Messages

91

The Hardline / Re: Changing rehearsal hours?

« on: Aug 23, 2014, 08:55 am »

The span of day is the rehearsal call.  You can call everyone all day, say from 10a-6:30p, with a 2-3:30p meal break, and never specify an actual rehearsal breakdown. No other detail is required.

That is interesting about the differences in notice per contract . . . learn something new every day.

It's that just "Span of Day" or the actual rehearsal call?

92

Job Postings / Re: NYC - ASM & Stage Management Interns for Fall 2014

« on: Aug 10, 2014, 06:50 pm »

Since you say "Off-Broadway company," is this on an Of-Broadway contract?  Details, please, for anyone who might want to apply for a paying job, but not apply for a Showcase.

Acclaimed Theatre Company, BEDLAM, Seeks ASM & SM Interns for Fall 2014
Critically acclaimed theatre company, BEDLAM, is looking for a full-time ASM, as well as SM Interns, for their rep productions of Sense & Sensibility and The Seagull.  This is a great opportunity to work hands-on with a fun and collaborative Off-Broadway company.

Rehearsals Begin: September 30th
Tech Begins: October 28th
Opening Nights: TBD in Early November
Closing:  December 22nd

ASM
ASM will be responsible for running "backstage", including tracking props and costumes and maintaining a safe and focused work environment.  Some sought traits would be reliability, maturity, flexibility, and a sense of humor.  Team player with a great attitude is a must.  AEA and Non-AEA are welcome to apply.
Please send resume and cover letter, including any conflicts, to BedlamSM (at) gmail.com

SM Internship
Ideal candidates will be interested in pursuing a career in stage management.  Candidate should be punctual and willing to tackle a variety of tasks with precision, a positive attitude, and a sense of humor.  Some experience with wardrobe, lights, and/or sound systems a plus, but not required.
Scheduling is flexible during daytime rehearsals, but evening availability is required for performances (October 27-December 22).  We’re willing to work with your schedule, or split performance responsibilities between multiple interns.
This is an unpaid internship, however academic credit and a positive experience are available.
Please send resume and cover letter, including any evening conflicts from October 27-December 22, to BedlamSM (at) gmail.com

EDIT: Removed OTT formatting. -PSMK

93

The Green Room / Re: How to be a good stage manager?

« on: Aug 08, 2014, 11:33 am »

It reads like a student, a community theatre stage manager, or an high school educator wrote it. Also, remember that these "wiki-type" pages are accessed and edited by many different people. I think, as an attempt to try to explain stage management to a potential high school or community SM, it does a decent job.

Hmmmm - I know we've tried to keep our jobs from being carefully spelled out, and there are things I disagree with, but hmmm - I wonder who put together this list.

94

The Hardline / Re: assigning Dance Captain

« on: Aug 06, 2014, 06:54 pm »

And a good dancer does not a Dance Captain make, necessarily.

A Union card does not a Dance Captain make...

95

The Hardline / Re: assigning Dance Captain

« on: Aug 01, 2014, 09:43 am »

As Pat says, talk to your Rep. On the LORT contract, the Dance Captain has to be AEA, while the Fight Captain does not. Your contract may be different.

96

The Hardline / Notes After Half Hour-Dance Captain Impunity?

« on: Jul 31, 2014, 12:19 pm »

I've wanted to put this query out for discussion for a while, and am just getting around to it.  This is not a situation that needs immediate solving, it is a philosophical/"cultural" question, on which I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts.

On AEA contracts that have the stipulation, "No notes shall be given after half hour call" (and not all of our contracts have this clause, most notably the LORT contract...) why does does it seem professionally acceptable for the Dance Captain to go in and out of Dressing Rooms during half hour, to give notes? When the Director, Producer, and Stage Manager etc. are banned from doing this (except when safety is at stake, or in another kind of emergency) it seems almost universally, yes even "culturally" acceptable,  for the Dance Captain to have impunity from following this rule.

I'd love to hear any and all thoughts on how this came to be, if you also find this to be true, if anyone has ever approached a Dance Captain to discuss it, and what came out of the discussion.

97

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Rehearsals: Giving line notes - a real novice question

« on: Jul 27, 2014, 10:41 am »

No. It completely depends on the show, and the delegation of tasks within that production. I do line notes, much of the time, myself.

Do you automatically give the job of doing line notes to an ASM? (if you have one or more)

98

The Hardline / Re: AEA Meal Break Query

« on: Jul 04, 2014, 09:13 am »

As you say,"If the Theatre has no objection," is the key phrase. A "Yes" vote on this issue, does not tell the Theatre they HAVE to do a one hour meal break, it simply gives them the option to do so. The actors do not dictate the length of a meal break. If the director/producer/theatre has other plans, the break can be the standard 90 minute break.

Please speak to your Rep. on Monday for an official ruling, but this is how I have understood, and implemented this rule for  the past 17 years.

99

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Blood Recipe

« on: Jun 26, 2014, 09:44 am »

Here's How They Make The Blood For Shakespeare In The Park:

http://gothamist.com/2014/06/25/heres_how_they_make_the_blood_at_de.php#photo-1

100

The Green Room / Girl in the Dark Blog

« on: Jun 26, 2014, 09:36 am »

From a British Stage Manager, on touring, sexism, steelies, and personal growth through truck loading.

http://justagirlinthedark.blogspot.com/2014/06/flying.html

101

The Green Room / Re: NYT interview w Pippin PSM

« on: Jun 23, 2014, 12:32 am »

Here is the thread where we discussed this topic, back in 2011: http://smnetwork.org/forum/the-green-room/who-are-we-anyway/

102

The Green Room / Re: NYT interview w Pippin PSM

« on: Jun 22, 2014, 09:49 pm »

Among other things, what I recall about the conversation, and it was several years ago, had to do with the "Kentucky River" suit, where employers were trying to get certain nurses out of the union by declaring them management.  The employers argued that anyone who supervised, trained, or scheduled any other employees, was a manager and therefore ineligible for union membership. How courts decide suits of this kind, is still something unions are watching closely. I have heard nothing new, recently.

Here's one link to an article about the case, http://dollarsandsense.org/archives/2006/0906bigman.html and I am sure there are others out there.

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the topic on the slippery slope of Management versus Stage Management?

103

Tools of the Trade / Re: Ergonomics and the Tech Table

« on: Jun 18, 2014, 10:16 pm »

I've wanted this, forever!!

Worked in a venue recently where the house electrician had a treadmill desk in the booth. He walked while we teched and during the performance. Never missed a cue, only paused if he had a question for me. Don't think that it's for me but interesting to see someone making it work for them.

104

The Green Room / Re: Mini Rant---SM T-shirts and products

« on: Jun 17, 2014, 10:13 pm »

"Hold, please." A terrific double entendre for an SM. I like it!

I found this thread quite interesting which prompts me to just throw it out there: What would your ideal SM T-Shirt be if you could make one?---GO!!

"Hold please."

105

The Green Room / Mini Rant---SM T-shirts and products

« on: Jun 14, 2014, 06:47 pm »

There's been a proliferation lately of products for the Stage Manager, among others, T-shirts. While it is fun to see our profession immortalized on clothing, mugs, and bags, etc., I have a problem with most of the the designs I've seen, and that is that the sayings on them either aggrandize us, or insult our colleagues. We are not Gods with all the answers nor are our colleagues lazy or stupid.  I know it's all in good fun, but I have yet to find one I would actually wear--one that identifies what I do without insulting my actors or other co-workers, and one that doesn't make it seem like my ego is huge, and I think I'm above everyone else based on my job title. Neither of those two extremes work for me, and both are dangerous in a professional setting.  Does anyone actually ever purchase and wear these things?