Messages

1

Tools of the Trade / Re: Paperless World

« on: Jul 08, 2010, 04:59 pm »

That idea is one that has been tossed around this past month as we are prepping for the upcoming season and exploring options. Though, I don't think it is within our means to hire someone for this task at this point. Something that I can operate and maintain would be ideal for the time being.

There's a lot of transitions (for the better) that we are mapping out. It's exciting, but daunting none the less. This project is one of the big ones, but I think the resources and support is there to make it successful (even if by continual trial and error in the next season)

Thanks for all the responses, there is a great deal of information and valid points that I can use for our endeavors.

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Paperless World

« on: Jul 06, 2010, 03:36 pm »

I'm not saying I'm completely for the elimination of the physical callboard, but I can’t say it is a terrible idea. One of the major things I’ve noticed with the iPhone/smart phone phenomenon is that it is definitely a faster form of communication than waiting for 15 actors to walk by the call board on any given day.

As for the point of out of towners who did not travel with a computer, that is not an issue for us. We have 3 to 5 resident company members for the season and then hire all the rest of cast locally. All of these actors have access to a computer and internet daily. Those who for some reason do not have access or prefer to not use the internet have had no issue with our current callboard set up and we make extra effort to keep them up to speed with hard copies and phone calls. Though I still post/print hard copies of everything, the vast majority of the cast and designers are constantly checking their emails/sites more often than they have ever checked a callboard. I have found that if something is sent out/posted online, 14 of the 15 actors know about it and have responded within 30 minutes of the change.


Another factor is the cost. We are a small theatre and the cost of a single hard copy is 8 cents. 15 cents for color. Looking at it from that perspective, to maintain and update a physical callboard it is costing the company daily. So if everyone in the company is pushing for a paperless option and is willing to shift their focus from the physical board to the online board, where is the harm?

That being said, the main focus of the project is not for the actors, it is for the production team. As I mentioned, most of our directors and designers are not local. We have many production meetings with conference calls and an online distribution center would make file sharing and callboard updates (that they wouldn’t see) incredibly useful. If we can utilize this program to also keep the actors more informed, I think it’s a step in the right direction.

This whole transition is a very strange one for me as all my background is with companies who still stand by the callboard and it’s physical presence… unfortunately, a physical callboard is not something that this company has found to be useful for them and their needs. I am trying to adapt with them and with the times. Though I don’t necessarily think the elimination is completely necessary, I do think that the virtual callboard may be a solution many companies will be leaning towards in the coming years.

3

The Green Room / Re: The Stage Manager's Nightmare

« on: Jul 01, 2010, 03:12 pm »

A few years back while I was still in college, I was SMing a rather tech heavy show that was going a little too smoothly during its pre-tech days....

the night before paper tech I had a dream that I walked into the theatre and my LD and TD were no where to be found. There was a note that said "Congrats on your opening!" from a friend and all of a sudden the house opened. People are rushing to seats and the cast is running around backstage getting ready... and I have no cues.

The next thing I know, my director comes running up the aisle with a yellow legal pad. (my director varies from dream to dream, in the first occurence it was Alan Rickman) Alan Says " {insert designer's name here} said to give you this, she/he said it's your cues. Happy Opening." The Alan leaves me in my silent panic because to my horror the legal pad has only one random number on it and nothing else. (this time it was 476)

The dream ends with me calling a show without cue placements, just a final number. So I have to guess where a cue should fall and hope I don't hit "476" too late or too early. Freakishly similar to a game Russian Roullete, but with a "go" button and no idea when a black out may hit.



I went to paper tech the next day and told my LD this dream. She found it a little too amusing and from that moment on whenever I work with her and the dream occurs on opening night we compare numbers.  (There's usually a financial wager in the mix) The closest we've been was 4 cues off.

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Paperless World

« on: Jun 30, 2010, 03:49 pm »

Thanks so much guys!

 

I'll start with these ideas and keep you posted!

5

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS Archive June 09-Dec. 10

« on: Jun 29, 2010, 06:34 pm »

Anyone by chance have Skin Tight by Gary Henderson?  PM me please if you want to be my hero of the day! 

6

Tools of the Trade / Paperless World

« on: Jun 29, 2010, 04:55 pm »

        Over the past few years I have found this technical revolution to be both incredibly useful and incredibly frustrating... it's great to have multiple forms of communication and distribution options, but how to filter it down into something more manageable?
       I've been searching around and have seen a couple useful threads regarding the ever changing world of technology, but what I'm currently working on is a project that is combination of all things "distribition and communication" where I would love some outside input.

      In my first year with this company I have been given the task of modifying the communication system. All parties are encouraging a paperless route and these are the road blocks we've been hitting this past season.


 
    We're currently using google documents and everyone in the company is diligently uploading files and sharing them with all necessary parties. This is working well enough... but every file needs to be shared individually and it is time consuming. And since most of the people needing this information are not "in house"; the usual inter-networking filing system (multiple computers all in one building that have shared filling) won't work for us. Any suggestions similar to google docs but less tedious? Does anyone have experience with Google Wave?

     The ideal plan is to establish an internal network where our production team can access all designs, notes, research ect.  Though many of our directors and designers have worked with us for years, many are not local... so an online file system where they can access any information they would need from anywhere would be incredibly useful.


   The other key component of this project is the elimination of the paper callboard. We have a staff website that I've been modifying to be used as an electronic callboard essentially, but the problem with this is that anyone who does not have a company email account can't access it.  So all the guest actors and guest designers are hit and miss with this site. Though all scheduling information is emailed daily, it would be nice to have a place for things to be "posted" as well.
    I've thought about creating an actual website that can be viewed by anyone, but then we lose the sense of company privacy found in the callboard. Any suggestions? Also, even with constant reminders, how can I ensure that people are checking these things, as well as their email?

A basic list of everything I'm trying to incorporate into this new system is this:
              File sharing, schedules/call times, announcements, archives, calendar/events, contact information.

            With that, the three basic groups needing access are the Company/Staff, the Production Team, and the Actors.

Thanks all,
~Becky