Messages

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The Green Room / Re: 10 things actors can do to get off to a good start with a stage manager

« on: Jan 15, 2010, 09:45 pm »

LOL Woww...that's the exactly experience I had...it was maddening...That's why I said it Not to be harsh. I"m actually quite nice once you get to know me haahahaha

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The Green Room / Re: 10 things actors can do to get off to a good start with a stage manager

« on: Jan 14, 2010, 10:16 pm »

10) Do not tell me how to do my job. I'm a stage manager because I know theatre better than most, so the day that you want to tell me how to do my job properly, is the day you better be SMing a broadway production. PERIOD.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: REHEARSALS: Volunteer crew who don't want to show up regularily!

« on: Jan 14, 2010, 09:27 pm »

Hey guys. Thanks for the replies. They are all really good ideas, but I've tried them all. Here's what the show entails.

It is a community show. I didn't have very much variety of crew to pick from this year because the crew is so big, so yes, I picked them. Or they picked me because it was pretty much everyone who wanted to lol. I have 9 people on my crew this year, because I need 9. There's no way around that at all. In the comment about the time restraints, we're actually late right now. The show started late because there was issues with the writers/directors of the show. It all changed at the last minute, so we started in December (rehearsals are starting on sunday) rather than September like we usually do. We only have one day a week to rehearse because our theatre is the movie theatre and the owner is very tough on us (if we as much as put a toe out of line...she becomes the devil...but she's a nice person I guess). We get the theatre from 230pm till whatever time we leave at (which is usually around 10pm). Actors and singers are gone by 7pm. I ask my crew to stay for the whole time because, when the actors are rehearsing, we will be doing set changes so that we can also learn and find the bugs before we open the show, and then after the actors leave, it'll all be timed so that we can get it under 10 seconds per set change. Technicaly I'm not the one saying my crew has to be there starting next week, it's the board (a bunch of people who run the place lol). They want our crew there NOW so that we can start working on stuff NOW so that we're ready (apparently they have no faith in me....). So this is not my doing.


I have tried the team work aspect of it. I explained everything to them last night but they still dont clue in. Some of them are, and I know who's going to be getting hte bigger things, that's for sure, but some of the kids in my crew are under the at of 16 and yes, they do want to be doing something else rather than this. Have a mentioned that most of htem need their 40 hours of community service to graduate? That's what I"m handing out this year for awards pretty much...but the ones who need it, are the ones who aren't there. I even pulled the line of "I've already done over 200 hours this year..." but they still aren't really clueing in to what I'm saying. The set changes this year are massive...and they dont seem to understand that. Honestly, this happens every year and I never know what to do. I explained to them that a few years back I actually took a trip to the local complex and "fired" 5 people off my crew because they wanted to go swimming on our first night of performance rather than be there helping with the show! We had 3 of us doing everything that year, and it worked...but this year it wont. So I dont know what to do. Sometimes I wish I worked in a professional theatre because then we'd be getting paid for it and it would be a JOB rather than just something to do.

Any more suggestions??

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Tools of the Trade / EDITING: Progam to edit sound effects?

« on: Jan 10, 2010, 03:05 pm »

Hey everyone.

Just wondering if anyone knows of a free program or cheap program that will edit sound effects (chop them, put them together with another sound effect, etc.)

Thanks in advance

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / REHEARSALS: Volunteer crew who don't want to show up regularily!

« on: Jan 10, 2010, 03:02 pm »

It's funny how many problems I seem to have with this show being volunteer.

I have a huge crew this year. Bigger then I've ever had. These 10 people are all volunteer, but seem unwilling to do the work. I've held meetings and cant seem to get them all in the same room at once. Some wont even return my phone calls. We're 1 1/2 months to the show now and I dont have time to replace half of them. I can't sit there and tell them EXACTLY what I think because they are volunteers and they will walk away. I dont know how to motivate them so that they come in for rehearsals. We're starting to make the crew move sets now as if it was an actual set change on  a night of the run, but it's not working because half of them arent there. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm kind of desperate now.

Thanks

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: JOB DESCRIPTION: No Crew OR Stage Manager!!???

« on: Aug 27, 2009, 12:20 am »

Hi guys...thanks for responding. Sorry it took me so long, I haven't had a computer for a while lol

MissLiz-  Our show is pretty much all volunteer, which gives them no reason to cut any corners when it comes to positions. I've spoken to the director about everything that I could possibly think of on the subject of "training actors", ESPECIALLY with mic use (lol because we all know someones going to screw something up at some point lol). His reaction was "Yes, I will train them." I find this hypocritical because last year, he told me that "It's not our job to train them! We shouldnt' have to train them!" So I was kind of ticked off about that.

Tempest_gypsy- Thanks for your imput. I totally agree with you. Yes, they will learn, but will they remember the little things that an SM is suppose to remember...I doubt it. We had lots of problems last year with batteries dying on us very quickly, and I was running around trying to find spare batteries (because another person on the lighting crew moved them on me)...so if that happens while I'm on stage, there's going to be mega problems! I also explained to him that, yes, we could work without a crew...but you need someone back there who has authority and who knows what's going on. He didn't agree with me. I dont know what else to say to him...it's like he's one sided on this while I'm seeing both sides.

Loebtmc- I completely agree with you on knowing what a stage manager brings to the production. I live by the saying "You dont know what you have until it's gone" and I think they'll learn this lesson this year. Like I said above, we need to have someone with authority back there that actors can run to with problems because there will be problems. If they have no body to run to, there's going to be a mass panic in the back. And that's never good.

Centaura- Yes...I like your suggestion. Problem is, I've done that lol. I've brought him all the possible situations that could possibly happen back there and he just seems to not understand how a simple problem can turn into a big one without someone back there as an authoritative figure. He will also be acting, so I guess hes thinking that he'll be that person. But he's already said he's taken on too much in the past and doesnt want that kind of thing happening again. Well, I've given him the situation... it's either him taking on too much, or it's me because of our positions. But I doubt I'll ever be able to fully step out of my SM mode while there and Ill still be taking on partial responsibility back there. I honestly dont know what's motivating this change. I've SM'ed this show for the past 3 years, which leads me to believe that It's me they had a problem with. We aren't paid, we're all volunteer and I know that in past years the crew hasn't be reliable...but I made sure that last year, the crew was, so it couldn't have been a bad experience. When you say that he might be trusting the cast more, I feel that he's putting too much on them. They're performers, not crew members...and...no offense if you're a performer (because I am... and I know this for a fact) but performers can be pretty darn clueless when it comes to most of this stuff...so something mega bad must have happened last year that really flipped him over the edge. I just dont know what it is!


Posted on: August 26, 2009, 10:14:49 PMI should also add that last year there was an incident backstage that happened between me and this director....and he wasn't the director that year. He's a board member who make decisions. I live by this rule that states "Position over Rank"...and when I'm back there, I believe that my position is higher than his in the middle of a show.

He saw one of my crew members not working (or so he thought) and he went up to her and told her that she wasn't doing her job and that she had to get out there and move stuff off the stage. He then came to me and proceeded to yell at me in the middle of the performance that my crew members were unsatisfactory and they weren't doing their jobs properly. So, I'm the SM. I dont care what position you hold before the show. Back there, he was an actor/singer. Therefore, I became the very agitated SM and told him exactly where to go, not only because he tried to take my position, but he also, under no authority, yelled at my crew members without me present!

I'm sure that would have put a dent in our relationship, but it didn't apparently because we're still very good friends both in and out of the theatre. So, this might have had an impact, but I dont know. He told me that it didn't...so it might just be my lack of confidence in myself coming out. Dont know. But I shall be talking to him because his decision is ridiculous.

He'll be pulling double duty or I will...simple as that.

Point number two: I dont trust actors with anything. And I'm an actor too...so I know lol

EDIT: Merged double posts.  In the future you can add to a post using the "modify" link in the upper right hand corner. -PSMK

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / JOB DESCRIPTION: No Crew OR Stage Manager!!???

« on: May 15, 2009, 12:49 pm »

Just need some input. We run an annual show in our town, and the director/writer for next year is telling us that he doesn't want a crew or stage manager! Has anyone ever seen a full out theatre production run without a stage manager or crew that has approximately 25 people involved onstage??? He says he wants to "teach" actors and singers to get their mics and all...I dont know about this...actors can be pretty clueless about this stuff...does anyone think this will work???

PS. Keep in mind that the stage manager (moi) will be backstage as an ACTOR (apparently) next year...so does anyone see me taking on two roles for this...or am I just seeing that cuz I'm not sure about this??? lol

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Managers, Stage manager.

« on: Apr 22, 2009, 12:59 pm »

I'd like to stress that, within a show, nothing is personal. That means that you can talk to your director as a DIRECTOR and not a friend. Explain that it's not a personal thing and that you love them to death, but at the same time...STOP DOING MY JOB! lol But make sure they know that it's not personal.

Also, you may want to sit down with Blake and write up a job description for each of you, just to make things a little more clearer on who has what job.

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The Green Room / Re: Prompt Book

« on: Apr 14, 2009, 12:54 pm »

Hey, welcome to the  network! PM means Private Message...There should be a link under Ninja's name that will allow you send a message.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student SM Challenge #6: Design your Department

« on: Apr 12, 2009, 11:28 pm »

A very good start! But I would also have to add at least one course from the "tech theatre", an acting course, a public speaking course and literature and history of theatre because, as an SM, you should know about all these things when walking into a theatre and should have experienced them. Therefore, they would all be first year courses to get the students aquainted (sp?) with them, and then if they want to continue with some for electives they could. I really like the psychology idea as well! I believe it would also be interesting to have a "True Colours" seminar with the students. I've taken it through school and it's very helpful to see where other students are coming from and why they do certain things, as well as yourself. Gold, Blue, Orange and Green are the colours and you can be more than one...it'll help the students zero in on who should be handling what if they are in a team (SM and 3 ASM's for one of the sponsored productions maybe?). Just thought I'd throw that one out there

Love the subject on this by the way

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SMNetwork Archives / Re: I could have kissed them!

« on: Mar 21, 2009, 07:39 pm »

I think we don't expect to be acknowledged because we're so used to the position, or we see the position as being very independent and we don't "need" to be complimented...I agree. It's very sad that we don't expect it. I know that I compliment everybody working within the theatre and I've only had one person compliment me this year who wasn't a director/theatre manager. I also believe that the other positions that are in the theatre (actors, singers, dancers, crew, etc.) are very dependent roles. They depend on the compliments to keep them going while we are the ones who have to dish them out. oh well ... it makes those compliments go a whole lot further! and I appreciate them more

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SMNetwork Archives / Re: I could have kissed them!

« on: Mar 19, 2009, 05:45 pm »

I could have kissed one of my actors when every night she came in and complimented me on the fact that I was doing an amazing job. She was also the one who brought me a chocolate one night and I almost cried lol. Then she'd asked me if I ate and I said no, at which point she ran out the door and went to get me food. I love her She's definitely on my crew next year (lol she's already asked hahaha)

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: The Ultimate Decision

« on: Mar 04, 2009, 01:45 pm »

I began acting and singing and doing some (and I mean very little) dancing. I joined my local theatre troupe called Kabaret in 2003 where I acted/sang until 2006. In 2007, I acted and did backstage work because our SM didn't know what the hay he was doing. So I did his job and he took credit. When he was kicked out, I took over in 2008 and have been doing it since then. I just finished our 2009 run which went without a hitch (as usual) and have started on 2010 as of last night. I've also dabbled in lighting and sound but will be going into that more in detail with Kabaret next year with the sound guy (Darcey ... yay ) and the lights guy (Randy ... yay! ) just so I can hook everything up and know what is going on. So it did fall into my lap very suddenly as they called me at the beginning of 2008 with the proposition (as I practically ASM'ed the 2007 show). I'm also currently working on the SEars Drama Festival here in Ontario with a show from my school. Hoping to go to school for SM'ing at one point if I can ever get up the courage to leave my wonderful Kabaret

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Acting Class?

« on: Feb 21, 2009, 09:36 pm »

Oh god yes...I'm pretty sure these people have summed it up.

From personal experience I know, as an actor myself, how actors work. If you know that, you'll have an easier time getting through to them and an easier time working them them too! Also, a Stage Manager is the one person in the theatre who should have experienced everything! That means lights, sound, acting, etc. So if you have acting behind you too, bonus! I find it helps me a lot. Not only will it help you, but it's fun too Good luck!

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Need Help: We open soon and nothing is ready!

« on: Feb 21, 2009, 09:33 pm »

Just wondering, I think you said it opened on Wednesday of last week...if it did...how did it go??? did you learn anything that you think we might like to know in advance in case this happens to us???