Messages

541

Tools of the Trade / Re: Converting PDF Files Back To Word or Excel

« on: Feb 25, 2010, 11:08 am »

Does anyone run a full version of Acrobat?  I'd be curious to see how or if it can convert .pdf files that have been digitally signed and encrypted.  I'll try to give it a shot next week when I am back in the office if nobody can try it sooner.

542

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Alcohol Backstage

« on: Feb 25, 2010, 11:02 am »

While I was at University all shows within the school of theatre (even over the summer) were for class credit of some type, whether it be performers, tech or SM.  Any sort of deviation from the drug/alcohol policy resulted in immediate removal from the production and an F grade for the class credit.

543

Tools of the Trade / Re: Bubble Machines

« on: Feb 24, 2010, 10:46 pm »

First suggestion would be to upgrade to a professional quality machine and fluid.  Something from a company like Le Maitre should do the trick.  Check out this Super Bubble Fluid.  Second suggestion would be to treat the stage with a product like Slip NoMor.

544

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROMPT BOOK: Organization?

« on: Feb 22, 2010, 01:35 pm »

The bottom line is, do what makes sense to you. There are no rules about where a script is or is not supposed to be. As long as you can do your job efficiently and well, who cares where it lies in the general scheme of things.

Bingo. 

Six of one versus a half dozen of the other.  Who cares where you have your script?  Do what you prefer.

545

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SHOW CAN'T GO ON: Tell your stories here

« on: Feb 21, 2010, 01:59 pm »

~10 meter seas.  Hard for dancers to stay upright in those conditions!

I postponed the show until the next night.  In its place we put on a variety show with a couple of big band numbers from the orchestra, a 15 minute set with a comedian and a few numbers with the singers from the cast and the orchestra.

546

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How to encourage actors to show up?

« on: Feb 17, 2010, 05:16 pm »

Personally I don't think yelling ever solves anything.  You can be firm and lay down the law without yelling.  People generally are a lot more receptive when you're speaking calmly (but firmly) than they are when you're yelling.  Just my two cents.

547

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Tannoy etiquette?

« on: Feb 16, 2010, 12:14 pm »

Tannoy is a manufacturer of Audio Equipment.  I would assume Anne means Public Address/Paging.

548

The Green Room / Re: Healthy eating as a SM

« on: Feb 15, 2010, 05:28 pm »

On the soda front, most restaurants or venues (movie theaters, etc) that have a soda fountain are able to provide soda water, aka seltzer.  Usually on of the soda flavors has a small trigger like button next to it that reads soda.  Voila.

Places like movie theaters will probably make you pay the regular price for a drink even if it is Soda Water.  Restaurants or Bars, i have found, tend not to charge for them

And with a wedge of lime or lemon it's quite refreshing!

549

Tools of the Trade / Re: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones

« on: Feb 13, 2010, 05:19 pm »

Topic Guide

Okay folks - happy to have this discussion but let's try to steer this in a productive direction.  

If you like a phone tell us why, let's hear specifics geared towards Stage Management.  If you don't like a phone, again tell us why.  

Happy posting!

550

The Green Room / Re: Healthy eating as a SM

« on: Feb 10, 2010, 08:43 am »

I recently cut out all soda (unless it's with some whiskey)

I did this about six months ago.  One thing I found that helped me was drinking flavored sparkling water in place of soda.  It's actually quite refreshing and the flavored stuff gives you a bit of sweetness.  Best of all it's zero calories. 

Not sure how this would go with whiskey, I take mine straight with one ice cube   

551

Tools of the Trade / Re: Stage Management History

« on: Feb 02, 2010, 08:34 am »

See if you can find some old Stage Management texts, or more likely - older general theatre texts that touch on stage management.  I remember finding a few old SM books at a local bookstore while I was in school.  I bought them just for the sake of it (I think they were $2 total, so didn't really break the bank!).  Reading through them I was really able to see how SMs worked before my time and appreciate some of the modern history of the profession.  This could be a good place to start!

552

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Professionalism: Pre-show drink

« on: Jan 31, 2010, 02:12 pm »

For me it would depend on how long before the show.  Are we talking 60 minutes before the show or 6 hours?

When I worked on ships I'd often have a beer or two in port with lunch, but 6-7 hours before an 8pm curtain.  You just never know what can happen, always have to be on your toes.

553

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: What SMs Should/Should Not Say During Casting Process?

« on: Jan 30, 2010, 09:27 pm »

Stage Manager, not Stage Manager.

The bulk of our jobs as Stage Managers is bringing people together.  A monkey can call cues; it takes a gifted manager of people to execute the duties of a Stage Manager with grace, and covertly managing the group dynamic and understanding how peoples' minds work are essential responsibilities of a successful Stage Manager.

So in my opinion, yes part of behavior does fall on how a production is managed by the SM.

554

Tools of the Trade / Re: An iphone app specifically for SMs!

« on: Jan 29, 2010, 06:37 pm »

Great find, Missliz!

Anyone with an iphone want to volunteer to test this and report back for the good of the network?

555

Tools of the Trade / Re: iPad: What do you think?

« on: Jan 27, 2010, 08:20 pm »

They'll likely drop the price point two years or so down the road, but it won't be by much. 

As far as Stage Management goes I don't see many advantages of this.  It'll be a nice toy for the "sit at starbucks and be seen" type but for my money, not terribly practical for Stage Management.

It doesn't have a keyboard which will be a major disadvantage.  I suppose you could carry a keyboard with you, but that would get clunky fast.

Can you imagine typing your script or writing rehearsal reports without an actual keyboard?