Messages

61

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Writing down Choregraphy??

« on: Feb 23, 2009, 12:45 pm »

I am not a dancer so I've never written down choreography notes.  Although there are some SMs on SMNet who do have dancing knowledge and skills and have been known to write it down, simply because they can.

Usually, in my experience, there has been a dance captain appointed within the cast to keep the cast on track in the event that the choreographer isn't there (such as performances).  What I would recommend is to pay attention to the dancing, for spacing, set issues, lighting notes, costume notes, etc.  Also, it would be beneficial to still write down groups (if dancing is done in groups) and exits, entrances and where the actors end up at the beginning and end of the dance, that way blocking can be picked up from those points.

It's certainly not a requirement, to my knowledge, but necessary to pay attention if you can.

62

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Acting Class?

« on: Feb 19, 2009, 07:41 pm »

Absolutely! I think it's good experience to gain knowledge about acting and performance, in that respect.  It gives you more of an understanding as a stage manager.

I say go for it!

63

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Compilation of grad schools

« on: Feb 18, 2009, 02:40 am »

Hello!

Just an update.  I tried applying to Boston University, during my application process.  Whatever program they used to have for stage management no longer exists but a certification program for it will be in place by around 2010-11, I was told.  So we might want to update the list, as I got my grad school info. from here.

Also, and this may be older info. as well, but Wayne State seems to be a program dedicated to Stage Management, so why is it listed as a specialization? What is the criteria there?

64

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: School interviews

« on: Feb 18, 2009, 02:29 am »

An update to my original situation:

I contacted Yale regarding my financial situation (currently) to simply visit the school. (There is a difference between being able to afford going to school through loans, etc and paying up front for transit/board costs).

The response I got was immediate and kind.  After hearing from the assistant in the department, Mary Hunter (the head of the department), called me, left me a voice mail (as I was at another college visit and couldn't take her call) and then sent a follow up email.  The option that was offered was to keep my appointment date and time, and to conduct it over the phone.  In the event I am chosen as a final candidate, they did request a visit at that time.

I think this is a good compromise. 

65

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: School interviews

« on: Feb 13, 2009, 08:38 pm »

In my experience, if you are being called in for an interview, you are a serious candidate.  These schools simply don't waste their time. 

I did my Yale interview by phone, btw, and was accepted . . . so, maybe you can do that - and save the visit to make your final decision?

If this is an option during this time, I certainly hope this is the case. I will try this.

Thank you.
Amie

66

Students and Novice Stage Managers / School interviews

« on: Feb 13, 2009, 05:11 pm »

I need advice, guys; assistance from those who have attended school already or been through this process.

I have applied for graduate schools and am now in the process of being invited for interviews and campus visits.  Already, I have gone to 2 campus visits/interviews and will have a 3rd one this Tuesday.  There is one school (Yale School of Drama in Connecticut, actually) I simply cannot afford to visit, based on location and where my finances are right now.  I would rather save my money for the other out of state college visit I am planning (such as Rutgers in New Jersey. I've already interviewed, but haven't had a campus visit).

Here's the deal:  depending on how I plan to get to Yale for the interview (plane, train, drive...I don't know), the cost to stay overnight is at least $130 in a hotel. I simply don't know how I can pay for this and my other college visits (especially since Yale is actually not my number 1 school choice).

Is Yale the type of school that interviews all applicants or just ones they invite?  What would you do in this situation?  I've addressed this in a short term to the representative who has emailed me, but there isn't much they can do.

Just need some input, as no one else I know has been put in such a situation.

-Amie

67

Tools of the Trade / Re: THE Sharpie topic

« on: Feb 13, 2009, 10:54 am »

TomorrowToday, why do you always keep gold and silver on hand?

68

Tools of the Trade / Re: THE Sharpie topic

« on: Feb 12, 2009, 11:24 pm »

  I NEVER KNEW those tidbits! Ha!

I love Sharpies.  I covet them too, as best I can...they tend to walk away during tech week...hmmmmm.

A good friend of mine has a sharpie collection of no less than 50 colors....it kinda makes me drool a bit.

69

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: The Chatty SM

« on: Feb 12, 2009, 07:08 pm »

RE: blocking and lines notes.

In my experience, I've always had my ASMs take the bulk of the blocking and perhaps, as SM, I'd do line notes. Or have the ASMs do both (though NOT at the same time).   There's no hard and fast rule that says ASMs or PSMs or SMs do it or don't. I think it varies on production and management arrangement.

Good luck to you!

70

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: The Chatty SM

« on: Feb 12, 2009, 12:03 pm »

This is by far so frustrating.

My first approach would be to go to an advisor.  Being academic, I assume there is an advisor/supervisor and this is being graded to a certain extent.  My approach would be, "This is the situation with the other students SMs/Director, etc...how do you suggest I approach this?"  similar to what you are doing here. I've been in this situation, with a designer in an academic setting. A designer who was a friend of mine, and rather go the "friend route," I chose to address it in a more distant but professional way, as best I could. (What differs here is that the designer and I were both non-students, hired in professionally. So, even these sort of situations happen to those who should know better).

How approachable are these other managers?  Can you address them?  Is this affecting the cast?  If remarks are made about the need for "you to be on book," etc., there might need to address that their lack of focus should both not be blamed on you, as we all have jobs to do and need to focus on rehearsals, etc.

This is so frustrating.  I know, it's easier said than done to approach this. Unfortunately, not all stage managers practice the same way, and some appear more responsible than others.

I would say your best bet is to address it to them if not to go to an advisor for assistance, as this is a tricky situation....

Let us know how it turns out, please.

71

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Stage Management Colleges

« on: Feb 07, 2009, 04:53 pm »

That's interesting. When I applied to (and was accepted by) Rutgers they did not require it. I started in '06. I guess their requirements have changed since then.

It's possible the school itself requires it, but not the program.

72

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Stage Management Colleges

« on: Feb 07, 2009, 02:57 pm »

Just to update people on the status of my question about Stage Management (MFA) and GRE (Graduate Record Exam test), every school but 1 I applied to required it:

The schools are:

Montclair University
Rutgers
Yale
University of Illinois - Urbana


I don't know how heavily the decision weighs on acceptance into the graduate stage management program, but just throwing that out there that more schools require it, it seems, than do not.

-Amie

73

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: MFA program at UC Irvine

« on: Feb 06, 2009, 03:20 pm »

The interviews I've set up to have with my grad schools (thus far) build talking to current students into their itineraries. So, it's become more emphasized, I would say.  I would imagine you can get the most information from people who have been in our shoes. That's the hope. 

Good luck to you!  I'm right there with you on applying and all that good stuff.

74

The Hardline / Re: Theatres That Have Closed--Can You Say "Emergency?"

« on: Feb 05, 2009, 10:31 pm »

RE: North Shores

Found this on Youtube on my subscriptions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfXahmx3aPM

75

Employment / Re: Facebook through an Employer's eyes?

« on: Feb 03, 2009, 04:59 pm »

Upper right hand corner. Under settings.

You've given me as much info. as I already know!
I think I will figure it out further. The Old Version of Facebook, I think it was a bit easier.

It's okay, though.  As of right now, I don't have anything to limit or hide.