Messages

961

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What is a ASM suppose to do??

« on: Dec 03, 2009, 09:14 pm »

I am on an AEA committee discussing the role of the ASM and would like permission to use quotes from this thread, if possible

thank you all

962

The Green Room / "the understudy" - new show starring a stage manager

« on: Dec 01, 2009, 01:49 pm »

I was recently reading a review of "The Understudy" - Theresa Rebeck's new 3-character play at the Laura Pels in NY - wondering if anyone has seen it or wants to weigh in. The review discussed the emotionality and hysteria of the SM, which seems oddly out of type (tho, I am sure, dramatically required) - and that the girl playing the SM was an amazing actor.

makes me wonder what kind of SMs she's dealt with - but also, would love to hear from folks who've seen it about how our work is portrayed -

963

The Hardline / Re: John Connelly resigns as AEA exec director

« on: Dec 01, 2009, 01:46 pm »

I worry when I see the gossip-mongers grab it before a statement is issued - one said "translation HE WAS KICKED OUT" (caps theirs, not mine) -

John is a lovely man, I have toured with him, he is a consummate pro, and whatever happened or whatever happens next, he deserves the dignity and respect we accord others - but since others plastered it all over before AEA got to the announcement, I do wonder what took so long.

Ah well, we are all human beings and things happen - and I agree, sounds like a leak.

crossing my fingers for what happens next. seems we have been in flux for a bit now...

964

Tools of the Trade / Re: Random, household things, you use/keep on stage.

« on: Dec 01, 2009, 12:35 am »

Brads are great - I had a TD crack up when I showed her how to replace broken cufflinks with brads - they even look good close up!

965

The Hardline / Re: John Connelly resigns as AEA exec director

« on: Dec 01, 2009, 12:33 am »

I agree - I read abt it in a local internet gossip rag before hearing it from anyone official - what's going on???

966

Employment / Re: Where should I put it all???

« on: Nov 30, 2009, 12:49 am »

you don't need to put it all. What is your goal? your focus? Start there.

You can group shows by area (starting w better known directors/theaters) or types or recent work, depending on what you are seeking. You don't need to list everything you've ever done, just a sampling, with (for example) shows using animation or lots of rail cues being included when you go for a theater or a show that uses that skill. And, school shows will fall by the wayside as you replace them with professional work.

Fwiw PSMKay had a great suggestion a week or so ago about creating specific structures so you can easily rearrange your resume for something in a specific discipline.

And, at the bottom, you can list other skills /training/unions where appropriate. It shd still fit on a page if possible (tho mine is 2 pages, with the "other" things on p. 2)

(and, sorry, this post didn't pop up until today, prob my system, so apologies for not generating a discussion sooner)

967

Tools of the Trade / Re: Cue lights and monitors- very small budget

« on: Nov 28, 2009, 01:54 am »

I use cue lights for sign language theater, for cuing music directors at key points (like top of show) and/or for ASM cues where there is no headset, so it's worth thinking about a simple basic system

great suggestion abt the camera!

968

Tools of the Trade / Re: Cue lights and monitors- very small budget

« on: Nov 27, 2009, 09:10 pm »

(wow, cue lights and a videa monitor - tnat's the lap of luxury!)

cue lights and audio monitors are easy rigs for your lighting and sound depts - small hosues do them all the time - but is there a reason for video/IR work? I don't have them in half the professional houses let alone in scholastic venues...

969

Tools of the Trade / Re: Random, household things, you use/keep on stage.

« on: Nov 27, 2009, 12:14 am »

I didn't know that abt chapstick. Very cool! I wonder if it's true for any lip balm or just Chapstick itself (and wonder what would happen if we wrote the company and told them...).

970

Employment / Re: Sub Calling Stage Manager

« on: Nov 12, 2009, 02:23 pm »

or "cover" or "replacement"

971

Employment / Re: Post College Employment

« on: Nov 11, 2009, 03:38 am »

PCPA is in a lovely section of SoCal (you may have seen Santa Maria on the news during Michael Jackson's trial) - when I was up there years ago they had a terrific program, you learn by doing, and the summer program transfers the shows between two venues to you get to experience a mini-tour and get a taste for the kind of work invovled.

972

Employment / Re: Post College Employment

« on: Nov 10, 2009, 03:54 pm »

thanks for clarifying. The general nature of your qq suggested that perhaps you hadn't checked around rather than you being undecided, because there was some detail abt internships/apprenticeships in a couple of threads for a while, and if you have checked those out, all is well.

But again, where do you see yourself? What do you want to accomplish? Do you crave musicals, live for Shakespeare, love being in the rehearsal room or running around accomplishing outside errands - there are too many options to point you in one - think abt what you love most. Once you share that, it will be easier to suggest a direction.

Also, where are you? Perhaps some of the local SMs can suggest arenas in your area, or warn you abt things to avoid.

973

Employment / Re: Post College Employment

« on: Nov 08, 2009, 08:01 pm »

have you done any searches in this site yet? You really should; many of your questions are answered, and it will be easier to get responses from people if they see you've made an effort on your end as well. You will find that most working SMs appreciate and reward initiative and are rather less interested in spoon-feeding, so please do that research on your own and come back with specific questions. For example, I asked you to specify areas of interest, so think abt why you want to to what, which will make our answers more useful and less general - and since many of your qqs have been answered with already, folks aren't going to repeat what they've already said (we have to do it so much with actors, we certainly appreciate not having to do it with each other!)

974

Employment / Re: Post College Employment

« on: Nov 06, 2009, 01:42 am »

make sure you check artsearch and backstagejobs.com. There are also lists of internships discussed in another thread (I will have to take a minute and find that for you, on break in a tech right now), and if you have an idea of what you where you want to start - musicals, straight plays, shakespeare - there are lots of apprentice/ internship programs to choose from

(I will look up that thread after this week's one-acts open)

975

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Plotting out scene shifts

« on: Nov 02, 2009, 12:19 pm »

I, too, have had sets that were designed without any concept of the actual stage (and backstage space) in mind - so I always prepare for set shifts and storage and then am willing to let the TD/Director/Choreo take over if they want to design it for the show, keeping my notes always in the discussion -

yes, as Matt says, it depends on the show's specific needs, is the shift in plain view or in black or backstage - etc etc - we still need to prepare, cuz no matter what, we still own it once the show opens, yah?