Messages

91

Tools of the Trade / Re: Slapstick scenes involving water gags on stage

« on: Mar 13, 2013, 12:47 am »

Just some quick things that first come to mind:

With Water/Liquid:
-Use something if not water that won't stain costumes; if it will stain make a note for costumes to treat the article after each show.
-Use the smallest amount of water necessary. If the actor is the one pouring the amount, make sure to show them how much to pour so that the gag is still effective, but with the least amount to clean.
-Is there a potential for an actor to clean up any spills? In some shows I have done we have had servant characters mop up spills that were planned.
-Make a note if makeup touchups are needed after the takes.
-Are microphones in danger of contact with water? if yes- wrap them with unlubricated condoms prior to the show.

Food (Pie in face):
-Use the least amount of consumable product you can. For Example, have a fabricated pie shell and then you just have to add your "cream"
-Do any of the involved parties have a food allergy?
-The same notes as above involving costume, makeup and microphone maintenance.
-Does the character need to clean up quickly backstage before re-entering? Make sure the appropriate materials are back there to accomadate actor clean up.

These are just some things that I thought of off the top of my head... I'm sure I'm overlooking a lot, but that is why we collaborate.

92

The Green Room / Re: Sleeping in your theatre

« on: Mar 11, 2013, 01:45 pm »

I can be found in the greenroom in between shows on two show days... we have a really great couch and this nice blanket that reminds me of my grandmother's house. So comfy.

93

The Green Room / Re: Daylight Savings Time

« on: Mar 10, 2013, 11:11 am »

This makes me laugh... I was in charge of the signs for our show. Ask me to make a WWW and I can do it no problem. A simple daylight savings sign? Takes me three tries to figure out exactly what is happening and when. I'M the person who needs these signs. 

94

Homework Help / Re: Deadline 3.22.13: Stage Managers and Equity

« on: Feb 25, 2013, 11:51 pm »

You might want to check out back issues of American Theatre Magazine: http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/archives.cfm

In terms of benefits of being an Equity SM, check out the benifits page on the AEA website (http://www.actorsequity.org/Benefits/benefitshome.asp) because a lot of the benefits are not just rights to have a say in the union, but things that effect your daily life and quality of life, ex. insurance, better working conditions, tax assistance, and not always more job stability or an easier time getting a job (if that were true everyone would go equity as soon as possible- in some cases it is better to be non equity in certain areas or at a certain point in your career). You also have "someone in your corner" when you do have situations that need to be dealt with in terms of working conditions, contracts, etc.

In terms of history of the SMA, I didn't see anything easily accessible on there site, but I have learned a lot about the history from long time members that I have worked with. Perhaps someone with first hand knowledge could act as a primary source for you.

95

Employment / Re: Former employer at job fair-how to approach?

« on: Feb 25, 2013, 11:35 pm »

Thanks for the advice. They waved me over and I got a hug.  Which I believe there aren't enough of at job fairs.

There aren't enough of these in life.

96

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SCENERY: Sand Onstage

« on: Feb 25, 2013, 11:24 pm »

I did a show in college with sand and we didn't have any dust problems with it. We did have a system that kept it from getting everywhere though- We first laid plastic sheeting (a heavy duty plastic drop cloth- I think it took several gaffed together) and then on top of that we laid a masonite floor that we gaffed together and painted brown. The sand was then poured on top of that. We would sweep the outling floor each night and put the sand back on the stage. When we cleaned up the plastic caught all of the excess sand- what we didn't anticipate was the disposal, and the sand was WAY heavier than we thought, so some spilled when we were taking it to the dumpster as it was far away. We used a shop vac to pick up the final sand, and then mopped several times to get rid of the dusty layers that were left behind.

Overall this worked well for us in a flexible black box space with a wood floor, but might not be plausible in all situations.

97

Self-Promotion / Re: Off to China

« on: Feb 23, 2013, 01:27 pm »

This is so cool! I've always been interested in how people get into different jobs like this- you said you have done international tours before- did you know someone prior to applying or did you get a job from a general submission?

98

Employment / Re: Former employer at job fair-how to approach?

« on: Feb 21, 2013, 12:10 am »

If the job ended on good terms then there is no reason to feel awkward or weird about it. The nature of this bussiness creates a transient work force, and employers know this. Don't snub the former employer by ignoring them- that would just be rude. You can say hi and ask how their season went. Some companies are stepping stones to bigger jobs and opportunities and don't expect you to stay forever or keep coming back. This is normal- don't fret.

99

The Green Room / Re: "I quit!"

« on: Feb 21, 2013, 12:01 am »

During a nightmare of a summerstock experiance I started driving home (over 5 hours away) on my first day off, but turned around after about an hour on the highway. I hadn't really packed my stuff, but by getting away I was able to get it out of my system. I think I purposely left the majority of my things back at the house because I knew that I wouldn't leave the actors and director (whom I enjoyed working with very much) in a situation without a stage manager.

I was young and as my first real job I was also taken advantage of. I have since learned when it is okay to say no for your own health and sanity, and what is reasonable to be expected from a stage manager. I am proud to say that I didn't run away or quit, but when the executive director approached me asking me to stay on for the rest of the summer  I did decline in a polite and proffesional way. I also found a way out of going back the next summer, even though that was offered too. There are things in life than a job.

100

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PEOPLE: Working with an IA crew

« on: Feb 20, 2013, 02:32 pm »

I've always done my own spikes when working with an IATSE crew, but it seems like that is NOT the norm.  I would love to hear from others about who spikes!

The last IA crew that I worked with we split who did the spikes. Stage Management transfered the spikes of furniture from the rehearsal hall, and they took care of all the others that had to do with larger set pieces.

To be fair, it was an extreemly relaxed crew in Anchorage Alaska, and the show was really behind schedule, so there were several times that I was asked to step in and help with things that were not normally things I was allowed to touch (props, etc.) This was a show that they were still painting the set at 1/2hr on opening night though so it was very out of the ordinary...

101

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PEOPLE: Working with an IA crew

« on: Feb 19, 2013, 02:42 pm »

I'll be carting around a 4 act score.

In addition to Maribeth's advice of spiral bound, if possible you can split the score up into seperate smaller binders by act. This give the potential for missplacing one or grabbing the wrong one (clearly labeling or color coding is essential) but it can be a quick fix if it is easier than getting it spiral bound.

I also carried a set of index cards on a carabeaner on my belt that clearly had all the deck cues I needed to be aware of (basically the deck paperwork shrunk to fit on a 3x5 card) so that I had quick access to that without another stack of papers. This also helps you keep an eye on your IA crew members to make sure everything is set and in place.

102

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE

« on: Feb 19, 2013, 02:37 pm »

Basically a schedule to make sure you get everything done that you need to in a particular rehearsal. Not an unusual document- but I had never heard it called a "train schedule" before.

I also just learned this term on the last opera I was working on... I asked why it was called that and was just told that because it was a highly detailed schedule telling you where you were going like an actual train schedule.

103

Employment / Interview Scheduling

« on: Feb 15, 2013, 08:52 pm »

So, I have been contacted to schedule an interview with a local company for a job this summer, but I'm having issues with scheduling. The interviewer and I have now been back and forth for two weeks about several different dates to have a face to face interview and nothing is meshing.

The problem is that she was in tech the first week, and I'm going into tech this week. The week after this she is leaving the area, so that is a no-go too. Has anyone else run into this problem before too? I'm getting frusterated and I can imagine the interviewer is too. But on the other hand, I have to keep my day job and when I'm working that and at the theatre at night my schedule is limited for anything else.

Neither of us has broached the idea of a phone interview, and I think that would be less ideal anyway. What I guess I'm wondering is if this scheduling problem is actually hurting my chances at the job- or if there is anything else I could possibly suggest or do.

Maybe I'm just overthinking all of this, but I don't have anything lined up for the summer yet and really want to stay close to home so it is a little more difficult than in the past.

104

The Green Room / Re: Ghostlit

« on: Feb 14, 2013, 10:22 am »

This also seems similar to the "Gig and Tell" portion of the Audition Update Website. It is mostly geared towards actors and non-equity summerstock theatres, but a valuable resource nontheless... it filled the void left when NonEquityDeputy just seemed to dissappear from the web.

Have any of you used Gig and Tell or NonEquityDeputy?

105

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: High School SM

« on: Feb 12, 2013, 10:47 pm »

The only thing I'm worried about is people thinking I am too controlling or over doing things.

Don't stress too much about this- your attitude will make all the difference here. If you act professional and look at things from a perspective of what is best for the show, others should see that you aren't being controlling. Your job is to facillitate communication so do just that- make sure everyone knows what is going on.

Also it helps your image with other students by talking to the director on the side rather than interrupting rehearsal or speaking in front of everyone when you have a concern. That way you can keep it professional and stay a little more "behind the scenes" while you work.