Messages

871

Employment / Re: Team player vs. "undermining" SM - discussion...?

« on: Jul 19, 2007, 08:31 pm »

I have found myself part of a team in which the leader is most obviously the weakest link and "their way" is precarious, redundant and inefficient.

In my experiences these are usually the people least willing to work as a team.

872

Tools of the Trade / Re: Painting on marley floor

« on: Jul 18, 2007, 11:40 pm »

A stagehand will trip over something six inches off the ground.
An actor will trip over something one inch off the ground.
A dancer will trip over a chalkline.

873

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Bows

« on: Jul 17, 2007, 07:52 pm »

It's just not something that's done, it's part of the gig.

If people notice the stage manager or crew then most times something has gone wrong.

874

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: calling cues

« on: Jul 17, 2007, 06:17 pm »

Ultimately, doesn't the designer or the play system dictact what the calling system will be?

I am not going to make my design make his sound cues letters, or the automation programmer change their system.

I should be the flexiable one.

I think the demands of the show definitely dictate the calling system.

However, cue numbering is not an artistic choice - everyone can be flexible 

875

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: calling cues

« on: Jul 17, 2007, 08:43 am »

As a designer that SM's, I was taught that Sound Cues should be lettered and Light cues use #'s. This really clarifies to the operators who I am talking to and who should respond. I think it works brilliantly. LX 1 and SD A - GO! If for some reason I can't get out the "lights or sound" before the cue, the operators can still respond. As for fly/rails we resort back to the #'s.

That works great until you have more than 26 sound cues!!

Ideally the designers meet and discuss.  For example if Lights doesn't anticipate more than 200 cues then Sound can start at 5 or 600. 

876

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

« on: Jul 16, 2007, 01:19 am »

It doesn't seem to me like this is a decision you need to make in the next 30 minutes.

My reply: calm down, relax and re-post your concerns or questions in a couple of days.  It seems like your emotions are running balls to the wall (old aviation term for full throttle).  Making decisions that could have an impact on your life and  your future should never be made in haste.

877

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Sexist Scenic Designer... HELP!

« on: Jul 15, 2007, 08:54 pm »

You could be completely frank and ask him if he realizes how ridiculous it is that you're three weeks out and don't have a groundplan.

878

Employment / Re: advice on interviewing

« on: Jul 11, 2007, 08:36 am »

I think a big point to hit on is honesty.  Don't oversell yourself and don't promise something you can't deliver.  The worst thing you want to happen is to get into a situation where you can't deliver what you said you can.  This leaves you looking bad, and leaves the company needing to fill a hole.

879

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Wayne State University???

« on: Jul 06, 2007, 09:08 am »

Do you SM anything besides plays?

880

Tools of the Trade / Re: Fire but without Fire

« on: Jul 05, 2007, 07:42 pm »

Flashlights, orange gel and some muslin to wrap around the base of the flashlight.  Won't be pretty, but trying to figure out what you'd have handy and enough to make a few torches.

881

Employment / Re: First Aid/Fire Guard

« on: Jul 05, 2007, 07:40 pm »

The more training you have the better, it certainly isn't going to hurt.  It will certainly look good on a resume and is useful knowledge.  Will it be the difference in getting or not getting a job?  I'd say probably not.

882

College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM Colleges

« on: Jun 29, 2007, 08:49 am »

McShell,

Wasn't knocking you by any means.  I was just making the point that I don't think  someone can make a valid recommendation without a frame of reference.  If you have that frame of reference, then great. 

I haven't been around this site for too long, but it just seems to me that every time one of these college threads pops up everyone waves their flag and says "go here" in so many words.  Don't get me wrong, I love Penn State, but I don't know enough about other schools to recommend it.

Cheers.

883

College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM Colleges

« on: Jun 28, 2007, 10:14 pm »

The best advice I can give is find what suits you; visit a lot of schools, check out their spaces, ask them questions.  Every person here who's graduated in the past 5 years will try to sell you on their alma mater as you're seeing from the thread already.  However there's a critical fault in that, most folks who are recently out of school (myself included) have a very narrow window of experience in educational institutions; it's likely that's the only Stage Management program they know.  I went to Penn State and received a BFA in Stage Management, I loved it.  I'm not going to tell you to go there because I have a biased opinion.  A campus with 44,000 students may not be for you.  Ultimately it's your education; the choice that's right for someone else here may well not be right for you.  I'd say determine the choice that's right for you and don't let people "sell" you on their school of choice.

884

Tools of the Trade / Re: Creating a prompt book in word...using comments for cues

« on: Jun 21, 2007, 08:14 pm »

Just another question...

Am currently trying the comment/ reviewing way on MS Word way which is working really well BUT the does anyone know how to change the colour of the comment box so I can use different colors for Standbys and Gos?!

I would really like to know the answer to this!!! Please and thank you :-P

I don't know that there's a way to change the color.  I believe different colors are reserved for different authors, i.e. if you had 3 people collaborating on a document each of their comments would be a different color.  One option would be to print it in black and white and use color highlighters.  I know.. not nearly as cool, but same effect.

885

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Performance reports (split from The Hardline)

« on: Jun 17, 2007, 04:08 pm »

Also Jem,

You mentioned the reason the carps didn't get the note is because of a lack of communication.  Had the SM communicated this effectively the note would most likely not have waited a week.