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Messages - PSMAK

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1
Thanks Jerry!

2
Ah, some good stuff here! Thank you all!

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Assign everyone in the cast a number and use that, instead of cast names or initials, in your blocking book.  So F1, F2, F3...etc for female, and M1, M2, M3...for men.   These assignments can be based on whatever makes the most sense:  I've seen them done simply alphabetically, or in obvious casting (putting the principals as the 1,2,3, and lesser characters further down.  Or clumping cast members you know will be staged in the same scenes numerically close - for example: you know there are featured tumblers for the big dance number - so assign them M7-M12). 

I like this a lot.

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1. Make "full-page" groundplans. If the ensemble ever has moments where they have to hit certain positions, draw those groupings onto the full-page GPs. Having these "landmarks" notated can go a long way.

I thought I remember I'd done this before, and then I realized I had, in college for a show.

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3. Since you have 2 ASMs, use "zone defense" - have each of you take a certain section of the stage. ASM 1 covers SR ensemble, ASM 2 covers SL ensemble, and you cover principals. I have done this a lot in opera. In a big chorus staging rehearsal, when the chorus is in their first position, the SMs (with clipboard in hand) jump up and write down as much as they can on a fullpage GP. Mark that page as "position 1- top of page 3", and then when they hit the next position, make a new page.

Yes. Great idea!

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4. Nametags! Make the names as big as possible so you can read them from far away. You can colorcode them according to voice part (sopranos pink, tenors yellow, etc)- that way you can tell at a glance if the different voice parts are evenly distributed across the stage.

LOL. If I can get them to keep them on. They all range from grade school to high school.

Thank you all! Some good strategies here that I can use together! Much appreciated!

3
The Green Room / Re: Has anyone else ever noticed....
« on: Jun 08, 2015, 08:35 am »
It's a test. Something has to keep us on our toes!

4
Hi All,

Next month I'm about to do a show with 40 cast members. Three quarters of them are ensemble. It's Beauty and the Beast Jr.

I've scoured the threads, but not finding good answer to my question. Does anybody have a good method that they would be willing to share for taking down blocking for a big ensemble? Especially for big group scenes. I'll have 2 ASMs.

Thanks a bunch!

5
Yes, fantastic! I too had a similar situation a few years ago.

6
Employment / Re: Needing A Fresh Set Of Eyes
« on: May 18, 2015, 05:16 pm »
Thank you to all who have given me input and helped me to get back on track. It is greatly appreciated! We truly have a fantastic community here!

--PSMAK

7
Employment / Needing A Fresh Set Of Eyes
« on: May 14, 2015, 03:32 pm »
Hello All,

Hoping that some of you might be able to help me out.

I've been SMing for ten years. Having left a theatre in December after seven years, and sending out too many resumes to name and not getting as many bites as I like, I'm wondering if I am possibly not presenting myself as best I can with my resume and cover letter. I am hoping someone who has been SMing a little longer than myself might take a look to give some pointers and possibly steer me in the right path. Please PM me and we'll take if from there. I welcome view points from multiple people.

Thank you for any time and advice you might be able to give. I greatly appreciate it!

--PSMAK

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Is it possible to attach some kind of cheat sheet under the covers? You could do it on material that is near the same color as the bed linen so it stands out a bit. Provided that you have the authority to sew it on. Then you can write with a marker that is visible for him but not technically visible for the audience.

9
Employment / Re: "What Not To Post": Job Listing edition
« on: Mar 24, 2015, 10:32 am »
I also saw this post, this morning. I found it quite off-putting as well.

10
Thanks VilleSM!

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Branden & LizzG,

Thanks for you input! Makes some good sense.

12
My personal preference is to list calling stage manager and on deck crew (including ASM) on the bottom of every report as a footer.

Like --- Calling SM: Bob Smith; ASM: Dexter Green; Run Crew: Laura Pots, etc.? Would this go just above your CC distribution list in the footer?

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Other than that I only list crew/etc if it is a shadowing, or an absence/put in "Michael shadowed Spot 1 today in preparation for running the show 2/28" or "Allie in for Amy as RONNIE, scheduled put in"

Do you have a separate section for this, or do you put it in let say a "General/Artistic/Technical" section(s), depending on the type of note?


13
So, now having some downtime, actually a lot of down time between gigs (whenever the next one will come), I've finally got the chance to reformat paperwork. Something I've wanted to do for awhile but not had the chance. It's also giving me busy-work. I've scoured all of the threads and looked at all of the report examples in the Form's section, but not finding the information on this topic that I'm looking for. How do some of you report your attendance in your performance reports? Do you list all of your crew and their positions (i.e. Light Board: Tom Smith; A2: Brad Knight; Run Crew: Billy Bones; etc.)? Do you list all of your actors that are present? Do you only list those actors/crew who are absent and/or late? Do you list who is doing front of house? Actors in/out (roles/understuding/swinging)? etc. etc. etc.

I know this could be done lots of different ways, but just trying to get a good consensus. I know that it's possible that theatre's/company's may have there own preference. But what do some of you do when you're not give an upper-management preference? I'd be especially curious to know for those of you who have worked on any Broadway shows or Off-Broadway shows on how it may be structured.

Thanks for any insights!

14
Tools of the Trade / Re: Filemaker?
« on: Jan 11, 2015, 04:13 pm »
I know this thread is quite old, but... Is anyone willing to share a Filemaker type database that they have created. I'm more interested to see how you did it as opposed to actually stealing it, as formatting might be different between SMs. I've tried to wrap my head around it. And mostly understanding relationships a pain.

I'm planning on creating one for cast lists, props tracking, and cue sheets mostly (especially separate cue list to a master).

Please PM me.


Thank you!

15
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Mic Plot help
« on: Jun 15, 2014, 04:09 pm »
Take a look at the Body Mic Schedule in the Excel format in the Forms Section. That should give you a good starting point.

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