Messages

76

Homework Help / Re: Thesis Research

« on: Feb 19, 2010, 05:35 pm »

Bumping this thread for a friend!

Please, if anyone can respond to even one of these questions for Renee it would be much appreciated. This really could be a very useful collaborative effort on effective crisis management.

Thanks!
BLee

77

Tools of the Trade / Re: iPad: What do you think?

« on: Jan 27, 2010, 08:07 pm »

I've been excited about this announcement for awhile now. I would personally love to have one, but the problem is it would serve no ultimate purpose. It is like portable internet with a sufficient sized screen when you break it down. The purposes I would want it for (internet, ereader, note system) can easily be covered by other devices at much cheaper prices. I already have a 13" macbook so if I invest in a $260 B&N Nook then I have all the capabilities. If I ever went on tour I bet with a little creativity it could become a very useful device.

I don't care for the name though. There were plenty of other better options and when I think iPad, this is what comes to mind:

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78

The Green Room / Re: "How to get a job as a stage manager"

« on: Dec 17, 2009, 11:53 am »

"You will need to purchase a first-aid kit when you are hired"...

Really? I mean, I have one in my kit just in case, but I guess I never realized that a first-aid kit was a job requirement...or that I should be bringing my first-aid kit to my job interviews. I knew I was doing something wrong... 

79

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Transferring?

« on: Dec 05, 2009, 09:05 pm »

Based on how you answered those questions I think you should look into Stephens. I transferred here into the stage management program 2.5 year ago. It is structured as a 3 year 2 summer program so you are going to school almost year round (with generous breaks). It is a private woman's college, but that means that the sm program is wide open. I was the only 100% SM for my year and am graduating with 9 SM credits and 3 ASM credits (one of those was an internship I did during my first summer after the school program ended). On top of that I have numerous other credits in design and backstage work.

For class you are required to take 2 SM courses, plus you will end up taking extra SM classes that related to which shows you SM for class credit and one-on-one time. You are required to take a lot of design courses and the level one courses for every section of theatre. They encourage well rounded education, but the emphasis is in theatre and your career as opposed to too many general education courses. All of my credits transferred in, which put me ahead of the crowd here.

As a matter of fact...I'm going to PM you more details so I don't crowd up the boards.

80

The Green Room / Re: Holiday countdown!

« on: Dec 02, 2009, 05:05 pm »

I wanna play!

10 days until I graduate with my BFA
13 days until I move
14 days until holiday dinner with Dad's side of the family
22 days (perhaps 23 days) until Christmas with Mom's side of the family
10 gifts until holiday shopping complete (theoretically, but last minute gifts always become necessary!)

81

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student SM Challenge #9: 30 minutes to save the world

« on: Nov 13, 2009, 12:40 pm »

Step 1: Deep breath.
Step 2: Skim through prompt book. Make note of what the different cues look like and how they are marked in the script. Jot notes of questions I have dealing with calling the show.
Step 3: Check in with ASM. Is there anything specific I should be aware of? Ask any of the questions I had dealing with the prompt script.
Step 4: Quickly meet the crew and ask if there is anything they needed of me during the performance. Ask them how the other SM gave them cues. For example, are they used to hearing Light Cue #...go or just hearing #...go. I would request of them for the night to make sure to keep communicating with me. I would ask for verbal standbys and completions for the night.
Step 5: Set up the area I am calling from. Look at the stage and know the scenery. Meet the cast members and figure out which character(s) they play.
Step 6: Re-check in with the ASM before calling places.

The nice thing about my college that I plan to take into the professional world with me is a Pre-show checklist that has all the times that certain events should happen by (like props checked in, light checks completed, etc). If I had to walk into a situation like this I would be extremely grateful just to have a timetable of who to check in with and when. Anything that could assure me that everyone knows what their doing is helpful and would build my confidence.

82

Employment / Remy Bumppo Theatre in Chicago

« on: Nov 12, 2009, 09:55 pm »

I have been called to have a phone interview with a company called Remy Bumppo in Chicago, IL. The reviews are great about the productions, but I don't know much about the inner workings of the company.

Has any worked for them before?

83

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Are your shows safe from busses?

« on: Nov 11, 2009, 03:46 pm »

I have always done my best to abide by the bus theory, but I agree Mac, that what we feel is prepared is often not enough for a complete stranger to call the show. For instance, I also make my markings clear (LQ#, SQ_, etc) or at least as clear as I can. A replacement SM could probably figure my system out pretty quickly.

My personal shortfall when I analyze my own system is where I mark the cues. I mark where the cue actually should occurs, which means that when I am talking I begin talking just slightly before where the cue is marked and anticipate the Go based on my experience with the operator. I know other SMs who have said they mark in the script differently.

There is so much to SMing that is instinct and experience. I know I could not possibly write absolutely everything down. I have a lot of scribbles on dated pages of a legal pad, but I can't imagine most of that making much sense to someone who wasn't there at the time that note was written down. Who has time to go through a prompt script and crucial paperwork and detail out every single cue?

In the past I've been lucky that had something really bad happened to me I know someone could step in and others on the team could catch them up enough to survive. When an important member of the team is out for the night it is my experience that others on the team step up to fill the space so the pressure on any replacements in minimal.

84

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Sharing Paperwork or Copying Paperwork, where is the line?

« on: Nov 07, 2009, 08:22 pm »

Wow, the part that is hard to swallow in the story is the fact you were out for 5 days and they replaced you. Was it the nasty H1N1 or another bug that cut you down for the week? Personally with this "epidemic" as they are now calling it sweeping the nation I would think having 5 days out would be requested to prevent the whole company from getting it (we have had entire businesses and classes shut down because someone with the swine infected the entire crowd).

As for passing on the paperwork, since it is for the same production with the same company I feel the new SM is almost obligated to use the same format due to consistency issues. There is nothing more annoying than having the format, fonts, and style of paperwork suddenly change mid-production. For everyone involved it would seem more harm to change than to just stick with what they know. I wouldn't take it as a personal theft from you than the new SM deciding to do what is simplest for everyone involved. Chances are I bet they have their own templates but are choosing not to use them since he is the replacement.

I can understand being upset they replaced you so quickly and gave all your paperwork away, but the actual use of your paperwork doesn't strike me as a key issue.

85

Tools of the Trade / Re: Fog/Haze that wont set off a very sensitive smoke alarm

« on: Oct 19, 2009, 11:22 pm »

Another thing is that we're able to put the whole system into test mode if necessary.  The caveat to putting the whole system into test is that, if that were needed during a show, we would need a "fire watch" - one or more fire-fighters or fire marshalls who are on hand backstage during the performance.

I don't know if it was test mode that we used, but when I was apart of a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat we had a couple dozen live flames on stage and used a couple other small special effects of that sort. I remember every night we had a firefighter in the audience in a specific seat for the 'fire watch' purpose. I can't specifically remember if we had tied up the fire alarm system every night or if our particular area/venue simply required fire protection services with open flame on stage.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Choice of Stage Managment Colleges

« on: Oct 17, 2009, 03:20 am »

May I suggest taking a look into Stephens College in Columbia, MO. It is a women's college, but as a transfer you will get the best of what you have mentioned. It is a very career oriented college. I came in as a transfer and only had to take two additional mandatory gen ed classes. The department is very close knit. Over a course of two and a half years I have stage managed/asm'd 6 mainstage shows in addition to tons of shows in our student run theatre (as well as have designed shows and even directed). You go to two summer programs with intense tech training (which actors also participate in) in addition to the school semesters. Basically it is a program where you will always be working on a show.

If you would like more information let me know. I'll be graduating this December. I know it isn't exactly East Coast but I seriously believe if you want a widespread array of opportunities as well as a strong resume and training for post-grad work that Stephens would be an excellent choice. On top of everything else we also have a good sized alumni network who are active in helping our graduates out.

87

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Electronic interuptions during a performance

« on: Oct 13, 2009, 04:19 pm »

As an SM, have you been in a situation like this before?  How did you handle it?  How did your cast handle it?  What might you have done differently?

This past summer I had issues of audience members taking pictures mid-show. Albeit it was without the flash, but still a lot of copyright/intellectual property issues in my opinion. This is a huge pet peeve to me, almost bigger than vibrating phones (but not comparable to loud ringtones midshow).

My solution was to note the exact seats were photography was spotted and having the house manager inform those individuals personally. After the first show it became a bigger deal to specify there is NO photography during the show instead of the typical "please no flash photography as it is distracting..." etc etc. I think the way many theaters I have attended give their pre-show speeches almost makes non-flash photography seem permissive.

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Wave - SMNetwork Sandbox

« on: Oct 13, 2009, 04:11 pm »

I would love to test it out. Could be useful in some of the work I might like to go into.

--Invite sent!--

89

Employment / Re: Child Wrangling

« on: Sep 16, 2009, 07:15 pm »

Check out the Music@Menlo internship program. I remember they had two girls who were child coordinators. Great job, plus a stipend in Northern California.

M@M is a classical music festival that has a music camp for school aged children. The children are a lot of fun and very talented.

http://www.musicatmenlo.org/

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How can I find these props???

« on: Sep 04, 2009, 10:51 am »

Most areas have Renaissance Faire groups close by. If you contact someone from there they could probably lead you to a vendor who makes them for a living. That of course requires money so it is understandable if that is not an option. The Faire might have a storage of them to lend you possibly. If you can get to a party store, sometimes they will have the "Tiki" themes that sometimes have fake wood bowls and silverware. They can look cheesy close up but usually don't read too badly onstage.

Tarot cards would be at any kind of mystical shop. Ask around, I bet someone you know has a pack somewhere nearby. Also, Barnes and Noble carries basic kits for a reasonable price.

Brooms are pretty easy to make. Two thick dowel rods, loose (but strong) straw, thin-ish rope. Use the rope to tightly attach the stiff straw pieces to the bottom of the dowel rods. You can round off the top of the dowel rod to look most realistic.

Trumpets can be borrowed from the band room I would imagine. Normally they have spares lying around.