Messages

76

The Green Room / Re: Health Realted Issue

« on: Jul 19, 2016, 01:50 am »

If the performer could potentially miss periods of the rehearsal or show, or worse is putting himself or herself in danger, do you have an obligation to act:

1) To protect of the performer?
2) To insure continuity and viability of the production?
3) To insulate the theatre from liability?

Some, none, or all of the above?  An interesting ethical question.

77

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament IV: Trivia's Revenge!!

« on: Jul 03, 2016, 03:25 am »

I am making an effort to get back into the trivia game!  Since moving away from the US I have missed my Friday night pub trivia... 

78

Tools of the Trade / Re: Creating a collapsing stone wall set.

« on: Jun 27, 2016, 03:53 am »

Foam bricks and SFX.

79

Employment / Re: How far are you willing to travel?

« on: Jun 22, 2016, 02:10 am »

My commute is currently about 40 minutes.  I strongly prefer to keep it under 30 minutes, but the job site I'm working on is in the middle of the desert - so I'll take the extra 10 minutes and live in an inhabitable environment 

Some interesting numbers as your commute gets longer - let's say you have an hour commute to/from work every day.  If you work 5 days a week that adds up to 520 hours/year commuting; at 6 days you're up to 624 hours/year.  That is a LOT of time that is essentially wasted.  You're not able to monetize it in any way, and you're not able to enjoy it with friends, family, or other leisure activities. 

If your commute is 15 minutes each way, you spend 130 hours/year commuting on a 5-day workweek.  So that is almost 400 hours/year difference than living an hour away.

Unsurprisingly, long commutes have a negative effect on your personal life.  There have been studies done that show if one partner in a marriage has a commute longer than 45 minutes, divorce rates go up by 40%. 

Another interesting bit on the money side:

Greater pay often doesn’t mean greater happiness.

Imagine you get a 30% bump in salary… but have to drive an extra hour to get to work and back. According to another study, economists determined that in order to make an extra hour of commuting time pay off in terms of personal satisfaction and commitment, a 40% increase in pay is needed.

Or put another way, a few thousand dollars a year more won’t make you happier if you have to drive an extra hour every day to earn it — and that drive will take more time away from your relationship.

80

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Master Cue Sheet

« on: Jun 15, 2016, 08:39 am »

High school theatre, Matthew. I know for me "tech rehearsal" in high school involved learning to call cues that were already written by the faculty. Most of our tech process was teaching large numbers of students how to push wagons, shuffle props and walk on a rake, though.

And making sure the guys on rail didn't crash a batten onto students' heads 

81

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: REPORTS: Report/Notes Language

« on: Jun 14, 2016, 05:38 am »

So - for audience notes, I don't think Jonas' and Leastlikely's statements are mutually exclusive.  I agree it's best to abstain for evaluative statements, but saying "the audience laughed" is a factual statement.  Saying "the audience found the line funny" is evaluative and makes assumptions as to the thoughts and emotions of individual audience members.  It's a subtle difference, but an important one. 

82

The Green Room / Re: Birth Order

« on: Jun 12, 2016, 05:00 am »

Oldest here... I guess we're a bossy bunch?

83

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Hanging an actor....

« on: Jun 06, 2016, 11:59 am »

Agree w/ MAC - if you need to do it on stage in view of the audience, engage professionals.

If you don't have the budget for that - get creative.  Can you do a shadow gag with projection or something similar?

84

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Contract Dispute... Advice?

« on: May 29, 2016, 12:51 am »

Can you clarify one point?

You reference the figure of $1,000 that was agreed by both parties.  Was this $1,000 figure agreed for your completion of both "legs" of the run, then your scheduling conflict arose after that agreement?

If the answer to this question is "yes", then it's not reasonable for you to expect payment for the full length of the run while only completing half of it. 

If the $1,000 figure was agreed after your scheduling conflict was on the table and known, then you're completely within your right to expect full payment.  If it were me, I would not budge on this amount. 

85

The Green Room / Re: Production Haikus

« on: May 03, 2016, 02:38 am »

Hi Michelle!

This is a great Haiku to describe what you (we) went through on this last production! May I use it?

I was a pleasure working with you and thank you for telling me about this website!

Toria

Welcome Highlandstarr
This thread is Haiku only!
Please rephrase your post

86

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: 'Hamilton' producers to share profits with original cast

« on: Apr 21, 2016, 03:57 pm »

It's cool that the producers of this show are willing to share profits - it's their profit and should be dispensed at their discretion.

In terms of actors (and SMs, musicians, technicians, costumers, etc.) looking for a negotiated share of profits on future shows - the bar to clear is this: if you would like X% of profit, are you willing to either A) assume X% of liabilities if the show is a financial loser and/or B) work for a lower salary or nothing for the chance of a windfall later?  The answer, of course, is no.  So it'll likely be a non starter.

87

Employment / Re: Dubai Opera Job Postings

« on: Apr 19, 2016, 09:03 am »

Thanks. My other concern would be that Middle Eastern cultures tend to be challenges for women in perceived positions of power or leadership. I would probably be ok as an ASM but I would worry that as SM, it's my battles being heard by men from the 80s all over again.

Assume the pay rates are very nice, yes?

Thanks, I will consider applying.

So - I'm here building a few theme parks, and I'm here only for this project - so my frame of reference is limited to this project.  I work with VERY few local Emiratis or nationals from other GCC countries.  Most of the folks on the show side of things are Westerners.  Most of the folks on the construction side are from India, Pakistan, etc... 

I have seen men from some of the more "traditional" cultures interact with Western women in positions of authority here.  The first reaction is usually some shock that *gasp* a woman is in a position of authority.  From my limited exposure here, though, once it's immediately clear that the woman they are talking to knows her shit then it's OK. 

As far as pay rates, I couldn't really tell you.  My situation is a bit unique in that I'm a full time employee of my employer  in the US, and I signed a temporary assignment contract to come work out of our office in Dubai to complete the project. 

Dubai is an interesting place, really.  It's a true melting pot of cultures.  While I've never felt unsafe here or even a threat of terrorism, the reality is we're really close to a whole lot of people who don't like Westerners at all.  It wouldn't take much for things to go sideways here.  I've got a folder at home that has our passports, all important documents, and enough cash to get home.  If things do descend, I'm fully prepared to grab my wife and that folder, drive my car to the airport, put us on a plane with only the clothes on our backs, and never look back.  It's a weird thing to have in the back of your mind.

88

Employment / Re: Dubai Opera Job Postings

« on: Apr 19, 2016, 01:20 am »

I am a little afraid to apply - as a woman and as a westerner. Can you speak to this a bit, since you are currently working in the region?

Hey Pat - I've been working and living in the region since October.  The questions you ask are pretty natural of any Westerner (man or woman) coming over here, and are questions I asked myself before coming over.  In terms of culture, safety, etc. Dubai is really an island in the middle of a pretty turbulent region.  There really is zero tolerance for any kind of crime.  Offenses that would be considered a misdemeanor in the US can land you in jail or deported here.  The anecdote that was presented to me was that you can leave your car running in the middle of the street and it will run out of gas before it's stolen.

Honestly, I am less worried about crime here than I was while living in major US cities.  My wife has been living here now for a few months and hasn't had any problems or ever felt unsafe.

There is definitely a cultural adjustment, but that part is to be expected - and there really is tolerance (in the true definition of the word) here for global cultures.

Also, as someone in the LGBT community (and it's quite visually obvious), I'd be interested in your response to this.

So, this one is a bit different than Pat's post as homosexuality here is technically illegal.  There most certainly are LGBT folks here and living quite prosperously without issue, but you're walking a line as any romantic encounters could put you in jeopardy.  Are police knocking down doors hunting for LGBT folks?  No, absolutely not - but laws here are selectively enforced.  What's technically illegal and has been ignored for months could be enforced tomorrow. 

If it were me, I'd have trouble living somewhere where a major component of my personal life/existence was not legal.  Unless you're OK with putting your personal life on hold for a year or two while you live here (the experience is definitely one of a kind) I wouldn't recommend this region for LGBT folks.

89

Introductions / Re: Did you know?

« on: Apr 14, 2016, 05:01 am »

In my heart, Pluto will always be a planet.

90

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Shadowing: General Q&A

« on: Apr 14, 2016, 05:00 am »

Hi everyone! Last week I was able to shadow a stage manager on a Broadway show for the first time! I have tried emailing the production's enquiries email in the past, but never got a response. This time I went to go see a musical on Broadway  and during intermission, I asked the House manager to pass on a note to one of the stage managers. In the note I briefly explained some information about myself, such as how I got involved in theatre and how passionate about it I am, then asked to shadow a calling of the show and left my email and phone number. They emailed back the next day and I shadowed another one of their shows. I highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in stage managing because it was an incredible experience and it was amazing to talk to the stage managers and crew and see what stage managing is really like on a professional level!!!

Great tactic!  Glad this worked out for you.