Messages

76

Tools of the Trade / Re: Flash Pots

« on: Jun 18, 2007, 09:17 am »

Le Maitre. Excellent quality. Reasonable price.

I concur- Le Maitre are the biggest 'bang' for your buck.

I hope you have a rather long lead-time pre-performance...

We've got an 8 to 10 week lead-time for pyro of any kind in Birmingham, now. YUCK!

77

Tools of the Trade / Re: Keeping Spike tape down...

« on: Jun 18, 2007, 09:12 am »

Ack Ack!

Keep your paint pens and clear packing tape away from my marley floor!!

 

We use only spike tape (both paper and gaff style) and clear marley tape.

78

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Performance reports (split from The Hardline)

« on: Jun 14, 2007, 11:03 am »

An aside: 

I make performance reports for every show- but no one wants them!

I file them with the final production notebook, but do not distribute them... another weird little ballet quirk!

Also- I make notes every day in rehearsals as myself or my ASM are able to attend them, and then do a weekly report on rehearsal notes.

Hey Ballet SM's - what do you all do re; rehearsal reports/ show reports?

79

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Stage Management Colleges

« on: May 30, 2007, 09:01 am »

Thank you!

I figured it was UCSD- but I thought I'd better check.... and it's easier to ask my SM friends than to do the internet search..... 

80

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

« on: May 29, 2007, 04:52 pm »

If I had a dime...this seems to be a trend among quite a few PAs with whom I have worked. This may be another thread topic but does anyone have a polite but firm way of requesting of younger SMs and PAs that they "mind the gap"?

"Pull up your pants, please" always seems to work me.

I know- right?! It makes me insane... 

81

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Stage Management Colleges

« on: May 29, 2007, 11:52 am »

HEY! I think someone, somewhere on this board mentioned getting a godo education in San Diego..

2 questions: who and what university?

I've got a former dance student interest in making the transition to the dark side! 

82

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Headset Etiquette

« on: May 29, 2007, 11:41 am »

Of course, then you get into the whole stage hand/SM dynamic, which is a topic all by itself.....

You said it, brother! 

83

Employment / Re: Resume paper

« on: May 23, 2007, 04:21 pm »

Yup- I like white, too. Although I don't mind those sandpaper or grey mist colors.... as long as it's not purple or something...

When I send my resume's they're on heavy-ish cream colored resume paper.

 

84

Employment / Re: What program do people prefer for typing up resumes?

« on: May 23, 2007, 09:17 am »

To be honest if I get a SM resume with a headshot attached I immediately think "failed actor resorting to stage management".  Not someone I want managing a multi-million dollar theatre at sea!

I concur-

If I'm snail mailing I'll sometimes do an excel... I admit it!

I've only sent one resume electronically- and it went in word many, many years ago!)

I receive bunches of resume's electronically- and I prefer to receive pdf...

 

85

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: To enter theatre or not to enter theatre

« on: May 14, 2007, 10:25 am »

Yeah- note on nice vs. bossy...

I got the "you're too nice...too well-liked" note in college every single review. Like it was a bad thing. Really? The worst thing you can say about me and my stage management style is that I'm too well liked by the Actors and Directors?! Seriously.

I'm one of the very few major's who got out of my college and walked into a resident position- my dream job!~

Which I've kept for 7, nearly 8 years;and not by being bossy. 

 

86

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: SMing children!

« on: May 14, 2007, 10:10 am »

But in general, keep your patience and watch your language. Kids are observant and inquisitive, and might like to ask questions of you constantly. If you give them respectful, simple answers, they will appreciate it and generally cooperate with you....Remind them that safety is important backstage, and assure them that they are in a safe place. Keep your sense of fun and your calm demeanor.

I couldn't agree more! It's also important to remember that you will impact these kids lives- really! They will remember you and look up to you. I still get emails, graduation announcements and general updates from a couple of the kids who were in community casts of mine almost 10 years ago!

87

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Who Runs the Tech?

« on: May 14, 2007, 09:59 am »

Working in opera, I never ever get a technical rehearsal. No cue-to-cue, sometimes barely even a pause to be sure a scene change ran well. In larger companies, major set changes or special fx (fire) might get a dry run. Sometimes I would try to run shifts at the end of building calls or at the tail end of a rehearsal, but there are dicey union issues in trying to do this. Really, the lighting sessions (setting levels) are kind of considered your tech rehearsals. When the singers are onstage and the orchestra is in the pit, you're never given the time to focus on tech; Everyone just digs in and makes it happen. Miraculously, we always get through okay. But you're adjusting cues right up to opening night (and sometimes beyond).

The same in my ballet company!

88

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Let it snow! onstage

« on: May 11, 2007, 10:08 am »

We use the fx machine's for Nutcracker overthe audience- it's great!

For this show it sounds like you need the plastic stuff- we use it over stage for Nutcracker Snow Scene.

It essentially looks like ripped up white plastic grocery bags- but it's not. And I can't remember who provides it to us... I'll look into it and post again later

It looks great under blue light- but I always find myself using much more than I originally expect.

Is there a ballet company in your town? Ask them what they use for Nutcracker Snow Scene, and then see if they'll sell/loan/give you a bag.

89

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Management Guide

« on: May 10, 2007, 10:02 am »

It looks like you've got a great start! 

Keep pluging away- and may I suggest a table of contents? 

This project is something very similar to some honors thesis projects I'm familiar with.

90

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Headset Etiquette

« on: May 07, 2007, 06:49 pm »

if the sm shows no respect for others how can they expect to be respected?

aim to never say anything over headsets you wouldn't be prepared to say to someone's face

My thoughts exactly!