Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - neon stars

Pages: [1]
1
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Cast Gifts/Thank Yous?
« on: Jul 05, 2008, 01:19 am »
I usually write a quick note on some nice paper or a card to the cast. No presents or anything because I can't afford to buy for everyone and wouldn't be fair to just buy for a couple! :)

2
I have found that if you are Right handed it's best to put the script on the "left" sometimes I will make blocking sheets and copy it onto the back of my script, so that i have templates to use.  I denote the blocking with letters or numbers within my script on the left page.  I have found this system to be the most useful and efficient.  I can follow with my left hand and write with my right.  The only issue is copying.  If you need to copy your script it can be a hassle because you have to put the pages in backwards for this system to work.  I suggest that you keep a back up to copy or use the asm's script for copying.

Once you get the knack of everything on the left it is amazing.  I use stencils on the left margin for my Cues and that works the best with this system as well.

what you said :)

3
Hi everyone, Hope things are going well in whatever part of the world you're in!  :)

Just wondering could someone define the role of a Technical Manager (NZ/AU specific if it matters..) ,who they work directly with and where they slot into the timeline for a show/event/whatever?

My Google-fu is sucking a lot tonight. It's just for personal info more than anything...one of those roles I'm just not clear on.

Thanks :)

4
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: so nervous!
« on: Mar 06, 2008, 09:53 pm »
thanks to everyone who posted! really helpful info and stories.

turns out, it was all ok. i think i had built it up in my head that it was going to be uber crazy and i would be thrown in at the deep end. i did get thrown in, but not as bad as i thought i would have been. there were plenty of people around and they all had their specific jobs so i didn't have a load of stuff to do..a show is supposed to run even if we werent there and the shows i worked on definately were like that so i didn't feel too pressured. the production manager i worked with was great and i learnt a lot. i got some great feedback from artists/their management and people working on the festival who said i did a good job and that i didn't come across as a student. awesome. i had to battle to an extent the impression that previous classmates had left when they worked for pay at this venue ie that they thought they were hot stuff (similar to what Mac Calder said) but i thought that might happen...but it was hard when people asked me where i was from and i then had to explain i was a student from this training institute and hoping people wouldn't then think or assume i was big headed.

so anyway,all's well that ends well. im now off to pop a couple of nurofen for my sore muscles.

thanks again!

5
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: so nervous!
« on: Feb 23, 2008, 05:54 am »
Don't be sorry - being nervous when you don't know what's going on is totally understandable!

I highly doubt that anyone will expect you to be Tech Extraordinaire, since your title is "Non-Technical General Assistant."  Since you won't be needed until later next week, they probably just need an extra set of hands to help move boxes or something like that.  Just remember, if anyone ever asks you to do something that you don't know how to do, just tell them that you haven't been trained in area.

Calling your production manager again might not be a bad idea - let him know that his cell was spotty the last time you talked, and tell him you'd like to know more about what will be expected of you this weekend. 

Also, try talking to other people at your Uni who have done the festival before.

Most importantly, DON'T WORRY!  You'll be fine, I promise!  Try not to stress out about the upcoming weekend - you will probably have a lot of fun!

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

thanks a lot! i really needed some reassurance. im only this nervous if i dont know whats going on so im definately going to take note of making sure i know whats happening with things like this in the future! i spoke to one of the tutors at school who was great and gave me some good advice also. ill have to be brave and say "im not trained in that" even if it makes me feel silly..i hate not being able to help people!
well, id best get to bed so im not tired on top of stressed tomorrow!
thanks again..will update tomorrow evening if im not too shattered! :)

6
Students and Novice Stage Managers / so nervous!
« on: Feb 21, 2008, 07:08 am »
I'm sorry if this is a) offtopic and b) in the wrong place! I just need a bit of reassurance.

Quick back story- People on the technical/management course at my Uni are seconded to the International Arts Festival here. I'm down as a "Non-Technical General Assistant"..this becomes relevent in a minute. Because the production manager of the venue I'll be based at won't be there 'til next week (he's working another show) I'm not really needed until later next week so I've been asked to come in on the weekend for what I think is pack-in (it's completely my fault that I don't know whats happening because his cell line was dodgy) and I'm freaking out. Pure 'techie' stuff is not my strong point and whilst at Uni I'm fine, this is a professional environment and I'm really freaking out. It's a small city and I hear stories of fellow students tainting their reputation already. I have strengths in other areas so going in there still as a newbie is freaking me out!

So, should I ring again (even though I am mortified still from the last convo) and see what I'm doing or wait 'til I'm there and let them know where I am in my learning if I am expected to be 'Tech Extraordinaire'. Or should I just say nothing!

Thanks guys..sorry to be so silly. I've got a bit of extra time on my hands lately which means I have too much time to think!  :-[


7
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: time filling
« on: Feb 03, 2008, 05:00 am »
If you're looking for helpful books, definitely check out this thread: http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php/topic,1417.0.html.

As for skills, I think there are a lot of things you could learn that aren't required for an SM to know but can be helpful - two that come to mind are simple sewing skills and CPR.

Also, if you don't know how to read music, this could be a great chance to learn.

Thanks a lot for replying zayit :) Fortunately as part of my course, we did our workplace first aid cert's and a intensive Intro to Costume Construction block so I feel pretty set in those areas.

Thanks for the links to the books..I'll check out the library at school tomorrow (first day back for my second year!) and see what they've got..

8
Students and Novice Stage Managers / time filling
« on: Feb 03, 2008, 01:56 am »
Hi guys, Im new! (Ive posted on the intro forum if you're interested)

Anyway, my schedule this year (second year of my degree) means that I have a lot more free time. Halle-fricking-lujah! I can feel my mental health improving as we speak! 

So I was wondering did you guys have any tips of how I could use my time to further educate myself? Books I could read, skills I could practice? (I probably need to work on my knot tying which is abysmal at best..links to websites would be handy). I don't my brain to get too imbedded into holiday mode again when I'm not in classes/on secondment/working on shows.

I'll be talking to my tutor about this soon but thought I'd ask your guys opinion..

Cheers!   :D

9
Tools of the Trade / Re: stopwatches?
« on: Feb 02, 2008, 10:39 pm »
My old favorite stopwatch is actually a little windows program called "Multitrack Stopwatch"  I let you run up to 10 stopwatch instances inside the same app.  It was handy when we'd time the whole show, first act, second act, intermission, and that really long speech in Act 2 scene 2 that just kept getting LONGER and LONGER as the season drug on. 

My new favorite stopwatch I just discovered 2 days ago... It's built into the iPhone.  It's slick!

i think my ipod nano (new gen.) has it too. its pretty nifty!

Pages: [1]