Messages

1

Introductions / Re: Hello World!

« on: Mar 05, 2013, 12:05 am »

Welcome! "Hello world" is a very telling greeting - are you a coder?

I thought the same thing!

Also... Welcome!

2

Introductions / Re: Greetings, folks!

« on: Mar 04, 2013, 10:22 am »

Unfortunately I don't think I will be able to get a drink tonight--I have a previous engagement, but thank you so much for the invitation! : )

3

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: BLOCKING: Looking for Examples of Blocking Pages

« on: Mar 04, 2013, 08:22 am »

I tend to work similarly to some of the previous posters, in that I use a combination. EVERY bit of movement in the script has a text description, generally in-line or opposite, if it is complex (with an assigned number I can drop in the script). That said, I generally manage musicals, and so often times (although this applies to many plays as well) the director has very specific "pictures" or "moments" in which actors' positions (especially the ensemble) are important for sight lines, lighting, safety, etc. At any given moment like that, I generally use a diagram on the opposite page so that it is easy to see when a given performer has forgotten his/her position in that moment.

Additionally, in large musical numbers, in which I'm working off the score rather than the libretto, I use a diagram with performers (abbreviations), arrows (indicating movement), and a number, which I can place easily in the score to indicate when it happens (there is generally less space to write in the score). I find this is also a bit faster (for me) than trying to write out the directions—I simply have my picture, draw an arrow with endpoint, and assign it a number. Of course, I adapt to changing situations, and use whatever seems (to me) to make the most sense at a given moment. The above is just my general practice. ;-)

- P

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: JOB DESCRIPTION: SM Role in the automated future

« on: Mar 03, 2013, 05:31 pm »

I tend to agree with most of what has been said so far. I definitely fall into the camp that would have a problem letting an outside party (the light board op) call his/her own cues. As stated by the folks above, the live performance will never be perfect, and performance-time decisions need to be made by the person who knows the production inside and out—the stage manager. If something goes wrong with lighting, it is far better for the stage manager to make the choice to keep the current cue up a little longer and to skip the next if, say, going to the next cue would leave much of the stage in darkness. The light board operator might not have the necessary knowledge of the production to make the best call, and ultimately shouldn't have that responsibility placed on him/her in the first place. If the board op is being forced to make artistic or, more importantly, safety-affecting decisions, then the setup is not, in my opinion, the proper one. The stage manager has the knowledge necessary to keep everyone safe and get through the show most effectively, even if things go horribly awry; the board op doesn't—simple as that.

5

Introductions / Greetings, folks!

« on: Mar 03, 2013, 05:14 pm »

Hello!

I'm a stage manager who was previously based in New York City but now live in the D.C. area. I have a Bachelor's Degree of Music in Musical Theatre but ended up pursuing stage management seriously instead of performance as I'm, well, more suited to it. Anyway, a pleasure to meet you all! I look forward to getting to know you all. :-)