Messages

76

Introductions / Re: Hi there! Let’s see how this “posting” works...

« on: May 04, 2013, 09:50 pm »

Yay for another Philly SM! I just moved here this past year and love the theatre scene so much- great to see someone on here in the community too. Feel free to PM me if you ever had questions about the area/theatres etc! Welcome!

77

Introductions / Re: High School SM

« on: May 04, 2013, 07:37 am »

Welcome! It's great to see such gusto from you! Keep loving what you do!

We do what we do because we love it, not because we get paid, or are even recognized, or rewarded. We do it because we love live theatre and the challenges that it creates.

Don't be afraid the day that your mind changes about the getting paid part  I still love what I do, and live for it each day, but getting paid is an EXTREEMLY important thing as you grow. Not only for all the boring adult reasons of bills and blah, blah, blah, but it also is important that you stand up for what you do as being more than a hobby. Our skills and expertise should never be taken for granted. This isn't saying that you won't work for free- we all do our share of unpaid internships on the way up, but wait until the day that someone hands you a paycheck for doing what you love- best. day. ever.

Welcome again!

78

College and Graduate Studies / Re: What can students do to get into a SM job faster and stay in it longer?

« on: May 03, 2013, 08:49 am »

As someone who exited college with a well rounded theatre education, I have found that it is somewhat of a help and a hinderance. I did not go through an SM specific degree program so I had less Stage Management credits on my resume compared to many other recent graduates. I think that it is very important if you already know you want to stage manage to dabble in other areas of theatre (particularly sound, lighting, props and costuming for basic running knowledge that will serve you well) but to not divert too much of your time there, sacrificing your stage management time.

I personally didn't take the advice above. I did anything and everything in theatre including acting, directing, designing, every run crew, house and stage management. I love it. Stage Management was my favorite, and when I left school it is what I had done the most of, but I still went through a period of time where I felt unfocused and not sure of what I wanted to pursue. I had all of these skills and wanted to do it all. Stage management has won out (for now) and I love it. I don't personally plan on being a stage manager for my whole career- this is the first step for me, and I have a bigger plan. This is all based on 20/20 hindsight of course and everyone's path is different.

Had I wanted to start working earlier and gotten paying jobs faster, I would have specialized and taken every opportunity to work and network with other stage managers. SUMMER STOCK every year while you are in college. This keeps you career focused and connected while in school. When you graduate you have hopefully made several contacts and can have professional references for jobs. It also helps you realize what types of theatre you like to stage manage- try dance, opera, and everything else.

I know this is a little jumbled, but if you set your mind to it and really hone your skills (practical and people) you will have a great start. Goals are important, and don't forget to think about your big picture. 

79

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What's the Difference?

« on: May 02, 2013, 10:28 pm »

The Equity Deputy is a big difference as well. As I am not AEA, but involved in union productions, I understand that the elected role of an actor as the deputy is unique. This support and leadership position among the union memebers provides a check and balance to protect the actors and gives them a person to go to if they have work related concerns.

Also rules about using personal items in the show. Many college and community productions rely on the actors and technical staff to 'pitch in' and bring props/costume pieces. In Equity productions there are very detailed guidelines about compensation to actors if they have to use their own clothing/shoes/socks/etc. It is considered a rental of the actors personal property.

So, you'd be able to TRY and enforce union protocol but it would be an approximation at best.

I agree with this, as the University I attended did have a good approximation of some basic union rules. Break schedules primarily, and scheduling as well. A set of rules was signed at the begining of each show so that a sense of order was established and this was your 'contract'.  We had to aquire a specific amount of hours of tech work and/or rehearsal time for a graduation requirement so if there were situations where someone was penalized, hours would be deducted from your total.

At best this was a good way to get us as students to think about the benefits that would result from a more structured rehearsal/show setting. From personal experiance it didn't help me learn equity rules, but it did make me aware of a system with rules and consequences.

80

The Green Room / SM Tumblr

« on: Apr 29, 2013, 08:47 pm »

http://whatshouldwecallstagemanagement.tumblr.com/

I just discovered this via pintrest. I love most of it and feel that we can all relate. The SM's that run it work both at the college level and in professional theatres. What is your favorite post?

81

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Good Reads

« on: Apr 29, 2013, 08:43 pm »

Also while searching things today I stumbled across this: http://www.middlebury.edu/media/view/444123/original/sms_do_make_coffee.pdf

It is an article (previously discussed in the archives) that is kind of like an introduction to stage management. It is a really great read!

82

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Good Reads

« on: Apr 24, 2013, 10:42 pm »

Some good books I have about the technical side of theatre (outside stage management) are:

Theatrical Design and Production by J. Michael Gillette:
This is the textbook I used in college for my intro level classes in lighting and sound. I still use it as a reference when I have to tackle a technical job or problem. It has information about all aspects of technical theatre and I have not found the need to purchase any other books for basic things. I always go here first, and then google more specialized questions I may have. It also goes into makeup, costuming, scenic elements and the design process. I wouldn't suggest sitting down and reading it cover to cover (I haven't seen the need for that) but rather as a good reference book. I have the 5th edition from 2005, but it looks like they released a 7th edition last year. It is on Amazon.

Scene Painting Projects for Theatre by Stephen Sherwin:
I got this book just recently when I took a job at a high school as the TD and needed to supervise painting. It goes into depth and step by step for all sorts of theatrical painting techniques. It has really great pictures of what each step should look like. It was developed by a scenic painting teacher after he realized that a book like this doesn't exist. It is a great resource if you need this kind of specific information. I had to special order this one from Barnes and Nobel.

I agree that it is great to have a foundation in theory before you learn in a hands on way, so props to you for taking the first step. Your education is always what you make of it. I think it is really great too to have reference materials because sometimes you will have long stretches of time where you don't have to worry about anything technical, and then you get a job where you are expected to mix sound or change lamps and it is nice to be able to read up on how to do it and give yourself a refresher. You can always google these things, but there is something to be said for a good book (that is another discussion entirely!). 

Hope this helps!

83

The Green Room / Being Human vs. Professional

« on: Apr 17, 2013, 10:48 pm »

So I'm going to start by saying that this is a unique week for me. In addition to my day job I am in Tech for a High School Production that I'm doing lighting, sound and set work for (as well as random SM jobs because the SM is a student who just gives light cues) as well as my first week of rehearsals as ASM for a regional Equity house. It's a lot. More that I have done in a long time, if ever, including an hour commute to the regional theatre (each way). I'm reverting to bad eating habits, and not getting nearly enough sleep.

I found myself talking to my Director (at the High School) and my SM at the regional theatre in a much more personal way- about my lack of sleep, or how I was feeling emotionally. Normally I have a clear line between my personal life and gripes/etc and take pride in my 'professionalism'. But then I got to thinking that maybe I come off as distant or cold. How do you balance all of the outside stuff with being professional, but still being a human being. I feel like complaing about my schedule this week, even if it is in a light way, breaks down the 'professional' persona that I like to portray. Maybe it is because I still feel like I need to compansate for looking so young while being in a management position. (I actually was mistaken for a student at the school today  )

Perhaps this all belongs in a therapy session, but I was wondering if anyone else had ever felt this way. I know there are lots of different Stage Management styles out there so I was curious if anyone had thoughts.

84

Employment / Re: Telephone Interviews

« on: Apr 03, 2013, 11:52 am »

A couple of years ago I had scheduled a phone interview on the same day as an audition in NYC. I knew that I got great reception in the city so I didn't think anything of it, and my audition would be over by the time I was expecting the call. Of course things never go as planned and we hit a huge snowstorm on the way in, and by the time I got on the ferry I was two hours late, so I got the phone call in the south dock for the ferry. Funny enough, in a city that has great reception I dropped the call for the interview. I was running around the area looking for service indoors (the snow was raging outside) and finally found some in the middle of the space. So I stood there and called back, having to navigate the telephone prompts to get back to my interviewer.

I apologised for the dropped call and then stood there for about half an hour for my interview holding my suitcase and stressing about the security guards with their dogs who were starting to look at me like I was crazy, but I knew if I moved more that a foot or so I would drop the call again.

In the end I did get the job, but my future boss let me know that she wasn't going to try calling me back- if I hadn't had the persistance to call back and make it work I would have been out of a job.

85

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Millikin?

« on: Mar 26, 2013, 10:45 pm »

Wow! Awesome responses.. thank you everyone! I have a lot to think about. Hopefully my decision becomes easier as I visit these colleges.

Visits sure will help. It sounds cliche, but when I visited the campus of the school I attended, I just knew it was where I wanted to be.  I didn't have a huge list of things I needed, but when they pitched the school it was a good fit. I didn't go to the biggest or best school out there and I'm doing just fine. I didn't even know what a stage manager was when I went into college, so that says something considering I'm working quite well now in the industry.

Trust your gut. While college should primarily be about your education the rest of your life is really important too; make sure you are going to be happy and comfortable where you are.

86

The Green Room / ARTICLE: "The Busy Trap"

« on: Mar 26, 2013, 10:00 pm »

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/

A really great article, got me thinking. I am currently working 3 jobs (ASM, Tech Director for a High School, and my day job in Sales) and I find myself kind of lost when I don't have work (on the very rare occassion!). I have literally scheduled myself to the brink, and kept taking on work as long as there were enough hours in the day. I don't stress out about work anymore, but I tend to feel the need to make lists so I feel productive in my time off- what a weird kind of paradox I'm living.

I look back at my summer in France- the author talks about a friend who moved there and discovered a new lifestyle- and I have always thought of it as a 'turning point' for me. They really do value their lives and time outside of work or school, and I learned to take a chill pill and stop stressing about work. I think I am much more relaxed now in work situations and it is one of the big reasons I feel I do well in Stage Management- but have I just switched things around and now stress about my downtime?

I have the next two days off, and I'm going to try and not make a list or stick to things I must do (although a trip to visit family is planned). The biggest challenge I think will to tell myself that it is completly okay to waste a couple of hours on trashy tv, or a video game. It's not a waste of time- it is my life and downtime is okay. We'll see how it goes.

87

Tools of the Trade / Re: Email Best Practices for Teams

« on: Mar 20, 2013, 11:44 am »

My biggest pet peeve is people that use SMS talk in email.  "u" "r" "wif"

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!  Am I the last person on the planet to still use complete sentences?

You are not- I am always checking grammer and sentance structure. Of course I also married an English Teacher so I have my very own editor for all of my important e-mails and submissions.

I get a lot of shortened replies to e-mails when it also has the disclaimer "Sent from my iPhone" or something similar. I feel like the fact that that disclaimer is there is giving us the excuses to use shorthand. When I had e-mail on my phone (something I got rid of for many reasons- a whole different thread!) I found it a pain to format proper responses, but would try my best to have professional looking format and never shortened words or used 'textspeak'.

I think that the issue of response time addressed in the article is something that I always take issue with. Perhaps because I have had e-mail for a good portion of my life, and was always excited to hear "you've got mail!",  I am more prone to check my e-mail and respond right away. It does annoy me when I don't hear back from someone for a few days. I was actually taken aback the other day when a set designer I was working with at the local high school apologised in person for 'all those e-mails I sent you today'. We had sent maybe 6 e-mails alltogether to work through some scheduling issues. I didn't think that it was a lot of e-mails at all... I guess it is all perception.

88

Employment / Re: Interview Scheduling

« on: Mar 15, 2013, 02:21 pm »

To keep everyone updated, we finally were able to schedule a phone interview inbetween shows this past wednesday. When I spoke to my current Stage Manager, turns out she is working pre-production with the woman who interviewed me, so we all realized how absolutly crazy scheduling was.

It went as well as a phone interview could and I should know in a week or so. Thanks for helping me stay positive!

89

Employment / Re: Day jobs that are related, but also work with SM scheduling

« on: Mar 15, 2013, 02:19 pm »

Here's my advice.

Don't work a day job.

Or if you have to, set a time period like 6 or 9 months.  In that time, pay off as much debt as you can, and figure out how to leave as lean and tight as you can.

At some point, if you are going to do this full time, as your career - it needs to pay you, as a career does.  If you give yourself an out - like a day job - it allows you to take either take low/no-paying jobs.  These can be great for building up your resume, but eventually you need to make money at this.

You also run the risk of discovering that indeed, you day job is infinitely more appealing then stage managing - and the day job will take over your life - why?  because it's easier and more secure - and chances are, more lucrative.
Now, if you want to work in the field with a day job . . . then things like box office, office admin for a theater, rentals, etc would work.  Or, just find a nice office temp job. 

Thank you. This is something that I need to hear. I am struggling right now with my day job. I work 100% on commission selling appliances, and love it. However, I have ALWAYS put theatre first. In fact I have a crazy resume of day jobs that have only been short term because I need flexibility and if it isn't provided, I don't have a problem with leaving.

Lately I have been feeling guilty because my manager is amazingly flexible. I was very upfront about my schedule and career goals in theatre when I was hired, but they took me on anyway and have been great. My manager has in fact been the one to straight up tell me that I need to take a theatre job I was considering not doing because of a bigger time commitment. I am a very hard worker and really do well for myself and the company when I'm there. The biggest benefit is that I can make a full time paycheck on part time work with commission. It is very hard though to go in every day and work with people who have made this their career though- they have a great way of making you feel like you need to choose and are taking away their money, but I must remind myself that I have bills to pay too, and right now theatre isn't covering everything with the lifestyle I want to lead.

Last year was the first year that the majority of my income was from theatre jobs (yay!) so I know I'm taking the steps I need too. My goal is to continue in this direction and really break into my market and leave the day jobs behind. I am taking active steps towards that goal, and I think that is what you need to keep in mind if you want this as a career- theatre first, whatever the sacrifices may be. 

90

The Green Room / Re: Show me your mugs! (Or water bottles)

« on: Mar 14, 2013, 11:28 pm »

It's from Contingo. I snagged this bad boy on sale at Caribou Coffee at half off, it's been the best travel mug I've ever had. It's vacuum sealed - none of that wimpy double walled only stuff and it keeps my coffee hot for 6 hours - not 'kinda hot after 3 hours', but HOT after 5 hours and starts getting warm after the 6th. LOVE. IT.

I COMPLETELY AGREE. My host family in Alaska let me borrow one of these when I worked on the Opera there and it was AMAZING. I took my hot tea out into below zero weather and it was still piping hot for hours into rehearsal. Just awesome.