Messages

61

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Blocking Charts?

« on: Aug 24, 2006, 10:56 pm »

I agree, which is why I have found a solution that works for me.  I use two scripts, one for blocking notation and one for calling the show.  I then have a "Script Notes Page" that I print on the back of every page in my blocking script that has sections for blocking notes, costume notes, light and sound notes, etc. with a diagram of the stage and that sort of thing.  I do my blocking by numbers.  For example, wherever the blocking takes place on the script, I will assign a number beggining with 1.  Then on my Script Notes Page, I will write 1. and list the blocking notes.  This way, if something is moved or changed then all I have to do is fix the number on my script and it stays neat.  I also use odd numbers to assign blocking notes, so that I have at least one number in between in case something else is added.  I've found that this works best for me.

62

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What DO we Do?

« on: Aug 20, 2006, 07:09 pm »

In my opinion, defining the position of a Stage Manager is one of the most difficult things to do, because there are so many different approaches and ideas as to what people think a SM is.  As Mac said, Stage Managing in high school is a completely different world than the University level and Professional level.  I know it's hard when people come in and step on your toes and try to take over some of your responsibilities.  I know that I am very picky about that, and prefer to do everything on my own.  However, this will give you a good opportunity to work with someone and get used to other people working with you, like an ASM.  If you stay positive and look at it as something that could help you in the long run, then hopefully it will all work out.

63

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Managing the World

« on: Aug 20, 2006, 07:04 pm »

I don't find myself calling cues so much at traffic lights, but I do find myself doing other things.  For example, I keep time on everything.I find myself saying "5 minutes" or "10 minutes" before a movie starts, or if I'm waiting for something.  I am always calling time and 'taking attendance' and doing other little SM things.  It's actually quite funny to sit back and think about how much Stage Managing I do just in everyday life!

64

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Resume References

« on: Aug 17, 2006, 05:41 pm »

I condensed my resume as much as possible so that I could include my references and everything else on one page.  There is another thread in here somewhere about the whole 1 versus 2 page resume, so you can check that out to get more opinions.  I personally like to keep mine to one page.  Also, remember that you don't have to list every single show you've done on your resume.  List the ones that you feel are most important, or the jobs where you worked with the most prestigious directors, companies, etc.  This could help you save space and get all your references and other information on one page.

You mentioned that you are putting a resume together for college.  Since I'm assuming that you are in high school, I don't know how much work you have done outside of your school.  I would list anyone that you've worked under, directors you've stage managed for, even your theatre teacher perhaps.  You may not have worked under another stage manager yet, so you have to use all the references that you can.  Keep the references on your resume to a minimum, maybe 2-3, and then if you have others you can put a note saying Other References Upon Request.  I have three references on my resume, and then at the bottom mine says Other References and Prompt Book Samples available upon request.  It's up to you whether or not you want to do this.

As Mac mentioned, make sure that you ask your references before you even think about putting them down on your resume. 

Best of Luck!

65

College and Graduate Studies / Re: College advice

« on: Aug 13, 2006, 11:11 am »

It's always hard to pick a school...especially when you're going into Theatre.  You can choose to go to a Liberal Arts School or a Conservatory, and there are a variety of options that you can take.  I also chose the Liberal Arts route.  I did this because I didn't want to go to a conservatory and miss out on all the other aspects of college life.  I'm also a double major in Theatre and Spanish, so I am able to enjoy Theatre and also major in something else that I am interested in and can fall back on.

 Another aspect of looking at schools is looking at what surrounds the school.  For example, the school I chose does not have an amazing theatre program.  However, there are over a dozen theatre companies in this town, all of them well known and wonderful to work for.  I have Stage Managed shows at my school, and am now Stage Managing the season for a company downtown.  If you feel like you may want to branch out and explore other companies and meet even more people, then look at what the city has to offer, not just the school.  If you decide that you want to go to a conservatory or a topnotch theatre school, be prepared to dedicate a lot of time to that. 

A lot of it also has to do with whether you want a BA in Theatre, or a BFA in Theatre/Stage Management.  I also chose the BA because I wanted to explore all aspects of theatre, from acting to scenic, costume and lighting design, etc.  I personally felt that it would make me a better Stage Manager if I knew more about all aspects of theatre, not just Stage Management.  The choice is yours.  Talk to students at different schools and ask them specific questions about the program and outside of the program.  Best of Luck in whatever choice you make!

66

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: resumes

« on: Jul 29, 2006, 01:29 am »

My resume is a Word Document, but it is also saved as a PDF so that I can send it via email.  This is so that the margins don't come up differently for the other person, and also because PDF is a more standard way to send a resume.  You start a resume with your name, address, phone number, email, and basic contact information of course.  Then it is important to list experience.  You can separate it by professional and academic work if you choose.  How you do this depends on the person.  I have mine done in chronological order, with the latest show being first on my list.  This is pretty standard. Some people don't like to have the year of the show on their resumes because it shows how much or how little they have done in one year.  It's a personal choice; mine has years.  For each show you need to put the name of the show, your title/position, the location, and the theatre company.  Most also have the Director listed as well.  Other things to put in a resume would include (but are not limited to) Education, Work Experience, Specific Skills that you have that contribute to your success as a stage manager, and References.  People have mixed feelings about keeping your resume at no more than a page, although some see 2 pages as not being a problem.  It all depends on how you want to do it.  Personalize it and make it your own, but don't go over the top with 20 different fonts and crazy stuff.  Keep it simple, yet precise.    I personally believe that all of these elements are key to a good resume.  How you format it is completely up to you, as long as it is readable and professional.  Don't include useless information.  I'm in the middle of auditions for my next show right now, and it's amazing what some people will put on their resumes that have absolutely nothing to do with theatre, or anything else really for that matter.  Don't make it look like you are trying to just fill up space.  You can go to a search engine and type in Stage Manager Resumes, and some will pop up from the websites of professional SM's.  Just take a look at how a variety of people format theirs, and then come up with your own following the same basic guidelines.

67

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: prompt books

« on: Jul 25, 2006, 10:58 pm »

I'm very weird about my prompt books.  I have separate binders/tabs for every show that I've done....and keep them all together. I don't reuse anything, because I like for everything to be intact.  However, I am at a point in my life where I am about to jump into either Grad School or the professional world, so I keep all of my stuff neat and readily available for interviews and that sort of thing.  Obviously, when I start working in the professional world I will have to hand over my books at the end of the run, but for now, I keep them all safe and ready for anything!

68

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Newbie at ASMing - would love some advice

« on: Jul 25, 2006, 10:50 pm »

I think the most important part about being an ASM is being ready to do what the SM can't.  Be attentive.  Ask questions.  Talk to your SM and see what they want from you, what their expectations are, etc.  You could even talk to them and do a Checklist sort of thing, where they write down what they expect from you during rehearsals, during tech week, and during the run of the show.  You are there to do as your title suggests, which is to assist the Stage Manager.  Different Stage Manager's have different expectations for their ASM.  I like to tell my ASM's up front what I expect from them. Your most important job will be taking care of things that they may not be able to do/have time to do.  There are many different perspectives on an ASM.  That's why the best bet would be to talk to the Stage Manager and see what they want.  Make sure that you know the show as well as the SM, and make sure that you have all the proper diagrams/run sheets/ props lists/etc.  Make it a point to keep yourself up to date on everything that is going on, so that there are no problems/concerns on your part when you are asked to do something.  You may be asked to run props during the show, or just be a stage hand.  Just talk to the SM and see what they want/expect, and you should be perfectly fine.  This way too there is no confusion about what your job responsibilites are and what is expected of you.  You cover yourself while also getting the job done.

69

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Extra Info In Script

« on: Jul 25, 2006, 10:44 pm »

It all depends on your style.  I use a special page for every page of my blocking script.  The actual page of the script is on the right side of the page while this sheet is on the left, if that makes sense.  This special page, which I call my Script Notes Sheet, has special places for blocking, costume notes, props notes, scenic notes, etc.  I have never had to transfer a script over into Microsoft Word, but if I did, then I would go ahead and write some of this information into the script notes sheet. For this specific example, I would split it up.  For example,  I would put the costume notes on the Script Notes Sheet, and then put the blocking directions and character information (the talking rapidly) in the actual script. This way you can know what's going on/what's supposed to happen during a rehearsal, and it will be right in the script.  Then, when you have Production Meetings or your director mentions costume notes, you have all of the costume notes for that page on the opposite side, yet it isn't taking up space in your actual blocking script.  If you prefer to not use something similar to a Script Notes Sheet, I would at least make a running list of costume notes/scenic notes/etc. found in the script.  As I said before, it's all a matter of choice and how you want to do things.  Best of Luck!

70

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Giving line notes - a real novice question

« on: Jul 07, 2006, 03:20 am »

I usually do individual photocopied "Line Notes" sheets for each actor... or if I am pushed for time and/or don't have those available at that particular moment in time, I use index cards. I have new ones for every rehearsal (with the date and name of each actor on them), and have a place to write down the page number, Act/Scene, and the line (or beginning of the line if it's long). Line notes are touchy subjects for actors; however, they have to know what they need to work on in order to improve the show.  If I've worked with an actor before and I know how they 'work', then sometimes I may bring it up in informal conversation and mention that they should go work on their lines or certain pages of the script.  This way they don't take it so hard, but do understand that they need to work on the show more.  Overall, I like doing individual line note sheets and/or index cards.  I've noticed that some of the actors I've worked with are more apt to read the notes and then stick them in a safe place in their script if they are given on something small like an index card.  I think it's a really a personal choice how you handle line notes, but I've found this to be the most effective.

71

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Just got a new book.

« on: Jul 01, 2006, 08:02 pm »

I also have the Backstage Guide to Stage Management, among a few others.  I really enjoy reading all different types of books on Stage Management to get a variety of opinions.  I have really made my own style based on personal experience mixed with the style of others from books and mentors.

72

Students and Novice Stage Managers / The Ultimate Decision

« on: Jul 01, 2006, 07:57 pm »

After looking through the forums lately, it's so interesting to see how many people (with all different types of backgrounds and environments) are interested in Theatre, especially Stage Management.

I'd just like to know how everyone made the ultimate decision to become a stage manager.  Was it by choice, or did it just fall into your lap? I'd especially like to know how the student/novice stage managers got into Stage Managing, but I'd love to hear everyone's experiences. 

I'll tell you my personal experience to get things started.  My high school was brand new my freshman year, and I had played softball all my life and thought I was just going to continue that.  I then saw an audition poster for Sleeping Beauty, the first show that my school was putting on.  I decided to audition, and didn't get in.  However, I was in a drama class and my teacher came up to me and asked me had I ever stage managed.  I didn't even know what a stage manager was, so obviously I hadn't.  I agreed to Stage Mange that show and fell in love with it, and stage managed every show at my high school all four years that I attended.  Now here I am 7 years later, and have gone on to bigger and better things without stopping!  It definitely fell into my lap, and I just realized that it was fate and it was what I was put on this Earth to do.  I guess when you know what you want to do, you just feel it and it all falls into place!

73

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Working with nudity

« on: Jun 27, 2006, 12:51 am »

Interesting.  Although I'm not exactly sure what to do in this situation, I would say to do whatever possible to make the actor comfortable.  Talk with them and see if they would like a robe or anything else. I think it would make sense to have something for them to put on as soon as the exit the stage.  If they accepted the role, obviously they are somewhat comfortable with being nude on stage... so there may not be much of anything that you need to do.  May I ask what show it is?

74

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Outdoor Theatre Advice / Much Ado About Nothing- In the Park

« on: Jun 26, 2006, 01:28 am »

I do something similar called Shakespeare on the Green every year... we actually just closed the show, Loves Labours Lost, tonight after a month long run. 

My advice would of course be good sunscreen and sunglasses!  Also, make sure that you have plenty of water because it gets hot.   We had one of those nifty water cooler systems in the dressing rooms too (like you see in doctors offices..that sort of thing) so that the actors could stay cool.

I'm not sure how you do things there, but here we had to pack everything up at the end of every show and then set everything back up the next day for the next performance.  If you have to do this, then make sure that you do what we call an Idiot Check, where you walk the whole park and make sure that everything is picked up and locked.  We had a $700 dimmer stolen this year because it was somehow left out overnight.

 Also, make sure that cords/cables are secured and the audiences are aware of things that they could trip over.  On top of that, make sure that the audience knows which parts are off limits.  We have many problems with people walking backstage at our show, even though we had signs posted and the backstage area was roped off.  It could be dangerous to the actors and to the audience as well if they were to fall or trip over something.

Make sure that you know the plan of action for weather.  Have some sort of signal so that everyone knows if you need to go to rain speed or stop the show.  Make sure your crew also knows the procedures as far as what needs to be striked first if it does start to rain.  Also make sure that you are familiar with the space and where everything is just in case there are any emergencies.

Finally, make sure that the stage is checked, and then swept/cleaned off.  With it being outside, the set is more prone to damage that could be dangerous to the actors.  Pinecombs, pinestraw, and other things could have also fallen on the stage, and you just need to make sure that it is clean and presentable.

Outdoor Shakespeare is really fun. I've done it for the past few years. It is definitely an experience and it can get really hot and uncomfortable, but it's worth it!

Best of Luck =)

75

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Thank you guys for all your help this year!

« on: Jun 23, 2006, 11:02 pm »

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

That is a huge accomplishment, so be proud.

It's amazing how informative and helpful this website can be and how much it can help other Stage Managers.  You are definitely living proof of how important our contributions are in the theatre, so many kudos to you.