Messages

46

Tools of the Trade / Re: Fog/Haze that wont set off a very sensitive smoke alarm

« on: Oct 15, 2009, 11:39 pm »

-If it's not illegal to stop the smoke alarms for the show: If you have cheap smoke alarms not on a grid or you can't get them turned off each night- just cover it with a plastic bag. You may have already thought of this but just thought I'd mention it :p

I don't mean to step on toes, but you won't find a jurisdiction in North America that permits covering smoke detectors with anything.

Don't do this.

My theatre has written authorization from our fire marshal to cover the three particle detectors in the up stage hallway (no particle detectors in the auditorium) with small orange cones that are designed to clip into our detectors during shows that use smoke or haze. 

To the OP, have you looked at using a water based fluid?  While not foolproof, particle detectors seem to be much more tolerant when it comes to a water based haze.

47

Tools of the Trade / Re: Flashlights?

« on: Oct 14, 2009, 04:17 am »

I carry an LED mini-mag.

48

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS Archive June 09-Dec. 10

« on: Sep 18, 2009, 06:39 pm »

I'm looking for an electronic copy of A Midsummer Nights Dream by WIlliam Shakespeare. E-mail to obrien.madi@gmail.com

Thanks!!
Madi

Google is your friend.

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/midsummer/full.html

Copy/Paste into Word and add page numbers.

With online Shakespeare scripts you would be wise to double check the transcriptions.

49

The Hardline / Re: Theatres That Have Closed--Can You Say "Emergency?"

« on: Sep 13, 2009, 01:03 pm »

While it hasn't caused any shutdown announcements yet, the BC provincial government is gutting arts funding.  A few months ago, the government announced it was cutting the budget of the BC Arts Council by 40% and just in the last few weeks the government "re-evaluated" contractual multi-year gaming grants that resulted in denial letters being sent far and wide (this was temporarily reversed under enormous public outrage--a small victory in a war that is going very badly for us).

In spite of the government's own economists pointing out that for every dollar the government invests in the arts, it sees a $1.38 return in tax revenue, the arts, culture, and heritage sector in BC has been targeted for massive and brutal cuts which will put companies under.

Overall, this is what the funding picture looks like in BC:
2008/09: $47.8 Million
2009/10: $42.22 Million (as of February's Budget)
2009/10: $23.08 Million (without warning as of September)
2010/11: $3.75 Million
2011/12: $3.68 Million

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/dramatic-cuts-dramatic-fallout-for-bc-arts/article1284602/

50

Employment / Re: Workers' Comp

« on: Sep 12, 2009, 02:53 pm »

Reading through this thread makes me glad I live in a "socialist" country with a "socialist" healthcare system.  I don't ever have to wonder if what I'm doing is covered by compo.  Aside from cases of fraud, I've never heard of a situation where our WCB ever tried to deny a claim.  In fact, when I injured my knee a few years ago, I nearly had to beg WCB to let me go back to work.  They were very confused by that, but after 7 weeks of being at home I was starting to go a little loopy.

51

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS Archive June 09-Dec. 10

« on: Sep 08, 2009, 10:01 pm »

A text copy of Why Do We Laugh? by Stephen Gregg would be delightful.

52

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Enforcing Punctuality in Community Theater

« on: Aug 22, 2009, 02:45 am »

I SM'd a community show a little while back.  One of the things that I did was I called the actors at home if they weren't in the hall at call time.  With one exception they were never there and I got Wife/Husband/Mom/Dad telling me they were on their way.  But finding out when you get home that the SM called at 7:01 when you were late for the 7:00 rehearsal sets a tone.  Nobody likes nagging phone calls at home.  I had very little in the way of punctuality problems after the first week.

53

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Good digital Sheet music sites/help finding music

« on: Jul 09, 2009, 06:45 pm »

http://www.stantons.com/

Give these guys a call.  If it exists, they can get it for you.  I've used them a number of times before whilst trying to find obscure oboe concertos.

54

Tools of the Trade / Re: paint

« on: May 11, 2009, 05:49 pm »

I imagine something of the water soluble variety would be up your alley. 

55

The Hardline / Re: Equity, transfering between countries

« on: May 06, 2009, 01:52 am »

Once you become a full member of CAEA, you can work under AEA contracts and vice versa.  I haven't the foggiest when it comes to other countries.  Like VSM says, give Equity a call.

56

Tools of the Trade / Re: [FAQ] What goes inside a SM Kit?

« on: May 01, 2009, 11:43 pm »

at the risk sounding incredibly naive and oblivious what is an SM kit?

Stage Managers typically carry a kit with them that contains useful items are any combination of,  A) necessary for rehearsal; B) help things run smoother; C) problem solving supplies; D) just plain handy to have.

57

Tools of the Trade / Re: HELP! with fake body parts/follow spot rental

« on: Apr 23, 2009, 10:55 pm »

I went to the "Contact Us" page on the Christie Lites website and emailed one of the rental reps listed.  She emailed me back and asked a few questions. 

Good good. 

If you have any other questions, Vancouver specific or otherwise, don't hesitate to ask.

58

Tools of the Trade / Re: HELP! with fake body parts/follow spot rental

« on: Apr 23, 2009, 03:04 am »

I'll be sure to mention the school thing if the rental rep I emailed gets back to me.  Thanks!

Who did you email?  Or was it a generic Vancouver rental contact?

59

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Explaining Yourself

« on: Apr 22, 2009, 11:11 pm »

Maybe it's just me, but if someone I'm talking to doesn't know what an SM does, I don't really concern myself with trying to impress them or describe in detail what I spend my days doing.  Usually a phrase to the effect of, "I make sure things run smoothly" does the trick.

60

Tools of the Trade / Re: HELP! with fake body parts/follow spot rental

« on: Apr 22, 2009, 10:39 pm »

For the body parts, try Bizarre and Novelty on West 2nd near Manitoba Street. So many weird and wonderful things in there!

For the spot, Christie Lites.  They're in Burnaby on Winston Street at Bainbridge. 

Thanks for being specific!

For Christie Lites--do you have any idea how much it would cost to rent their smallest (Midget HP) follow spot?  I was wondering if you knew since their website doesn't seem to list prices--although if you don't know I'll just go to the store and ask.

To be honest, I haven't been in a gear renting position for a while and when I was getting rentals from Christie, it was always part of a larger order of gear, so (long story short), I don't actually know what they charge.  That being said, they offer competitive rates and are great to deal with.  Give them a call and see what they say.  If this is for a school, let them know, there should be discounts for school rentals.

Another solution worth looking at if an actual spot is out of your price range is mounting a 10 degree S4 on a stand and use that as a spot.