Messages

91

Stage Management: Other / Re: Roving Maestro Monitors??

« on: Apr 29, 2008, 02:40 pm »

If it were me, I would mark the placement of the monitors on a ground plan, using a separate groundplan for each configuration, and make a running sheet using timings rather than placements, as I suspect your crew guys will be moving the monitors, and they don't care about where in the score they move, they care about the time they have to move.

92

Tools of the Trade / Re: The Internet

« on: Apr 21, 2008, 10:09 am »

Well, one of the obvious benefits to the Internet is e-mail, which allows a Stage Manager to distribute notes to a large number of people in different locations.

I think one of it's benefits as well as it's pitfalls is it's impersonal nature.  On the plus side it allows for websites like this, and on the downside there are some people who can't or don't function well with electronic copies of notes, and phone calls must be made.  With one of my recent employers I found it best not to e-mail her at all, as she almost never responded in a timely fashion, and I also know perfectly reasonable people who, if you send them an e-mail to ask a question, think its some kind of political power play and blow things out of proportion . . . .leaving an electronic copy of their tissy fit for later reference.  It's very strange. 

And then, of course, there are those people who just can't get with this new fangled Internet thing .  . .again someone I recently worked with who had no Internet access and really should have, as she was the Props Master in a small market and probably could have ordered some great stuff over the net. 

I didn't touch on every question you posed, but I guess these are just my random musings. . . .

93

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Help! SMing peers

« on: Apr 21, 2008, 01:02 am »

I think your instincts are right . . . .pep talks don't come off very well, whereas a sit down discussion of expectations might.

There's no point in starting a meeting if you are talking to yourself.  Hop on the phone and start calling late people.

Sounds like a plan . . keep us posted!

94

Employment / Re: Stepping In

« on: Apr 09, 2008, 11:38 pm »

On my resume I notate it as Production Stage Manager Sub, even if I completed the run for someone else.

95

Tools of the Trade / Re: Cue light system

« on: Apr 08, 2008, 07:36 pm »

Another DC Stage Manager!

I suppose Cue lights systems vary from theater to theater, but most that I've seen are literally a series of light switches that are clearly labeled ON/OFF with a master switch.  It might look fancier, but its really not.  My point . . .if you really want to practice this, go to Home Depot or Logan Hardware and buy light switches and make your own.

However, as a student, there may be . . .more pressing things you should be worried about at this point in your career.  Even some of the bigger houses I've worked in don't use cue lights . .. I insisted they be installed at a theater I worked in because one of the guys on the rail was hard of hearing . . . .he did a great job, he just needed some other way of recognizing a standby and a go, and I thought it was a reasonable accommodation. 

96

Tools of the Trade / Re: Luminescent Liquid Effect

« on: Apr 04, 2008, 05:43 pm »

The off broadway production of De La Guarda did something like this, and I think it might work for you . . . .

Get ahold of some of those safety glowsticks, or whatever glowsticks kids are using the clubs these days, and safely cut one end off.  Inside you will find liquid and a glass vial, filled with another liquid.  When these two liquids are mixed together, they will glow.

Granted I have no idea what chemicals these are or what would happen, say, if you got some in your eye, but I have used this trick before with much success.  Just a suggestion.

97

Employment / Re: Non-AEA Resume Semantics: Dishonesty or Acceptable?

« on: Mar 28, 2008, 06:44 pm »

I don't think it's acceptable to lie on your resume.  The title one had during the production is the title one must put on their resume.

I do believe, however, that with the right formatting it is possible and ethical to pad your resume until you have a bit more experience.  And how?  I'll save that for chat.

Also, I don't think this affects just Equity folks . . .those of us in opera and dance can and do deal with these same issues.

98

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Help! My ASM is USELESS.

« on: Mar 24, 2008, 01:11 am »

I can think of a few people I've worked with that are like this . . . .

Unless you want her fired or replaced you do need to have a sit down and tell her that she's not focused on her role or the big picture . . .yadda yadda, you know what to say.

This can be an excellent exercise for you in dealing with incompetency.  You are going to run into it all over the world (no news there), so everything you ask her to do must be detailed . . . .before you ask her to do something think of every way someone could screw it up an include that in your instructions to her.

Example:  Please take this broom to the closet and make sure you bring my keys back.

Since she's not paying attention she's obviously bored, so I'm wondering if there's some assignments you can give her to keep her busy?

There have been times when I've had an ASM of such spectacular incompetence that I banned him from being on deck (he was a danger to himself), and he was banished to the dressing room halls where he wrangled singers.  In your situation, better make sure someone else is on headset back there if you can't be.

It's rough, I know . . .but for every ASM like this there is one out there that renews your faith in the education of the next generation of professionals in our field.

99

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: SM's problem with techies...

« on: Mar 22, 2008, 12:33 pm »

Indeed, I think the best thing you can do is walk into tech with your paperwork correct and organized, looking professional, acting professional, and they'll do what you ask without hesitation.  I do not think it's wise to speak to anyone about the problem before it happens.  If someone steps out of line or is not paying attention to the show or their duties, then you have every right to ask them to get their head in the game, and if that doesn't work you are in an educational setting where you can go to a higher authority to take care of the problems.

If your technical staff grumbles, let them.  You are not there to be well liked or to be anyone's best friend.  That doesn't mean you shouldn't be friendly, but don't take the grumblings of the staff on as your personal problem.

 

100

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: SM's problem with techies...

« on: Mar 22, 2008, 12:25 pm »

Heck, Matt, I refer to us as "stage manglers" all the time.  Sometimes I even answer the office phone "Stage Manglement."  EVeryone gets a kick out of it!

When we start calling people "techies" we end up getting called "stage manglers"

And we've gone even further off topic . . .can we get back to helping the original poster?

101

Tools of the Trade / Re: Breakaway Bottles

« on: Mar 21, 2008, 01:10 am »

I'm sure someone will find a fabulous resource and prove me wrong, but I've found breakaway bottles, glasses, etc. to be the most unpredictable gag in the business.  You could pre score your own sugar glass bottles, but they'll still shatter into a million pieces, and whatever you do don't let the person doing the hitting continue the downward motion after the bottle is broken (Imagine that broken bottle cutting into your actor's face).  It's a tap on the head with a lot of reaction. 

Maybe you could wrap the bottle in contact paper with a prescored breakaway point . . . .that way even if the bottle does shatter, the pieces will hopefully adhere to the contact paper, and only break at your desired location.

102

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Trouble Finding Support.

« on: Mar 21, 2008, 12:58 am »

You are certainly not alone.  I think many of us had, or are having similar experiences.  My parents were not supportive of my choice to go into Stage Management, but the best revenge (so to speak) is living well, and being successful in my career now really wows them and they are very proud of me.  If you are going to do it, go for it, and just keep working as hard as you can, learn as much as you can, and be as successful as you can or want to be.  Your parents will eventually see that you can and will make money at this . . . .sure, you won't be bringing home a doctor's paycheck, but you'll be doing what you love.  Life is WAY too short to wake up every day hating life or your job.

It might sounds like too much of an optimistic approach, but I say go out there and show them what you can do!  They'll come around eventually, and it may be hard until then, but you'll make it if you put the effort into it.

Hope this helps, and keep us posted.

103

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Peter Pan

« on: Mar 17, 2008, 01:24 am »

My two cents . . .I worked with ZFX on The Witches of Eastwick and I thought they did an exceptional job, specifically with training the operators and the performers.  Brian Owens was the person we worked with, he was great.

104

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: I'm an amateur and I'm working with a professional

« on: Feb 17, 2008, 10:19 pm »

I absolutely think you should take the job.  If they sought YOU out based on your experience, accept, and take what you've learned and apply it at this company that is new to you.  Remember that it is not the same as your high school, so you will need to be flexible and willing to roll with the punches.  You'll be fine, I promise.  It's a learning experience and even if they do consider you cheap labor you will only learn this profession by doing it.

I recommend you read through this site as well as stage management books you can get from your library, and learn as much as you can.  Also, remember to sit down with your director and have a frank discussion about your role, what the expectations are, and your duties, as these can differ from company to company. 

Break a leg, and keep us updated!

105

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Before Show Pep Talks - Cast and Crew

« on: Dec 25, 2007, 01:12 am »

I have to say that I would steer far away from any kind of pep talk whatsoever.  For those actors who are nervous, your pep talk may only make them more uncomfortable.