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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Do you have a preferred type of show?
« on: Dec 05, 2007, 12:34 pm »
Love SMing Opera, Musicals, and Dance best, but after several in a row, I long for a nice, easy, straight play.
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14 Jan 2021: Happy 21st birthday, SMNetwork! I replaced the old broken mobile theme. -K
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62
College and Graduate Studies / Re: colleges?
« on: Nov 28, 2007, 12:30 pm »
BWEEVED mentioned Illinois State and being the ever good ISU alum, I have to say that it really is a great school. The Stage Management chairperson is very knowledgeable in her field and she is also very good at bringing outside perspectives into the classroom. There is an intro and an advanced Stage Management class. The intro class covers the basic how to's of stage management, while the advanced class goes into more theory of what makes a good manager, as well as units on stage managing dance, opera, and musical theatre. If you are ambitious, you can start ASMing begining your very first semester there and could have a mainstage SM assignment by your sophmore year. The class numbers in stage management are small, and the school of theatre produces six mainstage shows, 2 mainstage dance concerts, 4 second stage shows, and numerous blackbox shows per year so there is never not an oppertunity to be stage managing. You also have more than ample oppertunity to spread your wings and take classes in every aspect of theatre, and many classes outside the school as well.
Now that I've done my bit of alumni advertising, even if you don't choose the glories of Illinois State University, I would highly recommend not going for a conservatory environment. Find a liberal education program where you can learn as much as you can about everything (theatre and otherwise).
Now that I've done my bit of alumni advertising, even if you don't choose the glories of Illinois State University, I would highly recommend not going for a conservatory environment. Find a liberal education program where you can learn as much as you can about everything (theatre and otherwise).
63
Tools of the Trade / Spike Tape on Marley Floors
« on: Aug 03, 2007, 11:34 am »
At the Theatre I am currently working at, all the rehearsal rooms have Black Marley Floors. We are finding that after we pull up a taped out set that the tape is leaving a mark on the floor, almost as if it is pulling color out of the Marley. We have tried both cloth spike tape and electrical tape and are still getting the same results. Anyone have any suggestions?
-Josh
-Josh
64
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: thoughts on hanging out with the cast after shows
« on: Jul 26, 2007, 12:39 pm »
Here's my thoughts.... The people I like to socialize with outside of work are theatre people. The four people I currently live with are all staff members at the same theatre I work at. If I don't socialize with my cast, crew, and co-workers, then frankly I would never socialize with anyone it seems.
I see nothing wrong with socializing with my cast. Frankly I've even gotten pretty drunk with them before. I know to keep my mouth shut about any sensitive information that they shouldn't know when I'm out with them, so I think it's fine. I personally think it creates a stronger bond between us and they are more likely to cooperate with me in rehearsal.
I see nothing wrong with socializing with my cast. Frankly I've even gotten pretty drunk with them before. I know to keep my mouth shut about any sensitive information that they shouldn't know when I'm out with them, so I think it's fine. I personally think it creates a stronger bond between us and they are more likely to cooperate with me in rehearsal.
65
Employment / Re: Resume paper
« on: May 23, 2007, 07:56 pm »
I personally use colored paper or resume paper when I'm sending things out. This is mainly because I have a whole bunch of it in stock.
As long as there aren't any crazy graphics, and I can still read the resume, then I don't really care what it is on.
As long as there aren't any crazy graphics, and I can still read the resume, then I don't really care what it is on.
66
College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM Colleges
« on: May 16, 2007, 07:29 pm »
I just graduated from Illinois State in the Design / Production Sequence. I loved my time there. The program was small enough that I never had to fight to get an SM or ASM position. The head of the stage management area is very knowledgable and talented (and a hell of a lot of fun). I was able to get alot of varied experiences stage managing straight theatre, musicals, opera, and dance, and a very well rounded education in general.
67
College and Graduate Studies / Re: Stage Management Colleges
« on: Apr 23, 2007, 12:49 am »
If you're looking for a Conservatory environment I would definatly reccomend Webster. I have a couple friends going there and they love it. If you want a more well rounded education but still a good stage management area, think about Illinois State University. I guess I'm biased since I'm graduating from there this May, but I really do think it's a great program. The head of the Stage Management area is really brilliant. The program is not too huge and you will get to ASM or SM a program every semester and can also broaden your horizens and get experience designing and directing. Also, the proscenium space is only about 4 years old and is very state of the art.
68
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Noises Off
« on: Mar 30, 2007, 11:28 am »
I SM'd Noises this past summer. If your rehearsal hall is large enough, then you can just tape out one set giving yourself plenty of room in front and in back. Then have the director (and yourself and your team) flop which side they sit on for act 1 and act 2. Act three takes place on the act 1 set, and the audience never really sees the backstage part. I hope that works for you. It's by far the easiest way to do rehearsals. that way you don't have to tape out multiple sets. Good luck with Noises. It's a beast of a show, but alot of fun.
69
The Hardline / Re: "You're the One that I want" reality show
« on: Jan 14, 2007, 12:56 am »
While I don't really support the idea of this show in general, I now have to watch it since a good friend of mine who was in my production of Die Fledermaus that I SM'd last spring made it through the Chicago auditions and is going on to the "Academy." Go Suzanne!!!
70
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Maintaining
« on: Dec 21, 2006, 02:28 am »
In my opinion, alot of it has to do with the director that staged the show. Some of them are very rigid and want to come back and see the same show opening night as they will see 9 months later. Other directors (the better ones in my opinion) want the show to grow and get better and will trust you to keep the show moving in a better direction as opposed to just becoming sloppy.
As for giving notes, I think it is important early on to establish a good relationship with the actors. Give them positive notes whenever possible (don't lie though). Hopefully they will become more willing to listen to your corrections if they remember that you gave them positive notes in the past. As for how to give the notes, myself, if it's something simple like a dropped line or something then I usually will just leave notes on the callboard, however if it's something more complex, I'll usually just talk to the actor individually.
As for giving notes, I think it is important early on to establish a good relationship with the actors. Give them positive notes whenever possible (don't lie though). Hopefully they will become more willing to listen to your corrections if they remember that you gave them positive notes in the past. As for how to give the notes, myself, if it's something simple like a dropped line or something then I usually will just leave notes on the callboard, however if it's something more complex, I'll usually just talk to the actor individually.
71
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SMing the Musical Rehearsals
« on: Sep 15, 2006, 12:56 am »
There's generally not much else to do during a music rehearsal except make sure they start and end on time and take proper breaks. I would have other stuff to work on during the rehearsal so you don't get too bored.
72
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Easy Question (Cut and Paste Prompt Scripts)
« on: Jun 14, 2006, 02:54 am »
I would definatly recopy (and keep recopying until perfect) all my scripts if I didn't have to do it out of my own pocket.
73
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Easy Question (Cut and Paste Prompt Scripts)
« on: Jun 13, 2006, 01:38 am »
Thanks everyone for your replies. Believe me I definatly wouldn't be using this method if I didn't feel it was the best way. The script pages were copied two per side of an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper and were canted oddly so that I couldn't easily cut out one side without destroying the other. So in interest of trying to save a few trees I choose only to recopy one side of the script pages and cut and paste. In the end I probably didn't save that many trees, but I probably saved quite a bit of money at kinko's. Thanks Again especially to BalletPSM. I'll definatly be looking for that "Office Gluestick."
74
Employment / how long do you wait for a response?
« on: Jun 12, 2006, 04:33 pm »
Yes, sending out emails to let people know that they will not be hired is extremely time consuming, but I highly belive that if there is an intern or someone in the coorporation that can do it, then they should.
A website would be a great way to post this information, especially it this is also where you advertise job openings.
The most important point I want to make though is that if someone emails you to inquire if the positions are still open, it is only common curtesy to reply. I was put into a situation of this nature just recently when applying for summer reperatory positions. Theatre A called and offered me a position, but Theatre B was really where I wanted to go. I emailed the executive director of Theatre B to see if they had done their hiring for the positions I was applying to. Having not recieved a response and quickly approaching the deadline for a decision that Theatre A gave me, I called the executive director of Theatre B and his response was something along the lines of "I did recieve your email but I didn't respond because our positions had already been filled."
A website would be a great way to post this information, especially it this is also where you advertise job openings.
The most important point I want to make though is that if someone emails you to inquire if the positions are still open, it is only common curtesy to reply. I was put into a situation of this nature just recently when applying for summer reperatory positions. Theatre A called and offered me a position, but Theatre B was really where I wanted to go. I emailed the executive director of Theatre B to see if they had done their hiring for the positions I was applying to. Having not recieved a response and quickly approaching the deadline for a decision that Theatre A gave me, I called the executive director of Theatre B and his response was something along the lines of "I did recieve your email but I didn't respond because our positions had already been filled."
75
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROMPT BOOK: Easy Question (Cut and Paste Prompt Scripts)
« on: Jun 12, 2006, 04:06 pm »
Hi Everyone,
I was wondering if anyone still uses the old cut and paste method of putting together their prompt scripts? I personally don't like this method, but with the gigs I'm doing this summer I was given very poorly copied scripts and it ended up being the best method. The real question is if you use this method, what kind of glue do you use? I tried just an elmers glue stick, but my pages are just falling apart.
Thanks,
-Josh
I was wondering if anyone still uses the old cut and paste method of putting together their prompt scripts? I personally don't like this method, but with the gigs I'm doing this summer I was given very poorly copied scripts and it ended up being the best method. The real question is if you use this method, what kind of glue do you use? I tried just an elmers glue stick, but my pages are just falling apart.
Thanks,
-Josh