Messages

511

The Hardline / Re: Unions and Circus/Cirque

« on: Apr 02, 2013, 06:57 pm »

It should be noted, I believe, BANANA SHPEEL is dead, IRIS is closed and ZARKANA is relocated to a permanent show in Las Vegas, on their typical employment contract.

I find this interesting, when I first interviewed for Cirque in 1999, AEA had not official world on their members working for them - as they felt they didn't have jurisdiction on these shows.

Here are some honest questions.

I am an AEA Stage Manager.  AEA has jurisdiction over English Language Theater pieces.

Can I work non-union Dance?
Can I work non-union Opera?
Can I work a Spanish Language Play that AEA would not have jurisdiction on?
Could I *ACT* in a non-union film?

Thoughts?  Answers?

512

Introductions / Re: New Kid on the Block

« on: Apr 02, 2013, 04:30 pm »

From what I know from graduates from those programs, those are three VERY different programs.  I would be  leaning towards Webster or Carnegie Mellon  (but that's only because I know graduates of those programs, and not form the other.)

I will not get on my soap box again about choosing the right school for you, but since we know very little about you - I hope our advice will carry the appropriate weight.

513

Employment / Re: ASM vs. PA

« on: Mar 31, 2013, 09:25 pm »

There is no "standard" difference.

If you are working in an AEA environment, most of the time the difference will be the ASM will be (most likely) on an AEA contract, and have to abide by those rules, while the PA will not.

As far as specific duties, that will always be left up to the specifics of the organization and the team how the divide the work load.

On Broadway shows, often, there are army of PA's up until open, and then they pull back to just AEA contracts, perhaps keeping one PA for a variety of tasks - but again, it will always depend on the specifics of the show.  In my years in regioanl theater, I uses PA's as a second ASM, and will assign duties to them based on their personal strength. 

514

Introductions / Re: Is this thing on...?

« on: Mar 29, 2013, 04:07 pm »

Hey, I graduated from UCSB (class of something about a hundred years ago - which is hysterical, because I returned to UCSB after taking a chunk of time up to finish my degree - including three seasons as PSM at Western Stage in Salinas - plus two years as stage manager at THE GREAT AMERICAN MELODRAMA - crap, we are almost living the same life.)

Welcome to the board.  Do you know WHERE in the world you would like to end up - it might help figuring out where you want to do an internship.

515

The Hardline / Re: LA 99 Seat 10 out of 12 break rules

« on: Mar 29, 2013, 04:05 pm »

Sometimes the way to go, regarding an AEA rule, is to state what you want to do, and then work through the rule book and see if what you want to do snags on anything.  As opposed to reading the rules for what YOU CAN do.

It's a little different with the codes, as they are such a specific set of rules, it's often easier to "forget" about other contract and codes, and start fresh.

But, the code does say "(E) Rehearsals for any member shall not exceed eight ( hours per day, and  combined weekly rehearsal and performance hours shall not exceed thirty-six (36)
hours per week." 

Now, if the code was subject to overtime, then you could schedule the 10/12 and just pay overtime - sadly, or rightfully so, depending on how you look at it, the 99-Seat Plan does not have any stipulation for overtime.

516

Introductions / Re: Greetings!

« on: Mar 27, 2013, 09:26 am »

Hello and welcome to the board.

517

Introductions / Re: Hey, y'all

« on: Mar 26, 2013, 12:38 pm »

Congrats!

518

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROP FOOD: Ketchup that isn't ketchup

« on: Mar 24, 2013, 04:53 pm »

could you blend strawberries and strawberry jelly - with a dose of food coloring - it might be a nice little post rehearsal science experiment - to eat over ice cream one day at the end of the week.

519

The Green Room / ARTICLE: Mindmaps for Career planning

« on: Mar 23, 2013, 09:02 pm »

I am a huge fan of mind-mapping in general, but a nice article to get a sense for helping guide a career.

http://www.prolificliving.com/blog/2013/03/18/mindmaps-for-career-planning/

520

Tools of the Trade / Re: Email Best Practices for Teams

« on: Mar 22, 2013, 11:43 pm »

I second BCCing.

All reports and daily calls are addressed to me, and BCC'ed the rest of the people being sent to - this also helps if you working with people who don't want their emails given out to the general public.

And it does keep the response back to the report to be sent out to the entire world.

521

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Director giving husband in the cast notes after opening?

« on: Mar 22, 2013, 09:39 pm »

All I would do is ask the husband, the actor, to make sure that you are in the loop for the notes - so you aren't surprised or thrown for a loop - and make sure there is no impact on the rest of the cast - and if he feels odd doing that, just ask the director if you can be kept in the loop.

522

The Hardline / Re: IATSE

« on: Mar 21, 2013, 02:57 pm »

My understanding is you should check with your local for specific rules, right?  I am crazy?   

http://www.iatse-intl.org/member-resources/local-union-directory

523

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Is college a necessity?

« on: Mar 21, 2013, 11:19 am »

You don't need a degree to be a stage manager.

But, a good general education in theater - with emphasis in design, tech, basic acting, basic directing, theater history, general production, literature . . . is going to help you be a well rounded stage manager.  To be a good stage manager, a resource/project manager - you need more then just a passing knowledge of the different design departments, different areas you are managing - and will help you feel in the gaps of your knowledge until you gain more practical experience.

Regardless, a good college education will help you be a more well rounded individual.

524

The Green Room / Re: What is a General Manager? An article to answer your questions.

« on: Mar 21, 2013, 11:08 am »

And note, a general manager, in regional theater sometimes have a host of different duties - and often changes from theater to theater.

But, I remember working in NYC for the first time, and struggling to figure out what the General Manager did on a commercial contract.

525

Job Postings / Re: Stage Manager-Lecturer at UNCC (Charlotte, NC)

« on: Mar 21, 2013, 12:40 am »

[Small rant]

Five references with mailing addresses?
Three custom letters of reference for this job?

That seems a lot for first round of applications.  And, given the nomadic nature of our profession - I am lucky I have email addresses for the people I work with.  And, I think I would want to get through the first round of interviews - where I could learn more about the job, pay grade, extra duties, etc, etc, before I went to three colleagues and asked them to write a letter of reference specifically for the job.

[End of Rant]

Sadly, there is no version of my life in the next ninth months that would make me available to start 8/15.  But, I would love to apply.  I really would love to apply.