Messages

46

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Posting contact sheets on the call board?

« on: Jun 17, 2008, 12:05 am »

I am curious to know if any actors have expressed an opinion on their info being posted so openly.

Well, she posts her contact sheets but I don't post mine (each of us is SMing different shows this summer), so if anyone's complained about it from her cast, I haven't heard about it.  I feel like I should mention that this is not an Equity theater, and many of our actors are more on the amateur side, so they may not realize that it's not the norm to post them.

47

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Posting contact sheets on the call board?

« on: Jun 16, 2008, 10:57 pm »

If everyone who needs a copy has already been given a copy and you keep one handy, then how much easier can it get? That's my question.

Her argument is that she "doesn't always have the contact sheet right in front of her."  I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks this is a little silly...

48

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / COMMUNICATION: Posting contact sheets on the call board?

« on: Jun 12, 2008, 06:42 pm »

What do you think about posting contact sheets on the call board?  This is a point of contention between myself and the other SM at my theater.  I don't think contact sheets should be posted, to protect people's privacy; she thinks they should be posted to make it easier to find a number when you need it.

I'm interested to hear what you all think about this.  It's not a huge deal, but I'm wondering if there's any kind of standard.

49

Tools of the Trade / Re: Sound Cue Software

« on: Jun 10, 2008, 11:55 am »

I just had this very same problem.  I started out using QManager - the company is defunct now but the demo is still available (there's a link here: http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php/topic,3106.msg19141.html#msg19141).  The problem with the demo is that it won't let you save, but if you are really in trouble and can leave your laptop on for however long you need it, it'll work in a pinch.

Unfortunately, I haven't found any other free software that will do what you need.  There are some relatively cheap ones...can you get the producer of the show to spend $60?  Sound Cue System is the best and cheapest program if you have the money.

Good luck!

50

Tools of the Trade / Re: Eartec headsets

« on: Jun 06, 2008, 03:38 pm »

Thanks, that's extremely helpful!

51

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: STRIKE Help! (New Poster)

« on: Jun 01, 2008, 12:11 am »

dramachic and Jessie beat me to everything I wanted to say, but I will add:

Welcome to the boards!  I encourage you to head over to the Introductions page and, well, introduce yourself!  Good luck with your strike, and let us know how it goes.

52

The Hardline / Re: AEA Apprenticing??

« on: May 31, 2008, 07:36 pm »

They did away with just getting your contract???

That was my reaction, too ... the website says that you can join by virtue of getting your contract, though.  Tigerrr, were you talking about CAEA?

53

Tools of the Trade / Eartec headsets

« on: May 31, 2008, 04:20 pm »

Has anyone ever used any of the wireless headset systems that are sold by Eartec (www.eartec.com)?  I know that Digicom is pretty high-quality, but what about the other two systems - Simultalk and the TD904 series?  Any info anyone can provide about the reliability and durability of these products would be great.  My theater is in desperate need of a new wireless headset system, but can't afford Clearcom, and even Digicom is a stretch, so...

Thanks all!

54

Uploaded Forms / "All Paperwork" Excel document

« on: May 31, 2008, 12:27 am »

I like having as much paperwork as possible for each show I do in one Excel worksheet.  Here's my template; a lot of these forms have been borrowed and modified from documents posted to this very board, but it's been a while so unfortunately I don't remember who created each form.

The worksheet includes:

Contact sheet
Calendar (for "at-a-glance" schedules)
Daily schedule
Scene breakdown
Props tracking
Sign-in sheet
Run sheet
Shift plot
Props preset
Cut list
Line notes
Phone card

Some of the docs can do some cool things: in the calendar, if you change one date it automatically updates the following dates; for phone cards, if you enter info in the top left card all the others will fill in.

Enjoy, and feel free to PM me with any questions.

55

Tools of the Trade / Re: Mac users-- cool application for use backstage

« on: May 29, 2008, 12:45 am »

The website says it adds the following:

Proper color correction in monochrome modes
you don’t lose all your blues or reds when you tint the screen.

Window shadow toggling
if glowing windows aren’t your thing.

Background removal
hide the desktop picture so you don’t see a inverted version.


All pretty handy!

56

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Am I just looking in the wrong places?

« on: May 28, 2008, 01:08 am »

If you're looking specifically for a BFA, then it's true that there aren't too many options out there.  But, if you're more interested in a BA in Theater with a stage management concentration, there are many schools that offer that.

Good luck poking around the boards!

57

Tools of the Trade / Re: Herbal Cigarettes and other tobacco substitutes

« on: May 27, 2008, 03:32 pm »

Yuck, the website says they taste like cigarettes via a "flavored cartridge".  And they cost 50 pounds, which is more like $90.

58

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Your Prompt Book - Left or Right?

« on: May 26, 2008, 01:31 pm »

I have my script/cues on the right, and blocking on the left, even though I'm right handed.  I don't like having a separate calling script, because during the rehearsal process I get so comfortable looking at my blocking script that to have a new, clean script for cues feels a little unsettling.

59

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Guillotine

« on: May 23, 2008, 03:15 am »

Now I'm curious.  How do these work?  Is it the same idea as a prop knife (part of the "blade" collapses into the top)?  And, how do you stage a beheading onstage?

(Sorry to be off-topic, but I'm intrigued!)

60

Tools of the Trade / Re: Q-Manager

« on: May 23, 2008, 03:09 am »

I ended up buying Sound Cue System instead, and I actually like it much better than Q-manager anyway.  (The only reason I wanted Q-manager is because I thought it might be cheaper than $100, and my theater wanted to spend as little money as possible.  Non-profit rocks!)

Thanks all!