Messages

46

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Artistic Director wants me to email actors link to a review

« on: Feb 14, 2014, 07:08 pm »

Usually with this kind of stuff, I like to forward the email onto the cast and crew, so that way I'm just facilitating the email.

If people don't want to read it they won't click on it.

47

The Green Room / Re: Short Rant: Why Can't You Number things Consistently in Your Script?!

« on: Feb 14, 2014, 07:05 pm »

I can imagine it's crazy to get a new musical off the ground.

I've never worked on an original musical, so I probably can't complain. However, this musical is the Wizard of Oz, which should somewhat already have a setup to it, or maybe that's just me.

Anyway, I've reformatted it slightly, so that number 23 is split up via 'A' and 'B'. As far as number 7, I'll just trust people can remember that it's missing.

I would love to work on an original musical one day...that sounds like an awesome challenge.

48

The Green Room / Short Rant: Why Can't You Number things Consistently in Your Script?!

« on: Feb 13, 2014, 07:31 pm »

I'm working on a scenic breakdown for The Wizard of Oz.

And the libretto has no consistent way of numbering anything. There is no musical No 7, and there are two No 23s.

Also, there are two No 14s, both 'We're off to See The Wizard', but the happen about ten pages apart, and are slightly different musically.

It kills me, because it's clearly noted in the script. Right before musical No 8, it reads "*Note: There is no musical Number 7". And after the second No 23, it reads "*Note: There are two musical Number 23s."

It's awful, and frustrates me. Just wanted to share.

*Rant OVER*

49

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SMing an Equity Actor for the First Time-Report Tips

« on: Feb 05, 2014, 05:31 pm »

Thanks for the formula!

I've always struggled to figure out If/Then formulas.

50

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / REPORTS: SMing an Equity Actor for the First Time-Report Tips

« on: Jan 30, 2014, 07:44 pm »

First of all, I'm not exactly sure if this fits in this thread or under the discussion of unions, or the paperwork. I posted it here, but feel free to move it if it better fits somewhere else.

I'm approaching my first show Stage Managing an AEA actor. I'm pretty familiar with the operating rules, as far as breaks, safety, and scheduling.

However, I'm curious as to how I should modify the report to represent this. The actors are paid based on stipend, so I don't need to track hours worked, but because AEA only allows so many hours, I'm thinking of including an hour-tracking formula that will calculate hours worked.

Is there any way my reports, or any other paperwork should reflect anything in particular to accommodate this? 

I know it's a silly question, but I wanted to make sure there weren't any obvious things overlooked.

Edited to add topic tag. -Maribeth

51

Employment / Re: Taking Apprenticeships after working as a Professional SM?

« on: Jan 25, 2014, 11:53 am »

You all make very valid points.

You could even do neither if you wanted! The possibilities are endless...

Especially BARussell.

I think that I'm going to take the offer as a Stage Manager. Even though it may not pay as much, it will give me a chance to explore my craft further, and practice more.

52

Employment / Re: Reasons to Reject a Job Offer

« on: Jan 21, 2014, 09:58 pm »

My big thing is pay. I have a hard time accepting jobs that I will need to pick up a full time day job with.

I don't mind picking up some part time work to subsidize myself, but if I'm not getting paid well enough to fully support myself, you should at least provide housing for the duration of the gig.

That's my two cents.

53

Employment / Taking Apprenticeships after working as a Professional SM?

« on: Jan 18, 2014, 04:48 am »

It's that awkward point in my career.

I've been working as a Stage Manager for a little while, having done a few months of corporate work and working for a Light Opera Company.

At risk of this whole post sounding narcissistic, I've worked as a SM on some decent quality productions.

Now I've been offered a nice Stage Management job in Chicago. It's an original work at a storefront theatre.

I think I'm ready (career-wise and financially) to make the move to the city. The gig doesn't pay incredibly well, so I'd pick up a part time job too.

The other offer I've been made is as a Stage Management apprentice at a small theatre on the other side of the country. It pays very little monthly, so I'd have to pick up a part time job as well. The only plus side is that it includes a few months of housing.

My problem is this; am I too far along to take an apprenticeship since I've been working professionally for a while?

The jobs are slightly different, and neither is enough to pay my student loan payment, so I'd pick up a day job.

Option 1)
Get an apartment in Chicago and work a day job.
Stage Manage Original work for 3 months for $450.

Option 2)
Drive/Fly Across the country and live in supplied housing.
Work a day job.
Apprentice a Stage Manager for a year and make $150 a month.

I'm not sure which to take, and where to go from here. Though I suppose it's a good thing to have two offers, I'm not sure which offer to take.

Thoughts?

54

Employment / Re: Blog Post: Job Hunting as a Stage Manager

« on: Dec 09, 2013, 11:37 am »

Great link, thanks!

55

Employment / Blog Post: Job Hunting as a Stage Manager

« on: Dec 03, 2013, 12:52 pm »

As I've been job searching for a gig after this contract ends at the end of December, I thought a post with some SM job hunting resources would be useful.

I've included OffStageJobs, ARTSEARCH, SMA, and the LORT Member theatres page.

Do you guys know of any other useful sites for SM job postings?

I'll include them in the post.

56

Employment / Re: Corporate SM Gigs

« on: Dec 02, 2013, 12:08 am »

I'll say up front, I've been working for [redacted] since early September, and it has its ups and downs.

It pays well, but it is unlike any Stage Management work you've ever done.

From what I've seen working here, there are twenty or so supervisors with various titles, and when you have any notes or problems during rehearsal, it takes several supervisors and many different channels to get a change or note done or approved.

Also, many times, corporate gigs come with extra tasks. For example, I have to edit all of my actors on the timecard system they use here, which has a steep learning curve.

Also, you'll find that you have a lot of limits. There are many things that I am qualified to do, but I'm not allowed to here.

For example, I'm IATSE certified to run a union house, and I've worked as a TD in a union rental, but if I need to so much as screw something in, I have to call the right people and notify the correct supervisors.

It can be very frustrating.

On the plus side, corporate gigs come with rules that make it rather cushy. For example, I can only work some many hours a day, so if I don't get my report sent out, or my timecard edits done, too bad. And I always have certain breaks and a set schedule.

The best thing about corporate is that your time off is your time off. I'm not even supposed to check emails unless I'm clocked in.

I like the people and the pay, but it's very tough to put everything aside to do this kind of work.

Most corporate places simply post their SM work on their regular employment websites.

57

Stage Management: Other / Swing Rotations Between Multiple Venues

« on: Nov 10, 2013, 01:55 pm »

So, I'm currently doing some corporate Stage Management.

The place I'm working has two 'Santa' events. One is an interactive meeting with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and some elves at his 'workshop', and the other is a more traditional short play done in 'dinner theatre' style.

Our Mrs. Claus and Elf swings go between venues, and they are required to swing both positions so that everyone gets a break. That means that the SM of each venue will drive them back and forth in a golf cart.

Now, I can't seem to find a good document to illustrate my ins and outs. There are five Santas that rotate out every hour, and two elves, as well as two Mrs. Clauses, who also rotates between venues.

I've tried all sorts of crazy excel templates, but none of them really help organize it in a way that makes sense.

Any tips?

58

The Hardline / Re: Actors/Directors: Taking Photos in Rehearsal-A Disturbing Trend...or Not...?

« on: Nov 10, 2013, 01:11 pm »

I'm torn on this.

Using social media to talk about the process of creating a show really gets people interested in this show, and the fringe marketing like that is super successful.

Then again, paying a professional photographer to come in to capture those kind of 'in process' images would get costly.

I suppose if it get butts in seats, it's all right, so long as it isn't embarrassing or demeaning to anyone's character.

59

Tools of the Trade / Re: Office Phone and Cell Phone in One

« on: Jul 30, 2013, 11:04 pm »

The headphones you linked were nice too. See, now I want all these expensive gadgets! 

I feel like you're right, it probably wouldn't get much use, but they do seem like a neat trinket.

60

Tools of the Trade / Office Phone and Cell Phone in One

« on: Jul 28, 2013, 10:07 pm »

I spend a lot of time at my home desk (mostly sending out resumes and trying to get a job).

And I also watch a lot of The West Wing. So I get jealous of their fancy office phones.

I don't want a landline, because I travel and I don't want the expense.

But then I saw these babies...
http://www.nativeunion.com/us/collection-26/curve-bluetooth-idock.html#.UfXNp2TF0ww
http://thefusionphone.com/features.html
http://www.red5.co.uk/i-dock-phone-and-speaker.aspx
http://www.kee-utility.com/shop/step1.php?number=3


I mean, I'm totally geeking out here, and I know I don't 'need' one, but they seem really cool, and would make me feel all warm and fuzzy (until that consumer guilt sinks in).

Just wondering, do you guys think something like this would be useful? I could imagine they would if you were a Production Manager, but as a SM, we spend a lot of time at meetings and at the tech table.

I still kind of want one...

Thoughts?