Messages

76

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: gas mileage reimbursment

« on: Jan 04, 2008, 11:03 am »

Just be aware...to claim mileage, you MUST keep a log book, of everything you drive...it has to be as detailed as a truck-drivers.

"10:01 am; start at 555 Jones Ave, 10:15 am, arrive Theatre X, total mileage 5.2"

Seriously...if you get audited, this is what the IRS will ask for.

and remember that once you start claiming yourself as a business (I'm a "theatrical professional," since I have 1099s from other work besides stage management, such as choreography, assistant direction, etc.) you have to show that you MAKE money at least once every three years, or they don't count it as a business anymore and you can't make any deductions, but you still have to pay the taxes. =)

Be careful, the goverment doesn't mess around.

77

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Preshow (turn off your cellphone) announcements

« on: Dec 29, 2007, 12:19 am »

I'm always afraid that when collecting valuables, the actors will forget to turn off their phones, or will think that they're off when they're not, and halfway through the performance, right below my feet in the valuables cabinet, suddenly a phone will start ringing.

This has happened to me.  Thankfully we were at the hall, so it is large enough and the symphony is loud enough that it didn't matter -- except to me!  Then whoever called left a voicemail, so every 30 seconds there was this beep announcing the voicemail.  I had to wait about 15 minute until I had a long enough break to reach down, unlock the cabinet, find the envelope with the phone, turn it off, lock it back it up, and then resume calling the show.  Now I usually check before they give the envelope to me.  "Is your phone off or on vibrate?"

I've also had dancers who are listening to their iPods backstage, set them down still playing and then go on stage -- leaving me to wonder "where is that music coming from?"

78

Stage Management: Other / Re: The annual nutcracker 7th inning stretch....

« on: Dec 23, 2007, 09:29 am »

I've got my last two today!  2:00 and 7:30 pm...then I'm outta here for 10 days! 

Except that West Michigan is supposed to get a huge snowstorm today through tomorrow morning...so my drive might get delayed a few hours...

79

Stage Management: Other / The annual nutcracker 7th inning stretch....

« on: Dec 20, 2007, 05:13 pm »

Anyone else in the middle of one right now?  I have 7 shows in the next 3 days....i'm almost there!!  I can see the last page of my production schedule! 

Want to weigh in?  What's been the best/worst experience of your nutcracker this season?  =)

80

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: A tricky situation

« on: Dec 06, 2007, 08:29 pm »

Insert Quote
Unless they are having sex in one of the dressing rooms between shows, there's not really a lot to do

And even then you can't always do anything -- if there are star dressing rooms at the theatre and one of the actors has their own dressing room, you can't always prevent it then.

What is your relationship with this girl outside of the show?  Were you friends before starting work on this show?  If you have a previous relationship, I think you are justified in going to her as a friend (outside of work and the theatre) and saying something to the effect of, "As your friend, I am worried about this situation."  I've done that before to actors -- if I have a previous relationship with them and I feel they are doing something to endanger themselves, even if I am working with them at the time I will definitely speak up. 

However, if you have no prior relationship and the only contact you have is the professional one, then you can't really say anything until it affects the show...or until you start to see it affecting the show.  And even then -- you don't have to attribute anything to the relationship.  You can keep it very ambiguous and say, "I have noticed a lot of tension between you and so-and-so and it is starting to affect rehearsals -- is everything okay?"  or something like that.

81

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Onstage Hangings

« on: Nov 23, 2007, 09:33 pm »

I'm surprised this thread hasn't been closed already.  Usually the answer is "consult a professional" and no room for further input.  I'm glad to see it is still open.

From our community standards thread in the "announcements" forum:

"Opinions, not facts: Items on SMNetwork are generally other users' opinions. The Call Board is not responsible for the accuracy of any posts and is not liable for any damage or loss that may result from your reliance on what other users have said."

As we have always made clear -- any advice or thoughts given in this forum are purely the opinion or experience of the poster.  You should never take anything here as professional consultation or fact.  We can keep a thread such as this open for people to offer their advice and experiences -- if nothing else, to help show the OP that the most important issue is SAFETY, and that there are many ways to execute (no pun intended) a successful onstage hanging. 

And just to reiterate....when dealing with stagecraft of this manner, you should always, always consider safety first -- if this means bringing in a professional rigging/flight company, then do it. 

82

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Preshow (turn off your cellphone) announcements

« on: Nov 17, 2007, 09:25 am »

Creative ideas, hmmm?  Well......

Once, for a show in college, i recorded the pre-show announcement for a show.  It went like this. 

"Good evening, and welcome to the ___________Theatre Company.  We would like to remind you that the use of any recording device is strictly prohibited.  Please take this moment to turn off all cell phones and p--- (sound effect of cell phone ringing).  Excuse me, just let me grab this a second.  Hello?  No, I'm in the middle of making a speech.  (random conversation continued underneath the following).   Please turn off all cell phones and pagers, and unwrap any cellophane-wrapped candies.  Thank you,and enjoy the performance."  The sound designer recorded me having a one-sided conversation, and then laid that down underneath the rest of my speech -- it worked pretty well!

Another fave of mine -- I worked on a new production of "Sense and Sensibility" last season, where the actors very much broke down the fourth wall -- talked to the audience, went in and among the aisles...and pre-show, they would mingle in the lobby and the house and talk to the audience members.  When they were ready to start the show, a couple of the actors went down on stage -- and then the SM would call a cell phone one of the actresses in her purse  -- and it would ring, and she would pull it out and say, "oh!  It's time to start?!  Okay, I'll make sure to tell them! Bye!"  And then she would turn to the audience and say something like, "our stage manager would like me to remind you to turn off your cell phones, as they didn't exist in Jane Austen's day!  And please no cameras or recording devices.  That's all!  Enjoy the performance!"  It was so cute.

My usual speech for my compay is pretty blah...I've thought about ways to try to spice it up, but at a professional ballet company its difficult to do that, and maintain the professional nature of it that the bosses want you to have. 

Try to match it with the show that you are doing...that's an interesting way to get the audience into the world of the play but still make them do what you need them to do.

83

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: MFA?

« on: Nov 14, 2007, 12:04 pm »

No -- you don't necessarily need an MFA to work as a stage manager.

However, an MFA will open up possibilities for you that you wouldn't have without it -- such as teaching! 
This is a big reason why I want to go back to school at some point.  I would love to teach -- but won't be able to do so without that degree.  Do I need it to get work?  No.  Is it an expense that I am willing incur if I don't get a good fellowship?  No.  But if i apply to a school and they show me enough money so that i don't have to put myself in debt, then I'll definitely go. 

84

The Hardline / Re: A dance gig vs. Equity

« on: Nov 07, 2007, 06:50 am »

Wow.....that's really good to know...may change what I was thinking about doing next summer and season...

thanks guys!!

85

The Hardline / Re: A dance gig vs. Equity

« on: Nov 06, 2007, 09:43 pm »

Hmm....this is an interesting topic...please feel free to split this if you don't think it really jives with the OP.

so....if I were to, say, get a gig next summer that was an equity gig, and they wanted me badly enough to give me my card -- could i continue to do my full-time work at the ballet company during the season because it is dance (but NOT union), but still have that equity card, and in the off-season go do equity shows?? 

86

The Hardline / Re: Stagehand Wages

« on: Nov 05, 2007, 07:44 pm »

I can definitely see where there is a high concentration of the same work in the same area, the going rates are probably going to be similar.  We have the issue here that the stagehands are constantly talking about how much they can get paid for working in Chicago, to which our response is explain that we're not Chicago and can't compete with wages there.

-Centaura

Well...and the dues are much much much higher in Chicago and in New York, and its extremely difficult, nigh impossible, to get on the list right away, let alone acually move up to where you're getting enough work to make a living.  i think the initial fee to get your card for locals 1 & 2 is somewhere in the 3G range?  Plus the yearly dues are much more expensive than "smaller" locals. 

87

The Hardline / Re: Stagehand Wages

« on: Nov 01, 2007, 02:46 pm »

Depends on the position...the venue...the client...the contract...

we don't have a contract with IATSE; we just work on an outside rate sheet; we pay hands $18.25 on a SIX hour minimum; head rate is $24.75; but then sometimes we do things by day rates.....it all depends...

but, at one of the venues we perform at; their contract has hands at $14.75 on a four hour minimum....

88

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Notes from director after opening??

« on: Oct 29, 2007, 11:26 pm »

I recently went through a similar situation -- i just closed a show that was a world premiere. The director was there every show -- but mostly because we had a talkback after every performance that she wanted to be there for. 

But she was great - she let me do my thing and asked about thing the few times that cue were off, but didn't press anything and didn't give me or the actors notes.  In fact, she actually said to me at tech,

"I just want you to know, I totally trust you, and I know this show is yours now, but as you can imagine, its like my baby and  I'm going to have a really hard time giving this one up.  you just do what you do and tell me to back off if I go too far!" 

But she and I work together a lot and she is a really good friend of mine so we understand each other like that...

I would just say, "thank you very much for your concern; problem such-and-such is being dealt with accordingly."  That's really all you need to say, at this point.  The director is allowed to ask questions and request changes (unless the contract specifies that he/she can't), but you are also allowed to shut your book and say "the show is open, I'm not changing Q-ing."  (which i've done before...)

89

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

« on: Oct 27, 2007, 09:17 am »

Just chiming in on the shoe debate...and I think I may have already said this on this thread...but DANSKOS, DANSKOS, DANSKOS!  They are the best shoes ever.  I have....4 pairs total...1 of them is a nice pair of heels that is as comfortable as my flat pairs.  I live in them. 

90

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Tech or Church?

« on: Oct 27, 2007, 09:12 am »

To take my moderator hat off for a moment so I can be inflamatory, why should one religion get special treatment over every other religion?  I know that its PC to declare that Christianity's holy time should be honored above all others, but not even every christian sect meets on Sunday mornings.

There is a Jewish theatre group in town who does not do rehearsals or performances on Fridays.  So, that is out there.

That said, Kay brings up a good point -- where do you set your priorities?  It is a personal choice and decision that you as an individual have to make.  I recently asked my bosses if I could have a rehearsal off so I could go to a class at church - I asked in plenty of time before the rehearsal and made sure all of my bases were covered to have the rehearsal off -- they were fine it.  My TD knows I'm never going to be at Sunday load-ins right at 8:00 am because of church. 

A lot of times as an SM, I've found it's all about covering yourself and making sure that the rehearsal/performance will still be able to run in your absence.  After all, this is what we should be doing anyway!    I know this thread was originally started about a designer missing a tech, but seems to have evolved since that...