Messages

511

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Conversations with actors

« on: Jul 24, 2009, 05:22 pm »

I've had a couple instances where an actor's told me in advance "I don't mean to be rude, and I'm listening to everything you're saying, but if I'm not responding it's because I'm getting into the show/character." And during a run I learned who needed space like that and who didn't. But I was lucky enough that the actors who wanted that time told me themselves, ahead of time, and politely!

512

The Green Room / Re: Best reason from an actor for being late

« on: Jul 10, 2009, 12:09 am »

Not mine, but a friend had an actor call in late because his girlfriend wasn't supposed to know he was in a show, and he was having a hard time sneaking out to rehearsals.

He was 28.

He was gone soon after that.

513

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Just graduated and need advice terribly

« on: Jul 02, 2009, 08:20 pm »

I had I think 1 SM credit when I graduated from college. I got my degrees in lit crit/theory and directing, but I had discovered I really liked SMing and was pretty good at it. I decided to just GET IN A THEATER. I got my first post-grad job as the box office manager at a summer stock theater. I let the producer and artistic director know, casually, that I was REALLY interested in SMing and if anything came up, I'd love to help out there too. End of the summer, the resident SM had to leave, and they pulled me in to do it! It's all gone great from there. So my advice is just get in the back door, so to speak, and don't be afraid to say that you're really interested in pursuing something else.

514

Employment / Re: Lowering your expectations

« on: Jun 29, 2009, 12:41 am »

Funny, I just dealt with a situation like this. I was asked to SM a showcase that was being produced/directed by...a group of bankers. They all enjoyed theater and wanted to work with a certain playwright on developing a new show.

I have to say, it was pretty valuable for me because it was a lot of problem solving. Because I was working with a lot of people who really enjoyed theater and wanted to learn more, but didn't know a whole lot, I had to step up and really use a lot of things I had learned on other shows, as opposed to having someone else who could take care of it for me. I also had the pleasure of training an ASM- a bank employee who was 15 yrs my senior! He had a great sense of humor, and I realized how much I knew because I was teaching him.

I really just took it like a test...I became aware of how much I knew (confidence!) and really became a refresher as I went back and thought about basic things that had become second nature. I had to slow down and really think about them because I was teaching them to someone else.

515

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Making coffee (and other novice assignments)

« on: Jun 25, 2009, 05:44 pm »

Ok, perhaps the BEST thing I got to do, because everyone else thought it was terrible-

I was asked to make a 3hr drive to the airport and train station to pick up THE TEMPTATIONS! They were coming on separate trips, and I shuttled them around all day, getting them dinner, checking into the hotel, helping coordinate the band, etc. Not really in my job description as SM Intern, but really, a 3 hr road trip with The Temptations, singing and telling jokes? Rockin.

516

Employment / Re: Freelancing - How far out do you commit?

« on: Jun 24, 2009, 10:08 am »

I'm used to committing to a show about 1-2months in advance, unless it's a long-term contract (summer stock or fall stock, for example). The shows that I've committed to further out than that were pretty high-paying/high-profile gigs where I probably wasn't going to find anything better down the road.

517

Employment / Re: Crossroads in Life - where to live?

« on: Jun 23, 2009, 07:55 pm »

Houston and San Diego are both big places to "test" shows before they move to New York. Lots of quality work being done there, and not as big as The Big Ones.

518

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Director Dilemma

« on: Jun 23, 2009, 10:00 am »

I agree with what other people have said, but I'd also make sure to get the assistant in the room. I've found that sometimes that assistant director and the SM can have a little overlap (I've held both jobs).

519

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: paycheck = percentage of the house?

« on: Jun 18, 2009, 02:45 pm »

It's still a negotiation thing right now...I'd get a steady paycheck during rehearsals, and then % of the sales. Like I said, still figuring it out. I'm not sure what the contract is yet.

520

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PAY: paycheck = percentage of the house?

« on: Jun 18, 2009, 01:06 pm »

Has anyone else worked with that sort of pay situation? Where your paycheck is a percentage of ticket sales and therefore not a set thing week to week.

This makes me a little nervous, but the company is legitimate, AEA contract, etc. I don't know what the percentage is yet, as we're still negotiating. Any thoughts on this, please let me know!

521

Tools of the Trade / Re: Twitter.

« on: Jun 11, 2009, 12:48 pm »

Not sure if any of you saw this, but Next to Normal just did a version of their show on Twitter...

http://twitter.com/n2nbroadway

The show elapsed in real time over a few weeks. I followed it and honestly wasn't totally impressed. But I thought it was an interesting use of twitter for theatrical advertising. There's also a show (Waterwell's #9) with live tweets from cast, crew, etc that are projected onstage as a live feed. I haven't seen the show so I can't tell you exactly how it's used, but what do you all think?

522

Employment / Re: your first paid SM job

« on: Jun 08, 2009, 04:49 pm »

I was box office manager at the New London Barn Playhouse (summer stock). During the last show of the summer, their SM had to leave. The artistic director came and found me and said "So, I heard you've been a stage manager..." and that was that! It was Amadeus. I definitely had a lot to learn, but I had a very tolerant director who helped me a lot and really taught me how to be more professional. SMing student productions in college was fine, but this was how I learned how it worked in the real world.

523

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: "We have a 45 minute hold for the Obamas."

« on: Jun 05, 2009, 11:07 am »

We had a storm and the power blew! Waited for the generator to kick in, but it was a very scary 15 mins.

We also had the A/C break in the middle of Act I during a Sunday matinee in July. We called the repairman (had to explain why it had to be fixed immediately on a Sunday) and held intermission an extra 10.

524

The Green Room / Re: How do you keep in shape?

« on: Jun 03, 2009, 07:18 pm »

I have to second the WiiFit...I have one and absolutely love it. In the morning, late, even 15 mins to spare....keeps me fit.

I also make the effort to walk to work as much as I can. I have to take the subway, but I get out early and will walk about 3/4 mile to the theater. I do it again at night (when I'm not too tired) and it makes all the difference.

525

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Who writes your rehearsal schedules?

« on: May 31, 2009, 12:07 pm »

Definitely a collaboration between the director and the SM. Sometimes it's more them than me, but I'll also take note of things that need to get worked, put them into a schedule, and run it by the director. Mostly it's checking availability (space and actors), making sure other things that need to happen that day get done (costume fittings, publicity photos), and having an efficient use of time within Equity standards.