Messages

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Portfolio?

« on: Oct 25, 2010, 07:39 am »

For an SM yur porfolio is your paperwork. I have my best prompt book as well as paperwork from my digital scripts and then my portfolio is nothing more than pics from the shows I have been involved with (including any tech set or lighting pics) as well as programs from the show. They are great for a visual and so the person you are speaking to can see the scale of show you worked with (professional vs community theatre).

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Production Management

« on: Oct 25, 2010, 07:29 am »

I worked as a PM for a while. 1st biggest difference is you don't call the show. 2nd is you deal a lot with the budget...specifically build and crew. You tend to monitor that portion of it where as the Company Manager deals with actor budget. As a PM you aren't constantly in rehearsal, but you are generally at your desk or in the shop - ordering something, setting up various meetings, trying to get the best deal with the budget you have, etc.

You check in on rehearsals to make sure the SM has what he or she needs, PM generally hires crew as well and that is also part of your budget. You also stay on top of the design schedule and work out at least part of those contracts. PM tends to look at the big picture for the entire season where as the SM is focusing on the current show in rehearsal or on stage and maybe even the next show, but that's it.

I'll tell you, Admin was my least fave part of being an SM. I loved calling the shows and being in rehearsal. If you love the paperwork side of things and numbers, Production Management is where you want to be.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Who is part of the crew and who is part of the creative team?

« on: Jan 09, 2009, 06:33 pm »

I break up anyone for stage crew - onstage and spots and deck manager and then production staff (director, designers, td, sm and pm)....

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SMNetwork Archives / Re: I could have kissed them!

« on: Jan 09, 2009, 06:26 pm »

I could have kissed my director when...

She pulled me aside one day to remark on how she loved the fact that I kept cool and got problems solved in a professional manner when I literally had other production staff members yelling (literally) at me during a tech rehearsal.

That little observation made my week especially since I didn't even give that day much thought - just got the job done...

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Do you have an actor code of conduct contract?

« on: Sep 13, 2008, 01:30 pm »

Our theatre has a handbook that lays out what is expected upfront.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Sep 10, 2008, 02:43 pm »

I think most of us that replied "work" in theatre and were hired to do so....so the previous answers still apply.

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SMNetwork Archives / Re: I could have kissed them!

« on: Sep 07, 2008, 11:04 am »

...it was my second day working at my current theatre. I didn't know anyone and was told by my PSM (who was the SM for this show) to go set up the room - bear in mind I hadn't even gotten the script yet. I got upstairs and must have looked as lost as I felt and within seconds I had 2 actors asking what I needed moved and helping me move it.

...actors who know the rules, follow the rules, and will help enforce the rules if need be.

...the company manager and costume manager that without fail will look at me during a rehearsal process when I can't step away and offer to get me food (even when I don't have any cash).

...the deck manager who, when given any task, will just say "I'm on it" and I know I can trust them to get it done.

...the director who says "I know you have 5 things to take care of so, don't worry, I'll take care of it" and smiles. (((Joe)))

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Manager Portfolio

« on: Sep 07, 2008, 10:47 am »

They are looking for well organized, clean blocking (if you can add diagrams that always makes a good impression), they are looking for a clean calling script that is well maintained and "easy to follow."

Basically they don't want you handing them a pile of papers and calling it your production book. Gets lots of dividers with tabs - make sure you break down your script by scene as well as sections of the book (and preferable print out the tabs - not hand written). Include every piece of the show you can think of from welcome letters to any designs drawings to costume pictures, to all rehearsal and production reports.

Now, I warn that in a professional SMing situation this will not always be the case for your book as you are in a time crunch, but this is supposed to be your shining moment so your prod book should reflect that passion for your job. I tend to focus on one production book once a season that I go back to and "make pretty" with the cool font and a beautiful cover for the book and typed tabs, etc. so I can use it at interviews.

Good luck!

9

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Is an AA degree enough?

« on: Sep 05, 2008, 01:23 pm »

I will say that I look at experience before degree. I absolutely recommend getting your BA degree, however - I look more at real world experience when truly considering someone for a position. I tend to ignore educational experience because "education gives you the foundation, but real experience builds the house," and that is absolutely true.

I have even considered candidates that have no degree at all, but have years of experience and a good attitude. Hands on is always a plus!

10

Employment / Re: Team Dynamics

« on: Sep 05, 2008, 01:18 pm »

I agree. I would approach them and tell them what you are seeing and feeling and come open minded to hear their responses. Try to keep the conversation positive, but if they turn it to a negative you know where you stand. They may not mean to be doing those things or this could be something they do with all the newbies or they could just be jerks. Right now, you just don't know.

I can attest to the fact that when I am working with someone new that I am more apt to check up on them and double check what they are doing and how they are doing it. As the resident SM it is my butt on the line and I have worked with some real duds before. It could just be earning their trust by showing you are trust worthy.

With the communication issue - it could still be what I listed about with them not realizing, but that truly needs to be nipped in the bud quick. I can't stand bad communication and regardless of their feelings about someone you should be told any pertinent info that affects you so I would just take them aside and find out what is going on.

11

Uploaded Forms / Re: rehearsal reports

« on: Sep 05, 2008, 01:05 pm »

So here is a qq - how many people clock breaks vs just report the span of day?

Just span of the day for us - both day before rehearsal report (next day's proposed schedule) and then the day of what actual times were and lunch and/or dinner break. Don't really list 5s or 10s.

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Employment / Re: Question about names

« on: Sep 05, 2008, 01:02 pm »

Kind of on this same line of thought:

At my college I do a lot of volunteer crew duties, like attending hang and focus, but since I am not on the official crew I am not credited in the program. Some advice has told me it is acceptable to list that on my resume, especially since it is in educational theatre.

Would you agree? How would you list it (in the example as working at a hang and focus)?

Because it is educational experience I would absolutely list it. Lighting crew covers that general work. Our if you were involved with the Audio changeover - audio crew.

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Employment / Re: Question about names

« on: Sep 01, 2008, 04:40 pm »

Did I have a typo? 

Yikes. 

Great first impression.   

Hee hee...I don't know. Just happened to be something that recently became a pet peeve with the latest round of resumes I have received here.

Sorry about that

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: NY Cell Number?

« on: Sep 01, 2008, 04:37 pm »

When I got to AZ I took on an AZ phone number, but it was because I moved here for good. If your being in a New York may not be a permanent thing (say only around a few years) you may just want to keep your current number. And was already stated - other contacts probably have that number so you may just want to keep it for that reason.

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Uploaded Forms / Re: rehearsal reports

« on: Sep 01, 2008, 04:34 pm »

The first one posted is very close to the format I currently use and when I was working through more email and less attachments to emails - I used the 2nd format style.

A collegue sent me an extremely elaborate format (right down to breaking into individual names of those who needed to read specific sections) and if I can ever find it again I will be sure to post it (with his consent).