Messages

46

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Commercial Mobile Alert System

« on: Mar 21, 2013, 08:10 pm »

I too have an app similar to this but it only beeps/vibrates so when it does go off, it's not as obvious to others around me. I've never had to take cover with an audience (knock on wood), just during a dress rehearsal so it was fairly orderly. 

I would have to agree with Maribeth... if you were getting the loud alerts for every little thing, I might reconsider. However, I personally, would want a watch message in advance of the warning message.  If things are always busy in the back offices/stage and I got a watch message, I would text the weather-watcher and ask them to take note of the situation and be ready to execute the theatre's warning protocol.

In my current location, the tornado sirens are heard everywhere, so having an audience that may hear them before the theatre has started taking action, would be devastating. We are still rebuilding from the last one, so I completely understand the necessity of getting weather alerts. 

47

Stage Management: Other / Re: Dance First Aid

« on: Mar 20, 2013, 03:35 pm »

Ibuprofen - buy the economy size. Some dancers pop it like candy.

Be aware of your states laws about providing pain relievers. It can be a sticky situation. I think there was a recent discussion about this but I'm drawing a blank as to what board it was on.

48

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Millikin?

« on: Mar 18, 2013, 11:14 am »

I personally have an MFA in stage management.  While it's not necessary, if you want to teach at the university level later on, it's a must.  My undergrad had one sm class in my 4 years there so my graduate curriculum was more in depth, focusing on union contracts and communication courses (conflict management was an eye-opener). I will say that the contacts I made were great and my internship was priceless. 

It all really depends on what you want to do later.

49

The Green Room / Re: Sleeping in your theatre

« on: Mar 18, 2013, 11:07 am »

The couch in the stage management office at my school has the infamous reputation of eating hours of your day. Many of the stage managers here, myself included, have been late to class (or completely missed class) because we had laid down for a "ten minute nap" only to wake up three hours later.

Haha, I have experienced a couch like this before... shortly after we discovered its magical powers, we decided that someone had sprinkled coma dust on it. 

50

Employment / Re: How to list references that are out of the country?

« on: Mar 18, 2013, 11:02 am »

Thanks for the suggestions! 

51

Employment / How to list references that are out of the country?

« on: Mar 17, 2013, 12:58 pm »

I have a couple of references that are very willing to vouch for me, but they are working out of the country right now.  They both have email access, but calling them is rather pricey.  I want to note why I haven't included a phone number on my reference list and/or encourage an email to them, but I'm not sure how.  Anyone else had this issue?  What did you do?

Ashlee

52

Employment / Re: Day jobs that are related, but also work with SM scheduling

« on: Mar 17, 2013, 12:50 pm »

Right now I'm in between theatre jobs.  We moved to a new area and the only theatre here is collegiate level or community theatre that is volunteer only.  I knew this was the case before we moved here, but other family matters made me needed at home more than off traveling somewhere for work. 

Anyway, I started working for a temp agency.  After I explained what stage management was, I've been placed in offices answering phones, filing papers, typing, etc.  They do have fulll-time positions, but I've opted for the short term assignments.  The nice part is, there is rarely work on the weekends, and jobs are done by 5. 

As for other non-theatre but sorta related fields, most of the one's I've applied for were in the university setting.  Ticket office, student life event planner/coordinator, conference assistants....It really seems to depend on the department that's hiring, and depending on the department (student life for example), you will be working all hours of the day/week. 

53

Introductions / Re: Going to make a career of this now, finally taking the plunge.

« on: Mar 14, 2013, 11:41 am »

Ah yes, coming to the dark side (as we called it when someone changed their major in school) full-time!  Welcome to the community.  I know you'll find lots of valuable information, tips, and meet some people in your neighborhood. 

54

The Green Room / Re: LEGAL ISSUES IN STAGE MANAGEMENT: Discussion - no answers or legal advice here

« on: Mar 14, 2013, 11:27 am »

It was more of a park policy I guess, but I stage managed for a well known theme park with animals.  There were lots of restrictions about what we could tell the public when it came to the animals and even park attendance numbers.

Legally though, we had to be very aware of how show reports sounded because if there was an issue, the first place they went was the show report.  We learned animal training vocabulary so we could be more specific.  After all, "double back flip" sounded better than "flippy thing in the water."

55

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: JOB DESCRIPTION: SM Role in the automated future

« on: Mar 14, 2013, 11:12 am »

I feel like most of the shows I've stage manged, are all a little different in terms of calling cues.  There were times I called sound cues but usually only when everything had to happen at once.  Same with lighting.  I think a lot of it has to do with trust.  The large musical I worked on, the sm called automation and rail cues on channel A and the board op called cues for spots on channel B.  The sm and op sat beside each other in the booth so if something unexpected happened, he could get lighting instructions. 

On the other hand, part of the artistic magic for me is calling the perfectly timed insanely long sting of cues. 

56

The Green Room / Re: Sleeping in your theatre

« on: Mar 14, 2013, 10:08 am »

I don't know if I'm brave enough to try the hammock or not, but I'll keep that in mind...

When I was a PA for a large musical we rehearsed in a large warehouse that had been divided into several different rooms.  We used the smaller one for group music rehearsal and hung drapes all around the room.  The drapes created a secret passage for stage managers to sneak around the room, undetected.  I was known for sleeping in the secret passage on the far side of the room with my favorite blanket that I kept in my car for just such an occasion.  When we moved to the theater, I quickly found the balcony lobby that was lined with built in couches. 

57

Introductions / Re: Hello

« on: Mar 06, 2013, 01:40 pm »

Welcome, Daniel!  The outreach mission for Treasure House sounds great.  Glad you found smnetwork!

58

Self-Promotion / Re: Off to China

« on: Mar 05, 2013, 01:43 pm »

Awesome!!!  I have a friend that's stage managing there now and seems to enjoy it. 

59

The Green Room / Re: Thoughts on Director Acting in Show?

« on: Mar 04, 2013, 01:06 pm »

You also might find that the director will continue to give notes and change things throughout the production since he's in the show and privy to mistakes and audience reactions.  I suggest keeping lines of communication VERY open so you don't get left out or miss a particular note.

Communication, communication, communication.

I had a director cast himself in a smaller role for Midsummer Night's Dream.  It worked alright during rehearsal because he wasn't one stage much so he'd sit in the house and go backstage when needed.  However, I did have to speak with him privately after the show opened because actors told me that he constantly gave notes in the dressing room.  I was positive about it and just asked that he give me all the notes to handle after curtain call because it was distracting people backstage.  He was apologetic and understood the request.  He enjoyed his role much more after giving up the reigns. 

It can be done, but you have to build the trust of your director and cast very early in the process.

60

Introductions / Re: Hello everyone!

« on: Jan 29, 2013, 11:38 pm »

Glad you're here, too!  Welcome to the forum and I hope you find lots of helpful info.