Messages

1

Tools of the Trade / Re: 5 fingers

« on: Mar 31, 2012, 02:04 am »

I am a Merrell Salesperson for my day job:

The Barefoot Concept:

These shoes are designed to have NO support. True, the shoe wraps your foot so tightly that it feels like there is a great support. However, this is just how it feels. In time, it will build up the muscles in the foot and in between the bones, helping to strengthen the arch itself.

The pace is great, I wear mine everyday. They are a little tiring on concrete all day though. Size about a 1/2 size up and you'll be a lot happier. When you are standing, lift your toes straight up and your longest toe should just hit the edge of the seaming. The toe box is designed to be very roomy so the foot can "splay" out as you walk. You will land more on the balls of your feet, with a more even displacement of weight. The shoe is designed to discourage the heel - to - toe strike.

For someone that is just starting into the barefoot line, I would recommend the Bare Access Arc or particularly, the Dash Glove (Road Glove for men). The Dash/Road is designed for concrete and asphalt.

If you have any other questions feel free to PM me. Also, if you don't have someone that sells Merrell in your area, until May 1st the website is doing free shipping, just type in the code: SPRING12.  The website also does free size exchanges.

Hope this helps.

2

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROP: Almost, Maine Shoe

« on: Mar 19, 2012, 12:13 am »

To those that responded: THANK YOU FOR YOUR IDEAS!!

My set designer ended up rigging a cellanoid battery and then ran the cables to the booth with a dead man switch for the drop. We used some tie line through the shoe to ensure that it didn't damage the costume piece and it worked perfectly. Sound wise, there was a small click right before the drop, but anyone outside the world of theatre had no idea what the noise was.

Thanks for the help, all the ideas were actually discussed at production meetings and my team thanks you as well. We closed last weekend and had a great run.

Cheers,
N

3

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Re: ESCRIPTS: Post your requests for electronic scripts here!

« on: Mar 19, 2012, 12:04 am »

Does anyone have the Escript (preferably in word for formatting reasons) of Agatha Christie's The Hollow? Typing from scratch is rather tiring and I am trying to run my first show completely paperless.


A PM is fine.


Thanks!

N

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROP: Almost, Maine Shoe

« on: Jan 18, 2012, 11:43 pm »

I have just started rehearsal and am wondering if anyone has a good idea of a solution for a tricky prop.

During one scene a shoe is supposed to "drop from the sky." We will be performing in a black box theatre and the action will be taking place on the opposite side of the theatre from the booth (mezzanine). We have a limited budget, so a box with an electronic release most likely won't be an option. The director would really like to drop the shoe at this point in the planning.

Barring fishing line and a pulley system - I'm out of ideas. Does anyone have an idea of how to drop this prop?

5

Tools of the Trade / Re: Excel tips

« on: Jan 18, 2012, 11:05 pm »

I have found that "repeat row/column" has made my life so much easier in terms of formatting. The newest version of Office has a button for it under 'layout.' I am afraid to say that I forget how to make this happen in an older version. You could easily find it under the search or help I'm sure.

6

Tools of the Trade / Re: 5 fingers

« on: Jan 18, 2012, 10:54 pm »

I work at a Merrell Concept Store as well as SMing - I wear the barefoot pace glove (Barefoots are a hybrid of merrell and vibram - co designed by both teams.) I don't think I will wear anything else for stage managing. I own the all black, they are durable, sturdy, and easy to move in. I can also move quicker and silently. One of my last shows I was SM and ASM - The silent part was the biggest seller for me. I could have never done that in my boots. The audience had no idea I was moving things or hiding under the platform to open the door (Woman in Black) with nothing but a piece of masonite separating me from view or sound.

7

Tools of the Trade / Re: Favorite Bag

« on: Jan 18, 2012, 10:47 pm »

I just looked at my bag, it is a little larger than MarcieA mentioned. Must have been the model right before. I can fit a 4" binder, it just doesn't zip if my mac is in there as well. Hope any of that helps.

8

Tools of the Trade / Re: Favorite Bag

« on: Jan 12, 2012, 01:07 am »

I purchased a Timbuk2 bag back in college and it is still in perfect condition. It can hold a laptop AND a 3" binder and still zip. There are several front pockets and a handy little strip (that can zip into its own pocket) that attaches to a clip for keys and USB's. It was $100 or so and one of the best purchases I have ever made. Mine is all black, but if you go to the website you can customize the panels of the bag to different colors and they also have different sizes. Timbuk2 also has a great warranty...I haven't needed it, so I would have to go digging in a file cabinet for the paperwork...

9

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PEOPLE: HELP! The director is taking over my job... :S

« on: Dec 06, 2011, 12:28 am »

I am in a similar position in respects.

The show I'm SMing currently is being directed by the vice president of the board of directors. I thought things would get better once we opened and they haven't. As much as I hate to admit, I am just letting him do it. He and I have had at least three professional conversations about overstepping (one that included our producer) and they didn't help. He's an actor in the next show I'm the SM on and I want to keep a semi professional relationship with him for the next production.

I know that it's our (cast and I) show. They know it. Most of the crew knows it. We just sit back and do our jobs and let it slide off our backs. Then we all go to our respective homes and usually do the following: vent to significant others, drink (big kid drinks), or do our paperwork and go to bed knowing we rocked our respective jobs at that performance.

I wish you the best of luck with this situation. I know how frustrating it is. I'm in week 10 of it. (Yes, he insisted on an 8 week rehearsal process for an 11 show run.)

You'll be awesome. Promise.

10

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Coping when others seem not to care

« on: Nov 19, 2011, 03:46 pm »

Thank you so much for your reply. I had lost this attitude about 4 weeks in. Your encouragement was just the pick me up I needed.


Thanks!

11

The Green Room / Re: Weirdest Item In Your Kit

« on: Nov 18, 2011, 04:33 am »

A fingerpuppet.

It was a gift from a show, and is now a current prop. The cast was stunned when the director said we would need to find one and I just pulled it out of the "giant tackle box of magic." (Cast member named it that - it stuck.)

12

The Green Room / Re: Best one-liner from a performance report

« on: Nov 18, 2011, 04:29 am »

These were from a couple of rehearsal reports in the SM section. Corinna was the set designer.

Woman in Black

67. Corinna brought in a mop and push broom. She is officially a goddess and Nic is very, very appreciative.
77. Somehow (theatre magic most likely) the chair and briefcase need to be struck before page 43.

13

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROFESSIONALISM: Coping when others seem not to care

« on: Nov 18, 2011, 01:55 am »

Hello,

I have run into an issue on Spelling Bee. My director has scheduled an 8 week rehearsal process for a 4 weekend run that has left cast and crew feeling like they have all the time in the world & have just run out.

I have tried tirelessly to email and call designers for information and it wasn't until this past Tuesday (2 weeks from tech) that I started getting responses - which are still spotty at best.

Tonight, my director (who is the vice president of the company) asked what might be overwhelming for me and what he should "take over so I'm not overloaded." I explained that it was the lack of communication from designers that had become a tad frustrating.

His response: "Well, that is your fault. I wasn't CC'd on some of those emails so I couldn't step in to fix it."

This has been the general attitude of my production team from the get go. It is a community theatre, so they feel they have no reason to be professional. This is my third show since May with this company and I know that is not the case for most shows.

Another contributing factor: I am the youngest tech on every team...by at least 5 years.

The director has let the cast run amok the entire process - they are frustrated by the absence of a vocal director. They don't listen very well (unless I'm the one talking. When I talk, they listen - at least I established that.)

The end of my rant is this: How do I get my team to pull their act together in time for tech if they don't respect me or my job?

14

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Re: ESCRIPTS: Post your requests for electronic scripts here!

« on: Nov 18, 2011, 01:27 am »

Hi!

My next project is Almost, Maine. Anyone have a copy. Editable preferred. Let me know through PM and I will love you forever!

Cheers,
Nic