Messages

616

Employment / Re: Resume Format

« on: Sep 27, 2012, 04:29 pm »

You may find some of our earlier discussions of references & resumes to be useful:

http://smnetwork.org/forum/employment/two-sided-resume/
http://smnetwork.org/forum/employment/hiring-and-references/
http://smnetwork.org/forum/employment/for-employers-when-do-you-call-references/

The last one is not quite on the same subject matter, but it's one of our most popular threads so I figured I'd toss it out there for visitors who view this thread in later years.

617

The Green Room / Re: Reviews

« on: Sep 26, 2012, 07:26 pm »

Huh, thanks for starting this. Just discovered that the site was namechecked in another textbook. (Y'all have your reviews, I've got mine.)

618

Employment / Re: Resume Format

« on: Sep 26, 2012, 07:13 pm »

Try both! You can easily convert a doc from Tables to Tabs and vice versa.

In pre-Ribbon versions of Word, go to Table->Convert and then choose either Text to Table or Table to Text depending on which way you want to go.

In Ribbon versions (2007, 2010 and beyond) they separated the commands:
To go from Text to Table, select your text, go to the Insert tab, click Table, and then Convert Text to Table.
To go the other way, select the rows of the table you want to convert, go to Table Tools->Layout Tab->Data group->Convert to Text

Historically, using tabs to align columns dates back to typewriter days - it's very old school. The single-stroke tab key replaced the old routine of hitting the spacebar repeatedly to align characters. Word gussied up tabs to include stuff like dot leaders and line leaders, center alignment and decimal-alignment.

Table functions in word processing were created for making spreadsheet data like financial tables look professional in business reports. Their utility was expanded by MS over time based on usage outside of the business sector. People used them for layout but IMHO it's really overkill, and not really the purpose for which they were intended.

Choice of usage of the two in Word is a matter of taste. Usage in web layout, though, is very firmly in favor of the Tab style of layout, which translates more readily to straight CSS. The use of tables for anything other than true tabular data is now frowned-upon in designing websites.

And while I'm on the subject as someone's bound to bring it up eventually, columns were meant for folks who wanted to do columnar printing, newspaper style.

Personally I find tabs to be far faster to set up and get going. I just tested in my version of Word, moving as efficiently as I possibly could. To get the same layout that I use in the video working in Tables it took me about 13 clicks, vs 5 clicks with Tabs. Excel's formatting capabilities do not fill me with joy - Word is just so much more robust when it comes to dealing with prepping for print. If I have to do math, I will use Excel whole heartedly. In fact, the initial algorithm for the Internship Survey was done entirely in Excel, as writing the functions in Excel was great prep work for having to translate them into PHP. However, if I need quick & elegant formatting I will go with Word & tabs any day.

619

Employment / Re: Resume Format

« on: Sep 26, 2012, 05:13 pm »

Tables in Word are silly, and I'm of the opinion that Excel should be used for data that actually needs to be tabular (i.e., displaying gridlines), not for aligning columns.

Tabs are far far easier to work with than tables. I have used tabs in MS Word for ages and they are insanely easy to implement.

So easy, in fact, that I just created a tutorial video for y'all. You'll probably want to go fullscreen with this (by clicking the little square in the bottom right corner of the video) as my monitor is kinda high-test.

620

Tools of the Trade / Re: New Break-Time App: Take 10!

« on: Sep 25, 2012, 12:42 am »

Which means you have to focus on an even smaller subset, and write for the people who are most likely to buy something. In other words, AEA members with enough disposable income to have Apple products anyhow.

Do other unions run on the same break pattern? I don't have an iphone or an emulator - can anyone who owns it confirm if the app could be reconfigured to count down other timeframes so that it could be useful for other unions? If not, the limitation has to be a deliberate choice in counterpoint to Matthew's paradox: there are so few of us that it is impossible to please us all. Our individual voices are still to loud. Stys can't satisfy all of the stage managers but we've got a reasonable shot at satisfying a small subset of them.

I think in some ways the SMA has been functioning on the same model all along. AEA US has an enormous member base but most of them are actors. They have the momentum to go nationwide but the tradeoff is that stage managers have to shout really loud to be heard. On the other hand SMA-US's attempts to branch outside of their very small sphere of NYC have been stymied by the extremely small size of the industry. They may well have determined after all these decades that their business model is better served by staying focused on the smaller NY community.

Another thought - I don't know about you guys, but based on my own phone usage, I've yet to find an app that has fully replaced its analog counterpart with the sole exceptions of the calendar and Evernote, both very large scale apps, and I've had assorted smartphones for about 6 years now. I treat apps like "travel size" versions to carry me through in a pinch. I think I'd have to be in a situation for months without my regular gear before I got into the habit of using apps for everything and it's very likely that by the end I'd be relieved to have my real tools back.

621

Tools of the Trade / Re: New Break-Time App: Take 10!

« on: Sep 24, 2012, 12:40 am »

Thinking laterally, when it comes to stopwatch functions we need to take a look over at the actual stopwatch thread on this same board. That thread has been going on since 2005 and even with inflation the most I've seen anyone willing to pay for an actual physical stopwatch is $25, and one member said that she would never use her phone for stopwatchy-type purposes. If they're not willing to pay $25 for hardware, will they be willing to pay 60% of that on a piece of software?

Unrelated, Cbandes, sorry to hear you dropped the app. That lack of enthusiasm is something I deal with daily and I can understand that it would be daunting to an outsider - even one who has lived among the proverbial wolves. The quiet reception that greeted the internship review program despite a press release campaign, publicizing it on multiple forums and 200+ hours of code was pretty disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. Unfortunately one of the main skills that makes for a successful stage manager - the ability to keep a cool head when surrounded by drama queens - is frequently integrated into our respective personalities. It's why SMNetwork has never really had a flame war or even troll issues. 5 pages is a long thread. 31 internship reviews in 9 months is pretty impressive.

I think there's two other issues at play here. First of all we do tend to view the actors as demanding the full extent of our damage control skills. They're the ones who need to be handled with kid gloves. When it comes to dealing with the crew and, to an extent, the designers, we have a different drama threshold. Diva fits from the cast are expected. Diva fits from our follow spot ops, not so much. We expect a kind of stiff-upper-lippedness from the crew and I think that may extend unconsciously to computer techs and software developers. Or to anyone who isn't an actor/singer/dancer.

Secondly, while amongst ourselves in hushed voices we may assert our creativity and necessity in a production, we have an awareness of how outside forces view us. Stage managers, or at least the outward "blocking taker/cue caller/secretary" roles are more susceptible than most of the production team to being entirely replaced by technology. Single purpose apps like this can fly under the radar, but a meta-stage management application may make some of us first wonder about job security before we think about job effectiveness. It means that we approach new technology with our first thought being "how can I perform better than this technology to ensure that I remain relevant?" I'm thinking this is not what you want when you're trying to demonstrate how a tool can make someone's life easier.

622

Tools of the Trade / Re: New Break-Time App: Take 10!

« on: Sep 23, 2012, 01:54 pm »

On a secondary note: Kay, have you looked into Amazon Affiliates for SMNetwork?

I used Amazon Affiliates for SMNet from 2000 to 2004. Never saw a cent from it and the maintenance time required was pretty intense.

623

Tools of the Trade / Re: New Break-Time App: Take 10!

« on: Sep 23, 2012, 12:50 am »

Good approach to discussing this new item. Thanks for bringing it up in this particular way, David.

What I've found after 12 years of doing computer stuff for theatre people is that they extremely resistant to the trope of quality. In the general public there is an understanding that a custom made, high quality product will cost more, and a willingness at a certain level to embrace that quality if its merited. The premium paid for Apple systems over PC hardware/software combos is a primary example. Or the difference in ticket prices between storefront improv and a LORT show.

Artists, particularly technicians, when confronted with such a dilemma will first try to DIY a better version of their own. We are not wealthy. We are used to investing our own time instead of spending money. The outcome? The maker/technician is equally likely to be turned away from the original product out of jealousy when they can't match it, or begrudgingly adopt very late in the game.

So much of the work of an SM can be done with existing tools. And we are traditionalists. I have heard "we always do it this way" more often from stage managers than from any other member of the backstage establishment. It's a personality bias, though. I think we are naturally inclined towards thriftiness and self-sufficiency otherwise we wouldn't be in this industry at all. We even consider it acceptable (except the very top level pros) to bring our own gear with us to customize our environments to our liking. Conversely, no carpenter working in a scene shop would be expected to bring her own tools, although at the highest levels they might do so. Do you know any other industries besides schoolteachers, stage managers and missionaries where you're expected to stock the shop out of your own pocket?

Even so, we crave custom-built apps. Current methods are like using a pair of pliers to remove a screw - it can be done, but it would be much faster if you had a screwdriver. After watching every other section of backstage tech get revved up with lasers and scrollers and digital boards it can feel a little like we're being left behind with our laptops. What we forget is that we pretty much adopted tech before the rest of the departments, back when the only color available was black. Now that there's a spectrum available we're so accustomed to our old-school tech that we don't realize we were probably the pioneers that inspired everyone else.

In contemplating over the years on how to monetize SMNetwork I have pretty much given up on all methods except for fundraising drives. There is no way to properly define us to advertisers that would bring in suitable, SM-targeted banner ads. Unfocused ads, which I've tried before, backfired badly. Affiliate programs didn't work either, as most members are pretty darned destitute and not going to be buying anything through the full price shops that offer that kind of thing. There are no tie-in marketing schemes, giveaways or raffles that would really work given our global audience. 12 years along and we don't even have a logo although I've put out the call for logo designs multiple times. Fortunately our costs are small, and our donors are generous. However, out of over 4000 members, our 2011 fundraising drive succeeded on the backs of just 34 fantastic, generous and very kind and much appreciated donors.

Any business-owner has to consider his potential market before developing a new product. I'm enough of an open source advocate that it overrides any need for income from the stuff that I build for stage managers. I just want to break even on hosting the site. Even so, I've shot down about 30 ideas for new SMNetwork functions because the audience just isn't big enough. Only BTDT and the Internship Review project really survived my own market research as being worth the time required to build them. Stys' pricing is smart and will hopefully earn him at least a few beers for his efforts and dedication to the community.

There's any kind of rationale out there that I could use to encourage you guys to go buy Stys' app. I want to see it succeed. It's one of the first real SM-specific apps we've seen since the dawn of the mobile era. I could say, "if there weren't other $0.99 stopwatch apps out there, would it be worth it?" I could say, "I just spent $6 on a financial calculator app with no problem even though there were free alternatives, because it was clearly the best for my needs." I could even say, "If you guys want stage manager apps like you've been saying for so long, this is your moment to prove it."

But I unfortunately think that unless he somehow offers it as a tie in to equity dues he's going to have a tough time of it. Can anyone help me out with a little optimism to the contrary?

624

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Blocking help

« on: Sep 23, 2012, 12:01 am »

Heh. Curious. Not to knock Matthew's suggestions, but do you think it is more important to have a book that others can understand or that you, the SM, can understand? Do you think that if you aim for one you could get the other along the way?

I don't know that communicating entrances/exits to the design team requires the diagrammatic methods SMs use to take down blocking. They can all be handled by standard, text notes and in fact might be more useful in plain text. Do you think that a starting stage manager will be faster taking down the action using some sort of new, uncomfortable shorthand or using regular text? What about when we leave or hand the book down to the next person?

Yes, a picture may be worth 1000 words but what if you're really lousy at drawing? The only reason that I can think of for diagramming, personally, is if you draw faster than you write. I do not.

Personally based on how I think and learn, I need more written words and fewer pictures to be able to recreate a scene. My blocking used a few 1-2 letter abbreviations for character names/SL SR DS US, but almost no diagrams unless I was dealing with massive chorus scenes. It was about 90% text.  When I was trying to recreate something in notes for the team it was easier to pick up my own language a 2nd time than try to go back and decipher a diagram, even my own.

If there's one thing I've learned about our shorthand it's that while we have some elements in common with our notation there's other trade secrets and unique glyphs that others might not recognize on a handoff. The few times that I got to peek at other SM's books, I first had to surmount a pretty large learning curve before I could parse their blocking.

Maybe it's just me and my total inability to parse visual input. I don't know.

625

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Blocking help

« on: Sep 22, 2012, 04:03 pm »

... or at the related posts at the bottom of this page.

Also, and this just crossed my mind. Why do we take blocking? We do it so that the staging of the show can be preserved, but why are we preserving it?
1) So that understudies can be put in.
2) So that the show can be remounted.
3) So that actors who missed rehearsal can pick up what they missed.

This means that the people who will need to understand your blocking are you, subsequent stage managers, subsequent directors, and every actor who has to fill in after the original casting starts to change.  I'd suggest that whatever blocking you come up with be designed not for aesthetics, flashiness, or what makes you happy. Instead it should be something you can write down quickly and that can be easily understood by any of the above people who will pick up your book 6 weeks or 6 years from now and have to figure it out on their own.

626

Tools of the Trade / Re: Free Stuff for Artists

« on: Sep 21, 2012, 11:50 pm »

On a more timely note, next week (9/29/2012) is National Coffee Day in the US. Some Mcdonald's in New England will be offering free small coffees from the 23rd to the 29th and some Krispy Kreme shops will also be serving free coffee on the 29th only. 7-11 will have free coffee in the morning (from 7am to 11am, naturally) on the day of. Keurig is offering coffeemaker giveaways via many coffee bloggers - Google will point you in the right direction for those.

I'm sure other places will add on to the pile as we get closer to the day.

627

Tools of the Trade / Free Stuff for Artists

« on: Sep 21, 2012, 11:01 pm »

So I've spouted off two links to free repositories of scripts/scores that have been reasonably popular lately, and I'm sure there's other online directories of free stuff and deals for artists, students and the generally destitute. Do you have a site or know of a program that would fit? Please share it with us here!

(Disclaimer: We have not tried all of these resources personally. We cannot promise that they will serve you, that they are legit, or that the programs will continue for any particular span of time. We do try to avoid linking to site full of viruses and known scam sites, but inclusion here is not an endorsement from SMNetwork or any member unless explicitly stated in the thread.)

Mods, feel free to add new contributions to this post or just let them pile up, your call.

Literature, Scripts & Scores
http://imslp.org/ - International Music Score Library. Scores & Libretti with links to recordings.
http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/index.html - Gilbert & Sullivan Library at Boise State. All things G&S
http://www.simplyscripts.com/plays_a_h.html - Scripts. Many of them.
http://www.cpdl.org/ - Choral Public Domain library. Mostly short songs, no lengthy works.
http://www.wikifonia.org/browse - Lead sheets. Mostly new works by artists looking for exposure.

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page - Project Gutenberg. Free books, mostly classics
http://openlibrary.org/ - A wiki with the goal to make a page for every book ever published. They have an ebook lending library to help accomplish this goal.
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/ - Millions of free books.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/50-places-free-books-online.htm - Random guide to more free books.

Recordings
http://musopen.org/ - Musopen - recordings and scores, focuses on the former.
http://www.jamendo.com/en/ - Jamendo - (mostly) royalty-free mp3, great for background music etc.
http://archive.org/details/etree - Live Music Archive. Does what it says on the box.
http://www.operacast.com/ - Not downloadable, but a decent calendar of internet radio broadcasts for opera
http://opera-mp3.blogspot.com/ - I have no idea how long this will remain online but it is AWESOME.

Assorted free stuff
http://www.freecycle.org/ - I think everyone should know about these guys already, yes? Give something free, get something free.
http://www.actorsfund.org/ - for all performing artists, NOT JUST AEA Members.
http://www.ireuse.com/wishlistlanding.aspx - Create a wish list, and companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint may give their furniture to you instead of junking it. Nonprofits get free furniture.
http://www.nyfa.org/source/content/search/search.aspx?SA=1 - NY Foundation for the Arts"NYFA Source." Big directory of grants & free services for artists.

Tool Sharing
http://www.neighborgoods.net/ --> eventually to become http://www.favortree.com - Southern California sharing tools & gear between neighbors
http://www.hammertimeprojects.org -> Cooperative workshop in Fort collins, Colorado
http://groundworkprovidence.org/programs/tool-bank/ -> Providence, RI Tool sharing
http://toolbank.org/ -> Toolbank USA coordinates several local tool sharing and rental programs

Housing
Seattle
New York (The Actors Fund)
LA (The Actors Fund)
Chicago (The Actors Fund)
http://www.couchsurfing.org/ - Short stays in people's homes worldwide
LIHEAP - US based program to help low-income folks with energy costs, especially heat & lights

School
US Dept of Labor Scholarship Search
Education department links to State Education programs
101 Grants you've never heard of

Services
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteer_Lawyers_for_the_Arts - Wikipedia directory of state programs providing free legal services for artists. (Many fold in accountants, too.)

Technology
Microsoft Giving for Nonprofits and Microsoft Student Deals
Apple Student Deals

For Union Members
UnionPlus - Search for union-only bennies

628

Stage Management: Other / Re: Tosca Recording

« on: Sep 21, 2012, 04:05 am »

Sidenote: The International Music Score Library project has the whole Ricordi score for free. (Many other scores also for those who are trying to learn to read music. Great project.)

They also linked over to Amazon where they've got at least one recording of a Callas Tosca at La Scala for less than $3. The best recordings will all still be within copyright in the US so you are unlikely to find a free copy through legit means.

629

Announcements / Reminder: Email addresses are NOT ALLOWED as usernames

« on: Sep 16, 2012, 12:07 am »

We've had a rash of new users trying to register using their email addresses as usernames.

For the privacy and security of all of our members, this is not allowed. Email addresses, phone numbers and other features that could permit a spammer to harvest and stalk our members are all expressly forbidden.

If I spot a new member with an email address as a username I will change your username. You will not get a warning beforehand. I will just change it. The system requires me to also change your password when I change your username. It automatically generates an email to you with the new login credentials.

Therefore, if you are one of the many people who have recently registered using your email address as your public username and can no longer access your account, make sure to check your email to find out your new login information.

630

Tools of the Trade / Re: Looking for suggestions

« on: Sep 13, 2012, 01:59 pm »

Didn't I recently see that you were planning on relocating between now and the end of the year? Maybe wait and see what the demands of your new job are before changing technology as well? I find that if I've switched to a new system right before I switch to a new job, it makes adapting to both far more complicated than it needs to be. I wind up picking up bad habits on both sides that I would have otherwise ferreted out immediately.