Messages

91

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dealing with stress

« on: Sep 27, 2006, 10:49 am »

I agree 100% with what everyone has said about drinking plenty of water, eating right, and exercise.  The one thing that I personally do which I find is a wonderful stress relief is baking.  I tend to bring some homebaked goodies into rehearsal once a week or so.  The cast loves it and I find the process of baking (even something small like cookies) incredibly relaxing.

92

The Green Room / Re: Snacks

« on: Sep 23, 2006, 12:32 am »

I tend to keep dried fruit and nuts around me during rehearsal and meetings for my snacking needs.  They are small, quiet, discreet, non-messy and also pack a bit of an energy boost.  If I don't have something to snack on with me I fear falling prey to the junk food in the vending machine.  Something that I do not need to be eating when sitting in blocking rehearsals.

93

College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM Internships/ACTF SM Prompt Book

« on: Sep 23, 2006, 12:25 am »

Yes, apply for as many internships that you can find that interest you. 

And there are many good internship programs out there, are there specific regions/experiences you are leaning towards?  I interned at Steppenwolf and The Goodman in Chicago and have worked as a production assistant (which often falls under the auspices of the intern department) in NYC.  It's been a little bit since I've actually applied for an internship, but I remember some of the avenues I pursued during my research.  Feel free to PM me if you want specifics about my experiences at these theaters or how I came across the programs.

I can't, however, help with the ACTF prompt book question.  Best of luck!!

94

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Equity Courses

« on: Sep 20, 2006, 05:49 pm »

My college SM courses dealt some with Equity.  The first stage management course was more broad in what it taught and many non-stage managers took that course.  It briefly touched on the some of the unions (AEA, SSDC, IA).  The Advanced Stage Management course is geared towards those interested in stage managing professionally and we dealt more heavily with Equity.  As many of our graduates move to Chicago, the teacher (who is an AEA stage manager)got copies of the CAT contract for all of us and we spent many classes learning about some of the rules and how to apply them to real-life situations.  I found it quite helpful and to gain a basic understanding of how the union works and how to learn to understand the contracts.

Also, we had a production handbook that followed some of the more basic Equity rules in regards to breaks, tech rehearsals, etc.

95

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: What do you want to tell Actors???

« on: Sep 09, 2006, 11:35 am »

In addition to letting me know about the broken prop...let me know that the prop is broken BEFORE places the next performance. 

96

Tools of the Trade / Re: Favorite Deck Flashlight?

« on: Sep 07, 2006, 11:25 am »

I must say, I love my new single LED light that a crew member got me as a gift (I was eyeing his).  It was fairly inexpensive and from Target.  While I love my new flashlight, I am also quite attached to my mini-mag and now will have both backstage with me.

97

The Hardline / Re: MRE

« on: Aug 31, 2006, 03:35 pm »

I personally have never taken MRE days, but I do know that the rule also applies to stage managers on some if not all contracts that have a MRE clause.  One of the theaters I have worked with which uses an LOA (ref. Off-B'way) has had one of their stage managers take a few days off during the run for other employment.  She missed 4 or 5 days during the 2 month run of the show.

98

Employment / Re: to get hired...

« on: Aug 31, 2006, 09:54 am »

Personally, I have a degree in theater tech/design.  So, it is fairly related to stage management.  However, many of the people I know who are professional stage managers do not have degrees in theater.  Many of them were English majors or something else in college and worked shows in the theater.  One of my colleagues has a degree in mechanical engineering and another in psychology.  So, stage managers come from all areas.  Like most of the people here have said, find some theaters that will hire you as an intern or production assistant and start to build your resume that way. 

I am primarily of the no grad school position, but if there are skills that you feel would be worthwhile having some schooling on then it is something to look into pursuing after a year or so out in the world.  Since you did not have the college stage management experience grad school would also be a good safe zone for honing some of the stage management instinct as well.

Whatever you choose to do best of luck!

99

The Hardline / Re: What Colleges (Don't) Say About AEA?

« on: Aug 23, 2006, 10:25 am »

I went to undergrad in Illinois and took multiple stage management courses that were created by interested students and our amazing professor.  She did a wonderful job of addressing the AEA issue.  While we did not go too in depth about the particulars of joining, we did learn about the union and some of the various union contracts which has been quite helpful.

So, many of the stage managment students interested in joining AEA had some idea of what to do and how to go about it.  The acting students I do not believe had some of those same benefits as AEA was mostly discussed in my advanced stage management class.  But the professor is a member of Equity and always has her door open to students from any department for questions, etc.

100

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Managing the World

« on: Aug 21, 2006, 12:26 am »

I have found myself when taking the train and being told that we will be at a desitnation in five mintues replying "thank you five".  And while I don't call cues regularly in life I do tend to refer to everything and anything as being stage left, stage right, upstage, or downstage. 

101

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Resume References

« on: Aug 17, 2006, 11:52 pm »

See I've always heard that you dont want to have your resume more than 1 page long and if you include a second sheet with references it is looked down on, basically cause you are giving those that hire more paper work to keep track of.  So I'd love to hear more thoughts on how to include references on a resume in terms of if you put them at the bottom of the page, on the back, say references available upon request, or another sheet altogether like ljh007 said.

My resume is one page front and back...references and only references are on the back so it's not the end of the world if that portion doesn't get looked at.  At the bottom of the front page in big bold letters it says REFERENCES ON REVERSE SIDE.  This way I can make the most of the information on my resume as well as providing them with references.  Making them ask for references adds an additional step for the one doing the hiring. 

Essentially people will tell you pros and cons for any way.  What it boils down to is what makes you happy and what you are comfortable with.  If you ask 5 people you will get 6 different ways to format your resume.

102

College and Graduate Studies / Re: SM Internship

« on: Aug 17, 2006, 09:40 am »

Having done a few internships I know they all have slightly different hours depending on the company.  That said, they have always been able to work around some conflicts that I was open about.  Even regular jobs are willing to work around some conflicts as long as your honest from the start and the right fit for the job.

Congrats on your internship offer and best of luck!

103

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Resume References

« on: Aug 17, 2006, 09:38 am »

In general I ask every director/stage manager I work with if they will be a reference for me.  While most of them do not end up directly on the reference page they are still listed on my resume.  I find most people don't call the designated references if they are familiar with other names on the resume. 

And most people I know have told me about instances where they have told people specifically not to use them as references. 

104

Employment / Re: Skills

« on: Aug 15, 2006, 12:06 am »

I am AEA and a skills section is a great place for random things/things that are interesting to know about you as well as useful information.  Good things to have are foreign languages, certifications, skills that pertain to stage management in general.  I actually find that some of the things listed in my skills section are great conversation starters in interviews, particularly cold interviews.  I can't say I have been on a cold interview in the past 3 years where someone has not asked me about either my welding experience or my ROTC.  While I don't use either of those while stage managing, still interesting tidbits that may help me stand out in a crowd.  Below is my special skills section from my resume:

SPECIAL SKILLS:
NYC Fireguard Certification – F-94 (March 2005); Knowledge of Off-Broadway, LORT, ANTC, LOA, CAT, U/RTA contracts and AEA Showcase Codes; basic dance knowledge;  reads music; basic culinary skills; basic carpentry; MIG welding; Oxyacetylene welding and brazing; MS Word, MS Excel, MS Works; valid drivers license; 1 Year of Army ROTC

105

Tools of the Trade / Re: The comfort of a featherweight headset

« on: Aug 12, 2006, 12:48 am »

I have a lightweight telex.  I believe the model number is PH-88, and I know many stage managers who use this.  I've used it at many theaters without having to get adaptors or anything and I absolutely love it.  Best thing ever, in my opinion.  I contacted Telex directly after USITT a few years ago and they were able to direct me to a local distributor who took my actualy order and sent it to me, etc.  Enjoy your new headset, whatever type you get.