Topics

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Creating a Website

« on: Nov 16, 2013, 11:44 pm »

I'm looking to create a personal website on which to upload my resume, production photos, scanned prompt books, etc. I'm hoping that having an online portfolio will assist me in my job hunt so people can see my experience, since i can't exactly ship a book across the country every time I want to apply somewhere. Does anyone know of a good, free platform on which I can launch a clean, professional site? I am on apprentice stipend pay, so free is key. Thank you in advance!

2

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Should I go back to school?

« on: Nov 11, 2013, 02:55 pm »

I know this question has been addressed before, in the format of "is going to college worth it" and "should I finish my degree, despite my college's lack of professionalism".

But I am in a bit of a different situation. I had attended a year of university, when I discovered that my identity had been stolen. Any loans were immediately put on lockdown, and I could not go back to school. I am currently doing a full-year apprenticeship designed to launch people fresh from college into the professional world. This is not my first internship.

As I look forward, to what happens when my contract ends in the spring of 2014, I am unsure what the best course of action is. I am going to apply for colleges, and apply for internships just in case my situation is not sorted out by that point. However, I have to wonder if going back to school would be a step in the wrong direction. By the time I finish a degree, the experience I gained working in LORT theatre will be fairly invalid. [It's like not using your degree: after a certain period of time, it's just a piece of paper.]

So do I keep on moving up while I have an "in" in the professional world; wait until I have been here several years, and I have definitely gotten a name and useful experience, THEN go back to school? Or do I go back to school, and start all over again after graduation?


EDIT:
To clarify, I would not be pursing something as specific as a BFA in Stage Management.. I would go back to something similar to the  track I was on previously: General Theatre BA with a focus in either Stage Management or Directing, minor in Communications. Going for a degree as specific as a SM BFA would, in my opinion, be a waste of money down the road when I need to pick up some other kind of gig to stay afloat, or if I just want to take a year and try something different on the artistic department. (I know it will happen, it happens to everyone.)

3

Introductions / Young Apprentice Open to New Knowledge

« on: Nov 06, 2013, 11:32 pm »

Hello all! Janell here. I have been a member of SM Network for a while, but have been reading more than posting. So as long as I am here, I thought I might finally do an introduction.

I am originally from the outskirts of Mobile, AL (on the Gulf Coast), and I attended a year of college at University of South Alabama. i speant this summer working as a Stage Management Intern at Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery. Then, due to some unfortunate circumstance, I found myself unable to return to school this year. So I began looking for other options, and found a job as one of the full year Stage Management Apprentices at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, FL. I am hoping to return to school at some point, but may have to keep pushing forward in the professional world despite a lack of formal training.

I came to SM Network because it seems like a great resource [a fountain of knowledge, if you will,] for someone with my lack of experience and lack of training. I am here looking for advice, help, a bad joke, anything. Please feel free to email me with anything you've got.