Messages

601

Introductions / Re: From PEI to Manhattan - smalltown girl with a cue bible

« on: Jul 11, 2013, 09:44 am »

Hi and welcome to the boards, Robyn! (I confess, the first thing I thought of when I read "PEI" was Anne of Green Gables). Good to have you here!

602

Introductions / Re: Just a young badger from Cleveland hoping to learn from all these amazing SM's

« on: Jul 11, 2013, 09:41 am »

Hi and welcome, Mackie! Check out the Students and Novices board when you get a chance. There's a lot of great info their for student stage managers.

603

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Working with parents of young actors or people you know

« on: Jul 11, 2013, 09:37 am »

When someone wants to give me a note or suggestion that isn't particularly welcome (because it's outside of their purview), I find that a simple "Thank you" (and nothing further on the subject) is simpler and easier than going into why you aren't going to take the note. It acknowledges the suggestion, politely, without elaborating or inviting further discussion.

Nothing's going to stop her from asking questions or making suggestions if you don't have a talk to her about it. But if you're not comfortable doing that, then deal with each issue as it comes up. Be polite and firm in your answers, and don't invite additional discussion. ("I'm sorry, Sarah, but I'm not able to discuss Timmy's pickup time with you.")

EDITED TO ADD: You might consider finding another ride.

604

The Hardline / Re: Actors/Directors: Taking Photos in Rehearsal-A Disturbing Trend...or Not...?

« on: Jul 06, 2013, 09:17 pm »

Maybe the solution is to have "casual photo days"? During this hour-long block of rehearsal, our publicity intern will be hanging around with a camera, discreetly taking some shots for our donation campaign. Pay her no mind, she knows what she's doing, and she'll do everything she can to be unobtrusive.

Well, sure, but a lot of theatres do this, and as long as there's a photo notice given to the actors, there's no problem.

Even in more traditional companies, donors seem to like feeling involved in the process as more than just passive recipients of art. They don't just want to sit in the audience, they want their finger in the pie. And things like throwing a few rehearsal photos on Facebook actually do seem to make a difference. 

Many places do take a couple of rehearsal shots to use in promoting the show, and encourage the actors to share them online. Actors taking the photos themselves, whenever they feel like it, is different and doesn't allow the theatre to control the information being posted (which is essentially marketing for the show, whether you want it to be or not). 

605

The Hardline / Re: Actors/Directors: Taking Photos in Rehearsal-A Disturbing Trend...or Not...?

« on: Jul 06, 2013, 03:03 pm »

Great topic, Ruth. I've noticed this trend as well in the last few years, and agree that actors/directors/whoever taking photos during rehearsal isn't kosher for all the reasons that you mentioned. On a recent show, the production manager worked it into their first rehearsal information speech, reminding them that 1) it's not permitted per AEA rules and 2) that it is disruptive to the rehearsal process, and asked them to respect the work of their colleagues by refraining from snapping photos. It really made a difference- I don't think I once saw a photo taken in rehearsal.

I honestly think that a lot of the time, people don't stop to consider the idea that anyone would mind.

I'm not very active on social media myself, so unless someone brings it to my attention I'm unlikely to notice if someone posted a photo online, but I don't think the rules should change. In my opinion, it violates the "safe space" of the rehearsal room to have folks taking photos and posting them online. (What happens on a break is a different story. But, many theatres remind patrons not to take photos of the set, so does that same standard apply to those working on the production? How strict do you need to be?)

606

Introductions / Re: Hello! Finally joining the site!

« on: Jun 27, 2013, 09:35 pm »

Hi and welcome!

607

Introductions / Re: hia!

« on: Jun 27, 2013, 09:34 pm »

Hi and welcome to the forum! If you do a search for "Noises Off" in the upper right hand corner, there are a good number of results that come up. Best of luck with your production!

608

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Communication with the House Manager?

« on: Jun 24, 2013, 01:43 am »

I like to check in with the HM shortly after arriving at the theatre about anything that might be unusual about the show that night- a special event in the building that day, a post-show discussion, who's doing the curtain speech (if it's live), etc. This also gives them the chance to let me know about anything unusual on their end (they are shorthanded on ushers and may need an extra minute to get all the patrons seated, for example).

When we are set onstage (all props preset, in the correct light cue and sound cue, actors done warming up and clear of the stage), I turn the house over to them, usually right before half hour. They let me know when the house is open, and then I check in with them around 5min before curtain to see if they are expecting on on-time start. They check in with the box office to see if there's a lot of tickets at will call, or a big line at the box office, and let me know if they need to hold the curtain. I stay in pretty close contact with HM in the few minutes before curtain, and once they close the doors and turn the house over to me, I know we are clear to start the show.

I give them a standby for late seating, and then give them the "go" to late seat. If they need an additional late seating break, they can contact me and I will find a good (least disruptive) moment to do so. I also like to give HM a 5-minute warning on the end of each act.

All of this can vary widely from theatre to theatre- some theatres have very specific FOH policies that you need to follow. (Some of them late-seat throughout, or don't late-seat at all, or routinely start at 5min after the scheduled curtain time). I find it helpful to check in with whoever is in charge of HM before public performances begin about how things will run. I also prepare a document to give the FOH personnel about the show. It lists running times, approximate late seating break times, and any information that will affect the FOH staff. This includes things like if there is a pre-show fight call, or a gun is fired onstage, or actors enter through the audience. I find it really helps to check in with a HM that hasn't worked the show before to make sure they understand everything that is on the sheet.

609

Employment / Re: Listing profanity on your resume.....

« on: Jun 24, 2013, 01:01 am »

Obviously you are referring to the "Stupid F*cking Bird" play that you are currently doing.  The f-word is a touchy one for some people, but if your company got away with advertising as such in a newspaper and on posters, go for it.  If they edited it, then maybe you should too.

Interestingly, it's edited in some places but not others. Left as-is on the poster outside the theatre, but in most places, there are strategically placed feathers over the word.

In one newspaper review, it was written "F--king", which I think is a good way of editing it...I think I will go with that. Thanks for the input!

610

Introductions / Re: Hello from Minnesota!

« on: Jun 24, 2013, 12:56 am »

Hi and welcome, Michelle! Good to have you on the boards. Be sure to check out the Students and Novices board- there are lots of helpful threads there.

-Maribeth

611

Employment / Listing profanity on your resume.....

« on: Jun 20, 2013, 04:08 am »

For those of you who have done shows with profanity in the title, how do you list it on your resume? Do you asterisk out the profanity? Or since it's the title of the play, do you just put it out there, as is?

612

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Acting maintenance notes in the Performance Report

« on: Jun 19, 2013, 12:53 am »

I think there is a difference between acting maintenance notes and a factual note about something that happened onstage, as well. An actor missing an entrance or skipping a page of text, to me, is an anomaly that occurred in the show and needs to be documented. For me, acting maintenance notes fall into a different category than that.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Acting maintenance notes in the Performance Report

« on: Jun 16, 2013, 06:43 pm »

I am in the "no acting notes in the report" camp. It is incredibly easy for performance reports to become public-all it takes is one person on the email list to forward it. Or post something from the report on their blog, or make a passing comment to an actor about it, etc.

I do however put actor related notes that affect the show significantly-- missed/late entrances, anything that might be injury related.  But nothing about "intention/ emotion/ line delivery."

Same.

614

The Hardline / Re: Showcase Code--6 Consecutive Days

« on: Jun 09, 2013, 06:00 pm »

I've never worked the showcase code but have had this happen with a specific waiver from AEA under another contract. Contact your rep.

615

Introductions / Re: Just here to read a bit.

« on: Jun 04, 2013, 05:44 pm »

Welcome to the boards! Nice to have some non-SMs around too.