Messages

1

Employment / Re: Needing a cover for 2 shows

« on: Mar 03, 2020, 05:00 pm »

From a non-AEA perspective...

Let the company know as early as possible. In the past I've seen my company most commonly pull from staff they already have to fill those kinds of gaps. Often an Artistic Assistant or Assistant Production Manager may be available to fill in when needed. If there is another SM they commonly work with they may pull them in. I think we work in-house mostly to keep from having to process more new hire paperwork for a very temporary job.

Have a few names in the back of your head, in case your producers ask, but I would let them lead the search if they feel so inclined.

2

The Green Room / Re: Search error on website

« on: Jan 29, 2020, 04:56 pm »

I've been having the same problems for quiet a while.
What I've been doing recently is going to google and typing in "smnetwork.org" then following that up with what I was going to search for. It normally brings me to threads I was looking for.

3

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: rehearsal spaces

« on: Nov 07, 2019, 07:31 pm »

Some of the smaller theaters in my city try to bum rehearsal space form local colleges. It's nice if you have a student employed on the show or if any full time employees serve as faculty at the school.

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / REPORTS: Understudy Rehearsal Report

« on: Oct 23, 2019, 03:56 pm »

Question.

Do you all generate rehearsal reports for your understudy rehearsals? If so, what information do you provide and who do you send it to?

I recently did generate an understudy rehearsal report and the company didn't seem too thrilled about the idea. Said it was unfair to publish performance notes on them. Sure, its less work for me on my end if I don't do it, but in the event one of the understudies go on, I want the documentation that we went over the material on a certain date and note how the understudy is currently performing. I need the insurance of "we went over it, they struggled at these specific moments and we asked for further assistance. In performance they failed because the company did not give us the time or staff to go over requested material." I want to save myself the future heart-ache by documenting the understudy rehearsals as they happen.

Let me know your thoughts!

Edited to add topic tag - Maribeth

5

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dinner Theater

« on: Aug 02, 2019, 02:13 pm »

I noticed you're currently working at Virginia Rep in Richmond! I was the Stage Management intern there about 3 years ago! Small world!

Very small world! I think we actually worked together on a show at RTP several years ago. I had no idea you moved up north.
Either way, hope you get to work out your booth situation. Maybe re-purpose some old flats after strike to (tastefully) box your tech table in.

6

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dinner Theater

« on: Jul 30, 2019, 01:57 pm »

My booth is more of a tech table in the back of the house with a table on either side that patrons can sit at. I constantly get asked questions that don't pertain at all to stage managing because I'm out in the house, at my booth, and easily approachable.

Is it possible to hang curtains or build in some small waist-high wall? Even if you're not completely closed off in a booth, even a small barrier may be enough of a social cue to tell patrons not to disturb you. Talking with patrons while calling a show would give me quite a bit of anxiety.

7

The Green Room / Guilty Pleasures

« on: May 29, 2019, 11:12 am »

I feel a little jerk in my side every time I see a post about Avenue Q closing.
I was 8 years old when it came out 16 years ago. My older brother, a now completely non-theatrical man's man, introduced it to me. The theatre-bug bit my hard and fast. I had the cast album, it was my first full cast album. On my first trip up to NYC, just a year ago, the show was at the top of my list to see. I'm so glad I saw it while I had the chance.

It's stupid, I know, to be sentimental over a gaggle of smelly puppets. But to have that show be my first exposure to theatre? Yeah, I'm going to miss it incredibly.

What sort of shows have you all seen and fan-girled over that eventually had to close up shop after a long healthy run? What are those guilty pleasures that you wish would grace a Broadway stage, if only for one more night?

Everything in life is only for now.

8

The Hardline / Re: Malcolm Ewen

« on: May 22, 2019, 10:52 am »

Thank you PSMKay for posting his profile link.
As someone still trying to navigate this field, its reassuring for me to sift through his old posts. I never knew the man, but it gives perspective getting to read his thoughts from years ago.

May his memory be a blessing.

9

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Once - the musical. Instrument mic up

« on: May 16, 2019, 12:47 pm »

My theatre did Once earlier this season. Most of our instruments were provided by the company, so we didn't need to worry about that. However tech crew was called an hour and a half before the beginning of the actual show. Actors half hour call was actually 50 minutes before the beginning of the show. The preshow jam session began 20 minutes before the beginning of the show.

6:30 Crew Call
7:10 Actor Call
7:40 Jam Session
8pm Show

10

Employment / Re: Offstagejobs.com Not Working

« on: Apr 26, 2019, 03:17 pm »

Last night I was able to get back on it, but then again today its unresponsive again.

Might be a sign to just stay where I'm at 

11

Employment / Offstagejobs.com Not Working

« on: Apr 25, 2019, 01:50 pm »

Offstagejobs.com has not been working on my work computer and cell phone for a few days now. Anyone else having trouble accessing this website? Is the website too busy? The error message kind of suggests that, but I've been getting this same message for two or three days now.

The following message appears everytime I try to access the website:

Warning: mysqli_connect() [function.mysqli-connect]: (42000/1203): User boothchicken3 already has more than 'max_user_connections' active connections in /home/content/98/4267498/html/includes/sessionHeader.php on line 26
Unable to connect to database! Please try again later.


And who is this boothchicken person? 

12

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Our lead role had a heat attack

« on: Feb 19, 2019, 02:54 pm »

That is mighty high on the "worst possible situation" list. I'm sorry for everything.
Tempest made great suggestions, and I would really consider doing what they said. You can also try to find a somewhat local actor who has done the show before, and see if they could take on the role. See what other theaters near you have done the show before. Nothing is ideal in your situation, but it really couldn't hurt to have someone who is already familiar with the show come on board.
You have my thoughts and prayers, as does the actor.

13

Stage Management: Other / List of Touring Broadway Houses

« on: Jan 31, 2019, 02:10 pm »

Hey y'all - Does anyone know of a list of all the touring Broadway houses across America? I know that there are search functions on Broadway.org to "find one near you" or to sift through all the shows currently touring, but I'm interested in looking at a list of all the venues across the country the can house a touring Broadway show.

If a list doesn't exist somewhere, I have started one in my google drive, but it sure is a lot of work tracking all these theaters down. Currently I'm just copy/pasting the "upcoming tour locations" for various tours out and about right now.

Help? Advice? Already existing lists?

14

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: printing actor scripts single or double sided?

« on: Dec 17, 2018, 03:27 pm »

Unless requested otherwise I'll give the entire cast double sided. I'll always accommodate a request for single sided, but I don't want to go through all that paper unless necessary.

15

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Minor?

« on: Nov 28, 2018, 02:40 pm »

I personally never got around to a minor, but if I did I would have looked into Business or General Management. It depends on your interests, but a minor in Education couldn't hurt either.
I have an SM friend who is got a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's studies because she was very interested in working on plays in that realm. If you have a genre of theater you prefer, consider getting a minor in that subject so you are more knowledgeable in that subject.
If you're considering working abroad, or on cruise ships, minoring in another language is great too!