Messages

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Rehearsal Reports

« on: Jan 06, 2016, 04:39 pm »

How about flipping the question around?  Instead of asking for an ETA, I often will present a specific time line request (ei: Is it possible to have the show-swords in the rehearsal hall by Wed, when we will be holding our next session with the fight choreographer?).

Along with that suggestion (Which yes... how you phrase things can make ALL the difference), in the email I send with the report attached, I'll typically paste any questions in the body of the email itself. Something I learned from my corporate life - don't assume folks will open the attached report and read it. Not because they don't want to, but likely because they're swamped or viewing the email on a device that makes it hard to open attachments - etc. By having the 3 or 4 questions that came up in rehearsal in the body of the email (listed by department), it makes it easy for them to hit reply and provide an answer.

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The Green Room / Re: WICKED backstage videos

« on: Jan 06, 2016, 04:27 pm »

Thank you for sharing these! For someone who works at the semi-pro level, it's always interesting to see how things work at the peak professional level.

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The Green Room / Re: Just a little something fun...

« on: Jan 06, 2016, 04:13 pm »

That is mind-blowingly amazing!! Thank you for sharing it!

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: RUNNING: Keeping yourself busy on slow shows

« on: Dec 07, 2015, 03:46 pm »

Along with the above because yes, your eyes should always be on the stage/backstage, if you have an ASM console and find yourself struggling to focus, I've found play-doh can be helpful. Not to the point you focus on that instead of the show, but it's something my hands can mindlessly do which helps the fidget-er in me to calm down so I can focus on the above tasks easier. Usually, I don't bust out the play-doh until the 4th week or so when I want to avoid feeling to "comfortable" or to avoid being too relaxed about cues.

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Self-Promotion / Re: Coraline

« on: Dec 04, 2015, 04:16 pm »

Have a blast!! I too didn't know it was a musical... and now must talk a theatre in my area into producing it. 

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Motivation & Energy - Need Help & Ideas

« on: Dec 04, 2015, 04:04 pm »

Something I did with large teenage casts for community theatre (And more than a few times with larges casts in general - community or semi-pro) .. it's a bit dorky, but it made them laugh and started each run/performance off with them smiling... a group warm-up circle. This wasn't meant to replace vocal warmups or full warm-ups, but it's something to bring everyone (including crew!!) together before the house opened. get in a circle on the stage (or if not enough room somewhere backstage so everyone can see each other's faces) ... do something like lion/prune facial stretch, or have one of the actors/crew pick a tongue twister to all say. then after that, i'd do a brief pep talk. and I do mean brief. just something to remind them how amazing they are, how I appreciate all of the time and work they've put into the show. and how much butt I know they'll kick that night. then a big group shout/cheer... and I send them all backstage so we could open the house.

I found this most needed on thur, fri and sun performances when many folks came from day jobs or were tired from staying out late sat night. when working with teenagers, figure out who in the cast is the leader... who is the one or two people the rest seem to follow in terms of behavior and attitude... then get them involved in this warm-up. give them the chance to lead/shine (aka pick the exercise to do or such) and everyone else will likely feed off their energy and excitement, because (dorky those this sounds) a frown is just as contagious as a smile. so get the most vocal/most social/most everyone-follows-what-this-one-does person to smile!!

or bribe them with cookies for showing up on time. sometimes that works wonders too.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / getting a glimpse of backstage on broadway?

« on: Sep 29, 2005, 09:55 pm »

thank you all! GREAT idea about the note. I'll give it a shot - because it never hurts to ask!

thanks again!

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / SHADOWING: getting a glimpse of backstage on broadway?

« on: Sep 27, 2005, 05:13 pm »

hi all :-)

I'm going to see my first ever broadway show this Friday, haazah for Spamalot!! (living in California I don't get out to NY all that often). being a Friday night I'm guessing the crew/sm is going to want to either head out for a night of fun - or sleep right after th show. But I would LOOOOOOOOOOOVE the chance to just walk backstage. see what the sm station looks like and be a techie geek.

I was thinking of waiting by the stagedoor after - but wondering, did anyone have suggestions for how best to approach it? I don't want to be an inconvience to the sm or crew - and i'm clueless on the proper ettiquette of something like this. any advice would be greatly appreciated. :-)

thank you!!

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / how do you get their attention?

« on: Feb 25, 2005, 10:21 am »

Yes indeed it would be in a professional setting... sadly the college years were long ago.

After seeing a closer view of the performers/actors/singers (whichever they prefer) in a professional theatre - I get the sense that rounding them up isn't as big a pain as with community theatres. Woohoo!

Thanks all for the insight and input. Very valuable stuff!! :-)

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / New Director

« on: Feb 15, 2005, 12:38 pm »

Getting a director out of the booth: the first time they come to the booth - I politely remind them that only booth crew, sm and td are allowed in booth. stating that it's for everyone's safety since there are many things with plugs which can be tripped over, bonked into etc. If the director or anyone needs me/has a question they can stand in the house and ask (For my usual theatre this is actually the closest spot to the booth) or ask over headset (As one is setup backstage and in the house during tech week).

I've only had one director come up to the booth a second time after my little talk. At which point, I went to the AD and told him that the director needed to be reminded of the theatre policies. After that "talking to" the director never set foot up there again. :-)

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Birthday cakes

« on: Feb 15, 2005, 12:10 pm »

another idea for large casts: have a bday sign up list (that you would keep so it's hidden from the bday people). The idea: cast members can sign up to bring in bday goodies for various people. It promotes cast bonding and cuts down on the amount of baking you would have to do (granted I'd suggest signing up for at least one yourself). If there are a TON of birthdays - or you work with primarily the same group over the whole season - you can try setting up a secret bday buddy thing as well.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / how do you get their attention?

« on: Jan 22, 2005, 01:25 pm »

Awesome!!! Thank you so much for the feedback. I'll keep my eye out for a nice chime, but otherwise - it's good to know that the walking around method is still a common practice. :-) thanks everyone!

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PEOPLE: how do you get their attention?

« on: Jan 12, 2005, 06:21 pm »

I'm looking for an efficient way when at rehearsals to get everyones attention (actors really... the whole herding cats thing).  In the past I just walk around to them if outside or if inside just say loudly (But not yell) that it's time to start, or break is over. (I've never had a problem projecting so I was easily heard)

However, with working in a professional theatre in the future: I'm thinking that's not really the best practice. I've heard one sm uses a bell - but some actors complained that "they're not in elementary school".

What do you guys do? What have you found works best or worst?

THANK YOU!!

14

SMNetwork Archives / kit

« on: Jan 12, 2005, 05:51 pm »

this becomes a lifesaver more often than not for actors: tampons.  and along the post it theme - the postit flags. LOVE those especially when taking line notes.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / warnings verses stanbys . . another poll

« on: Dec 03, 2004, 07:05 pm »

I typically prefer to just use standby and go. The exception is if there are 10 or so pages with no cues. Then I'll tend to give a warning for the next grouping of cues. Personally - I've found warning are for my own sanity but rather useless as I've watched more often than not as a sound op (sitting about 4 feet away from me) will respond while not looking up from their book and simply wait for the standby before actually doing anything to be ready for the cue.