will shut people up so we can fix the problem.
4. Plan ahead and be aware of tech needs and problems ahead of time and get them taken care of ahead of time so that come tech week we are not stuck dealing with issues that could have been avoided. Tech should be for rehearsing tech. The quicker the better.
5. That's all I can think of right now.
But seriously folks ...
Definitely sounds like a philosophical approach is what they want. For instance, mine is basically this:
1. Provide an environment in which actors (and even director) feel safe and taken care of so they can be free to be creative. This might mean rehearsal coffee, sweeping the floor before people roll around on it, or even taking out the trash when it gets full.
2. Does it serve the production? This is the golden rule by which to measure everything.
3. Assigning blame is not helpful. Solve the problem and move on. I even take the blame for things that are not my fault if it will shut people up so we can fix the problem.
4. Plan ahead and be aware of tech needs and problems ahead of time and get them taken care of ahead of time so that come tech week we are not stuck dealing with issues that could have been avoided. Tech should be for rehearsing tech. The quicker the better.
5. That's all I can think of right now.
51
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Who makes the best SM's?
« on: Nov 06, 2006, 08:21 am »
So if thats the case then if I take all the stereotypes i have heard and consider then fact then all jews are money tightwads, all black are gangsters, all whites are racists, all women are bitches, all men are jerks, everyone in theatre is gay, all athleates are on steriods, (need I go on?)
as you even said "is based on the perceptions of a lot of people" alot does not mean all, and since it is only a perception it cannot be considered a solid fact.
Stereotypes are based on reality. That doesn't mean they hold true to all members of a certain stereotyped group. It means they are derived from observed reality. You don't have to like it. No, it shouldn't be done because it represents just a surface truth. People are individuals. But stereotypes come from somewhere.... they don't just get made up. Also, I'm not sure all those you listed are really stereotypes. Perhaps we are misunderstanding the word.
52
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Who makes the best SM's?
« on: Nov 04, 2006, 11:16 am »
i disagree. i think stereotyping is not based on a small sample but numerous anecdotal evidences amassed over time until they have entered the realm of commonly accepted information.
the first example you give is not a stereotype that I know of.
however, the 2nd is, and is based on the perceptions of a lot of people not just you.
the first example you give is not a stereotype that I know of.
however, the 2nd is, and is based on the perceptions of a lot of people not just you.
53
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Who makes the best SM's?
« on: Nov 04, 2006, 02:08 am »
Stereotypes are always based in fact!!
The Best SM would be the one you never have to worry about or second guess. You never have to ask for something. It is already schedule, filed, provided, taped out, in place and whatever.
You don't have to say, "Track the props." The props are tracked from the get-go. There is a flow chart showing where the bag of raisins is at any given moment. this is a simple example of something that is far-reaching.
The first time an actor calls for line, even before the cast has put down scripts, and without warning is immediately prompted with the correct line.... that's the sign of a good SM.
also coffee is important. lots of coffee.
The Best SM would be the one you never have to worry about or second guess. You never have to ask for something. It is already schedule, filed, provided, taped out, in place and whatever.
You don't have to say, "Track the props." The props are tracked from the get-go. There is a flow chart showing where the bag of raisins is at any given moment. this is a simple example of something that is far-reaching.
The first time an actor calls for line, even before the cast has put down scripts, and without warning is immediately prompted with the correct line.... that's the sign of a good SM.
also coffee is important. lots of coffee.
54
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Who makes the best SM's?
« on: Nov 03, 2006, 03:51 pm »I think it does not matter. I have seen excellent men, and excellent women. I have also seen crap men and crap women. As a general rule, men will approach things in a different manner than women, however both are effective, and both are capable of doing an exceptional job.
I agree with this except that MEN ARE WAY BETTER
Just kidding. I have met mostly BAD stage managers. so the jury is still out.
55
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stage Manager's Job During Performances
« on: Nov 02, 2006, 02:57 pm »
Oh I hate that. I always insist on doing it right. Why did they hire me if not to SM?
The SM has seen the show and knows and has been practicing calling cues in rehearsal and has them marked in script. The SM is the ideal person to call cues. I have met a lot of board ops. FEW - very few - were trustworthy enough to know where cues belong.
The SM has seen the show and knows and has been practicing calling cues in rehearsal and has them marked in script. The SM is the ideal person to call cues. I have met a lot of board ops. FEW - very few - were trustworthy enough to know where cues belong.
56
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Actor Calls
« on: Nov 02, 2006, 02:33 pm »
The problem I encounter is that different actors of different walks of life expect different calls.
If I give a call "15 minutes" and get the reply "till what?" one more time someone is going home in a full body cast.
If I give a call "15 minutes" and get the reply "till what?" one more time someone is going home in a full body cast.
57
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Rehearsal Suggestions
« on: Nov 02, 2006, 12:41 pm »In response to # 4: It might help if you had an open dork box beside you in case an actor needs something/or you need something later.
Dare I ask what a "dork box" is? .....
58
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: The Ultimate Decision
« on: Nov 01, 2006, 02:40 pm »
ME: "I want a job washing fake blood off glass beads."
THEM: "Ok we have one, but you also have to stage-manage."
ME: "Sure. How hard could that be?"
THEM: "Ok we have one, but you also have to stage-manage."
ME: "Sure. How hard could that be?"
59
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Red and Yellow and Blue and Green
« on: Oct 30, 2006, 04:05 pm »
My system varies by the needs of each show. Each is different. Sometimes walls are one color, platforms another. Sometimes each scene is a different color. Sometimes the cheap producer won't buy spike tape so it is all one color.
In rehearsals, always BRIGHT. Most of my shows, the audience is very close to stage so we use a duller spike tapeto blend in more with stage floor.
In rehearsals, always BRIGHT. Most of my shows, the audience is very close to stage so we use a duller spike tapeto blend in more with stage floor.
60
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Actor Calls
« on: Oct 09, 2006, 09:40 am »
yes, i have noticed that actors are simple creatures that do not want to do math to find out their call times