Messages

781

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Sweeney Todd's bloody razor.. Ideas on How??

« on: Oct 20, 2010, 01:35 am »

a college Sweeney production to work with original Bway set designer Eugene Lee, who provided us with the original then-20 year old razors from the 1979 Broadway production.

OK. Wow.

and mega-cool

782

Employment / Re: Dear Abby: How can I discreetly put myself on the market?

« on: Oct 19, 2010, 02:25 am »

I think I might start by testing the waters before leaving my current position. You say you have some casual relationships with folks at other houses - that would be a good way to feel around.

However, once you are serious, especially as theater is a much tinier community than any of us can imagine (esp in the same city), it would be wise to let your current place know that much as you love and adore them, you would like to expand your horizons and gain alternative experiences, which will make you a better SM for them as well.

(I had another fairly cogent thought but my brain ate it, sorry - if it comes back I will repost)

783

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

« on: Oct 19, 2010, 02:20 am »

doing gunshots, glass crashing, animal noises, snow storm, etc.

where are the guys from Prairie Home Companion when you need them, eh?

784

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: What to do when you're sick?

« on: Oct 19, 2010, 02:19 am »

Matthew - agreed, and as someone whose career kick-started from calling other people's shows, I am pretty anal about a clean and precise prompt book and making sure tasks are covered. And we have notified prodn when issues like your crew example arose (we had a major choreographed set shift for "Is He Dead" and had to train a cover for two shows). I am in the "prepare for anything and hey, it's a job, we are all replaceable" camp. But I have also seen too many producers in smaller houses who don't hire u/s for actors or SMs, and whose shows would indeed have to be dark if something happened, because they just assume that if they prepare for cover, the people involved will take advantage (yeah, I know how ridiculous that sounds, and that any decent person would think the opposite, but what can I say, it's what they think) and I also know that many of these producers treat the SM's job as less valued and (they assume) easier to cover with a non-pro. So I understand the devil's advocate position -  which I have been hearing a LOT of lately from many fellow SMs....

785

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: What to do when you're sick?

« on: Oct 18, 2010, 07:30 pm »

...on the other hand (devil's advocate) - there are those that would argue, in terms of demonstrating the necessity of a trained SM and for having ASMs on shows, if the producer hasn't made financial arrangements to have a cover for the SM, then the same consequences shd happen as when they don't make accommodation to cover their actors - that is, if the show would go dark for a night if an actor with no understudy has to miss for illness, then the same thing shd happen when a stage manager with no understudy is unable to do their job due to illness.

786

The Hardline / Re: Prompt Script Etiquette

« on: Oct 17, 2010, 11:14 pm »

I personally concur with Matthew, mostly because so much of my career has been taking over shows in various stages of readiness and performance.

But I also know long-established SMs who feel that, if the producers want a cleaned-up script for passing along to others, they need to pay. Otherwise, they do indeed hand off the messy scribbles that these SMs have worked from.

787

The Green Room / Re: BTDT help and discussion

« on: Oct 17, 2010, 11:11 pm »

...altho it isn't a problem to have the playwright's full name listed.

788

The Hardline / Re: Equity and Checks

« on: Oct 13, 2010, 07:30 pm »

Actually, they have indeed stopped sending out hard copies - other than special circumstances or a new edition - my hard copies are all from older jobs. They are trying to keep the website up-to-date more, as they are sending SMs and Deputies online now.

Unless it's different in NY than other places...

789

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

« on: Oct 12, 2010, 01:50 am »

well congrats! how wonderful! and please, no worries! please have some fun along the way!

790

The Green Room / Re: Convolution Creep

« on: Oct 11, 2010, 04:28 pm »

You just reminded me - in college, my work-study job was house manager for our on-campus professional theater. In order to flash for TOS and intermission, we had to use switches which were in the entry to the public men's bathroom - and as all but one of the house managers was female, it was always entertaining to correct those poor guys who thought I'd read the wrong sign on the door or wanted a peek....

791

The Green Room / Re: Convolution Creep

« on: Oct 11, 2010, 02:40 pm »

For one theater, the men's (but not the women's) pipes run atop the space farthest UR, so everyone has to use the women's during a show.

Another theater, they moved the backstage intercom mic from the ASM desk off L to the booth, up 4 flights of stairs. That means, on the one hand, I can give places/intermission, next day from the booth, but all the interim calls need to be run (downstairs and upstairs) in person. I asked why they didn't just ADD a station, so the SM could call from either locale, and they said they had to choose so they picked the booth....! Bizarre.

792

The Green Room / Re: BTDT help and discussion

« on: Oct 11, 2010, 02:37 pm »

(and BTW PSMKay you totally rock - thanks for this new feature!)

I can help w proofreading, but my sched varies between nothing and insane, so as long as we have a few minutes (and the edit function becomes work-able) I can help

793

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student show: Student director wants financial contribution.

« on: Oct 08, 2010, 02:23 pm »

I am having trouble answering calmly because this sense of entitlement - "pay me for the privilege of working on my project" - is so ridiculous and infuriating. It's that student's project, and part of his job - and (I am sure) grade - is figuring out how to accomplish his vision within a specified budget that he has to provide. And since most prop/set/light houses (at least in the US) frequently offer discounted rates for worthy causes, that's the place this person needs to start w his requests.

Now, I have been involved with shows where small outlays out-of-pocket were reasonable for things like specific clothing/costumes (esp period stuff) or very specific props, but all with deepest appreciation to the people donating their personal effects.

794

The Green Room / Re: "15 minute call" (video)

« on: Sep 29, 2010, 11:29 am »

great link - thanks!

795

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: Light Board restart WWYD?

« on: Sep 28, 2010, 12:38 pm »

Since this has happened to me - on more than one occasion - I bring up works (and house if necessary) and continue the show. My
Board master goes to 0 while reboot happens, brought back up when you jump to the correct cue to minimize the number of times lights change on stage.

This is a good qq for PSMKay's challenge!