Messages

76

Employment / Re: When is enough enough

« on: Oct 14, 2008, 01:02 pm »

In college in the theatre department our slogan was - "If you're thinking about quitting once a month, you're fine - if you're thinking about quitting once a day, get out".  Now, that was in regards to being a theatre major, but the basic sense is the same.  If you spend more time wishing that you were out of theatre, then I'd say its time to leave.  If not, it might just be time for a good vacation or a new position.  I was really tired of working with actors, and have ended up at a road house - I'm still in theatre, and my title is still a SM, but I'm enjoying the break from the day to day dealing with performers.  Yeah, they come through with the tour, but I don't have to deal with them.

-Centaura

77

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

« on: Oct 11, 2008, 08:01 pm »

In High School our theatre class took over the library for three days for an all-day series of mini-plays that we adapted from what they were reading in the English classes.  As the sole technician, it became my project to figure out how to use the library as a performance space: work out lighting, a multi-use/purpose set (made out of pieces from our very limited scene shop/basement storage), etc.  It was a very interesting experience.

-Centaura

78

Employment / Re: Leaving a job

« on: Oct 11, 2008, 11:47 am »

Ample notice, and above and beyond efforts to make the transition a smooth one, and you should leave with a good reputation.  The most important aspects for most companies is the smooth functioning of things, so offering to train in a replacement, or leaving detailed lists of the things that you do and how/when you did them will score good points when leaving. 

When I took my current job, the previous person had wiped the computer clean - I had to start from scratch on a lot of things.  That person still works in town, and its a small town, so it got around quickly that he had left a mess in this position.  It doesn't reflect well on him.

-Centaura

79

Employment / Re: Taking Time Off

« on: Oct 11, 2008, 11:40 am »

From a totally unrelated situation, I can say that you can take a year off after graduation and still get into the industry just fine.  In my case, I literally had a serious car accident on the day of my commencement from college, which put me in a hospital for a month and a wheelchair for three.  I lost that year, basically, as I had to work my way back up to full time work through some part-time jobs.  I was able to get a theatre job the following season, though, with no issues - I was honest about why I hadn't worked in theatre for the year after I graduated, but that I was better and was able to handle the physical aspects of the job.

If you are thinking of joining the Peace Corp and traveling outside the US, I say DO IT!  I spent a year overseas when I was younger, and it was the best experience I could have done.  It will broaden your horizons so much more than can be easily explained.  And it will be fine to explain to someone why you didn't have theatre work - its a very respectable thing to do for two years, and now is the best time when you don't have life pinning you in place.

-Centaura

80

The Hardline / Re: IATSE

« on: Oct 11, 2008, 11:12 am »

Since each local has its own jurisdiction, you need to find the BA from your local and talk with them.  Either look up the local's website, if they have one, or contact one of the local theatres that works with the IA to get the BA's contact info.  I get contacted all the time at my theatre, mainly from young students who haven't done their homework to learn that I'm only a road house - I send them to the BA.

And each local is different - I live in a small town where you can't make a living as a stagehand, so they're always looking for new bodies for the call list to make up larger calls, or to fill in when someone gets a full-time job.  Other areas - like it was mentioned above - have close their books because they have too many folks trying to get work.

-Centaura

81

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Sep 22, 2008, 01:09 pm »

I totally agree, but here's my question.

I don't actually work in a theatre, it's pretty much voluntary basis for the shows I work with. So, we don't exactly have a 'dress code' for people who walk in the door (unless you're wearing clothes that are totally innappropriate...you know what i mean). Is that the same thing for other theatres? What about theatres where people are actually hired for the jobs they do, or does that depend on the theatre/standard of the theatre???

Most of this thread is for theatres where you've been hired for the position.  In a 100% volunteer situation dress codes are generally less formal - there is no incentive or expectations.  Now, it doesn't hurt to follow the above suggestions in volunteer situations - showing up for a rehearsal wearing a miniskirt and thong and mooning the cast when you bend over is generally considered inappropriate all across the board.

 In paid positions, it varies from theatre to theatre if there are basic 'dress expectations'.  At my theatre, t-shirts are not allowed.  Now, can I change into a t-shirt if I'm about to go paint something or get really dirty?  Yes.  But the day-to-day attire for me backstage is polos with the theatre logo on them, and for the staff up front is business casual.

-Centaura

82

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Spiking on tour

« on: Sep 22, 2008, 12:56 pm »

Is there one actor who can remember the angles?  Can you put them in charge of checking at the end of the most important changes?  Depending on the venues that you're in, taping or marking the floor could become an issue.  Also, how long has the cast had to work with the pieces?  Is it something that the might be able to learn with a few more rehearsals?

-Centaura

83

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: NY Cell Number?

« on: Sep 17, 2008, 04:36 pm »

I think that as 10 digit dialing is more and more prevalent in the bigger cities, its becoming less and less important what your area code is.  As well, folks now keep their phone number lists in their cell phone instead of attempting to memorize or write them down - you show up as your name on their screen verses  a number when they're calling you up in their phone.

-Centaura

84

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Do you have an actor code of conduct contract?

« on: Sep 17, 2008, 04:31 pm »

I know we had one when I was in college, but I'll be darned if I know if I have a copy lying around somewhere....

-Centaura

85

Employment / Re: What comes next

« on: Jul 11, 2008, 12:23 pm »

There was a discussion on this topic in the thread:

There is a fantastic discussion of this subject in this thread: Changing Lanes
. 

86

Employment / Re: Stage Management Salary

« on: Jul 11, 2008, 12:19 pm »

I think that's an amazingly good point about the sometimes feast or famine in this business.

That's why I'm fine right now with a salaried position.  The stagehands when I took the job all teased me about being salaried, but heck - the economy is crap right now.  We can't get shows in to the building because promoters are stepping back from taking risks.  And there are tours that are taking themselves off the road instead of playing to half-filled houses.  Its a tough market right now.

-Centaura

87

Stage Management: Other / Re: Orchestra Stage Management & Unions/Pay Rates

« on: Jul 11, 2008, 12:11 pm »

I have encountered true stage managers in the symphonic world only very rarely. More often, there is a staff member who is either called the Production Manager or Company Manager, and they handle setup, riders, tech schedules, house needs, etc. After loading into a house, the house SM (who is IATSE) is given a cue sheet - along with all riders and schedules, etc - and they call the show. Or this orchestra staff person calls the show themselves. Usually they're only calling curtain/lights up and then 2 hours later, curtain in/lights down.

That's about how its handled here.  My symphony contact is their Operations Manager, and I'm the SM with the building, and we work out what they're going to do for each show, if it differs from the 'norm', or if they have a group that's coming in to play with them that has a rider.  I then brief the union steward on the call, and they run the show.  Not that its terribly complicated - the deck hand/steward will give a over-all start, but then the lighting guy pretty much runs his own show.  If there's anything fancier then normal lighting, he's just created it by playing around during rehearsal.

-Centaura

88

Stage Management: Other / Re: Orchestra Stage Management & Unions/Pay Rates

« on: Jul 04, 2008, 02:46 pm »

My symphony contact got back to me with the word that he's pretty sure that there's no union specifically for symphony or orchestra SMs, or even technicians.  I think the only union that you could be a SM member of is Equity, though I'm not sure whether Equity has any rules that cover symphony or orchestra contracts.  Might be a good question for the Hardline forum.

-Centaura

89

The Hardline / Re: Style

« on: Jul 03, 2008, 10:49 am »

For me, while I'm a generally in-the-middle-type, it can sometimes depend on the company and how they've treated me in the past.  Currently, I work salaried, so I'm in a 'they own my soul' position.  I accept calls at all hours, since I'm in the Eastern time zone and am often called by tours who are out in the Pacific time zone and haven't paid attention to the fact that its past the end of my business day.  I'm also on call if the alarm at the theatre goes off.  My currently company treats me well, I'm in a similar situation as our Kiwi poster, when I work over 40 hours in a week I get to take that time off later.  I can get upwards of 6 weeks of paid vacation in a year, and you can't beat that.  I accept the extra hours since I'll be compensated later, and it facilitates me getting my job done.

I have found that my habits can change depending on how the company I'm working for has treated me.  If I am respected and appreciated by the company that I work for, I'll tend to go a little bit extra, above my 'norm', because I feel that its deserved for how I'm treated.  If I'm not well treated, I tend to fall back on the rules as a way to defend myself from further mistreatment.

-Centaura

90

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Jul 03, 2008, 10:01 am »

Quote from: centaura on June 11, 2008, 11:43:28 AM
I don't propose wearing heels, impractical skirts, etc.  That's not dressing appropriately
Oh dear - I guess that depends upon what you are able to get done in your choice of garments.

My apologies, I should have put the word 'impractical' in front of heels, as well.  I was not trying to specify that heels and skirts themselves are impractical, but that there are versions of these items that are.   Often younger folks don't know what that middle ground is between 'dressing up' and 'practical garments'.

The main message that I think we've been trying to convey with this thread is that how you present yourself goes a long way towards how people perceive you.  Even though that's not a message that some folks straight out of high school and college want to hear, and is sometimes flexible in its interpretation for non-paid theatre positions, its a fact of how the business world works.

-Centaura