76
The Green Room / Re: Things You'll Never Hear a Stage Manager Say
« on: Dec 07, 2006, 07:33 am »
"Let's just wing it."
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14 Jan 2021: Happy 21st birthday, SMNetwork! I replaced the old broken mobile theme. -K
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77
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Cleaning a Scrim
« on: Dec 06, 2006, 10:50 am »
I'd call Rosebrand was well. They're really good about helping people even if it's not thier product.
78
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Happy Stage Management Memories?
« on: Nov 28, 2006, 04:21 pm »
I have so many fond memories of my time with headsets on I can't pick one.
Saying "Ok, House out..." and listening to the din in the house die down.
When your ASM's start finishing your sentences.
When your ASM's start starting your sentences.
When the tension is so tight in the theater that the silence actually becomes a character in the show.
That moment when you finally realize that the audience is going to stand up.
That moment during rehearsals when the chaos becomes a show.
That moment a cast becomes a family.
When the cast and crew are clicking so well that you saying go causes a scene and lighting change that brings the audience to clap.
The perfect light focus.
The perfect facial expression.
The sniffles over quiet sad dialog.
The raucous laughter over funny dialog.
When the audience gets up and dances.
Stopping the show... because of the show.
When a show I'm working on is called anything but "cute"
When you can close your prompt book with a smile.
When you get to say "Great Show everyone, call time tomorrow is... "
The moment when life stops... the show starts... and things suddenly makes sense... that my favorite moment.
Saying "Ok, House out..." and listening to the din in the house die down.
When your ASM's start finishing your sentences.
When your ASM's start starting your sentences.
When the tension is so tight in the theater that the silence actually becomes a character in the show.
That moment when you finally realize that the audience is going to stand up.
That moment during rehearsals when the chaos becomes a show.
That moment a cast becomes a family.
When the cast and crew are clicking so well that you saying go causes a scene and lighting change that brings the audience to clap.
The perfect light focus.
The perfect facial expression.
The sniffles over quiet sad dialog.
The raucous laughter over funny dialog.
When the audience gets up and dances.
Stopping the show... because of the show.
When a show I'm working on is called anything but "cute"
When you can close your prompt book with a smile.
When you get to say "Great Show everyone, call time tomorrow is... "
The moment when life stops... the show starts... and things suddenly makes sense... that my favorite moment.
79
SMNetwork Archives / Thanksgiving
« on: Nov 22, 2006, 03:08 pm »
Just wanted to say hi and Happy Thanksgiving on one of the things I'm most thankful for... smnetwork!!
81
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Free Stuff
« on: Nov 21, 2006, 02:19 pm »
Ok how does one score these free things?
82
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: To Capitalize or not capitalize...
« on: Nov 16, 2006, 01:42 pm »
See here I thought it was "Equity trumps everything."
83
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Who makes the best SM's?
« on: Nov 09, 2006, 07:40 am »Quote
what are other qualities that folks can come up with
ESP
Calm under fire
Problem solver
Compassionate
Disciplined
Thoughtful
Thorough
Discrete
Professional
Polite
Steadfast
that's all I got right now.
84
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Who makes the best SM's?
« on: Nov 07, 2006, 04:08 pm »
I think this post wins the award for farthest stray only to return to topic possibly later... maybe
Being a straight man and a stage manager I think we're pretty good... I have to clear that with the floor lamp though.
Being a straight man and a stage manager I think we're pretty good... I have to clear that with the floor lamp though.
85
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stage Manager's Job During Performances
« on: Nov 07, 2006, 03:46 pm »
It is amazing though what some peoples idea of what a stage manager is.
One company I work with thinks a Stage Manager is someone who come in the Monday of tech week and then just sort of oversees things on stage. Doesn't call cues, unless you mean saying "clear" to bring up lights during a blackout is calling cues. No blocking notation, no contact sheets, no rehearsal schedules, no production binder, nothing.
Luckily I'm working with a great Director who is letting me show them what a stage manager can do as opposed to should do.
One company I work with thinks a Stage Manager is someone who come in the Monday of tech week and then just sort of oversees things on stage. Doesn't call cues, unless you mean saying "clear" to bring up lights during a blackout is calling cues. No blocking notation, no contact sheets, no rehearsal schedules, no production binder, nothing.
Luckily I'm working with a great Director who is letting me show them what a stage manager can do as opposed to should do.
86
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: 8 rehearsals 'til tech week and i can't sleep
« on: Nov 07, 2006, 02:59 pm »Quote
Out like a fat kid in dodgeball
I hated that... then there was no one to hide behind...
87
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: 8 rehearsals 'til tech week and i can't sleep
« on: Nov 06, 2006, 02:21 pm »Quote
"All things are not of equal importance."
Try printing that out and putting it on a sign where not only the 1000 people who are going to come to you with problems... but you also... can see it. At times I've found myself pointing to it when I couldn't answer a question because I was in a hold, while moving around light cues.
If you can't print it... White Gaff and a Black Sharpie work just as well.
Breathe, classical music, tea... just remember in the end. "We ain't landing planes." It's a show and it's supposed to be fun. You want everything to be perfect and you strive to be that way but if something happens... it's the beauty of live theater. 9 times out 10 it's the stage manager that can adapt and overcome that is the hero.
88
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Calling/teching your first show, your experiences.
« on: Nov 01, 2006, 01:31 pm »
I barely remember mine. I just remember sitting on stage afterwards going how the heck did I do that? The second though through my mind was "Ok.. What's Next"
I usually go into tech week expecting the show to take a step back pace wise. You're integrating the final aspects and it takes time to get into the swing. My goal is usually to make the next rehearsal better.
Keep it up oso.. you'll be just fine.
I usually go into tech week expecting the show to take a step back pace wise. You're integrating the final aspects and it takes time to get into the swing. My goal is usually to make the next rehearsal better.
Keep it up oso.. you'll be just fine.
89
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / TECH: Red and Yellow and Blue and Green (spike tape)
« on: Oct 30, 2006, 01:07 pm »
Two quick questions, whats the consenus on spike tape color, everyone use different colors or does everyone use the same color?
and
If you use different colors do you split it by scene or by piece? In other words act 1 scene 1 is the blue spikes or the sofa goes on the blue spikes?
and
If you use different colors do you split it by scene or by piece? In other words act 1 scene 1 is the blue spikes or the sofa goes on the blue spikes?
90
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: I'm looking for advice
« on: Oct 30, 2006, 11:37 am »
The thing to remember is that you need to stay as professional and mature as possible. Everything should be "please" and "thank you". Not "Shut Up!" - not even - "Quiet" Try "Quiet, Please". You might be surprised. ("Shut Up, please" doesn't count)
The fact that your director is making a "kid" (pardon my French
) do the work that she as a teacher should be doing is part of the problem. When it comes to "yelling at the cast" be careful. What I can say from my work with guys your age is the second you start "yelling" you sound like one of the teachers that everyone hates.
Also young-adults tend to think that they can "guilt" a cast into working for them by using sarcasm, or other off the cuff comments... it won't work. It'll push away the kids that don't respond to you and it might cause those that are responding to stop.
We've all had "those" actors and trust me it doesn't stop in high school, I do alot of work with mixed cast of young adult, children and adults and the last show I worked on the 7th grader in the cast was more mature and professional then a 24 year old in the cast. At one point or another you have to be able to say "I've done everything I could, I'm just going to do my job and that's it."
All in all remember that the cast takes it's queues from you, in more ways that one, if you come to rehearsal all bummed out and making like things are gonna suck... guess what...
Break a leg and keep us posted!
The fact that your director is making a "kid" (pardon my French
) do the work that she as a teacher should be doing is part of the problem. When it comes to "yelling at the cast" be careful. What I can say from my work with guys your age is the second you start "yelling" you sound like one of the teachers that everyone hates.Also young-adults tend to think that they can "guilt" a cast into working for them by using sarcasm, or other off the cuff comments... it won't work. It'll push away the kids that don't respond to you and it might cause those that are responding to stop.
We've all had "those" actors and trust me it doesn't stop in high school, I do alot of work with mixed cast of young adult, children and adults and the last show I worked on the 7th grader in the cast was more mature and professional then a 24 year old in the cast. At one point or another you have to be able to say "I've done everything I could, I'm just going to do my job and that's it."
All in all remember that the cast takes it's queues from you, in more ways that one, if you come to rehearsal all bummed out and making like things are gonna suck... guess what...
Break a leg and keep us posted!