Messages

826

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Recourse when actor leaves show?

« on: May 12, 2012, 11:03 am »

Well, this proves the importance of understudies.

It all depends on the contract the actor has.  When an actor walks, the issue at hand is breach of contract.  What are the terms for giving notice?  I doubt without a contract, any lawsuit can be filed.  (Can you sue a volunteer because she didn't bake a cake for the back sale like she promised?)

Like Rebbe said, you need to figure out WHY the actor left.   Is there a way to get him back?  What do you need to do to make it better to bring these people back . . . this seems to be where you need to be sinking all your efforts into right now.  Was this an artistic issue?  A safety issue?  Are they upset at the production company?

As far as going forward with a lawsuit, be careful . . . it maybe harder to get actors in the future if you go about suing people.

827

The Hardline / Re: Script rewrites

« on: May 11, 2012, 10:16 pm »

BTW . . . Final Draft is a bit of a tricky (and powerful) program.

It's best to play around with a fake script for awhile and learn the tricks.

AND ALWAYS SAVE DAILY VERSIONS.

828

The Hardline / Re: Script rewrites

« on: May 10, 2012, 01:21 pm »

I purchased Final Draft - It was the only way to deal within in my situation.  We were able to split the cost (I got a great discount) - they paid for most of it, but I got to keep it.

829

Self-Promotion / AS YOU LIKE IT

« on: May 09, 2012, 12:50 pm »

Press on my current show . . .


http://www.playbill.com/news/article/165769-Casting-Complete-for-Shakespeare-in-the-Parks-As-You-Like-It-With-Lily-Rabe-and-Stephen-Spinella


Stephen Spinella and David Furr in rehearsal
Photo by Nella Vera

830

The Green Room / Re: SMASH - the TV series

« on: May 08, 2012, 08:34 pm »

Almost every NY commercial show and touring show call from backstage.  You are monitored out the wazoo - my last musical I have six monitors.  The SM would rotate our to note from the front of the house - - - real estate is valuable in NYC theaters, most theaters don't have booth.

Although you don't get the same view, you gain a lot from being backstage.




 

831

The Green Room / Re: summer vacation

« on: May 08, 2012, 01:58 am »

July 1 to who knows when - staycation!!!!  NYC!

832

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: NYT Jobs Few, Grads Flock to Unpaid Internships

« on: May 07, 2012, 11:00 am »

I have worked at major regional theaters where the intern is running crew, running light and sound board and being dressers.

The show would not have gone on without the intern.

I felt like they were being taken advantage of.  If the show can't go on without the intern . . . perhaps it should be a paid position - and that means paid with overtime.

The problem is that we have been programed to say there is a place for non-paid (or under paid labor), and in reality, there are VERY clear outlines about what is and what is not an internships.  My next battle would be to pay an PA hourly with overtime, as the position is not a non-exempt positions and should be paid overtime.

833

The Green Room / ARTICLE: NYT Jobs Few, Grads Flock to Unpaid Internships

« on: May 06, 2012, 01:43 pm »

More on the topic .  . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/business/unpaid-internships-dont-always-deliver.html?pagewanted=all

834

The Green Room / ARTICLE: End of the Non-Paid Internship

« on: May 06, 2012, 11:13 am »

http://moneyland.time.com/2012/05/02/the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-unpaid-internship-as-we-know-it/?iid=pf-main-lede?xid%3Dgonewsedit&google_editors_picks=true

835

Tools of the Trade / Re: Recording Calls

« on: May 01, 2012, 10:13 am »

When I had to record myself for my thesis . . . sound department was able to patch in via a headset system.  And then we edited out the swearing . . .

There was a lot of swearing.

And then we thought, maybe we should just rerecord.

There was less swearing. 

(Just saying, the one night you make the decision to record is when you will loose power, efx, an actor will be late, and the light board will crash . . . )

836

Employment / Re: Payment in advance?

« on: Apr 29, 2012, 07:56 pm »

If it's a union contract, you could use the union to go after you money.

837

Employment / Re: Stay freelance or PSM?

« on: Apr 27, 2012, 09:21 pm »

And by PSM, you mean resident PSM with one particular theatre, correct?

838

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Being friends with the SM

« on: Apr 25, 2012, 12:52 pm »

I think it all depends on if your actors will understand the difference between you being their friend, and you being in charge of them.

Also remember that it's NOT just if you and Bob understand the limitations/specifics of being friends now and being business later, you have to make sure that Eric, also in the cast, understands the limitations/specifics of "you and Bob" being friends now and being business later.

I just don't think people in the business world struggle with these options.  At the end of the day, I think it's a bit more professional and bit easier at the end of the day to keep you work world and your business world SEPARATE - I know it's hard, but few things in Stage Management are easy.

839

The Green Room / Re: Favorite Smoothie Recipes

« on: Apr 24, 2012, 07:36 pm »

Ingredients

1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
6 fluid ounces tequila
2 fluid ounces triple sec
Directions

Fill blender with crushed ice. Pour in limeade concentrate, tequila and triple sec. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

840

The Hardline / Re: Theatres That Have Closed--Can You Say "Emergency?"

« on: Apr 24, 2012, 07:35 pm »

I don't think it was meant as a dig . . . but this particular for business venture seems to be a bit odd - but again . . . jobs is jobs.