Messages

481

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Question about musical blocking

« on: Feb 25, 2007, 03:12 am »

Personally, I would avoid using 8-count notation as a lot of more complex musicals are not written in 4/4 and do not use 2 bar phrases (which tends to be the norm for the less complex ones). The two methods I have employed are to either go through and letter the sections based on 'feel' (which is good if a piece of dancing repeats, as you can end up with something like A B C C B C A in the score) or to use bar-beat notation (ie 1-4 is bar 1, beat 4). If I need to subdivide, I subdivide into 4 (ie 6-1.2) and then 4 again if necessary (6-1.2.2).

PS. That pink is retched and almost impossible to read on my PC...

482

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Nine pin monitors

« on: Feb 24, 2007, 09:12 pm »

Is it after a monitor with 9 pins, or a serial terminal?

A lot of the consoles of the era used serial terminals (aka dumb terminals) instead of a monitor. What you can do, if it is serial, is use any computer with a serial port (or a usb->serial converter) and then run a terminal emmulator (like HyperTerm).

Finding antiquated hardware is difficult, as they tend to be used to the point of death, then thrown out, or are neglected in the corner of a storage room for years until they decide to do a clean-out (meaning they are often dead).

You may have better luck building an adapter (I am sure there are specifications for the cables out there on the net - maybe even a pin-out guide to build an adapter)

483

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Screwdriver Recommendation

« on: Feb 24, 2007, 02:21 am »

My opinon is that tools should be bought from a hardware shop, as that is the only place you can get a good feel for the build quality.

The best ones that I have seen I have inherited from my father - they were his spare set which he bought about 30 years ago, the sort with the green/yellow clear plastic handles. There are imitations out there, but the good ones are quite expensive (as far as screwdrivers go) and the cheap ones are crud.

484

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Welcome Introduction speeches??????

« on: Feb 23, 2007, 04:29 am »

In your house keeping, you may wish to mention that "with such a great group of professionals, I believe we can make something really special." or a few things along those lines. Lecturing is a bad idea - I am all for a good lecture when it is required, but "This is damn expensive and you had better do well, or I will dig out your heart with a spoon" is great way to ruin your relationship with the cast before it begins.

12 Muso's acting... sounds like a receipe for disaster. Muso's are used to having much laxer calls etc than actors, so you will certainly need to establish some ground rules at some point. No matter what you say at the start of the show though, the only way you will be able to keep them vibrant and enthused is if the rehearsals are kept fresh and your attitude is good (and your directors attitude is good).

485

SMNetwork Archives / Re: converting from .pdf to excel and/or word files

« on: Feb 18, 2007, 02:37 pm »

The free adobe has the ability to select text. If you cannot use that tool, look at using an OCR program. Unfortunatly, PDF's are basically like big images, so all the formatting etc will probably be lost. The commercial adobe has the ability to use OCR to create a word document or text file out of a PDF, and whilst it is quite good, it is no where near perfect.

486

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Oliver! Tips and set suggestions. Please.

« on: Feb 17, 2007, 05:25 pm »

No matter what your set designer says - stay away from fake snow/snow machines. It is evil.

I have mounted it twice, both were quite different - the main problem we had the last time was too few fly bars, which lead to using some fancy rope work and stacking back cloths, which was a pain in the rear to fix before every show.

Someone for the kids is a must, as mentioned. As is making sure that there are activities for whilst they are off stage - preferably quiet ones. Depending on your cast, it may be a good opportunity for homework - so you may wish to send a note to parents mentioning that cast members should bring something to occupy their time whilst off stage, and suggest that school homework or a book would be ideal. I also went to the library at the start of the run and borrowed a bunch of books suitable for that age group. If you have the space/facilities, since most kids will be on set at the same time and off set at the same time, maybe you could set up a movie, even if the room is a fair distance from the space - you just need to have one adult with a 2-way radio in the room, and give them a call a few minutes before the entrance.

487

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How do you call your sound cues....

« on: Feb 17, 2007, 02:49 pm »

My opinion is it should not be the Designers choice anyway, but rather based on agreement between the operator and SM.

Obviously, if the application/equiptment being chosen by the designer uses letters (personally, I have never encountered it), then it is obvious that letters is what you would use (as chances are the operator would prefer it), just as you would keep the numbering the same if the application has a weird numbering scheme (I have one sound playback application that by default increments every cue number by 5, because it does not allow dot cues (1.5 etc)). But if it is a pair of CD players, then I think you can walk up to the operator and talk about whether you can change the method. After all, the designer does not have to work with their numbering scheme - and some designers have no clue... Sound Cue QQ anyone?

488

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Anyone willing to be interviewed?

« on: Feb 16, 2007, 02:47 am »

The prelude to Lawrence Sterns book on stage management has a good anectdote about an SM'less company. It may have some quotes/etc in there which you can use.

489

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How do you call your sound cues....

« on: Feb 16, 2007, 02:41 am »

ps - i've never been in a position where I've had a "choice" - everytime the designers (from spt up to production and tour) come up with what they are called (at least re: letters v numbers).  What am I missing here?

You can lead people to the method you prefer by using language, it is also something that can be brought up when talking to the designers about bump-in/tech week/transition to the space etc.

490

Tools of the Trade / Re: Stage Manager workstation/Desk

« on: Feb 14, 2007, 01:54 am »

Sort of close... However this one was a LOT higher - I think it was 4'3" or somewhere arround that number at it's highest point. It also only has 2 sides, not the back return, the monitors were also on arms, so that they could be positioned to be comfortable.

491

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Astrology for Stage Managers

« on: Feb 12, 2007, 06:12 pm »

Unfortunatly, does not fit me TOOO well (Sagitarius.) as I love small shows (although I love musicals too), and am analy retentive about paperwork etc. Still, great laugh.

492

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Stagecraft Wiki

« on: Feb 12, 2007, 06:36 am »

This is a much more comprehensive theatrical wiki

Maybe this would be a good place to start collecting online reference links... dunno...

493

Tools of the Trade / Re: Squeaky shoes on stage? New trick!

« on: Feb 09, 2007, 06:29 am »

Any other tips on squeeky shoes would be a blessing - This sounds great, except I break out in a rash when I come into contact with spray starch (must be one of the active ingredients, I don't know), and I my shoes squeek on most wooden/linoleum floors.

My usual method is to put some socks over my shoes when there is an audience out there and I need to be silent, except it is VERY slippery.

494

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How do you call your sound cues....

« on: Feb 09, 2007, 01:55 am »

I am pretty much the same as Matt.

I do not think it is the SM's responsibility to know the intricacies of how a cue runs - sure, it is good to know what happens, but really, the intricacies fall onto the Sound Ops head. Just as with lighting, I expect to see a list of cues which I can transcribe into my prompt copy.

I don't letter. Period. I don't think I have worked on a show with less than 40 sound cues (or rather, I don't think I have worked on a show with less than 40 sound cues that I have not been operating sound for as well), so numbers make more sense (AA, AB etc gets on my nerves.). As the department is listed when calling the cue, there is no need to further differentiate.

495

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dealing with stress

« on: Feb 03, 2007, 06:17 am »

God, you are making me really want to work on a stressful show with you. I don't have the skills/experiance to bake anything decent, and there is nothing I like better than fresh bread (I hate the stuff from "Instant bread, just add water, salt and yeast" as well as bread-machine stuff, and commercial bread just doesn't feel the same)... Fresh bread, still warm, with butter... real comfort food...

That said, TBC thearapy is my current "Calming down" routine (two beers & a curry), whilst watching Red Dwarf. Best investment I ever made I think.