Messages

691

Tools of the Trade / Re: Holiday SM Gifts

« on: Jan 04, 2009, 06:49 pm »

I got a portable and microwavable expresso maker that I will be able to use in the theatre on cold rehearsal nights. It also makes Cappuccinos!

Wow!  Talk about an SM luxury.  I'm sure you'll be quite the popular SM with that option!

692

Tools of the Trade / Protecting your tools

« on: Jan 03, 2009, 02:03 pm »

Reading the Holiday SM Gifts topic I saw that Jessie_K got a new Leatherman to replace her stolen one.  I also had a Gerber stolen from me a few years back and thought this would be a good idea for a topic. 

What do you do to protect your tools?  This could be something as simple as a pencil, moving up the price ladder to a mag-lite or multi tool, all the way up to a laptop. 

693

Tools of the Trade / Holiday SM Gifts

« on: Dec 30, 2008, 08:41 am »

Alright, now that the dust has mostly settled from the Holiday season let's have a little fun.

What is your favorite SM-related gift you received this year?

What's a good SM-related gift you gave to someone this year?

Let's hear it!

694

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Costuming the Crew

« on: Dec 22, 2008, 07:21 pm »

I was just frustrating for everyone to have someone so against crew costumes.

Well hey, that'll happen sometimes in these circumstances.  A lot of folks that work backstage are there for a reason and many like going unnoticed! 

I can certainly see how it could be frustrating from an SM's point of view, but anytime you decide to costume the crew I think you've got to be prepared for this.

I was costumed once as an ASM.  My costume was distressed dickies coveralls (greased up car mechanic).  The only time I've actually heard costume designers and wardrobe folks encourage us to eat in costume!  Don't hear that one too often.

695

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

« on: Dec 18, 2008, 10:00 am »

I think we could have an excellent debate on the usefulness Facebook as a recruiting or hiring tool.  Matthew and Sarah both make some good points.  Personally I think if it's on the web it's fair game and I lean towards Matthew's stance.

Publishing something on the web is basically like publishing something in the NY Times (speaking in terms of expecting privacy; content and merit, well.. yeah).  Once you publish something online you're putting it out there for everyone to see.  Regardless of how strict the privacy settings appear the fact remains that it's there and people can (and believe me, will) see it. 

Agree or disagree with the practice, many employers will do it.  Best be prudent and prepare for it.

696

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

« on: Dec 16, 2008, 11:31 pm »

I actually thought this would be a great idea for a themed chat one night - and I think it's been mentioned before, too.

Certainly a great discussion to be had!

697

Employment / Re: Freelance rates for TV broadcast of performance

« on: Dec 12, 2008, 03:40 pm »

If it's truly being broadcast nationally I personally wouldn't go less than $1,000/day.  Probably closer to $1,500/day.

698

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Actor Cuts throat on Vienna Stage - BBC News

« on: Dec 11, 2008, 06:57 pm »

Precisely why weapons should be supervised at all times.  During a show I asm-ed there was a revolver loaded with 9mm blanks that were to be fired off stage.  There were no real bullets anywhere near the theatre, however the gun was only ever kept in two places.  In a locked box backstage, to which only myself and the SM had a key, or in the holster on my hip immediately before and after the sequence. 

699

The Hardline / Re: Performing arts unions and guilds list

« on: Dec 09, 2008, 09:56 am »

AFTRA

700

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Is MA in stage management helpful?

« on: Dec 06, 2008, 12:09 am »

Helpful?  Absolutely.  I think you'll be hard-pressed to argue more education is not helpful.

Necessary, required, mandatory??  No way.  Get out there and start doing it.

701

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Creating a Calling Script

« on: Dec 05, 2008, 02:41 pm »

I am also a sticker user; however, I get small transparent colored stickers from Staples, that allow you to still be able to read the script when you place the sticker over a line. 

Careful, stickers can (and do) fall out.

702

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Dec 05, 2008, 08:38 am »

Wow, 3/10 today - that's pretty embarrassing! 

703

Stage Management: Other / Re: Quesitons Needed for a stage management workshop

« on: Dec 02, 2008, 01:57 pm »

Well I think everyone who responds is going to answer this a little differently, it's entirely opinion based.  And really, if you're the one speaking to this class you should go off of your opinions.

My take?  I'd have a few jumping-off discussion points on the role of the stage manager in the collaborative process, managing people, group dynamics, etc...  It seems to me that a lot of SM classes/programs focus almost solely on the black and white administrative part of the job and not nearly enough on the finer points of what an SM does.  You can teach a monkey to call cues, create a calling script, track props; the art of balancing the broad range of personalities we encounter and creating a harmonious working environment is something that is focused on not nearly enough.

704

The Green Room / Re: I can't believe I just had to do that...

« on: Dec 01, 2008, 01:19 am »

My oddest moment was "tuning" four beer bottles to play a perfect chord each night.  Not sure that tops a poop cue though...

705

Tools of the Trade / Re: [FAQ] What goes inside a SM Kit?

« on: Nov 25, 2008, 09:34 am »

For my kit I use a Plano tacklebox.  Inside I've got:

- Yellow #2 Pencils
- Eraser
- Battery powered pencil sharpener
- Manual pencil sharpener
- Pens (black, blue, red)
- Sharpies (approx 20 colors)
- Digital clock for rehearsal table
- Rubber bands (various sizes)
- Paperclips (various sizes)
- Stapler
- Scissors
- Exacto knife
- Drafting triangle
- Scale rule
- First aid kit
- Condoms
- Tampons
- Spare wallet cards
- Batteries (AA, AAA, 9v)
- Post-its
- Spike tape (several colors)
- Glow tape
- Gaff tape
- 3 hole punch
- Binder clips
- 2x 25' tape measure
- 1x 50' tape measure
- Playing cards
- Multi-tool
- Pushpins
- Two sided tape
- Scotch tape
- AA Maglite
- Spare lamps for maglite