Messages

976

Employment / Re: Websites

« on: Jun 10, 2009, 08:44 pm »

Mike has been working on his site for years now.  He was one of the first people to contribute stuff to SMNet many years ago.  Based on how it looked back then, I would not be surprised if that's all his own work.

977

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / ANNOUNCEMENT: Title formatting for this board

« on: Jun 10, 2009, 03:09 am »

You may have noticed that the topics in this board all start with a word in capital letters.  These are topic tags.  As Plays & Musicals is our busiest board, this has been done to make it easier to sort through topics.  When browsing for a certain topic, you can sort the board alphabetically by subject and all of the topics about say, Calling or Professionalism or New Works will all group together thematically.  (To do this, click on the word "Subject" at the top of the topics list. 

Using a topic tag also helps the moderators merge threads that are on the same topic, so that we don't wind up with, say, 4 separate threads about costuming understudies.  We're stage managers.  We like to keep things tidy.

When you start a new thread, if you know what tag it should get, feel free to start your topic title with that tag.  It should be all in caps with a colon afterwards.  (Ex: MORALE: Should I be buying coffee for my cast?)

If you don't know what tag your thread should have, you can leave it off and a moderator will tag it for you.

For reference, the tags used to date are listed below.

Animals, Asms, Auditions, Calling, Cast, Communication, Costumes, Dear Abby, Electrics, E-Scripts, Finance, Forms, Health, House Management, International, Job Description, Morale, Musicals, New Works, Pay, People, Policies, Pre-Production, Producing, Professionalism, Prompt Script, Props, Rehearsals, Reports, Running, Safety, Scenery, Scheduling, Shows*, Sound, Teaching, Tech**, Technology, Tours, Understudies, Venues, Work/Life Balance

* - for questions related to specific shows
** - Tech rehearsals/tech week, not technical theatre

Edit updated list of tags & added formatting-Rebbe

978

Employment / How much can you find about yourself online without paying anything?

« on: Jun 07, 2009, 11:53 pm »

With the abundance of free sources for public records online, it has become very easy for a prospective employer (or landlord, or significant other, etc) to do all kinds of sniffing into your history.  We've addressed such pitfalls as Facebook before, but have you ever checked what else is out there about you?  One of my major tasks at work these days is to run background checks on everyone who applies for an apartment.  In larger businesses, HR departments will check credit, criminal records, and all kinds of other junk. 

Some places that I've been known to check:
1. http://www.legaldockets.com/index.html - state by state, shows which courts allow free online searching of their databases.
2. http://www.pipl.com - searches social networks and phone directories
3. Social Networks
4. Google
5. Websites of current employers
6. Real estate transaction listings (checking if the current landlord as listed on the app is actually the landlord)
7. www.nsopr.gov - National sex offender registry
8. www.instantofac.com - Office of Foreign Asset Control list of banned foreign interests (i.e., terrorists)
9. Based on usernames found in other searches, one can then search wikipedia, blogs and other social networks.

If someone without a big hiring budget were snooping around to find out about you, what would they discover?  (Obviously, if it's embarrassing, don't post the gory details here.  This is the internet, after all.)  How do you feel about all of this information being online?

979

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SCHEDULING: Definition of the Duties, Part 1: Calling rehearsals

« on: Jun 07, 2009, 03:10 am »

A new series.  There was a time when AEA published a handy list called "Definitions of the Duties of a Stage manager."  At the current time I cannot find a copy on the equity website, indicating to me that the original list may be obsolete (or varying between different contracts).  However, I did find an old copy over here. (note: PDF!)

I thought it might be worthwhile to step through each of those duties in turn and investigate how we've seen those duties interpreted in our experience.  I'll be popping up a new one of these every few weeks to mull over as a group.

The first one on the list?  An easy one.

Shall be responsible for the calling of all rehearsals, whether before or after opening.

How has this been interpreted on your various productions?  Broadly? strictly?  For those of you who are non-union, how often do your employers understand that this is your task?  What has happened when this duty is not the responsibility of the stage manager?  How do you go about accomplishing this smoothly?  What if you called a rehearsal and nobody showed up?  What if a rehearsal you called was deemed unnecessary by the producer?  How often do you call rehearsals after opening?  Feel free to discuss around these questions or make up some of your own, tying into this particular responsibility.

980

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Jun 05, 2009, 01:31 am »

Waugh! How did it get to be June 5 already?  I'm so sorry for the delay, everybody.  Just for that, I'll drop and give y'all 10, and then  channel a muppet.

*does pushups*

Right.

After that 10, here's a far better 10 - the top 10 for May!  Yaaaaaay!

20 players played during the month.

1. scott (312 points, 8 wins)
2. rvhead (312 points, 3 wins)
3. killerdana (298 points, 2 wins)
4. ScooterSM (290 points, 3 wins)
5. blantonrk (279 points, 4 wins)
6. Lizzie (241 points, 1 wins)
7. kiwitechgirl (214 points, 3 wins)
8. stagebear (213 points, 1 wins)
9. ruthny (212 points, 2 wins)
10. wtcsrstaph4life (177 points, 2 wins)

BlantonRK gets the picks for June.  Yaaaaaay!

981

The Green Room / Exercise!

« on: May 31, 2009, 03:07 am »

We've spent plenty of time talking here about food and drink, feeding our crews, and the stresses of the job.  Something we've never touched on before is keeping in shape while working a job with long hours, irregular schedules and varying locations.  Theatre wobbles back and forth between extreme health consciousness to the most unhealthy situations possible.  Actors who fret about their weight and eat entirely organic food will turn around and smoke a pack a day.

How do you safeguard your health among all of it?  Do you watch your diet at all?  Do you work out, and if so, how do you manage to do so with any consistency?  How about your mental health?  Do you take care of your eyes after all those hours of straining to see in the dark?  Please share with us your routines, I'm sure we can all benefit from whatever tips are out there!

982

Tools of the Trade / Twitter.

« on: May 31, 2009, 02:46 am »

I am absolutely horrified that we have NEVER mentioned the word twitter on this site before now.  We've done the facebook thing to death, but we've not ventured into discussions of its hyperactive baby brother.

I've recently registered for a twitter account, mostly to reserve my standard username, and am still trying to figure out how I want to use it.  Seeing as I've already got a facebook account and several blogs, all with their individual purposes, I'm somewhat hard-pressed to find something urgent enough to merit tweeting about.  As it's the only account that my parents have yet to find, it may wind up being stuff that I don't want them seeing.

Who's using twitter for theatre-related purposes?  Who's using it at all?  Have you found any unique and clever uses of it?

983

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Student SM Challenge #7: Portrait of the artist as a Professional Stage Manager

« on: May 31, 2009, 02:30 am »

In order for us to achieve our goals it is naturally important for us to know what those goals are.  As you work your way towards becoming a professional stage manager, it is necessary to define - at least for the moment - what the term "professional stage manager" really means to you.  The topic in the Green room about the definition of success is all well and good for the fully-fledged SMs out there, but what about those of you who are still learning?

This is a two part challenge.  For the first few weeks, we will keep it open only to students.  Tell us: When you picture a professional stage manager in your mind, what do you see?  What are they doing?  What is their routine?  Where are they working?  Who are they working with?

After a few weeks, once we've collected some of your thoughts, the challenge will open up to folks who are out of school to allow reactions based on what they've seen in the pro industry.

This SM's challenge is not meant to be ridiculous or condescending.  I am truly curious to find out what images you are working towards as you progress through your studies.

984

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Wave

« on: May 31, 2009, 02:02 am »

I don't know as everything needs to be in real-time.  IMHO, over-reliance on real-time tools may allow for a nice ricochet effect in the generation of ideas, but there is something to be said for a linear conversation string.  Perhaps I am a relic, but I do believe very strongly in first drafts.  If everything I typed were immediately visible at all times, I think I would spend most of my life in serious hot water!

Admittedly, for massive team projects it might be good to use Wave for some parts of the process.  However, using it for all correspondence would be detrimental.  Can you imagine running a rehearsal where every member of the design team was present for every single moment and could comment on it in real time?  In a very few ultra-collaborative situations it *might* be useful, but like all communications methods it is just another tool.  Basecamp and even skype (which now offers screen sharing) offer some similar features.

Also, I think Google may be going about it the wrong way if they want Wave to "replace" email.  Saying that something is a complete reboot of a familiar technology is a sure way to guarantee that the bulk of the population will look at it in absolute terror.  My boss is still trying to figure out email attachments.  Something like Wave might be attractive to early adopters, but those of us out on the long tail of small business will be looking at massive amounts of training for which there is absolutely no budget at all.

985

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How to make someone's pants fall down on cue?

« on: May 28, 2009, 08:30 pm »

I'd be tempted to try loose pants with something to weight down the waist.  Something like a padded chain sewn inside the belt.  This would give plenty of weight and the padding would prevent a *thud* when it hits the ground.

A handful of keys or coins in someone's pants pocket would not be unrealistic.  I know it's a rare event that my pants don't give off some sort of clunk or jingle when they fall down.  (That may be too much information for y'all, but hey, it's all in the name of comedy.)

986

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Docs?

« on: May 13, 2009, 02:14 am »

I prefer to use a combination of local programs (Word, Excel, TextEdit, &c.) and a Subversion repository to share documents and keep track of older versions. I do work with a lot of very computer-savy people, so the steep learning curve of Subversion hasn't been a problem.

Wow, it had never occurred to me to apply a CVS or version repository for collaborative editing of office documents.  Good idea.  Although you're right, it would be tricky for those without serious computer chops.  My coworkers would not be able to handle it, so I will have to just live vicariously through you!

987

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: May 02, 2009, 01:11 pm »

Whoops, I totally missed May 1 here.  *drops and gives you ten*  Sorry!

Congrats to the top 10 trivia players for April!

22 players played during the month.

1. ScooterSM (346 points, 6 wins)
2. Sarah (292 points, 5 wins)
3. Lizzie (291 points, 1 wins)
4. ruthny (278 points, 5 wins)
5. killerdana (272 points, 1 wins)
6. kiwitechgirl (269 points, 2 wins)
7. scott (255 points, 3 wins)
8. blantonrk (243 points, 1 wins)
9. stagebear (243 points, 0 wins)
10. rvhead (240 points, 2 wins)

The dubious honor of picking topics for May goes to Sarah.  Sarah, watch your PM box!

Thanks to all who played!

EDIT: And just like that, Sarah has chosen the topics.  After a year and a half, someone has finally dared to choose sports trivia!

Sunday: Mixed Bag
Monday: Movies
Tuesday: Literature
Wednesday: World
Thursday: Sports
Friday: Music
Saturday: General Knowledge

Enjoy!

988

Employment / How do you work your network?

« on: May 01, 2009, 02:18 am »

SMRose's mention of using her network to further her career over in the Green Room got me to thinking about the vagaries of "networking" in general.  It's something that is known as a productive way to get jobs, but the specific details of how to do it are often overlooked, or kept close to the chest as "trade secrets."

What do you consider to be "networking?"  How have you previously found jobs based on the strength of your connections?  What ideas have you wanted to try?  I'm not talking about the internet only - we've done the whole Facebook angle previously.  I'm more interested in success that you've found from old-fashioned, phone call and shmoozefest networking.

989

Employment / Re: Interesting Article about Actors in Non-Profits, but a good read in general

« on: Apr 24, 2009, 01:25 pm »

Thank you Matthew.  Some random reactions.

The fellow seems to have a lot of ideals, but not necessarily a lot of feasible ideas for achieving them.  This is not a critique, every Paul Revere needs a George Washington and vice versa.  The poor self-esteem of the non-profit regional theatre is something that the industry has blithely accepted since the rise of the LORT scene in the 1960's (at least).  Across the board in nearly all businesses the concept of comparative value for someone's time has become sadly muddled as practical classwork in schools has been sliced and removed.  Students today know algebra, calculus, statistics.  They do not learn how to make a household budget and stick to it.  This translates into workers and trustees who don't understand what kind of income is necessary to live, nor what a person's time is worth.  The problem is particularly acute in the arts, where reliance on the "magic of theatre" serves as a gateway drug to young artists who believe that working for peanuts will earn them respect.

Theatres in the USA (and nonprofits in general) suffer from an inferiority complex when pushed up against commercial endeavors.  The idea that a board staffed with people from outside of the arts will know how best to run an artistic company is preposterous, and yet we stock our boards with doctors and stockbrokers and accountants.  The general concept of serving on a board for a theatre should not strike me as akin to the bank scene in Mary Poppins.  I recognize that board members are frequently also the biggest donors, and whoever has the money has the power - I do not propose dismantling capitalism altogether.  Even so, ceding that power to people from outside the industry with the expectation that they will run our business better than we can is ill-advised at best.  Perhaps there can be some sort of power-sharing agreement.  Stop structuring non-profit theatres the same way they were structured in the 60's.  Business models outside of the arts have evolved drastically since then.  Why are the arts still mucking about with org charts that are half a century old?

Arts institutions with subscriber bases have become beholden to those subscribers and board members, tailoring their production selections to established tastes rather than pushing the limits.  I have long thought that a most of the pandering was done to accommodate for higher union salaries.  But according to Ballard, the union salary is not enough.  There are always actors who are going to be grateful to work for scale, and to the dinner theatre crowd a ham is as good as a Hamlet. 

As I see it, the plan of action needs to be threefold.  The first prong would have to be redeveloping the non-profit board structure to become more advisory and less executive.  Doing so would require jazzing up the concept of boards - the power hungry won't buy it but the grassroots joiners will.  The second prong would be a shift away from high end technical productions in the non-profit community, and a return to the human-to-human live connection that allows theatre to differentiate from film and TV.  Lastly, an awareness needs to be built among the viewing population that theatre does NOT equal High School Musical/Cirque/A Christmas Carol for all definitions of theatre.  Theatre needs rebranding and right now the only spin it's getting is from Disney.  Books managed to pull off a rebranding within the past decade or so by breaking religious taboos and getting themselves banned by the ultra-conservatives.  TV and the internet have both built their brands on a baseline of piracy and pornography.  Once upon a time, theatre artists were considered to be the bad boys of society.  Let's go back to that, and watch our fortunes soar.

990

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Explaining Yourself

« on: Apr 23, 2009, 12:27 am »

We've addressed this recently over in the green room.