Messages

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Trouble ASM

« on: Jun 08, 2007, 10:39 pm »

I know this too is a late response, but I came into SMin in college with ZERO experience but was simply willing to learn. I think this is where the line needs to start being drawn. Colleges need to stop assigning random people whom seem to have some free time to SM positions (I've had it happen to me and my close SM friends and it always seems to turn out awful) and actually get students interested in the SM area of theatre.

I know a major problem for us is the fact that our program is so run down and is no longer drawing people in, to the point that they are willing to take anyone and I think if this practice were turned around these awful ASM's would be eliminated all together.

2

SMNetwork Archives / Re: hello from your moderator!

« on: May 13, 2007, 11:08 am »

Hey all.

I'm Kait and I'm a Freshman Theater Major with an English Minor and Women's Studies certificate at Ohio University in Athens, OH. I've been onstage since I was 5, and am hoping to be accepted into the acting program here. I got sucked/coaxed/dragged into SMing this year because our SM Program was so awful that, frankly, no one was in it. And some of the SMs who were doing shows weren't the greatest people to work with and our directors were more willing to train new SMs instead of working with the old ones. My fellow Freshman SMs and I have started to turn things around and directors want to work with us and we're encouraging other students to get involved.

This site has been a great resources to me, and it wouldn't be the caliber it is without the great Mods we have! Thanks!

3

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Management Guide

« on: May 13, 2007, 10:59 am »

Awesome job, so far. You have so much more knowledge as a high school student, than most of the SM's at my college.

I have to agree about the quotes, the second "Hit by a bus" quote is from Lawrence Stern from his book Stage Management. I have his book and we've said that sentence hundreds of times in my SM class. Other than that, keep up the good work.

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Calling Lines After Last Day to Call

« on: Apr 30, 2007, 03:35 pm »

Thanks all! I'm an actor too and have too often been the person calling "line" during tech. I told her that giving the line was the correct thing to do. Our Stage Management teacher (an Equity SM) also told her she did the right thing. I was more concerned with the fact that she was getting in trouble and I couldn't do anything to help.

The Director's advisor has now been addressed by our SM teacher, the director of our department, and myself and our ASM. He is going to talk to the director after the show goes up so as not to have any repercussions on myself and the ASM. And he is basically going to tell him that because of the hell he has put us through, no one wants to SM his thesis project in the fall. His advisor is actually going to assign one of the first year grad directors to PSM the show, and hopefully he will learn to be more respectful of his SMs.

5

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / REHEARSALS: Calling Lines After Last Day to Call

« on: Apr 29, 2007, 01:29 pm »

I'm in tech, and our actors are no longer allowed to call for lines.

Today one of the actor's called line and my ASM gave her line. She said she felt pressured by everyone onstage who was looking at her waiting for the line. However, she then was ripped to shreds by our director for giving the line.

Is there a SM save all sentence she could give when an actor calls for line? Possibly instead of just yelling "No"?
Thanks.

6

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: First Tech Rehearsal

« on: Apr 29, 2007, 01:25 pm »

Thanks all! I successfully survived my first 10 out of 12!

7

Students and Novice Stage Managers / First Tech Rehearsal

« on: Apr 28, 2007, 12:40 pm »

I'm about to run my first Tech Rehearsal ever as a PSM.

Any advice, suggestions, help in any way you can offer me?

8

Tools of the Trade / Re: Keeping Spike tape down...

« on: Apr 11, 2007, 12:19 am »

All of my glo-tape gets stapled down, with the longest staples I can find. And then it gets covered in clear packing tape, just for safe keeping.

9

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Weapons on Stage - Saftey and Legality

« on: Apr 11, 2007, 12:12 am »

I just SMed a show last quarter in which we had to have a knife onstage that could be used to cut an apple, shirt, and also be dull enough to be held to someone's throat without causing injury (and by held to someone's throat I mean slicing action and all). It was supposed to be a switchblade, but they're illegal in Ohio (and most places I believe). So, we used a pocket knife type of knife that had one of those release buttons that you pressed as you sort of swung/popped in open. I hope you all kind of get what I'm saying...it gave the illusion of being a switchblade without breaking the law, and was dull enough that it still did it's job (the fabric wasn't prerigged, but it didn't kill my actor). Plus, we also skirted dealing with law enforcement more than we had to.

If you are concerned, at all, about the actors onstage, put your foot down and say NO. I've had numerous Professors tell me that one of the main jobs of the SM is to be an advocate for the actor, and this is one of those situations where you can't compromise safety for an effect.

10

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Paranoid/Offensive Director

« on: Apr 10, 2007, 01:06 am »

Thank you all so much for your advice.

We actually share an advisor (myself and the director) and our TD and my Stage Management Teacher have now spoken to our advisor about his behavior. This is the second show he's directed at our school (second year MFA candidate) and I keep telling myself he just didn't have a good SM last year. Last Friday our advisor and my SM teacher both sat in on part of our rehearsal. It was a lovely night of peace, until they left. Then, all hell broke loose again. Tonight was better, so I'm hoping it's a sign of things to come.

megf and kmc307, the only reason I was so hesitant to offend him prior to my callback was because I am not accepted into our acting program yet (we have to audition at the end of our Freshman year). However, by getting a part in a Fall Mainstage, prior to our program auditions, nearly guarantees that you will make it into the program.

Also, our School of Theater has less than 20 faculty members and is extremely tight knit. The Director of the SOT is technically the head of our SM Department but I have quickly realized he has no idea what it entails. That was my reasoning for going to him.

I will definitely keep the SMNetwork posted, it's making it easier for me to deal with our rehearsals!

11

Tools of the Trade / Re: Do you prefer Word or Excel?

« on: Apr 09, 2007, 12:11 am »

The only thing I do in Excel is contact sheets. I like to be able to quickly sort the info by any number of headings. I also use it to keep track of info/forms that I collect from our company members.

12

Tools of the Trade / Re: [FAQ] Scheduling and Calendar Applications

« on: Apr 08, 2007, 09:04 pm »

I love iCal. I use it to keep track of stage hadn duties, especially for the kids who switch from sweeper to prop counter to God only knows what else. It has made my life a million times easier.

13

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Groups?

« on: Apr 08, 2007, 07:22 pm »

Very true.

Our Techs (I SM for my college School of Theater) were awesome about keeping track but the actors were supposed to get their rehearsal schedules off of the site and would forget constantly. Sorry I'm so interested, I would just like to try using the groups again and hope to here a success story!

14

Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Groups?

« on: Apr 08, 2007, 05:15 pm »

Is it similiar to Yahoo Groups?

The last show I ASMed we used it, and for somethings it was wonderful (such as keeping everyone organized and on the same page) however problems arose as soon as people began to "slip up" and forget to check the group.

Hopefully, it wokrs out better for you though!
Let me know what happens.

15

College and Graduate Studies / Re: BA or BFA

« on: Apr 06, 2007, 11:41 pm »

I'm currently attending a BFA granting college and we are all required to take General Education classes in order to graduate. In fact, we have to take a ehole heck of a lot of them. The best part of our program though is that we only have to pass one math class for our 4 years and maybe 2 science classes that you get to choose out of a wide selection. I love my BFA, but then again I enjoy SOME General Education classes...at least the ones that interest me.