Messages

1

SMNetwork Archives / Re: PC v Mac

« on: Aug 04, 2005, 04:29 pm »

No offense, but that is not true.  That hasn't been a problem in years, esp with OS X - and actually, I've run into more problems with re-formatting going between an older Windows machine and a Windows laptop than I ever have with a Mac.

None taken. I am explaining what I've experienced personally, though. My entire COM department at university was on Macs...but if we had to present to another department or change buildings it was to a PC-environment. Bullets and imbedded charts tend to not work correctly (this doesn't happen 100% of the time...but I'd venture that it's a majority of the time.)

Admittedly we used OS9 and earlier. But I've worked extensively with both platforms for many, many years. And honestly (honestly, believe it if you want, but I'm telling the truth--I've never worked for Microsoft and I have no reason to lie... :wink: ) I've had WAY more problems with Macs than with PCs...This is just my experience and my opinion, though.

...my experience...my opinion...

~Alice~

2

SMNetwork Archives / PC vs MAC

« on: Aug 01, 2005, 12:57 am »

You know, in my intro I said I was neutral in the great Mac-PC debate...that was actually a lie. If you're going to do anything useful that has to interface with another computer...GET A PC. (Unless your theatre runs on Macs, then by all means get a Mac.)

Apple loves to talk about how much they've improved the quality of "compatible" files between Macs and PCs; this is borderline false advertising. If you create a file on a Mac and then run it on a PC...expect to do some MAJOR re-formatting. In my personal experience, bullets almost never survive the transfer, imbedded objects (like tables and some graphics) often refuse to work, and margins/tabs/indentations go nuts. (Of course, if you don't use any of those things, then don't worry about it.)

Macs are very powerful machines. They can do a lot of amazing graphics work, sound and video editing...but you want to know the number one program the Macs froze on in the Mac lab in my university? Would you believe iTunes? A program that came standard on all of them? Why oh WHY can a Mac run Final Cut Pro like it's nothing...but goes belly up on iTunes?

Honestly, I spent WAY too many nights in the newsroom at the school paper cursing at the Macs for freezing (which they did CONSTANTLY.) I've worked for two different student newspapers; both had written instructions on every Mac monitor to save every five minutes.

And while this is good advice for anyone running any platform, I have to say that I've never worked with more computers with poorer "document-recover" functions than those Macs. And they were brand-new, top of the line models, too.

Furthermore, I once watched a "practical demonstration" of Virtual PC (the program that allows your Mac to pretend it's a PC) and it slows down the computer SO MUCH. This may or may not bother you, since it's not incredibly noticeable when you run programs like Word, but it's there. Expect everything to run about 25% slower. And Virtual PC isn't cheap, either.

Honestly, Macs do have some advantages over PCs...especially if you do a lot of graphics work like me. There are many times I prefer Macs to PCs...but trying to get my Mac to play nice with my theatre's PCs is NOT my idea of easy or convenient. If you can only choose one for work-- go with what your theatre has, which is probably a PC.

To review: Macs are happy when they don't have to play with other computers and don't have to pretend to be PCs OR do PC-compatible work.

~Alice~

3

Tools of the Trade / latest toyes...

« on: Jul 28, 2005, 09:27 pm »

I'm sheepishly admitting my (borderline unnatural) love of shrunken office supplies as well... Personally I couldn't live without my:

1. Mini stapler on a carabiner.

2. Pen on a retractable string, also attached to a carabiner. If every other pen walks away during the course of the production...that pen won't.  

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / I may sound like a complete ignoramus for asking this...

« on: Jul 26, 2005, 07:20 pm »

I don't think some of you fully understand my dilemma... I go to a high school of less than 200 people with a VERY small theatre budget.  We have no designers, aside from scenic (the art teacher/art club do our sets).  Because we have no designers, we  have no production meetings.

I don't mean for this to sound patronizing in any way, shape or form, but if you've never made a prompt book, attended a production meeting, called a cue, or held a stage management position...are you sure you want to join a college's stage management program? Universities are expensive (as you have no doubt discovered) and that's a whole lot of money to waste on the discovery that you’re not as passionate about stage management as you thought. Also, unless you look like a stellar-prospect, a lot of university theatre departments won't be beating down your door to throw scholarships at you.

Here's a much cheaper alternative. Read The Art and Craft of Stage Management by Doris Schneider. (It’s expensive, so buy it used at Amazon or somewhere similar.) It details out many, many different aspects of stage management...from casting to closing. When I mentored at my former university, I lent that book out like crazy. I've noticed that many university theatre departments around the country use that book as part of the stage management curriculum, so if anything you'll already own and have read your SM class' textbook.

Now mind you, I come from a much different schooling background; my high school had 2000 students, our theatre department was 60 members strong and our working budget was $10,000...I was not allowed to take a stage management position until I had read that book (as well as a couple of others...but their names escape me,) and was able to explain in-detail how each part of the process worked.

If you've read the book and you're still interested, I'd get accepted to a college that looked like it had a nice theatre department...then not join the theatre department right away. Try volunteering, talking to the department chair or even just attending a show there. It will become immediately obvious whether or not this is truly something you want to do full-time, every day, year after year.

Just be careful about deciding on your passion without first understanding everything it entails. Good luck to you.

~Alice~