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The Green Room / Re: Apollo Theater in London Roof Collapse
« on: Dec 19, 2013, 10:25 pm »
I hope everyone is okay. I wish every structurally sound theatres going into the holiday season!
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14 Jan 2021: Happy 21st birthday, SMNetwork! I replaced the old broken mobile theme. -K
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I hope everyone is okay. I wish every structurally sound theatres going into the holiday season!
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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Contracts?
« on: Aug 26, 2013, 07:21 pm »
At my college, when actors audition they sign an audition card that has all of their information, past experience, and schedule on it. When they sign that card, it is a symbol that if they are cast they are committed to the show and are expected to fulfill their responsibilities. So, it's sort of like a contract. As far as techies go, we send them an email detailing the schedule and their responsibilities and then they respond back as a confirmation between the Technical Director, Production Manager, and SM.
I kind of like the idea of having official, physical contracts for actors and technicians to sign. It makes it more serious I think.
I kind of like the idea of having official, physical contracts for actors and technicians to sign. It makes it more serious I think.
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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: ASM Help
« on: Aug 26, 2013, 07:14 pm »How would you teach someone to SM who has zero experience? I've never really thought how I would train someone, that they would want to continue SM for another semester or more.
Also, should I slowly give them jobs (to be on book, record blocking and notes, write minutes and reports, etc) to the point that they'd end up doing it without supervision and assistance from me.
If your trainee has experience with theatre, maybe as actor or stage hand, I'd take them through the production process step by step (rehearsals, tech, performances) illustrating the SM point-of-view since they're only familiar with their perspective. If they have no theatre experience at all, I'd explain the production process, the terminology, and be patient with them. Also, giving them cheat sheets and paperwork examples would be a really good idea.
And yes, I would slowly give them jobs. The first job I always give my ASMs is to be on book because it really helps them be familiar with the show. For me, my ASM has to be my second eyes and ears. When I'm with the designers and director, my ASM is with the cast. I always like to give my ASMs at least one big project to work on during a production to give them a sense of accomplishment and a holistic view of stage management. Usually, that project is props, i.e., tracking them, setting them up for rehearsals, creating prop lists.
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College and Graduate Studies / Re: To Major or Minor? That is the question..
« on: Aug 17, 2013, 01:57 pm »
I'm a senior at a small liberal arts college in Seattle. Our program is pretty small with an average of about 8-12 theatre majors graduating a year. I first started out as just a Theatre major with an emphasis in Production. Then, I found the major Communication and I loved it so much that I decided to double major. I haven't graduated yet but I've gotten a couple of SM gigs this summer, all of which I probably would not have gotten if I didn't major in Theatre. The reason being because I've gotten a lot of experience stage managing at my school because I'm a major. There's no actual rule that says only majors can stage manage the shows at my school but majors do get first priority. Also, one of my SM jobs this summer I got because my stage management professor recommended me to a director. I probably wouldn't have gotten the job if I wasn't a major. In my department, we do have a number of students who are not majors that are very involved in the department. Mainly because they have jobs as stage hands/house managers/electricians and just because they love theatre so much.
I hope that helps and gives you some perspective. Granted, I haven't actually graduated yet so my story is a little different. Good luck applying!
I hope that helps and gives you some perspective. Granted, I haven't actually graduated yet so my story is a little different. Good luck applying!
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Tools of the Trade / Re: Virtual Callboard
« on: Aug 15, 2013, 09:36 pm »
I've really enjoyed and preferred to use a Virtual Callboard for casts of more than 10 people. It helps keep everyone on the same page because all the needed information is in one location online. Granted, I've never done anything very fancy or high tech because they've only been for undergraduate productions. Here's one of my wordpress Virtual Callboards: http://letterstospu.wordpress.com/.
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Self-Promotion / Re: Ailey II
« on: Aug 13, 2013, 11:57 am »
That is so awesome! Alvin Ailey is one of my favorite dance companies so I'm a little jealous. Congratulations!
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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student Stage Manager Challenge #19: Labor of Love
« on: Aug 12, 2013, 04:03 pm »
My initial response would probably be to ask if the director and her baby are okay. Then I would offer a total cliche and say that the show must go on. I imagine that there would be a contingency plan if this were to happen since she would have been pregnant all through the production. This is how I would proceed:
I would ask the English department chair to observe Tech only as a faculty supervisor to manage the students and facility, keep an eye on safety issues, and other things of that nature. Next, I'd call the designers (if there are designers), inform them of the situation, and ask if it would be possible to schedule a half-hour meeting prior to Tech to discuss the necessary changes we have to make and how to proceed. Any sort of directorial Tech questions would have to be answered by the designer's creative discretion, my own knowledge of the director's original intentions and the show. I'd do my best to maintain the director's original vision with whatever I remember. At the start of Tech, I'd explain to the actors the situation and the plan that the show must go on. I would state very clearly that once we get the director into the building, all of the Tech decisions could be changed but that they should still give everything their 110%. Everyone would just have to be flexible. As the week went on, I'd try to find out the health of the director and her baby. Once the director returns to work, I would schedule a dress rehearsal so she can tweek the show as needed.
I would ask the English department chair to observe Tech only as a faculty supervisor to manage the students and facility, keep an eye on safety issues, and other things of that nature. Next, I'd call the designers (if there are designers), inform them of the situation, and ask if it would be possible to schedule a half-hour meeting prior to Tech to discuss the necessary changes we have to make and how to proceed. Any sort of directorial Tech questions would have to be answered by the designer's creative discretion, my own knowledge of the director's original intentions and the show. I'd do my best to maintain the director's original vision with whatever I remember. At the start of Tech, I'd explain to the actors the situation and the plan that the show must go on. I would state very clearly that once we get the director into the building, all of the Tech decisions could be changed but that they should still give everything their 110%. Everyone would just have to be flexible. As the week went on, I'd try to find out the health of the director and her baby. Once the director returns to work, I would schedule a dress rehearsal so she can tweek the show as needed.
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Introductions / *ding dong* Hello! My name is...
« on: Jul 06, 2013, 12:13 am »
Hello! After creeping a little bit on this site, I finally committed and registered.
I'm a senior making my way through undergraduate theatre in Seattle, WA (I'm originally from Los Angeles). My first real stage management gig was "12 Angry Women" for my university. It was actually a really easy show; there weren't many cues, no intermission and no scene changes. Nonetheless, I was terrified because I had never done a mainstage show by myself before at this level. At my school we do something called a Post-Mortem where we evaluate the process of the production rather than the product after we close. My peers and professors only had nice things to say about me and the production. It was then that I realized that my dreams of stage managing professionally could possibly happen. I made it and I was floating on cloud 9. Since then, I've become sort of the top dog in my department but now that I'm a senior, I'm preparing myself to be the little puppy among all the other great SMs in the big pound. Stage management is really something that I'd like to do for as long as possible. I'm currently interning in the Development department of an Opera company. I'm also about to start a small SM gig for a studio theatre which I am really excited for.
One of my short term goals is to bridge the gap between undergraduate theatre and the professional world. I thought this network would be a good place to start. A long term goal of mine is just to serve others through theatre and be happy.
I'm excited to join this little virtual Stage Management community. It really seems like a great place to be.
Thanks for reading!
Have a nice day,
nj_song
I'm a senior making my way through undergraduate theatre in Seattle, WA (I'm originally from Los Angeles). My first real stage management gig was "12 Angry Women" for my university. It was actually a really easy show; there weren't many cues, no intermission and no scene changes. Nonetheless, I was terrified because I had never done a mainstage show by myself before at this level. At my school we do something called a Post-Mortem where we evaluate the process of the production rather than the product after we close. My peers and professors only had nice things to say about me and the production. It was then that I realized that my dreams of stage managing professionally could possibly happen. I made it and I was floating on cloud 9. Since then, I've become sort of the top dog in my department but now that I'm a senior, I'm preparing myself to be the little puppy among all the other great SMs in the big pound. Stage management is really something that I'd like to do for as long as possible. I'm currently interning in the Development department of an Opera company. I'm also about to start a small SM gig for a studio theatre which I am really excited for.
One of my short term goals is to bridge the gap between undergraduate theatre and the professional world. I thought this network would be a good place to start. A long term goal of mine is just to serve others through theatre and be happy.
I'm excited to join this little virtual Stage Management community. It really seems like a great place to be.
Thanks for reading!
Have a nice day,
nj_song
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