Messages

496

The Green Room / Re: Where and when are you at your best?

« on: Sep 09, 2009, 01:18 pm »

I thrive on "challenge shows," shows in nontraditional spaces or with very unique circumstances. I've always been a quick problem-solver/improviser, and I love having to think outside the box to solve problems.  Doing a show in a museum that interacted with the (very expensive!) paintings and sculptures and figuring out how to respect museum protocol while maintaining the integrity of the theater piece, for example.

I also love working with lots of people who work lots of different ways, and finding the ways to get everyone on the same page. I'm very much a people person, and I know I do well in facilitating things between different personalities.

497

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Being Assertive

« on: Sep 02, 2009, 12:33 pm »

Is there a specific reason you're having a hard time asserting control over this person? IE are they older/stubborn/rude/etc?

498

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: What exactly is the role of a PA?

« on: Sep 01, 2009, 07:48 pm »

Now would it be wrong to take the iniative to do some of these things? Or would you just wait to be assigned a specific duty from stage management?

I'd try to talk with the SM/director/ASM and ask what they they expect of you- more office duties (copying, sorting, typing), running around organizing things FOR the production (props, making phone calls), or acting as another assistant in the rehearsal space, etc. You'll soon get a sense of what's expected of you, and when in doubt, ASK. The last thing you want to do is step on any toes!

499

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Multitaskers are "Lousy at Everything"

« on: Sep 01, 2009, 03:46 pm »

Oh, wow!  I'd love to do homework.  Unfortunately, I've got a director who wants everything as soon as they think about it.  "Hey, I know this is the first time you've seen the scenic pieces and how well they work, and you know nothing about our crew's capabilities, yet.  But I want to know exactly how all these set changes are going to happen and I need it before we change to the next scene.  Make it like a dance."   

I'd love to know exactly what sort of multitasking tasks they had the subjects doing, and if the proportion of technical vs. human interaction tasks affected performance?

The kept referencing things that weren't really in the same "track," like driving, texting, and drinking coffee. I think there's a difference between "keeping a lot of things in your head at once" (switching between a lot of related thoughts on one subject- i.e. SMing) and the type of multitasking they're talking about. I certainly think that people who try to juggle a bunch of things that aren't related are going to have a harder time switching between them.

500

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: What exactly is the role of a PA?

« on: Sep 01, 2009, 11:59 am »

I've been a PA a couple times, and it was definitely an ASM-ish job. A lot of the time, I was on book, running lines with actors, tracking down props, etc.

501

The Hardline / Re: Treating all actors as AEA in a showcase?

« on: Sep 01, 2009, 11:58 am »

I do a lot of shows with a mix of AEA and non-AEA actors. The first time I did it, I asked the director how she felt about it, and she said the point was to strive for professionalism. That is, treat everyone with the same respect of their time, work, etc. Basically, I run the rehearsals as close to solid AEA rules as possible for all members, but the non-AEA members know that they might have to go "above and beyond the call of duty" from time to time- helping with moving the set, coming in a little early to work something before call, etc. I think as long as you make it clear that you are respectful of EVERYONE, regardless of status, but that non-union people might have to make concessions, it's fine and doesn't separate the haves from the have-nots, so to speak.

502

Tools of the Trade / Re: Twitter.

« on: Aug 22, 2009, 01:01 am »

Has anyone heard about Daryl Eisenberg (casting director) and the twitter debacle?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/15/theater/15tweet.html

She tweeted about the actors as soon as they left the room, and some of the tweets were really mean

From what I understand, it wasn't just after they left - some of this happened during auditions. Regardles, it's unprofessional, not to mention rude and just plain despicable. Especially if your profile was public (as hers was at the time).

She claims it only happens on break.

I'm shocked on a few levels (not to mention that it was a show I turned down to do the one I'm currently working!) It's incredibly disrespectful, unprofessional, and her defense that "it's helpful to actors!" is hard to swallow. Please, tell me how ""haha i pick my nose during auditions, maybe i'll get a letter" is helpful to ANYBODY.

503

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

« on: Aug 22, 2009, 12:58 am »

I only ever dealt with this in a college student-run atmosphere, and I started charging people. Flat out. $1 every minute they were late. Stopped that pretty quickly.

504

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What I did over my summer vacation...

« on: Aug 13, 2009, 09:31 am »

I'm originally from Houston! Great theaters. Where are you interning?

The Alley Theatre, downtown. Our current show is Sherlock Holmes and the Crucifer of Blood.

I LOVE the Alley. Good work you!

505

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What I did over my summer vacation...

« on: Aug 11, 2009, 09:38 am »

I'm a stage management intern in Houston, Texas. It'll be my first professional show after being involved with an all student-run troupe for the past four years, so I'm a little apprehensive, but also excited to learn.

I'm originally from Houston! Great theaters. Where are you interning?

506

The Hardline / Re: How did you get your card?

« on: Aug 10, 2009, 09:48 am »

Just signed my Off-Bway contract for my card!

Congrats to you Missliz! What's the show?

Thank you! Lizzie Borden: The Show. New kickass rock opera, opening in Sept.

www.lizziebordentheshow.com

507

The Hardline / Re: How did you get your card?

« on: Aug 08, 2009, 02:40 am »

Just signed my Off-Bway contract for my card! I interviewed for an SM position and didn't get it (they decided to go with someone who knew the show in a previous incarnation) but discovered they needed an ASM about six weeks later.

508

Tools of the Trade / Re: New Flexbinder

« on: Aug 05, 2009, 08:01 pm »

I got way more excited about this than one should really get over binders.

509

The Hardline / AEA: Names?

« on: Aug 04, 2009, 10:05 pm »

Hey guys! I'm getting ready to register with Equity (yay me!) and know I'll have to register my name. I have a fairly common name- is there a way to check in advance if my name is already "taken" so I can start thinking of an alternate one if I need it?

510

The Green Room / Re: Stage managing your life

« on: Jul 28, 2009, 04:01 pm »

I'm very right-brained. SMing is sort of the only place I'm hyper-organized. I'm more of a "method to the madness" person in non-work life...everything's organized for me, but other people have a hard time with it. When I'm SMing, I keep everything organized and clearly labeled so that others can understand it, but in my life...forget it.

Though I'm ALWAYS the one organizing friends and plans when we go out. The running joke is "I'm a stage manager, not a life manager."