Messages

46

Stage Management: Other / Re: Dance First Aid

« on: Mar 19, 2013, 09:54 pm »

When I was a gymnast we swore by pro wrap- a stretchy, foam-like tape for holding ankles etc in place.

Pro wrap is great for taping up men as you can tape over it and not pull out sensitive body hair upon removal! Research your athletic tape selection if you can, there are brands with better stretch (as a former wrestler i can attest sometimes taping a joint without the right tape does more harm than good!) in case a more mobile joint needs taping! also have a lighter in your first aid dancers a lot of times will burn bandages to their feet to keep them adhered!

47

Tools of the Trade / Re: Call Script Word Processor Mac App

« on: Mar 19, 2013, 09:49 pm »

it would be nice to be able to overlay cues on the script as opposed to inserting it and having page numbers change...also keeping the track changes and compare documents tool in word would be great to keep. I work on a lot of new and recently workshopped plays and its integral to be able to track changes automatically or else I would go crazy!

Sounds like and incredibly amazing project!

48

Stage Management: Other / Re: Fitting Marley to different stages on tour

« on: Mar 19, 2013, 09:14 pm »

That is exactly what I do. I highly recommend this because it also helps with spacing for the dancers just make sure you are dead on your centre line! Also if you label which pieces go where occasionally you can keep spikes on the floor with minimal moving.

I'm currently doing exactly the same thing here in the UK, with Harlequin 3mm floor. The best way we've found is to have the floor running US/DS, rather than SL/SR - we then keep the excess floor on the roll and hide it upstage of the cyc. We use the back of the prosc as our setting line, and start laying out from centre. This means that a) we can have excess in the wings, b) the marks are all in the right place, with the same relationships to each other, and c) any excess floor is hidden from view.

As we're near the start of our tour, we're doing a run of one of the pieces in each venue, but when we get further in, having class onstage, and allowing the dancers to work steps out themselves will be sufficient!

Hope this helps with your problem.

C

49

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Mentorship Program

« on: Mar 14, 2012, 05:34 am »

This is just an idea but I've been really digging the iTunes U courses. What if something like that could come out of the forums? Do a series of podcasts that follow a loose "curriculum" that different members could take on and have a challenge at the end of each one that people could submit to the site for open (or not?) constructive criticism.

50

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Dear Abby: What classes would you look for in a BFA stage management program?

« on: Mar 14, 2012, 05:28 am »

I think theatre technology would be really beneficial. As a lighting director I have actually been in the audience watching a show of mine where the stage manager has called me up to the booth because she/he didn't know how to troubleshoot a basic problem (the system froze and just needed to be re-booted). I found one of my main strengths as a stage manager was my ability to troubleshoot technically on the fly. Cd player frozen for an upcoming SX cue, plug in a mic and do it yourself (I am a better door bell than phone BTW). Being able to hang and focus a light is great but I would argue that this skill is just as important.

51

Stage Management: Other / Re: Spiking a Dance Floor

« on: Mar 14, 2012, 05:14 am »

if they are going to be pulled up and used in different spaces (or if you are sharing a space and have to remove spikes during hte week or something) laminate your spikes and then cover with clear tape such as hockey tape!

52

Stage Management: Other / Re: My first ballet gig!

« on: Mar 14, 2012, 05:10 am »

Especially when tutus are involved!  I would say familiarize yourself with how the SM calls the show, in the off case that you would need to take over ballet cue scripts can be incredibly intimidating. It's great if they work off a score but all the ballet companies i've worked for don't which can get confusing. I would say once you've deciphered it sit with the DVD of the show and call the show to the dvd. It probably goes without saying but study that video until you are so sick of it...then do it again especially if you tour because you may be asked on the fly to remember which wing set piece a leaves during the changeover from the rats to the sugar plum PDD when everything is moving!
  Also HAVE FUN! having done NUT I can say it is a challenging piece but also a great into to ballet and a recognizable piece.

Good luck!

53

The Green Room / Re: Unwinding and Readjusting

« on: Jan 27, 2012, 07:13 pm »

I tour a lot and I have problems leaving to talk to non-tech people. I come home and feel so awkward trying to talk to my boyfriend!

54

The Green Room / Re: Things Stage Managers Say

« on: Jan 27, 2012, 07:10 pm »

no thanks i don't drink

55

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Grad Schools for SM... tuition stipend?

« on: Nov 16, 2011, 11:09 am »

Most Canadian Universities do this as well. I don't know about colleges but when I was applying to grad schools they will give you GTA and TA positions in their undergrad classes to make up the difference. Don't bother with National Theatre School however they won't even let you work while there.

56

The Green Room / Re: One of those days.

« on: Nov 07, 2011, 10:14 pm »

when I am just slugging away doing mind numbing or annoying little things that no-one will notice I like "I will prepare and someday my chance will come" and when I am working on a show that just has one crisis after another I just think of a line from the TV show Slings & Arrows "you've got to have a couple like that so you have stories. Because if you have stories then you lived"

57

Employment / Staying competetive in multiple markets

« on: Nov 07, 2011, 08:09 pm »

So, a situation recently presented itself to me to do a show in Montreal. I live in the Toronto area and have an apartment with my partner and a lease and dog and the whole thing. I didn't end up doing it because even though I was most qualified the living expenses offset my being the most suitable candidate for the position. I was wondering if anyone has found this and a solution. I can't just give up my apartment to move to a different city for 3 weeks but I want to make my location a non issue to potential employers. I was thinking working out of a hostel or something of that nature...thoughts?

58

Stage Management: Other / Re: Spiking a Dance Floor

« on: Oct 22, 2011, 10:22 am »

I as well work primarily in dance, ballet, and contemporary and we've always used cloth spike, to keep it from peeling I usually cover it with clear hockey tape which doesn't leave a residue and is nice and thick

59

The Green Room / Re: Best one-liner from a performance report

« on: Oct 18, 2011, 12:31 am »

One, not from a show, but that I got today in rehearsal was my director leaned over to me and seriously said "can you write down there is something missing between the sh**s." it was followed up later on with "The second sh** needs to be heavier, it needs to be a heavy sh**"...no word of a lie!


Edited for language- missliz

60

Tools of the Trade / Re: 5 fingers

« on: Oct 15, 2011, 10:34 pm »

I worked at a theatre that insisted on safety shoes or steel toes then realized how impractical it was when running around changing gels and gobos and the audience could hear the heavy clomping of shoes over the music! I jsut did a quick tour with them and they worked out great, especially for climbing around on truss!