Messages

76

Stage Management: Other / Re: How to break into Music?

« on: Jan 10, 2009, 11:42 pm »

On the more classical  or 'fine' music front there are a couple of options. Festivals of different kinds might employ stage managers to look after whole programmes of music. For example at the Perth International Arts Festival in West Australia, they have both a contemporary music program manager and a fine music program manager(who also does jazz). I was employed for several festivals to 'stage manage' (ie wrangle on the ground) the chamber music series and several large classical concerts where the festival was directly employing the soloists and conductor and working with the state symphony. ALways fun. I didnt call much in the way of cues but did ensure artists requirements, transport, got them onstage, took them to the doctor, wrangled curtain calls, directed the crew, etc. Perth Festival also employ a stage manager in the festival's contemp music venue - basically bands and soloists on and offstage all night plus other roving acts occasionally. I would think many multi arts or specialist music festivals would employ such staff. Contact them direct. dont wait for adverts.

other ideas: Folk festivals often ask for volunteers to stage manage venues with the festival. often outdoors or in a marquee - good way to get experience perhaps.

Opera : you have to be able to read music quite well even to asm in opera. if you can do that and you know how to stage manage then just apply.

in australia most classical orchestras have a role called somthing like 'concert manager' or 'orchestral assistant' These roles are all about logistics. getting the orchestra onstage - dont do it if you don't like music stands! - really the stage manager of the orchestral world.

77

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Who is part of the crew and who is part of the creative team?

« on: Jan 09, 2009, 11:45 am »

The contact list is about you (and anyone else you are going to give it to) having all the info you need to hand, wherever you are, whenever you need it. So list all the people you might ever want to contact! If you are giving it cast and visiting creatives it might be useful to include a few local numbers like the office (incl fax & address), box office and taxi option. also any hotels anyone is staying at (airline flight arrival hotline if working a festival with arriving artists etc).
If more than 2 pages consider putting it on an A3 folded page as almost a mini brochure (opera company size and the like)
Can be helpful to list people's roles or titles under their names for those less familiar with the cast/ visiting creatives.

78

Tools of the Trade / Re: Glass breaking

« on: Jan 08, 2009, 11:33 pm »

one of my first gigs we used sugar martini glasses in a tiny venue. But the glass broke when there was a gunshot so as best i recall the actual breaking sound was probably masked. Looked ok though.
Hmm, its a difficult one! Can you do a few sugar glass experiments - how much time do you have to sort this out? - I cant see a way of safely breaking actual glass so sugar is probably going to be your best bet.

79

Employment / What else can you do to get the job?

« on: Jan 02, 2009, 10:21 am »

We all send out resumes (I assume!), not necessarily in response to an ad for an actual vacancy, but just trying to get into the in tray (and mind)of hirers at the 'right moment'. Personally, I  believe I have always written GREAT cover letters but I always posted them as I was terrible at 'cold calling' for work. I don't think I ever got a job from this process alone, although at one company the Production Manager eventually hired me after several years of sending resumes -  but only after a friend in their wardrobe department put my name forward when a contracted SM withdrew.

I expect most people here are reading this and going "how stupid is she? Of course you need to follow up..." But does anyone have any tips on the best ways to do this to share with the less experienced or shy amongst us?  Or any other thought on making your job search efforts count? 

Sometimes just reading other people's ideas is enough to make one screw courage to the sticking point and try something that seems difficult - like hand delivering resumes.

Last year I had to hire a lot of staff; some in response to adverts, some through recommendations and friends and other staff. One of my first appointments was of a person who, when I first received her request for the selection criteria, I wrote off because she lived 3000 kms away and I hadn't expected to attract any applicants from out of town ( or budgeted removal costs). But she kept popping up - she phoned to discuss the role; she sent in a strong application by mail; she phoned again a few days later with the excuse of checking that we had received the application and had some more conversation - in short she made sure she was a 'real person' to us before the phone interview. Of course she also interviewed well or we wouldnt have given her the job, but she sure did everything she could to aid her own chances.

A few months later I heard of a job going that I thought I would like but wasn't sure I would be qualified for. I contacted two or three people who might know the employer and asked what they thought of my chances. One of them happened to be meeting with the employer later that day so I asked him to bring my name into the conversation (which he did). Turned out the employer was actively seeking applicants, not just relying on the advertisements, and she later called me and asked me to apply - the rest is history as it is my current job!  I did also make big efforts to do everything you are supposed to do including calling all my referees and telling them about the job and why I thought I would be good for it (turned out one of them had also already suggested me to the employer, oh yes it is a small industry / world) See I have improved!

Even simple things like telling everyone you know that you need work/putting it out there on Facebook might be helpful in the great job search.

Any other ideas people have to share would be welcome.

Yours formerly in endless freelance jobsearch anguish,
ChaCha

80

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Is it necessary to get a degree in Stage Management?

« on: Dec 30, 2008, 07:59 am »

Hi Idleuphoria, Nice to see you around the boards. There has been some recent discussion about living and working in NY which might be of interest to you, even if it doesn't exactly answer your question about getting a job there. I suspect the real answer to that question is that it is moderately difficult to get a job anywhere and  harder  again than that to get one in New York - but hey, I live on the other side of the planet so not sure my opinion carries too much weight on this issue!

Though I think  new stage managers in my hometown of Perth have a higher chance of getting more  experience in more 'advanced' jobs than their counterparts in Sydney (where there is more competition). Getting experience quickly in a smaller market certainly stood me in good stead, and when I moved to a bigger pond I found I had staff under me who had been in the industry a lot longer as ASMs, DSMs, etc but who hadn't yet made the leap up to SM as I had. I imagine this experience is not limited to Australia, though our small population probably exagerates this kind of effect. Anyway, I digress - have a look at this thread perhaps...
http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php/topic,4064.0.html

There are a quite a few threads in Students and Novices which discuss degree/formal education versus on the job training - maybe just have a browse through the Board...

Cheers
ChaCha

81

SMNetwork Archives / Re: SM: the musical

« on: Dec 19, 2008, 03:17 am »

A big hit number early in the 2nd act is " I've got the Bio Box Blues"

82

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Dec 10, 2008, 02:14 am »

Yes, I have given up the trivia quiz on the basis that I can't answer Stephen King questions!

83

The Hardline / Re: Performing arts unions and guilds list

« on: Dec 09, 2008, 11:08 am »

Media, entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) - australia
[/url]   http://www.alliance.org.au/
[url] 

84

The Green Room / Re: I can't believe I just had to do that...

« on: Nov 30, 2008, 09:07 am »

not sure it was THE weirdest, but i did a show where i had t call a cue "Mango Drop GO" three times each night. Then a fake mago would fall onto the fake tin roof and bounce down and roll randomly across the stage... it made me laugh to myself every time.

85

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Let's Talk "Places, Please"

« on: Nov 20, 2008, 07:57 am »

oh yes, I like a headcount. if there's no asm and Im calling from the control room, i usually get an actor lined up to confirm the cast are set before I start.

86

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Child Labor Laws

« on: Nov 07, 2008, 11:23 am »

can you check directly with some of these other theatres which do longer hours as to their understanding of the rules?

87

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Working with a Russian Director

« on: Oct 25, 2008, 10:10 am »

I have worked with people who dont really understand my role. Just keep doing what needs to be done and communicating as best you can. Take responsibility for doing your job and if you would normally wait for a request or instruction which isnt forthcoming just either do it or ask if you should do it - maybe this director wont know  they should be asking you. Dont get all caught up in titles - quite likely there is no stage manager in russian theatre but somehow they still put on shows, so someone does the work. Maybe in russia its the 'assistant director' who does the blocking (as often happens in opera here).It dosen't matter. So long as you are stepping up and helping the process you and the russian will get along fine and your project will flourish.
Just check your assumptions in at the door and all will be well. Bon chance!

88

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Prop Recipe Exchange

« on: Oct 20, 2008, 11:04 am »

champagne - mix any clear bubbly substance (lemonade, tonic water, sparkling mineral water, etc) with a little coca cola. While I hate coke as a drink myself it is readily available, requires no preparation and most people do drink it. Also ok for mixing flat 'drinks' like wine, etc

89

Stage Management: Other / Re: Your most interesting "Other" Project

« on: Oct 14, 2008, 09:59 am »

show on a specially decked out bus that went round a free city route 4 hrs a day (a celestial laundry, staffed with angels)
a festival closing ceremony at sunset on a beach when we painted 200 people in blue 'mud'

but the  stand out

a project where 4 men lived in a shop ( once a bank, once a library but usually a shop)window for between 11 and 21 days at a time and just communicated with the people passing by/visiting with them outside by all sorts of creative means from mime onwards. I did it 11 times in 9 countries and it was always wild and always crazy.

90

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Alley Staging

« on: Sep 15, 2008, 08:59 am »

must originally be a UK term I guess. we colonials have those...