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Messages - imrnthewicked

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1
Employment / Listing Multiple Seasons on a Resume
« on: Feb 26, 2017, 05:50 pm »
Looking for some input on a resume formatting thing... I've been working at the same company for 4 summer seasons now, and the list of shows with this particular company has gotten quite long (3 per season x 4 seasons) and is taking up a big chunk of space.  Is there a better way to list all these seasons that won't take up so much space, but isn't too drastically different from the format of the rest of the resume?  Each different company is currently listed as such: 

Company Name- City
Year     Show Title      Job Title      Director
Year     Show Title      Job Title      Director
Year     Show Title      Job Title      Director

etc.

2
I am currently working as a non-eq PSM with a small professional theatre company.  The cast does include a couple of Equity actors, and the company has a goal of becoming completely Equity.  I am getting paid $500 for the entire duration of my contract, and at our first meeting the Producer (who is also the Director of the show) and I agreed that she would give me two payments of $250, but so far I've gotten nothing.

We had out first Dress Rehearsal last night (Sunday), a day off today, and we open on Wednesday.  We are still missing props, some of the actors still do not have microphones, we are missing a staircase on the set, and nothing on the set has been painted.  Also, we basically don't have a crew.  I do have one ASM who's doing her best at running backstage.  I was initially told that the company's interns would serve as our crew.  But they all seem to have conflicts and reasons why they can't run the show.  The Production Manager is doing his best to find a crew, and all the while also serving as the TD and Carpenter.  He actually had to run one of the spotlights last night because we simply did not have anyone else to do it.  I've been sending daily notes and had meetings with the production staff, and they know what needs to happen, but they don't have the manpower to get it done.  I've been running rehearsals as best I can given everything we're missing.

The Director's idea of directing is basically to read along in the script, and from time to time say, "Stand up here.  Sit down there."  The actors have pretty much been directing themselves, and I've been taking some of that responsibility during tech while she sits in the back of the house and watches.  The rehearsal schedules I come up with are never followed. She has said to me before in passing, "Well, we'll need two people to run spotlights, and we'll have a few people backstage, and a couple of dressers..." etc.  And I thought, "Ok, she's just thinking out loud."  So last night, I was working with the ASM, and the Director walked up and said, "Well, (ASM), why don't we have a crew?  Why haven't you found us a crew?"  I very politely said to her, "Well, (Director/Producer), it's really not Stage Management's job to find and hire a crew for the show.  I thought we were using interns.  If you gave me their contact info, I'd be glad to let them know when rehearsal is and what we need them to do.  But we're not in charge of hiring them."

At this point she YELLED at me, "(SM), don't you EVER speak to me that way again!!  How DARE you speak to me that way!!"  Then she turned and walked out into the house, and proclaimed to a theatre full of actors and designers, "My Stage Manager just told me she refuses to do her job!  She said I can't tell her to do her job!"

I was shocked and stunned.  And continued running the rehearsal as if nothing had happened (though the Director would not speak to me the rest of the night.)  I had planned to pull her aside later and tell her how unprofessional and disrespectful her actions were (not to mention defaming my character in front of a room full of colleagues), but I didn't get the chance.  I've composed an e-mail to send to her basically saying that what she did was disrespectful, that nowhere in my job description does it include hiring a crew, and that this was the last straw and if things don't improve and if I continue not to be paid for my work, I will be withdrawing my services from the production.  I would really hate to do that after all the time, energy, and gas money I've put into this show, and because the Music Director and Choreographer are good friends of mine. 

But where do you draw the line and get yourself OUT, when you know that doing so will leave the cast and production staff high and dry just before opening night?

3
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: \"Senior Showcase\"
« on: Nov 02, 2011, 01:56 pm »
I am a senior stage management major at Webster University, and will also be doing a New York showcase in the spring.  There are 6 in my class, and we're starting to think about our setup as well.  In the past, the SMs have put up their resumes and headshots, but we are interested in doing something more.  Paperwork examples are an obvious idea... Any more suggestions?

Post Merge: Nov 02, 2011, 01:58 pm

It actually throws back a more serious question to the senior stage managers, how does one sell yourself as a stage manager?

What Matthew said?  Specifically, at such a showcase?

4
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: College Questions
« on: Oct 15, 2010, 12:57 am »
Hey Ryan!  I'm a third year SM major at Webster.  I absolutely love it!  If I told you about the program, it'd take me all night, but if you have any certain questions, I'd be more than happy to answer! 
The best general advice I can give you is to visit the schools, and talk to the students there.  The students know more about what it's like to go there than anybody, and we've all been through the same process as you before!

5
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Shadowing: General Q&A
« on: May 28, 2010, 12:34 am »
I just went back through this post almost 3 years after I started it.   :D

I now AM a Stage Management major, and have shadowed on several shows- both Broadway tours and at theatres around my city, and so far have only been told "no" by one (Young Frankenstein- for insurance reasons). 

I've gone about it in a variety of ways... like writing a letter like I did the first time, e-mailing a producer's assistant at the theatre, setting it up through an alum of my school who was an ASM on the show, and even going right to the stage door and asking to speak to a stage manager (to set up shadowing at a later date).

It's great to be able to talk to people who are working SMs, finding out how they got started, and seeing how the job is different for different shows.  Also, now that I have some experience myself, it's easier to ask questions and follow what's going on.

6
I had a fantastic summer...
I got to spend a week visiting New York City for the first time, seeing a bunch of shows (yay for student rush tickets!) and being tourist-y.

Then I did 2 shows (Annie and The Music Man) as a Stage Management Intern at the Muny in St. Louis, which I LOVED!

7
I am a stage management student in the Conservatory at Webster University also.  I love it!  Feel free to message me with any questions!

8
College and Graduate Studies / Re: looking for a school
« on: Sep 19, 2008, 01:24 am »
I'm a freshman Stage Management major at Webster, and am LOVING it so far.  Not only am I doing stage management for shows, but am also getting lots of experience in the other elements as well, through classes and being on various crews.  The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is on the campus, and I'm getting to work with them also.  Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is on the campus as well, and I know some of the students have work with them over the summers.  Feel free to message me with questions about anything else you want to know!

9
It does depend on what type of show it is.  I've shadowed on both touring broadway shows and local shows. 

For a touring broadway show, what I've done is to find out what city the tour is in right before it comes to your city.  Then send a letter adressed to "The Stage Manager, c/o The ______ Tour" and the address of the theatre (which you can find on the theatre's website).  In the letter, ask if it would be possible to shadow, and specify that you want to do it while the tour is in your city.  And be sure to give your e-mail address.  That provides a faster and more convienent way for them to get back to you.  It's much easier to work out dates that are convienent for both of you that way.  And if the show has a longer stay, as many of the tours do, the SM might ask you to give them some dates when you are available.

If it's production that is local, I'd say ask at least 2 weeks before, but not more than 2 months in advance.

10
I just had to make the same decision.  I had applied to the Webster Conservatory for Stage Management, and it was between there and a state school where I would be able to go practically for free.  A halfway decent program, but not specialized enough for my taste.

I was one of 6 that got into Webster, and I feel happy with my decision to go there.  Sure, it's much more expensive, but the experience and training is going to be sooo worth it in the long run.  It's also closer to home for me, so it's convenient as well.  I told myself that just getting in would be a great accomplishment, and that it obviously meant that they saw enough potential in me to succeed in their program.  So if I got into Webster, great, I would go there.  If not, then I wouldn't be too terribly dissapointed because that meant I was lacking whatever it was they were looking for, and could go to school or free.

So I'm going to be paying off loans for the next 10 years.  But there's also a better chance that I'll be working and able to pay off those loans. 

11
We were in our school's commons area on a very small stage this year because our theatre was being renovated, and did You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.  Small cast (thought we had a cast of 20 because we added a chorus), small scenery.  Another one we were thinking of doing is Carnival.  Hope this helps!

12
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Picnic
« on: May 07, 2008, 03:36 pm »
I did props for this show last year.  I loved it.  We used real leaves and potted plants to decorate the stage... It was high school theatre, so we had to substitute chewing gum for cigarrettes.  It was pretty easy in terms of tech and calling cues, because the scenes are pretty long, and the only lighting effects are basically sunrise/sunset and blackouts between scenes.  The sets were probably the most chellenging, because we had to build a balcony-type thing for an upstairs room in the house.  And making everything look period was fun.

There's also an old movie version of Picnic that's supposedly pretty good, but I haven't seen it.

13
Tools of the Trade / Re: Headset Side
« on: Apr 14, 2008, 11:31 pm »
It depends on where I'm calling from (which side of the stage).  I normally like to have my open ear facing the backstage area, so I can hear if people try to talk to me.  But for the last show I did, I had to sit next to the light board op and give the cues verbally right to him, so I wore the headset on the opposite side so I could communicate with him.
If it really doesn't matter, I like to switch ears at intermission, cause those big clunky things become uncomfortable after a while.

14
The Green Room / Re: SMs in media?
« on: Apr 14, 2008, 11:04 pm »
Did anyone watch Idol Gives Back last week?  The American Idol SM had to come out onstage and change Brad Pitt's body mic.  She said something like, "I just wanted an excuse to touch him."

15
This sounds like a great idea....I am in Melbourne Australia and I went onto the websites of the major productions on here at the moment (Priscilla, Phantom etc) none of them have any contact details though. How did you guys get the email addresses of the SMs/PSMs to ask if you could shadow them?

Thanks!

If I don't know the stage manager I write them letters c/o the theater or show letting them know my interest in shadowing them.  If this is something they are able to do at the time then they typically have emailed me and we continue corresponding in that manner to set up a date, etc.

That's what I did also.  I provided my contact info in my letter, and I just addressed it:
The Stage Manager
c/o The Name of the Show
The Address of the Theatre

When I got an e-mail back, we worked out dates and other details that way.
Also, I did a touring show (Wicked) and wanted to make sure there was enough time to get a response, so I sent the letter to the city where the show was stopped before it came here.  That way, there were more dates open once they responded.

I also know someone who just stopped by the stage door one day after a show, and asked to talk to the SM.  This seems a bit bold and unprofessional to me though.

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