Messages

91

Students and Novice Stage Managers / USITT in Cincinnati 2015 - March 18-21

« on: Mar 08, 2015, 01:10 pm »

Hi Everyone,

I haven't seen anyone else start a thread on this, and can see it being placed in several categories, so moderators, feel free to move.

I know several of us on here are planning to attend, whether students, professors or freelancers. There are of course numerous sessions pertaining to stage management. Check out the details at http://www.usittshow.com/#!session-schedule/c1a0c.

If you live in the Cincinnati area, but can't commit to the cost of attending the conference, you can get a free pass to the Expo, where numerous theatrical vendors show and sell their wares...and most give away free swag (and things like the opportunity to be flown by rigging companies, or prize giveaways). Just do a Google search with "USITT free expo pass" (minus the quotes) and you'll find several companies sharing codes. My parents even like to come check it out.

I'm also chairing the Portfolio Reviews, and I encourage anyone of any level (but particularly students and young professionals) to sign up for a free session. This year the sign up is available online, too! - Management Commission's is located here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f084ca9ab28a0f49-management1. If you have friends attending in other disciplines (lighting, scenic, costumes, etc), the webpage with an overview of portfolio reviews for all of the commissions can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/usitt2015portfolioreviews/.

Also, I don't see it listed on the conference schedule yet, but I've been told that on Saturday, March 21st, at 2:30 pm the Stage Managers' Association will hold a combined members and informational meeting onsite in conference center room 212. In addition, the SMA will host a networking social event at a local establishment on Thursday evening following the Opera America reception; stay tuned to the Stage Managers’ Association Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/stagemanagersassociation), or your email if a member, for the specific time and location of the get-together. You need not attend the conference or be an SMA member to attend the after-hours gathering.

Feel free to PM me with your cell phone and name, and I'll give you mine, and we can try to catch up!

Hope to see many of you -
Erin

92

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Articulation marks in SM calling script

« on: Feb 04, 2015, 11:21 pm »

I do this. Mine is a large visible dot/period. Now that I type that, it seems inconsequential, but everyone who has seen it understands. Ideally, I'd have it explained in a calling key...

93

Tools of the Trade / Re: Books Books Books

« on: Dec 18, 2014, 11:52 am »

I need to think a while on other books to recommend, but I agree with the endorsement of Laurie Kincman's book, fairly new to the field of SM book authors.

94

December Madness 2 / Re: SOCIAL Division Semis: Facebook vs Tumblr

« on: Dec 16, 2014, 11:39 pm »

I've never used Tumblr other than through Facebook links.

I have certainly done networking with folks on Facebook and use it to find out who's got a show going in the area and to mutually exchange discount codes if possible or "invite" to Facebook events. And I've certainly seen an actress say that she was hoping her voice was coming BACK when I knew we had a show the next day (these are one-off gigs, so we weren't in constant contact). Gave me a headsup that we might have an issue the following morning if she didn't feel better.

95

The Green Room / Re: The Great SM Gift List

« on: Dec 10, 2014, 11:07 pm »

We just held our Denver SM holiday gathering and did an informal $5 gift exchange. I dug into my stash of "have these handy in case" gifts and pulled out one of two versions of flashlight mouthguards I had. I admit, I had two styles, and gave out the one I liked LESS in case I needed to keep the other as a backup for myself. That said, the gift was stolen twice until "frozen" by white elephant rules.

The outdated/old style was called Lite Bite by Nite Ize, but the kind I prefer it called Bite-a-Lite and is available on toolsforstagecraft.com. The first has a wide flat mouthguard and a lanyard, the latter has a "groove" for your teeth. I've had workers comp pay for a chipped tooth and highly recommend something else besides metal against your teeth. Now that I'm also a river guide I've finally found the use of headlamps, but for stage management/runcrew a bite guard is the way to go...and at a price that I would consider on the verge of a stocking stuffer. I know I'd found mine on sale so the current online prices are slightly higher than $5 but still very reasonable.

96

Employment / Re: SM Resumes for Dance, Opera, Theme Parks, Television, and Film

« on: Dec 10, 2014, 10:37 pm »

I was going to add what Maribeth said, adding the conductor. The dance I did had the same choreographer as director and was with canned music, but I could see having two or more credits there, too.

I also do a lot of collaborations so sometimes have more than one line to explain all that and the important "factors" (people/companies).

97

December Madness 2 / Re: SOCIAL, Round 3: SMNetwork vs Pinterest

« on: Dec 10, 2014, 10:14 pm »

For a social site, Pinterest has its uses, and particularly has been helpful for some designers to brainstorm design concepts. I use it personally for craft projects, etc. But on a strictly stage management usefulness level, certainly SMNetwork ranks higher.

98

December Madness 2 / Re: APPS Round 3: Clock vs Evernote

« on: Dec 10, 2014, 10:11 pm »

While I use Evernote personally, i don't think I've used it yet for a show. And I've definitely used Clock.

99

December Madness 2 / Re: SOFTWARE Round 3: Photoshop vs. Filemaker

« on: Dec 10, 2014, 10:09 pm »

While a database seems helpful, I've never actually used one for stage managing.

I work with Photoshop Elements, partially because I also do website work BUT I just used it on my last show to create my mini groundplans, "erasing" all the extraneous stuff I didn't need or was in my way to take blocking.

100

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: FORMS: Prop tracking for a large show

« on: Sep 20, 2014, 09:53 am »

Also, since I was quoted from 2006, I thought I'd update my answer!

The Running Info sheet is essentially a theatrical version of opera's who/what/where paperwork, using script pages and a running stopwatch for the "when" part. And as for the preset checklist, I had mentioned previously about having a checkmark place for each prop (and set/costume - I still like to catch it all on one sheet for stage management). Well, now I'm into using a clean preset list, placing it in a sheet protector and checking off THAT each night, then wiping off, rather than a sheet full of days/columns of checkmarks.

101

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: FORMS: Prop tracking for a large show

« on: Sep 19, 2014, 04:48 pm »

I just sent you a PM with my email address, since I couldn't tell yours and couldn't quickly see if I could add a document through PM.

I'm also unsure if you're asking about the preset document or the running info, so just let me know. Thanks and good luck!

102

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Ensemble tracking

« on: Jan 21, 2014, 11:36 pm »

I, too, am a bit surprised that the director hasn't figured this out, but then again we've all had a similar situation at some point.

I like both the digital script version suggested and the blocking key. Even if not for this particular purpose (where I'd try to write the whole name in my script for clarity), I also recommend creating a shorthand blocking key for each individual person on stage. There's nothing like realizing later that you've been using "S" for two different people because you hadn't figured out a method beforehand. Really crazy when ensemble members have the same first AND last initial and no one figured it out until you're writing things quickly. The Blocking Key is always at the front of my script, too, for that "hit by a bus" referral. It also includes my other hieroglyphics for sit, stand, cross, etc.

For operas, I definitely color-code...but I think the most I had to get was 8 colors at once for what I was doing. My romantic leads are almost always pink and blue. Hate the stereotype of it, but certainly makes it easier to follow along!

Erin

103

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALL BOOK: Repeating music score - how do I mark cues?

« on: Jan 21, 2014, 11:28 pm »

Ditto on expanding the score. If it's only two lines or so repeated, I'm crunched for time, and fairly certain I won't be calling a cue during them, I'll sometimes write the blocking notation above the staff for verse one (with a #1 as well) and below for 2nd...but I still find it comes back to bite me when least expected.

104

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Wedding Proposal on Stage

« on: Jan 21, 2014, 11:24 pm »

I find that as I get older, I am more open to things like this . . .

like when I was younger, I flipped out about a walk role that was auctioned off . . .

I agree. And now that I've been in the year-round staff of a non-profit, I actually SUGGESTED a role we could do as auction or media stunt the other day. (Sound of Music. Concert "trio" in the awards section. Can you imagine some nights being the auctioned, high-paid ones, and others the top media folks of the market? Instant publicity!!!)

But I also agree that I watched the clip and went..."Wait, they cut a song in order to do the proposal? That ain't right!"

Erin

105

The Green Room / Re: Stage Managers have legs?!

« on: Nov 06, 2013, 11:09 pm »

I also cause a "commotion" sometimes when I wear a skirt at the office, but it's because my fashionably conscious, and yes, gay, co-worker notices as it's a rarity. I get a compliment every time, but the commotion is because it's out of the ordinary, not distasteful. Today, however, I had to go to the warehouse. Definitely not a skirt day, and I've even taught my boss that although my matching costume for some of our school shows is a skirt, I will be changing into it AFTER we load in at the school.

Oh, that said, once I got into opera, I started stocking up on black dresses, even verging on gowns, as that was the standard attire at one company for opening night backstage.