Messages

886

Employment / Re: ShowBiz Expo in NYC

« on: Mar 26, 2010, 02:45 am »

I went to the LA expo last year, worked the AEA booth - pretty useless for SMs and not extremely useful to theater actors, but for film/tv/vo there were some good opportunities for performers.

887

The Green Room / Re: Show post-poned due to quitting actor

« on: Mar 26, 2010, 02:44 am »

Interesting....I have been involved with a couple of shows that moved opening due to last-minute replacements for a variety of reasons (mostly actor-based) and had this chat w a friend recently who had the same issue - one person in a 3-member cast walked/was fired the week of tech.

Amongst us the gossip will fly, and I am deeply impressed by the clarity and presence of mind shows by the PSM (yay for our profession) but appalled that 4 people betrayed Ms Mullally's confidentiality and trust to the reporters, not counting what Mr Oswalt must feel hearing those comments!

888

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

« on: Mar 26, 2010, 02:38 am »

I didn't know we weren't = yes of course we shd all get the same questions!

(on edit)

wow me gettin' all cocky - ooh trivia love trivia doing great I know all this stuff - and this week I get 2 of 10....(of course, it was 3 in the am, after a stupid long day running a big event but still...)

what's w the "what year" qqs - those are just, well, YIKES!

At least I am not alone - the kickass folks who always get all 10 right are scoring in the 50% category....makes me feel a little better...

well, a humility pill is a good thing -

889

The Green Room / Re: Burnt Out

« on: Mar 21, 2010, 07:44 pm »

Plan breaks and actually take them. Go away for a day or an hour. Do things totally unrelated to your show and your job, talk to people about politics and religion and anything that is NOT theater or your play.

Do nice things for yourself at least periodically!

890

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Labtop vs. Pencil and Script/Notepad

« on: Mar 20, 2010, 10:43 pm »

I cannot fathom taking blocking notes by computer being faster than pencil - not counting the distraction of eyes off the actor/stage as well as the noise of the keyboard - there is no way, no matter how fast you type, you cd notate blocking on some of the heavily-staged shows I've done!

891

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Labtop vs. Pencil and Script/Notepad

« on: Mar 19, 2010, 12:21 pm »

I think it's what you're used to. I would rather use pencil and eraser since things change too rapidly and too often, and since I can work really fast that way (faster than laptop as far as I am concerned).

And, that clicking of the keyboard drives some directors and actors nuts.

892

The Green Room / Re: Favorite Easter Candy

« on: Mar 18, 2010, 01:48 am »

dramachic - I always get them after Easter at the 99cents only stores - my fave too!

893

The Green Room / Re: SM travelling in the USA and would love to see your theatre

« on: Mar 15, 2010, 12:28 pm »

when you set your itinerary let us know, so we can invite you to our shows!

894

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: New Stage Manager- New Show- International Tour

« on: Mar 11, 2010, 07:47 pm »

Please look around the student/novice sm boards and the forms thread since there is a tremendous amount of help there! Feel free to come back with specific questions we can help you address

895

Tools of the Trade / Re: Prop: Drugs on stage

« on: Mar 11, 2010, 06:18 pm »

Inviting ideas/ suggestions (speaking of weed) for a show where the smoker is a 10-year-old (well, he's 12 playing 10) - any ideas to make it look legit in a tiny space where they WILL roll the joint onstage before lighting up, without making the child actually smoke whatever we build the joint from...

Thank you in advance for suggestions/ideas

push comes to shove, I will suggest they use the fake cigarettes w glowing tips and prewrap a serious doobie around it, but open to anything you all might suggest -

896

The Green Room / Re: Best showing of appreciation from a cast?

« on: Mar 09, 2010, 12:52 pm »

On a particularly ... interesting show, the band leader wrote a little "running" vamp - that he played as I ran from the booth thru the theater to backstage for calls ever day (theater w no intercom and no backstage access without going thru the house) touched my heart deeply.

And on another challenging show where we moved rehearsal spaces daily, the set designer was an idiot and nothing was done on time or well (our TD had to rebuild two key props on a nightly basis) - the full cast bought huge gift baskets for my crew and me. It was a total surprise and totally amazing.

And of course, I love when my actors tell me how much they love me and how much they appreciate our team and me, and how they want to work with me again and again - and when they invite me to join them at dinner or offer to bring something back when they know I am working thru the meal break. Those are folks I recommend for work time and again.

897

Employment / Alternative theater-related work options

« on: Mar 03, 2010, 07:13 pm »

Topic split from original post by Cleveland-SM_Lynn

If you can't find a stage management job, what else (preferably skills related to SMing) do you apply for?
Now I guess it is time to start working on my business resume, and looking into grad schools.

898

Stage Management: Other / Re: Concert SM'ing tips?

« on: Mar 01, 2010, 09:23 pm »

there is a discussion of this elsewhere on the site (sorry, I shd have looked it up first but on my way to a prodn meeting - yes, on a Monday - and just catching this on the fly)

but you are gonna be grateful for your 3 ASMs, trust me. Two of them will be legs/escorts/runners for specific areas and acts ,and the third (your eyes and ears on deck) backstage reporting to you when things are ready (or not) for the next act.

Be ready to have a blast and do everything on the fly. Trust your gut.

899

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

« on: Mar 01, 2010, 05:24 pm »

I've decided to join the fray - altho I thought too hard on two items that I KNEW but didn't trust myself on - but musicals...ah musicals -

900

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SHOWS: What's the most controversial show you've ever worked on?

« on: Feb 28, 2010, 11:59 pm »

Erotic puppetry? People are offended by erotic puppetry?

Erotic puppetry indeed! Didn't you hear abt the silly hoo-haw with the Ave Q ads and the exposure of entirely too much muppet cleavage in Colorado Spings? (and amusingly, Lucy the Slut's response on Broadway.com) http://www.broadway.com/shows/avenue-q-off-bway/buzz/avenue-qs-lucy-slut-responds-colorado-ad-controversy/?