Messages

901

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: And it blew like a sailboat, right into the orch pit

« on: May 22, 2007, 12:25 am »

I'd tend to agree with the folks who've already posted.  As long as you're tactful and express concern for the actors' safety you're completely in the right.  The only likely way you'd offend people is if you come across to them as telling them how to do their job.  Maybe suggest a number of solutions to your TD or PM, but brakes seem to be what's needed here.  With a concrete stage it's unlikely you could dog the wagon down.  You may also suggest straight casters as opposed to swivel casters.  This would at least keep the wagons sailing in a straight line  - thought it would make the wagons much more cumbersome.

902

Employment / Re: Cruise Ship Recruiting Agencies

« on: May 21, 2007, 06:46 pm »

Hi Sievep,

The reason you don't apply with the cruise line directly is basically the amount of work that goes into a "newhire" and also the different countries we hire from.  Cruise lines basically hire from every country under the sun, and it is much easier for the newhires to go through a hiring partner.

For every newhire that joins a ship, they must have a passport, some type of physical, appropriate documentation for that cruise line, agreement to company policies, uniform, etc.. etc...  There are also (understandably) quite a bit of questions from newhires about what life is like on ships.  In our field we get asked by techs all the time if they should bring their tools, etc...  Basically it's easier for the newhire to have a liaison or someone to "hold their hand" all the way to the ship if need be.

903

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: May 18, 2007, 12:02 am »

If I am running the deck I prefer Military Surplus BDUs.  I go with summerweight as they are lighter, with ripstop (amazing, pants will never tear large holes).  They are also flame retardant for about 15-20 seconds of pretty direct exposure to flame.

ahhh...but do they make that terrible rasping "shooshing" noise when you walk? I've thought about them, but remember nylon track and rain pants and the noise would drive me nuts (though only I would know I was going there).

Owen

To Believe is to Create.
To Create is to Do.
To Do is to Believe.


 

Nope, they are cloth.  I don't think a soldier or SWAT team member would want the noisy *shoosh* either 

904

Employment / Re: What program do people prefer for typing up resumes?

« on: May 16, 2007, 10:45 pm »

To be honest if I get a SM resume with a headshot attached I immediately think "failed actor resorting to stage management".  Not someone I want managing a multi-million dollar theatre at sea!

905

Employment / Re: What program do people prefer for typing up resumes?

« on: May 16, 2007, 04:30 pm »

To piggyback on what Matthew said below, I receive quite a few resumes and I'd always recommend .pdf files.  There are a few good, free, print drivers out there that will print directly to PDF for PC people. 

When sending a resume to another person you never know what they're going to have their page settings at, margins, etc.. etc...  With PDF your document will appear exactly the same anywhere it's opened, no matter what.

906

Employment / Re: What program do people prefer for typing up resumes?

« on: May 15, 2007, 07:04 pm »

Bingo.

907

College and Graduate Studies / Re: NC School of the Arts

« on: May 14, 2007, 09:20 pm »

Here2Serve - Below SMJorge mentions that NCSA does not have a grad SM program.  This is something you may find extremely valuable, and I feel it's often overlooked by folks looking for an undergrad SM program. 

NCSA does not have a graduate program in Stage Management, but they do have an undergraduate program.

Quite simply, if there is no graduate program, the undergraduates stage manage the shows - it's a potential for tons of good experience, especially with the scale of productions NCSA puts up.  Classroom theory means very little without experience to back it up.

I'm not endorsing NCSA in particular, but personally I think you're wise to look at schools without grad programs.

908

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: SMing children!

« on: May 11, 2007, 06:35 pm »

Oy, I do not envy you.  Best of luck.

909

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Let it snow! onstage

« on: May 10, 2007, 11:23 pm »

I'd suggest a snow fx machine.  They shoot out fake snow that looks very realistic.  They can leave a residue onstage that can prove slippery, so be careful what you use it for.  We use them on our ships around christmas, passengers love to see it snow in the caribbean.

910

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Help With Highschool SM Work

« on: May 10, 2007, 04:19 pm »

I'd also recommend a Stage Management textbook to keep around.  The pamphlet is a great idea for an "at-a-glance" type document.  As KC said this place is a great resource, and there are also tons of posts regarding stage management texts.  I think most are relatively inexpensive, too.  A copy of the "backstage handbook" may also be beneficial - a text meant more for technicians, though I've found it invaluable to have in my kit.

911

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: May 07, 2007, 08:44 pm »

If I am running the deck I prefer Military Surplus BDUs.  I go with summerweight as they are lighter, with ripstop (amazing, pants will never tear large holes).  They are also flame retardant for about 15-20 seconds of pretty direct exposure to flame.

912

Employment / Re: Schools for Electricians / Light Techs

« on: May 06, 2007, 10:15 pm »

Yes Mac, agreed - folks right out of school are a little bit too green to take on that much responsibility right out of the gate.  What I'm looking to do is bring someone with that (or close to that) skillset in at an entry level position (stagehand).  After a couple of contracts at that position look at them to step into a technician role.  It is a tall order though, I'm aware ).

913

Employment / Re: Schools for Electricians / Light Techs

« on: May 06, 2007, 01:05 pm »

Thanks for the recommendation Scooter.  I checked out their website and frankly it is not too impressive and doesn't offer a whole lot of info about their program.

Have you worked with people out of here?  What do you know about their program?  I would like to get some unbiased info before contacting the school, because of course everyone thinks their school is the best.

914

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Liquid Nitrogen Ground Fog

« on: May 05, 2007, 11:07 am »

Le Maitre makes some great machines.  They'll have a machine to suit every need you have.  Sounds like you want some heavier stuff that sticks on the floor, look at their low-fog stuff and you should find something to suit your needs.

I would steer away from using any chemicals or gases that you're unsure of in any aspect of theatre.  If you don't know the way a gas or chemical will behave and all of the potential risks then it's not prudent to put that in a space where you have a  lot of people.

915

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Trouble ASM

« on: May 05, 2007, 02:11 am »

I would agree with you that too many programs fail to provide a cold hard dose of reality, which actually is a great disservice to their students.  But there are also a lot people in education with a lot of raw talent that needs to be channeled and focused.  In situations where people have talent a good solid failure in a structured setting can sometimes be the best thing.  Of course we can go back and forth on this but it's tough to get to the bottom of it without actually meeting this rambunctious fellow.