Messages

1

The Hardline / Re: Copyright laws

« on: Jan 05, 2007, 08:26 pm »

So I did a little more research and finally came up with a few answers.  You cannot legally record a musical owned by MTI (EX: Annie, The Full Monty, She Loves Me, and most other American musicals that are not new works).  As for other companies, I don't know their rules, but I think AEA has an agreement with them concerning archival and promo tapes.  According to MTI, EVERYONE involved in the taping of a performance- from the producer to the deck crew- can be extensively fined if MTI finds out.  So even if you do what AEA says, MTI can still take legal action and you should care.  Most theatres do make archival tapes that only see the light of day if they are planning to re-mount a production, otherwise they are locked up.  We ended up not taping any performances, which made me happy since the director and the music director were HIGHLY against it.  The actor, with a very hurt ego, blamed me for thwarting all his good intentions, refused to participate in photo call, told me everyone else does it, and made an argument that came down to "it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission" a month later on my patio.  I sipped my beer and smiled.  Because sometimes it's just easier to keep your mouth shut.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Friend or "so nice to meet you"?

« on: Aug 19, 2006, 06:41 pm »

I've never been on tour, but I usually give thank you cards out for opening for casts smaller than about 10 saying something to the affect of "Thanks for all your hard work.  I'm very proud of our show..."  If the cast is larger, I might bring apples for opening night.  If I work with a crew for an entire season, I make record bowls for Christmas and give thank you cards for our last show together. At the very least, I write a card to the director to all my shows and then send them Christmas cards later.  Some of this is for friends and some of it is to keep the memory of me alive in the people who hire 

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The Hardline / Re: Copyright laws

« on: Aug 19, 2006, 06:18 pm »

MTI is Music Theatre International, the company that owns the rights to nearly every musical out there.

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The Hardline / Copyright laws

« on: Aug 19, 2006, 01:57 pm »

I'm working for a small profession summer stock.  On of the board members wanted to record a performance for archival, publicity, and most likely personal use.  The director was contacted and he said absolutely not.  This caused a lot of tension.  I've emailed MTI asking what their official position is, to which they replied no recording ever. 

Now, I have worked at number of theatres that make archival tapes for the vault and nobody else.  I was under the impression that you can make one archival recording for the company and you can record for promotional use as long as it is no more then 30 seconds at a time and not a complete scene or song. 

Does anybody know (for certain) what the copyright laws are in terms of video, who can prosecute, who can have a copy, etc.  And what about photocopies of the scripts.  I'm not asking about standard practice, but what the technical rules are.

5

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Wig Hair is Slowing Me Down!

« on: Jun 05, 2006, 11:48 am »

I think we might have to look into new wheels.  There is no getting into the bearings.  Augh.  And this show might get extended all summer, so there is little hope of this not becoming a problem :x

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SMNetwork Archives / No, really they said this..

« on: May 29, 2006, 12:23 pm »

The people that made this particular comment (who were well into their 70's) said it with the air of "Finally good theater is being produced.  I never thought that would happen."

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SMNetwork Archives / No, really they said this..

« on: May 27, 2006, 01:13 pm »

For the record, our Lear was phenomenal.  Directed by Michael Donald Edwards.  Visually stunning.  It was one of those shows that reminds you why you decided to go into theatre in the first place, unless you went into theatre to make money.  Menopause certainly does send people off with a smile.  I'm glad people like it and that it has been extended 3 times already.  I'm happy my place of business has a cash cow.  I'm not surprised that the audience likes it better then a tragedy.  I'm not surprised that more people have seen (and enjoyed) Napoleon Dynamite then Crash.

I started this thread not to defend the value of Shakespeare or cut down the value of fluff pieces, but to share a little anecdote.  I think we all feel prouder of some shows then others.  And I don't think there's anything wrong with being proud of a great production of a classic and looking at cheesy shows as cheesy shows.  I'm happy there are shows that help us keep the doors open so that we have the freedom to do the real meaty shows.  I don't think they have any artistic value, but that's not to say that they have no value.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Stop The Show!

« on: May 23, 2006, 12:26 am »

The last show in our theatre had to stop after the first scene due to a full stage curtain getting caught half-way open on the track.  They brought house lights up, got out a ladder, fixed the problem, and picked up where they left off.

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Employment / ? for those who hire

« on: May 23, 2006, 12:19 am »

I worked as an intern ASM and then an apprentice ASM.  I essentially did everything a non-equity ASM would do, minus decent pay.  (Props tracking, line notes, run shifts, supervise crews, etc)  I couldn't get a call back on my resume until I dropped the "apprentice" part from my resume under the suggestion of my SM.  I did that and got two calls the next week.  People don't want to hire you if they think your last job was training, but fewer and fewer places are hiring non-equity ASM's in favor of the cheaper interns.  I think it's more important to properly identify your responsibilities than properly name your title.

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SMNetwork Archives / No, really they said this..

« on: May 23, 2006, 12:04 am »

Maybe that lady was hard of hearing and in denial.  Blame it on the actors and not her hearing.

11

Employment / Salary Negotiations

« on: May 22, 2006, 04:19 pm »

I have been subscribing to ARTsearch for about 4 years now and is where I find most of my jobs.  I've been holding off on the SMA because of the fees (I can only afford one $60 fee at a time).  I've spent the last two years as an ASM in LORT B/C theaters.  This summer I will be going to a small non-Equity summer musical theater as PSM, which is where I'm trying to negotiate.  Sometimes I think the most frustrating part in this is when someone says "But they provide housing".  That's great, but I have a boyfriend, a cat, and an apartment that still needs to have the rent paid.  I can't imagine if I lived in NYC and my rent was $800/month for a room in an apartment.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Calling for Lines

« on: May 22, 2006, 04:01 pm »

Line prompting should always be discussed with the director.  

I totally agree.  In my experience you need to just be on top of it.  I have had very prominent directors become disgruntled if a line is called (or stalled for) and the SM table wastes even a breath before giving the line.  They want the timing to go like this "Line""Blah, Blah, Blah."  Not "Line" "Blah, Blah, Blah."   This makes it hard to do other duties like prop tracking, but it's what the director wants.  Having a third person dedicated to being on book is always a huge help if you can get it.

As for the original topic...  How about "If you have to say you're not being a diva, you probably are."

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SMNetwork Archives / No, really they said this..

« on: May 22, 2006, 03:38 pm »

Maybe I am crazy but- I am happy to have people come out to the theatre. Any & all theatre. At any time.

I'm happy people are coming out, but it would be nice if they could appreciate a little artistic integrity instead of a production that has no value past being an example of what "For-Profit" means.

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SMNetwork Archives / No, really they said this..

« on: May 21, 2006, 11:26 am »

I thought I would share for the amusement/horror of all in theatre..

Overheard in the lobby after a production of "Menopause the Musical": "This was so much better then King Lear"

My soul just died a little.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Hospitality backstage

« on: May 21, 2006, 10:55 am »

Then again, I find I do things differently to women SM's when it comes to cast relations - different standards etc. If I was female, maybe I would be more inclined (and it would be more expected of me) to do the whole hospitality thing. Being male, well they don't expect me to be good in the kitchen or know how to make a decent cup of tea (being an avid tea drinker and a bit of a tea snob (no bags for me) I like to think I make a damn good cuppa) or be willing to do dishes.

First, I think that's the crappiest, and most offensive, answer I've ever heard, "Leave the hospitality up to the women-folk.  Nobody expects it out of the men."  I know plenty a male SM to deal with coffee.

Anyway, in my current theatre, (a LORT space) we provide a selection of teas- herbal and flavored, hot water, regular and decafe coffee, sugar, sweet-n-low, non-dairy creamer, and labeled coffee mugs.  We ask for $4 a week from anyone that partakes (including directors, excluding Tech), and once you pay you can ask for special things like cream or coco.  This is also what we did at my last theatre and from the actors response, this seems to be an industry standard.  The non-equity ASM deals with the coffee set up and tear down, mug washing is left up to the ASM's discretion until strike when all the mugs are washed.  We also provide cough drops on occasion.  What an actor wants to drink or not drink is up to them, seeing as how they are paid professionals and I am not their mommy.

As for food, sometimes people bring in baked goods for opening or holidays.  And sometimes the crew brings in crackers or something to nibble on during the show.  This has never been a problem.  It is up to the individual to decide what they should or should not eat.  As long as they don't get a giant streak of chocolate on their costume or get drunk, I could care less what the actors eat before they go on stage.