Messages

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: The Ultimate Decision

« on: Jul 05, 2006, 01:37 pm »

Well this is my story of how I became an SM.  I was curious about the job before I even knew what an SM did.  But I did my first ASM job in college.  I had broken up with my boyfriend, and 3 days later the SM for this really crazy version of Christmas Carol asked me if I would like to be her ASM, because the one she had before never showed up to rehearsal after taking the job.  I told her that my schedule was ...pretty open.  It was life changing, but it gave me a false sense of the job.  I thought it was boring and too easy, plus I was dealing with "the break up".  After that I did another ASM job, before I was the SM for the production at the end of the year.  Then I did another production as an SM; people were wondering why I was still SMing, they figure I like the punishment.   I really enjoy the organization part of the job. ; maybe is the controlling sense that sometimes you feel as a Stage Manager.  And at that point I knew that SMing was my calling, (pardon the pun)    Good thing I did, I think I would had failed as an actress

2

SMNetwork Archives / Re: The new SMnetwork

« on: Jun 17, 2006, 10:47 am »

Holy Cow!  Nice, I need time to explore, but looks pretty cool!!

3

The Hardline / Another "Under What Circumstances Would You...?"

« on: May 25, 2006, 07:11 pm »

Hands down, I will work on my day off for money, and enough to make it worthwhile, nothing else comes a close second, ...well maybe if there was a previous cancellation of rehearsal because of somebody dying or mother nature making helfself felt, but even then I will still need to get pay extra.  Days off are precious to me, so I rather do nothing.  Sometimes even money won't do it for me.

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / INTERNATIONAL: Hispanic Theatre and Stage Managers

« on: May 22, 2006, 04:03 pm »

I am hispanic, fully bi-lingual, and I had worked for companies that do both English and Spanish speaking plays, (and of course, companies that only do English speaking material).  My question to anybody who reads this, how many of you out there are also Spanish Speaking stage managers working in Spanish  and English speaking productions?  My other question, to everybody in general is, How many of you are aware that Equity does not have say in Spanish Speaking productions? Or in any other languague that is not English?

5

Employment / Salary Negotiations

« on: May 22, 2006, 03:01 pm »

Erin-Candice, I feel your pain. I had not been doing this long, about 5 years for money, and at this point, I am still not  making ends meet.  Perks are a good thing.  But getting transportation money does not take care of my other needs.  With all the stuff that you need to get, job related materials, and if you are part of the union, dues and the likes, a stage manager is left with very little money.  There are no savings that can help you while you are looking for the next job, or until your first paycheck, which depending on the contract, could be a week, or at least a month, sometimes.  Perks and other stuff are ok, but right now give me MONEY.  I need it, I can't make it to rehearsal if I can't afford to pay for train and bus fare.  Getting a another job while working a show, sometimes is almost impossible, because stage managing is very time consuming, not to mention that your employer has to deal with the fact that you will be missing days of works once awhile, and they probably won't be pleased with that.
I say be willing to negotiate, and go for what you want.  You want money?
Go for that.  Actors do it all the time, why not you? Are you going to get the money that you want?  Probably not, but you won't know if you don't ask.

6

Employment / CAREER: stage management college degrees

« on: May 03, 2006, 10:35 pm »

I am very curious to know how many  stage managers have college degrees on stage management?, and how many like me, had to learn by doing?  I would love to hear as many answers to these questions and details about it.