Messages

91

College and Graduate Studies / Re: USITT Conference

« on: Nov 08, 2010, 01:18 pm »

Our theatre department is going to send our tech minded majors (some are SM's) to the exhibits (faculty gets to go, too). We are close to Charlotte so, like dallas 10086, it won't cost us a lot. We're looking at just the one day pass--no seminars.  It's my first time and I'm really excited about seeing all the demos.  I think this will be good for our tech students--we participate at SETC and NCTC: why not something for the tech students?

92

The Green Room / Re: 10 things actors can do to get off to a good start with a stage manager

« on: Nov 05, 2010, 04:38 pm »

Please let the SM know if you have to step out of the rehearsal hall/room---we need to keep track of where you are so we can get you in time for your entrance or notes.

93

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: What to do when you're sick?

« on: Oct 18, 2010, 09:24 am »

When I started working at community theatre (many years ago), my mentor (a fabulous SM) taught me that all good SM's should have the crew trained and prompt book in such good order that the show could run without a stage manager in case of emergency.  I have seen many community theatres operate without the SM calling the show (often because the SM doesn't know this is part of the duties or gets so distracted by other things that the board ops & stage crew take their own cues) so those shows could really run w/o an SM if they had to. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

94

Employment / Re: Resumes and Cover Letters......The Nitty Gritty Part of Stage Managing

« on: Sep 12, 2010, 09:44 am »

Your cover letter should tell the employer about you. Some examples are: What is your stage management style?  How do you manage crews and casts? What size venues have you worked in?
What do you feel the potential employer needs to know about you that's not on the resume but relates to the job? A cover letter should not repeat what you have in your resume but expand upon it.
I agree that the cover letter shouldn't be more than a page long.

95

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: REHEARSAL: Duties during acting exercises, movement, vocal work, etc.

« on: Aug 28, 2010, 04:06 pm »

Provided all who should be present are, I'll join the cast for some of the warm ups---I find this helps them see me as part of the group (plus I'm going to be sitting for a while and can use the stretching) and then quietly break away to look over paperwork and double check that all is ready for the rehearsal.

96

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: First time with Equity

« on: Aug 22, 2010, 10:14 am »

OrchDork,

Yes--give line notes.  Follow the director's request (you may want to chat and get his/her preference) regarding line notes during or at the end of rehearsal (before the break or dismissal for the day).  Remember that your areas Equity Representative is there to help you with any questions you have on the AEA rules---if you're unsure or confused about a rule.  My Rep was always very helpful.

97

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Currently working on my first musical

« on: Jul 21, 2010, 08:27 am »

I, too, use a combination of script and score and even cut and paste as some cues I call are on a particular note.  I transfer the "rehearsal numbers" from the score (a square block with a number in it) into my script on the lyric(s) that it corresponds to.  This will make it so much easier in tech/dress rehearsals when you stop and have to get the orchestra back on the right starting point.  I call out " actors, please pick up at "While shivering in my shoes"; orchestra, that's rehearsal 10."
I also don't read music, but can follow the notes, find my place and have SM'd many musicals.

98

Employment / Re: is this normal?

« on: Jul 15, 2010, 04:40 pm »

It's for this reason that I ask for some type of signed contract or confirmation letter until the contract is sent/signed rather than just rely on a verbal agreement.

99

Employment / Re: CAREER GROWTH: Taking control of your career

« on: Jul 07, 2010, 03:57 pm »

Being open to what the universe brings you is great, but the real question is how do you take control of the career?  How can you make the opportunities happen?  How can you shake up your career and take it to the next level? 

I would ask yourself: what do I want from my career? Take some time to list your career goals, what do you want next? And after that? What time period are you looking at that's reasonable to accomplish these goals? What do you feel you have to do to accomplish/move your career forward? 

100

Employment / Re: CAREER GROWTH: Taking control of your career

« on: Jul 07, 2010, 01:28 pm »

Sometimes the job/career finds you.  My SM training and SM/PSM jobs have lead me to areas in the performing arts I never would have planed fo myself.  I have worked for a large city event center, first as a house technician and then as its event manager (all that SM knowledge was handy).  I was invited to join the local IATSE and spent 10 years (while event mgr @ the center) working on and off for them---I would not have traded the experience of being a "hand" on large and small events/shows: learning skills that made me even better as an SM.   Now, I'm teaching at a small university (adjunct instructor) in the theatre department. I am part of a small team that has taken a department on the brink of failure to viable, appreciated and growing. I see my career path often as lateral and perhaps upward in some instances.  Each "career" adds to my overall knowledge.
Letting the "universe" know that I was open to what was out there---it found me.

101

Stage Management: Other / Re: Possible interview ?s for opera ASM

« on: Jul 02, 2010, 09:46 am »

Some most likely asked questions: Can you read music? Are you respectful and polite when dealing with artistic staff, cast, musicians, crew? (Not that you shouldn't be repectful and polite on any type of show--but opera requires this.) Are you extreamly organized? (Opera can not handle "ad libs"/ "stalling for time" well if a singer/prop/quick change etc., isn't there/does't happen exactly on cue.)  These are just a few off the top of my head.

102

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CAST: Practical jokes on final performance?

« on: Jun 27, 2010, 09:09 am »

The most recent director I worked with has an " I won't cast you again" policy when it comes to practical jokes during a performance.

103

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Saving Old Scripts

« on: Jun 13, 2010, 10:52 am »

I have many prompt books with most paperwork in my personal home archives ( aka: a bunch of shelves in the basement).  I use some books (with actor/staff personal info having been distroyed) as teaching tools both at the community theatres where I work and at the University where I'm an adjunct (at school, I use the prompt books from shows I PSM there when showing examples).

104

Stage Management: Other / Re: Blocking Notation for Movement Show in Development

« on: Jun 01, 2010, 03:30 pm »

I would put the detailed notes in some form of "paragraphs" with headings like" walking in wind, mime".  This would help me find my place in the "movement score" and help me transfer notes to cue music, lighting, what have you, when the show goes into tech.  When I SM'd Miracle Worker, the movement director did not use the existing text the way it was written in the dinner scene confrontation.  I did, indeed, paragraph the movements into groups, identifing the exact movement in each "line" of the paragraph.
 

105

Stage Management: Other / Re: Anybody with sporting event/Olympics experience?

« on: May 09, 2010, 09:23 am »

I would get the overall schedule and a breakdown specifically for each day (or even more detailed if available).  Find out what the hierarchy is and support your immediate boss or manager.  Who is in charge of getting each team ready? Make sure you communicate with these leaders and develop a good working relationship. Where are they gathering and how much time does it take to get each team into place?  How are they getting from place to place with their gear? Will you have radio or phone communication or any type of communication? Get to know the site so you're familiar with where everything is.  Things can get tense in a large event that needs to run on a schedule, so the more calm and prepared you are, the better (much like a show run).

Trust me, your stage manager skills will kick in: you'll pick up on things and ask/offer suggestions that are pro-active. It's funny how you can apply stage managment to lots of different events.

When we hosted sports in our venue, there was the overall production manager that was in charge of everything (who was an expert in the sport, too) and then "departments" in charge of their areas.  Just as with any large event, everyone has their assignment and that's what makes it run.

Pick up a translation book for "travelers" since it has phrases and not just a dictionary with words.  I've even seen some cool ones that have nothing but pictures that you point to, you may want this in addition.  See if your local library or community college has any language CD's in Italian and start studying.

The event sounds really exciting and you'll do just fine!