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Topics - zayit shachor

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Seems like we stage management students rarely get to have a real summer vacation.  There's always this internship or that summer stock theater to work at - summertime is resume-building time for most of us!

Since everyone's winding down at school and gearing up for your summer plans, let's share!  What are you doing this summer?  (If you don't feel comfortable sharing names/locations, tell us about what you'll be doing.)  For those of you who are interning, is it your first time?  Any questions or thoughts about the upcoming experience?

And, people who are taking a fun trip, or doing something completely non-theater related, I want to hear about that too!

I'll start the ball rolling!  I'm interning at a theater company out in western MA.  One thing I love about working there is that all the interns live together camp-style in a house down the street from the theater.  There's a sense of camaraderie that's so much fun, even out in the boonies with nothing to do.  I've been here for about a month already and I'm really enjoying myself; I've been running a show and I'm about to start rehearsals for the next one on top of that.

Your turn!  What are you up to for the summer?

2
Tools of the Trade / Evernote
« on: Nov 17, 2008, 04:51 am »
I've just discovered Evernote, which is an online service that collects your notes.  The amazingly helpful thing about it is that you can snap a picture with your cell phone, send it to the email address they provide you, and it will recognize the text in the picture.  That text is then searchable.  So cool!  I like this feature because you can take a picture of a note jotted down on a post-it, or a business card, or a poster on a wall, and it will get neatly organized and digitized for you.

There's all sorts of interesting organizational duties this site can do for you, and it's free!  (You can sign up for a premium account, too, if you want that.)  There's a desktop client and a web client, and there's one for iPhone/Windows Mobile too.

www.evernote.com

Does anyone else use this service?

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Here's one we've all probably had to deal with at one time or another while stage managing in a university setting.  I'll set up a hypothetical, but feel free to chime in with your own experiences in similar situations.

You are the stage manager of your school's mainstage show.  Your roommate, who is a good friend of yours, was cast in the show in a fairly large role.  It's now a few weeks into the rehearsal process, and your roommate has been constantly late to rehearsals by 5 or 10 minutes - sometimes more.  Each time you talk to her about it, she gives an excuse and promises to shape up.  As her roommate you know that she's dealing with some personal problems and understand why she is having trouble, but her lack of punctuality has been affecting rehearsals and your director is very frustrated.  The director is thinking about replacing her, which you know would be devastating.

How would you handle this situation?

4
What do you think about posting contact sheets on the call board?  This is a point of contention between myself and the other SM at my theater.  I don't think contact sheets should be posted, to protect people's privacy; she thinks they should be posted to make it easier to find a number when you need it.

I'm interested to hear what you all think about this.  It's not a huge deal, but I'm wondering if there's any kind of standard.

5
Tools of the Trade / Eartec headsets
« on: May 31, 2008, 04:20 pm »
Has anyone ever used any of the wireless headset systems that are sold by Eartec (www.eartec.com)?  I know that Digicom is pretty high-quality, but what about the other two systems - Simultalk and the TD904 series?  Any info anyone can provide about the reliability and durability of these products would be great.  My theater is in desperate need of a new wireless headset system, but can't afford Clearcom, and even Digicom is a stretch, so...

Thanks all!

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Tools of the Trade / Q-Manager
« on: May 22, 2008, 02:21 am »
Does anyone know how to go about purchasing the full version of Q-Manager?  The website (www.hammerandtong.com) is just a weird page of text with several hidden porn links at the bottom.

Is there any way to get this software?  I've been trying every sound cue software I can find, and this demo is by far my favorite, but I need to be able to save.  I need it specifically for programming fades, so the free version doesn't cut it.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SHOWS: Glass Menagerie
« on: May 14, 2008, 11:23 am »
Does anyone have advice about acquiring all the little glass animals for Glass Menagerie?  Is there an easier and less expensive option than buying lots of real glass animals?

Thanks!

8
I'm going to see Macbeth on April 26th, and I was wondering if anyone knew the SM (IBDB says it's Lorna Seymour).  I'd love to contact her to see if I could shadow her, but I don't know how.

Thanks!

9
Rutgers is sending their BFA SMs to London next semester (Fall '08) to study at the Globe Theatre, and they have a couple of open spaces to fill.  Any college student who is serious about stage management can apply.  More info about the program here:  http://www.masongross.rutgers.edu/Theater/theglobesm.html

PM me for more info about applying - I am going on the program and I am so excited!  I can put you in touch with the right people if you're interested in going too.

10
I'm running sound for a production of As You Like It, and we've got an interesting situation on our hands.  I'm interested to hear what you all think about it.

Tonight (two days before we open), our Orlando was injured toward the end of the run, and went to the hospital with what sounded suspiciously like a broken rib - although I don't know any details yet.

It got me to thinking about what would happen if his rib was broken.  Of course, the show must go on - but the problem is that early in the play, there is a pivotal wrestling scene, the result of which is the cause of the rest of the plot.  It would be a hard scene to reconfigure for an actor who is unable to fight, and there are no understudies for this show (it's only a two-week run).

I'm not the SM here, so thankfully I don't have to deal with this in that capacity.  But given these circumstances (important fight, no understudy, actor unable to participate in said fight) I would love to hear some opinions on how to effectively deal with the situation as the SM.

11
I'm getting started on a production of Blue/Orange, a show which includes several instances of characters lighting cigarettes onstage.  We already know that we can't use any kind of fire onstage.  Can anyone suggest a way to simulate lighting a cigarette in a way that still looks realistic?

The show is in a very small theater (50 seats).

Thanks!

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Study Abroad
« on: Dec 11, 2007, 04:59 am »
I know there are a million study abroad programs for actors, and even some for designers, but are there any for stage managers?

I go to school in the US, and I'd love to study abroad in the UK or Australia ... but if I go abroad, I want to be studying SMing.  Does anyone know of any such program?

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SCENERY: Furniture
« on: Nov 01, 2007, 12:43 am »
(I'm not sure where to put this, mods, feel free to move...)

Who, ultimately, is responsible for furniture in a show?  Is it the props master or the set designer?

I am in college right now and keep getting different answers from professionals in the department.  I'd like to know who's in charge in the professional world so that I can impart this knowledge to my props master and set designer on an undergrad level...neither of whom thinks it is their job (so no one is doing it!).

Thanks!

14
My sound board op left for the last week of the show, so I am running both the sound board and the light board now.

It went well tonight, but it was pretty hectic on my end.  Has anyone else ever had to do this?

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SMNetwork Archives / Multi-tool advice?
« on: Jun 25, 2007, 11:36 pm »
I'm in the market for my first multi-tool and I could use some input.

I think I want one that is less complicated (I'm leaning toward the Leatherman Juice c2), because mostly when I find myself in need of a tool it's something simple like a screwdriver.

So I'm wondering: what multi-tool do you use?  If you have one that has lots of tools on it, how often do you use them?  Would you recommend going with a bigger one even though I won't often use most of the tools - just in case?

Thanks!

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