Messages

61

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Aging in stage management (those late 20's)

« on: May 29, 2009, 10:54 pm »

Personally I think the hard part remains knowing - very clearly - what you want the next step to be. If you are very clear about it, you are far more likely to achieve it, no matter what the economy is doing.

62

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Care and Feeding of your Crew

« on: May 27, 2009, 09:06 am »

bump out beer?

63

SMNetwork Archives / Welcome to SM Network!

« on: May 25, 2009, 11:36 am »

Hello and Welcome!

Whether you have just discovered the Network for the first time or whether you are a long time lurker (a status confessed to by many first time posters on this board!) please consider introducing yourself here

If it seems scary, take a deep breath and do it anyway. Now. Today. Why not?

We are, in general, a friendly bunch of people. (After all how many stage managers are NOT 'people people'?) We love to know even a little something about you. We love to help solve your problems, to listen to your woes and to celebrate your successes with you. But we can't do any of those things if you are just a name on the members list or an unidentified 'Guest'.

If you are a regular visitor to these Boards without posting at all I imagine you must be finding the site helpful or rewarding in some way. Maybe you have found information you needed? Or you enjoy the posts of certain members? Or perhaps you just feel better when you feel connected to others whose experiences mirror your own? I did, and felt, all those things long before I pressed "post" on my own introduction.

But I can also tell you from my own experience that if you give SM Network the chance to know you, your voice will be welcomed and the Network will be strengthened, and I will be very surprised if you don't get even more out of your membership.

Don't know what to write?

Tell us about your experiences, or about the experiences you'd like to have, as a stage manager. Tell us where you are from and where you are going. Tell us what you love about stage managing, or if its that sort of a day, tell us what you hate about it! Tell us what got you started or why you stopped. Tell us your favourite colour or who you most admire. Tell us anything you like! But the more you share, the more your fellow stage managers will be likely to connect with your story.

And now for your moderator's special request
Please try to give your intro post a more imaginative 'subject' line than "newbie here" (or variation on that theme). Go on. Let your imagination run wild. Surprise me. Or at the very least include the name of your town or region, or the type of stage management you do, or some other specifc in the title.

Wherever you are and whatever your age or level of experience, welcome. I hope to be reading YOUR introduction soon.

ChaCha
Moderator - Introductions
and
Former Stage Manager of theatre, dance, opera, bald men in shop windows, circus, 2 musicals, festival clubs, puppetry, and a strange show on a bus, now turned not for profit producer working with independent theatre and dance artists in Australia ( see its not that hard to write about yourself ) .

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Stage Management: Other / Re: 15 vs 30 second timings

« on: May 22, 2009, 05:09 am »

I used to do 30 second marks.  I wrote the elapsed time over the relevant spot in the score so i coul;d calulate the time from any one point to any other one point quickly.

65

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stage Managers Producing - Any Experince

« on: May 17, 2009, 08:03 am »

I agree with SMRose. The deep understanding of the creative process which a stage manager can bring to the producer role can only be a benefit - as will all those other stage manager traits such as focus, passion, people skills, lateral thinking and accepting responsibility....etc, etc.  I have made the transition to producing in the last few years. Even though I work in Australia and in the not for profit sector, I am positive you can make that shift yourself Josh, even if you are looking at a different producer model in a different cultural context.

However, I have just attended a theatre conference where some of Australia's most experienced Producers agreed (in a forum on creating the next generation of independent producers  here) that successful producers are born not made and that it can't be taught in schools. Having been a stage manager doesn't guarantee success in the field. Find yourself a mentor. And build as many connections and relationships and networks as you can. They will all be used in your next career as a producer.

ChaCha

66

Employment / Re: Hello from The Southeastern Theatre Conference

« on: Apr 30, 2009, 10:12 am »

This is where we're seeking the most growth, so I have questions. 
1)  How do you as stage mangers find most of your jobs?
2)  What sorts of "information (resume, portfolio, stills, references, etc)" have you been asked to provide?
3)  What sort of opportunities would you like to see in order to meet and find out about stage mangement jobs?  (Or, How do you think would be the most effective way to facilitate the interview and hiring for SMs, PSMs,  ASMs, etc.?)

I would actually be very interested in seeing a few responses to these questions. I haven't responded myself as I don't think my answers would help original poster as I am in Australia and no one here has dreamed of any centralised opportunity for stage managers to sell themslves to prospective hirers .... too small an industry/population.

I would say that 95% of my work as a stage manager would have come through personal contacts or recommendations of friends/other stage managers, and repeat contracts with previous employers. Not sure I ever got a job replying to an ad for a stage manager - maybe once...

67

Employment / Re: Cruise jobs

« on: Apr 07, 2009, 11:52 am »

Strangely I was just reading online (Australian Arts Hub site) that Royal Carribean Productions are recruiting stage managers now. Check that website link KMC307 gave - that's the site the job listing led to.

68

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Natural Disaster vs. Rehearsal?

« on: Mar 31, 2009, 01:01 am »

I think if the Director wants to rehearse with a few people that is fine. Think about his process and requirements for a minute.  Maybe he dosent want to lose touch with the material. Blocking out some scenes on a few warm bodies may still help him think things through and try out ideas. Time spent developing ideas, even those that get rejected later are rarely wasted hours by a bigger picture definition of wasted - it all adds depth and layers to the eventual staging that makes it to opening night.  Assuming safety etc is covered for those participating, then I think you are just wasting energy  if you try to prevent it happen or fret about it happening. Think yourself into a supportive frame of mind and let go. I am sure a Head of Department DOES care that you are not there and that he and the cast and the process are not being supported by stage management. It just isnt his highest priority to work in that way  at this time or to communicate that to you. This is not about you in his mind.


Then lets think about you. Sometimes projects are well under way before a stage manager comes on board - it shouldnt be that way but it sometimes happens. As the stage manager you cope. You come on board and you catch up. You ask questions and you work hard. You accept that sometimes you will then trip over information known to those who were at earlier rehearsals and you just deal with that as best you can. Clearly this is not how any stage manager likes to work. But sometimes that is just how it is. Maybe this is going to be one of those times. So now stop thinking about how it 'should' be and work out strategies for ameliorating the circumstances you are facing. Maybe ask someone who is there/the director to keep you posted on the work that gets done/ issues that are raised, etc

Force be with you. Be gentle on the director AND yourself.
ChaCha

PS. On re-reading my post I think I sound a bit dictatorial -sorry - I wrote it when on a teabreak from a time management seminar! I do stand by the remarks but they are only intended as a possible take/suggested alternate view on the situation. Also I wanted to add a "welcome Katie!" to my post. Good to have you with us

69

Employment / Re: When Hiring Other SM's...

« on: Feb 25, 2009, 09:48 am »

I do take the point that if you've been applying for work it behooves one to keep an eye out for responses through all possible channels.
Maybe I just think that the phone used to work well as a way of communicating...

70

Employment / Re: When Hiring Other SM's...

« on: Feb 25, 2009, 02:11 am »

Am I the only one that thinks freelance stage managers who are working might actually NOT have time to check their emails for several days?
Also a surprising number of emails do go missing or get swallowed by spam filters.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: What basics should actors know about tech?

« on: Feb 24, 2009, 11:00 am »

Even if they are inexperienced, if they are committed an hour should be more than enough to brief them on tech-ing. After all you dont want to either bore them stupid or annoy them or terrify them with too much info. Definately concentrate on what you need from them. If they dont understand what all the people around them are doing, so be it. They just need to understand that everyone around them is very very busy even if it seems like they, the actors, have to wait for interminable periods while nothing appears to be happening...
Chookas!
ChaCha

72

Tools of the Trade / Re: THE Sharpie topic

« on: Feb 12, 2009, 11:49 pm »

There has definately been a sharpie discussion before but I thinknit was inside a broader topic - favourite toys or something? Anyway, you can never have too much discussion about sharpies right?

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Later call for children not appearing until 45 minute into the show?

« on: Feb 09, 2009, 01:22 am »

When I worked in opera - long shows- I always gave later call times to those appearing in act 2 or 3 - and definately would with kids. Usually the kids have their own ASM or chaperone who can track down anyone who is late for the late call (if you know what I mean) Though like Matthew, I prefer to make the call time no later than curtain at the top of the show. Also I ask those on a late call to report to either me in prompt corner or to a designated ASM, not just to sign in at stage door.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Reading a play for the first time

« on: Jan 17, 2009, 09:05 pm »

Ah yes. In theory I read for enjoyment , overall sense of the play first, Then go back and started extracted lists. But it is hard to do. I found it was something I got better at in time. Just keep trying is my only advice.

Do you have the same problem when you go to watch someone else's show?

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Valuables

« on: Jan 12, 2009, 09:05 am »

Sometimes I would have the asm bring the valuables to the stage just prior to the end of the show and hand them out there as they left for the drseeing rooms. Otherwise I would personally deliver to dressing rooms once the cast were offstage. Pretty rare that I couldn't get there before someone was out of costume; and if a cast member was in a special hurry to get away they would just come looking for me to collect their items.

I have to agree with Matthew that if you are going to bother to collect them at all, it seems a bit counter productive to deliver them (or collect them) from unattended stations. Even if the venue seems safe enough presumably there is some risk, or why do valuables at all.