Messages

61

The Hardline / Re: Equity "half-hour"

« on: Jul 16, 2007, 11:16 pm »

Half-Hour is the time that is designated for the actors to be able to prepare.  Typically it is thirty minutes prior to curtain but "half-hour" does not have to be thirty minutes.  The actors do not have to have access during half hour.  At most or the larger theatres where I have worked the house opens at or before half hour.

There are also no set calls that you have to give.  Most of the time I do half, fifteen, five and places.  In most theatres I call places at three till published curtain.  Fifteen and five are fifteen and five minutes till places and half hour is half hour.

62

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SMing a Shakespeare

« on: Jun 29, 2007, 03:16 pm »

See I always prefer the Folger editions... but that just may be because thats where I do most of my Shakespeare!

63

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SMing Musicals

« on: Jun 28, 2007, 10:48 pm »

if they're combined script and score, or just a re-formatted score? 

My understanding is they are just a binder version of the libretto.

64

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SMing Musicals

« on: Jun 28, 2007, 12:50 am »

ALWAYS!!  It gets a little frustrating doing new musicals with rewrites.

65

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Headset Etiquette

« on: Jun 27, 2007, 05:54 pm »

I had an ASM once repeat what SHE THOUGHT I said on headset without asking for clarification. 

Because it was a large theatre without wireless headsets (I mean come on!  What kind of 2500 seat house doesnt have wireless headsets!!) she was not on headset all of the time.  She picked hers up, MISheard the last half of a sentence and repeated it to the entire run crew.  It cause a lot of bad blood between the crew and myself and not matter how many times those of us that were on headset for the entire show tried to tell them what was actually said it seemed like I was backpeddling.

Now the entire statement was nothing I wouldnt have said to them but the damage was done.

66

Stage Management: Other / Re: Welcome packet

« on: Jun 23, 2007, 04:47 pm »

I would grab menus of all kinds of food places near.  Maybe list of doctors, laundry places, lots of touristy stuff...

67

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: calling cues

« on: Jun 18, 2007, 04:43 pm »

I dont use "Q" and I refer to fly cues as rail cues.

68

Stage Management: Other / Re: cold calling an opera

« on: Jun 14, 2007, 01:23 pm »

I have also answered a lot of those kinds of phone calls.

I LOVE IT!!  Its such a rush to call a show you have never seen much less seen the call book for.

69

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: May 31, 2007, 11:17 pm »

My backstage blacks are typically a pair of scrub pants (I have a great pair with two front and two back pockets as well as pockets on the sides of the legs) and either a black nurses smock or a black chefs jacket.

they have great pockets and I can just leave them at the theatre and put them on over my street clothes.  No more does the evening show dictate the outfit for the day.

Once I loose some weight I will probably start wearing my black flight suit again.

I only ASM once in a great while (nature of DC) but when I PSM I dress fairly nicely.  I like "dress to meet the audience."  During Jitney at Ford's Theatre I had to walk out onstage to a full house (550 or so) to cancel a performance.

70

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Interesting request for performance reports...

« on: May 07, 2007, 07:53 pm »

Generally I do the times of House Open, Show up, Show down and then note the timings of each act and intermission.

71

The Hardline / Re: 2007 AEA Council Election

« on: Apr 21, 2007, 12:25 am »

I am on the ballot and ask for your vote.

To second Ruth (and third myself I guess) we can do better with voter turn out.  This time as well as the last time I ran for council many of my friends who found out I was nominated said, "Well, I guess I will vote this year!"

Always vote!  Read the statements and make your decisions!  its even easier than voting in national elections, you don't have to go anywhere...  you can vote in your PJ's!!!

If you have any questions for me about my candidacy, please feel free to email me at jspeaker@hotmail.com

Jess W. Speaker, III

72

The Hardline / 2007 AEA Council Election

« on: Apr 19, 2007, 11:17 pm »

BE ACTIVE IN YOUR UNION

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION

2007 Council Election
 
VOTE!
To give your vote extra “punch” you can bullet vote.

What is bullet voting?    To bullet vote, only vote for one candidate in a category where several candidates can be selected.  Those votes will carry much more weight and increase the chance of that person being elected.

Who can I vote for?  You can vote for all of the categories on the ballot.  Members in the Eastern region can vote for candidates in the Central and Western regions and vice versa.

VOTE!

This is your chance to have a say in who represents you in Council.

Ballots must be received in New York by June 1st.

73

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Makeup - Dirt!

« on: Apr 18, 2007, 11:29 pm »

You can do a lot with basic stippling and sponging of cream makeup in shades of brown.  Otherwise, there are actually a few "dirt" products on the makeup market.  Try http://cinemasecrets.com/ for ideas.

This really is your best option.  I did a rock and roll Vietnam show a few years back that had plenty of "Mud and blood and water" and the brow cream is the best way to go.

74

The Hardline / Re: The Equity Hour at first Rehearsal

« on: Apr 09, 2007, 03:31 pm »

When is the ritual sacrifice of the virgins? 

When there is one, we usually sacrifice them right before first 10/12.  It tends to appease the tech Gods and they leave us alone.

75

Tools of the Trade / Re: Do you prefer Word or Excel?

« on: Apr 09, 2007, 03:28 pm »

It depends on the tast at hand.  I like using both but I know people who are hardcore one way or the other!

I use Word for reports, sign in sheet, most of my prep paperwork, daily schedules

I use Excell for Contact Sheets, Prop Lists, WWW, First Entrance, Run Sheets, rehearsal schedule, rehearsal calender