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Messages - smsam

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46
Hi all,

Just wondering how many of you, as Stage Managers or ASMs in rehearsals, participate in the company's warm-ups or games either in rehearsal or before a show??

For me it entirely depends on the company and the director and how comfortable I feel with them. Here's two examples;
  • Recently doing a show (straight play) with a lovely cast and directors. First day everyone was so warm and welcoming my ASM and I felt really comfortable to join in with the 'name-games' (getting to know you) and introduction/ trust-building games. As soon as it moved into more character driven or actor games though we both stepped out as I certainly felt it wasn't our place to do these. Doing the intros though I think really helped both of us become part of the company! We continued to do these every morning throughout the rehearsal process and on occasions when the director was late I even led the games/ warm-up. Once we moved into the theatre for our run I was generally too busy to do the warm-up with them however I tried every night to do the vocal warm-up with them, this was because it was a really busy show to call (hundreds and hundreds of cues) and warming my voice up really did help! Let me know if you want to know what these warm-ups were - I found them really helpful
  • Situation 2; big musical for a west-end type (it was regional) stage. Here they didn't even do many into/ warm-up games and I didn't feel at all comfortable doing the warm-up with them therefore I just stayed behind the desk and watched. I worked really hard in breaks etc. and in my 'talks' for the first few days, to seem extra-friendly and approachable! It worked because I had a really good bond with this company as I did with the other - just used a different style.
Would love to hear your thoughts.

Sam x

47
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Happy Stage Management Memories?
« on: Nov 29, 2006, 06:33 am »
Thanks for that Philimbesi, I think you managed to sum up mine (and probably most others) best moments into one posts! Reading each of those brought a big smile to my face.

Sam x

48
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Happy Stage Management Memories?
« on: Nov 18, 2006, 09:13 pm »
Ahh I too have many happy stage management memomories - consistently throughout all of them they involve people who i love/ am very close to/ work very closly with.

Some that standout;

*First night of a very small west-end show, new writer, fantastic company of fourteen and a very intensive, hard rehearsal process. THe afternoon before we open me and the Director are released - they were busy on stage doing Lighting bits etc. etc. I had finished the book and everything was great. The Company (very tired!) went to go and sleep in the green room and me and the director (now very close friends) went out and bought everyone in the company & design team good luck/ thank-you cards & pressies. We then went and sat in a lovely small coffee shop, wrote all the cards together, wrapped the pressies and just reflected on the whole process up to that point!! It was lovely. We went back to the theatre. Did the First Night (very busy show, lots of quick but sensitive calling etc.) - clean show - and then had a fantastic party involving much champagne and cocktails! And then the Artistic Director of the company gave me the nicest compliment I've ever received as a DSM (or SM); he said the cueing was so tight and spot on that I was like another member of the ensemble making the whole show magic! I've never felt so proud of a show & comany before.

*6.30 (before a 7.30 show - different show to above). Theres been turential rain all day  and I go into one of the side foyers off the wings as i hear gushing water!! Open the door and water floods out - heading towards the stage. Several rooms are 3 foot underwater, waters gushed in under the doors!! Eventually Me, Production Manager, The Director (!!), All the ASMs, Lighting Designer, Sound Op and the Artistic Director of the company are bailing out water!! It was amazing - eveyone no matter how important or what position was mucking in,up to their kness in water, helping to get the show on. We did it and the show went up slightly delayed. What an amazing feeling.

Sam x


49
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stop The Show!
« on: Nov 10, 2006, 03:57 pm »
Yep, In my opinion you should of! It would have only taken five mins tops to clear it and then it would never have fallen on someones head!

I speak as a victim of a Gel-Frame Incident  ;) :D I was walking across the stage when a particularly incompetent techniciain (who I later learnt was actually stonned at the time) dropped a gel frame from the top of a tallescope! It landed directly on my head & sliced it right open! I had to remove the gel frame from my head and seek some pritty urgent medical attention.

So there you go...

Sam x

50
That does sound like an interesting set-up and sounds as though it works very well in that situation! My only ever encounter with such a set-up was when I was the Rehearsal Stage Manager for a very large show (cast of 1000) at a big landmark in London. But here it was necessary to manage the huge number of people! I managed all of the rehearsals (with three assistants) and then the Deputy Stage Manager (or Company Stage Manager as they would be called in your system) came in four days before the show date and watched rehearsals. On the day of the show they performed the job of the DSM and I looked after the company/ directors etc. Bit different but that did work OK.

My main concern on a very technically complex show (think automation, lots of LX cues, Flys, AV etc. etc.) would be that if the SM who was calling the show had only been in rehearsals for a few days then they wouldn't even almost know it well enough to call it. Yes a good DSM should be able to call any show having just picked up the book (and with that goes the Bus Argument etc. etc.) but it wouldn't be an ideal situation. And in terms of automation etc. it may be unsafe for a SM who doesn't know the show well enough to call it as they won't know off-hand the intricacies of the blocking etc. Just some random thoughts!

Sam x

51
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Actor Calls
« on: Nov 09, 2006, 11:08 am »
Over in the UK (sound like a broken record don't I) this is how we do our calls. This is not just the standard convention here but almost the Stage Management Law - I've never met a *professional* Stage Manager/ DSM who does theirs differently (give or take a little bit of rephrasing!);

For a show at 19.30/ 7.30pm

18.55/ 6.55pm
Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen of the [SHOWS NAME] Company. This is your half-hour call. Thirty Minutes Please. Thank You
[Also Announce here who the MD for the show will be (if you have more than one or an assistant MD) & Any Understudies/ Covers On]

19.10/ 7.10pm
Ladies & Gentlemen of the [SHOWS NAME] Company. This is your half-hour Quarter of an hour call. Fifteen Minutes Please. Thank You

When the House Opens
Ladies & Gentlemen the house is now open for this evening's performance. Please do not cross the stage. Please do not cross the stage, the house is now open. Thank You

19.20/ 7.20pm
Ladies & Gentlemen of the [SHOWS NAME] Company. This is your 5 minute call. Five Minutes Please. Thank You

19.25/ 7.25pm -- Hold if we will be going up late (and do call explaining)
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the[SHOWS NAME] Company. This is your Act One Beginners Call. Miss. Adams, Miss. Morewood, Mr. Beach & Mr. Smith your call please. Stage Management, Lighting, Sound, Wardrobe & All Technical Departments please standby for lights up on this evening's performance of [SHOW NAME].  Miss. Adams, Miss. Morewood, Mr. Beach & Mr. Smith your call please. Act One Beginners. Thank You”
(**NB; When listing members of the company ladies always first and in alphabetical order of their last name**)

Other Calls most DSMs in the UK do are;

Courtesy Calls - i.e. Calling Principals for the Scenes
Miss. Adams this is your call please. Miss Adams you call. Thank-You

Act One/ Two Underway
Ladies and Gentlemen we have lights up on act one(/two) of this evenings performance. Lights up on Act One. Thank You

Post Show Call
Ladies and Gentlemen of the [SHOW NAME] Company. Thank-you for you performance this evening. The total running time was [total running time - inc interval] meaning your total playing time was [total playing time - exc. interval]. Your Running Time [run time] and playing time [playing time]. Your next call is for [tomorrow/ Monday/ next date] at Six O'clock for a 7.30pm show. Your next Call 6.00pm for a 7.30pm show. Thank You and Good Night!

Sam x





52
I agree with the statement too many cooks spoil the broth in this situation but...

You could take the English method and do it that way. It works and is tried and tested. In fact I can't really think of doing a show any other way now!!

The way it works is one of you would be the Stage Manager and you would be overly responsible for the stage management of the show. It is probably very important to establish that one of you had overall control otherwise the system will just breakdown, messages/ communication lost etc. It would be their job to manager the deck, run the technical rehearsal and look after the show in a broader scale.

The other one of you could become, what we call in England, the DSM (Deputy Stage Manager). It is this persons responsibility to be in rehearsals, take blocking, rehearsal notes etc., give the company their calls etc. In production they should call the show (i.e. call the cues), look after other tech departments etc.

Quote
There are a few ways I can think of dividing it - one would be SM1 runs preproduction, whilst SM2 takes production. Tech week acts as a handover period, SM1 doing the prop and actor organising, SM2 taking the lead in technical stuff. Another is as the poster aboves method. The final method would be you split jobs pre-production, and have a calling roster during the production (ie SM1 calls one show, with SM2 on deck, the next show the roles reverse).
I personally would STRONGLY NOT recommend that method purely because Tech Week is already stressful enough without having a Stage Management handover process going on as well!! Plus you end up with a Stage Manager running the show who doesn't really know much about it because they haven't been in rehearsals!.

As to the Tech Director problem can't help there as that role doesn't exist in the UK, normally here the Stage Manager or Technical Stage Manager runs the deck/ stage!

Just my opinions,

Sam x

53
As I have a little time this evening I thought I would also add the different roles within a large stage management team within the UK. Again I'm keen to see what the American version is!

Production Manager - PM
Holds overall responsibility for the technical departments. Is often appointed first and then is made responsible for hiring the technical team. Main jobs include: Health and Safety (risk assessments etc.), Budgeting, Feeding information back to producer etc. Also calls & chairs Production Meetings

Company Stage Manager  - CSM
Often found on tours. Main job is payroll for the company and crew and looking out for the well being of all on the show. Looks after all HR side of things like Warnings, Dismissal, Contacts, Employment Terms etc. Other responsibilities can sometimes also include finding Digs for the company whilst touring, arranging transport etc.

Stage Manager - SM
Runs the Stage Management Team. Looks after the Stage Management budget and props budget. Works with the ASMs to prop the show. Liases with the Director and Designers at all times passing on important information. Runs the Technical Rehearsal with the DSM and runs the ASMs on the stage/ deck.

Technical Stage Manager - TSM
Is responsible for any mechanical props and moving parts of the set/ scenery. Runs/ Manages the Crew (Deck Crew) and is responsible for creating/ ammeding/ maintaining deck or set plots. Health and Safety on the deck is a key role and they'll work closely with the Head Flyman & Master Carpenter.

Deputy Stage Manager - DSM
Runs the rehearsal room, creates and posts rehearsal calls, writes and distributes rehearsal reports, calls the show, writes Show Reports etc. Deputises for the SM where necessary.

Assistant Stage Manager - ASM
Props the show (sources and makes props), creates and maintaines the props plot, help the TSM and SM run the deck. Assist the DSM and SM.

Assistant Stage Manager (Book Cover) - ASM (Bk Cover)
Does all of the ASMs duties but also knows the Book well and covers/ deputises for the DSM where necessary. Will often call one or two shows a week even if the DSM isn't away just to keep fresh.

Sam xx

54
Hi All,

I'm really interested in the differences between how we call shows in the UK and how you guys in the US & Oz etc. call shows. I'm now hopefully going to describe exactly how big musicals and such are called in the UK! If people from other parts of the world could do the same that would be great and then we can compare the merits and disadvantages of both systems!

All of the below is for a performance that goes up at 19.30 (normal time for West End Show). The example I'm using here is a recent show I DSMed called 'Alice':

19.25
Backstage: "Ladies and Gentlemen of the 'Alice' Company this is you Act One Beginners Call. Full Company please Standby for Act One. Also all technical departments please stand-by for lights up on this evenings performance of 'Alice'. Act One Beginners Please. Thank You"

FOH & Bars: "Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen. Please take your seats as this evenings performance of 'Alice' will comence in three minutes. Thank You"

DSM: Good Evening All, can we check whos here then please. LX?
LX: Yep
DSM: Sound
Sound: Yep
DSM: Automation?
Automation: Yep
DSM: Flys?
Flys: Yep
DSM: AV?
AV: Yep
DSM: OK, Lovely. Waiting on Clearence Then.

DSM (telephone to MD): Hi. Just waiting on clearence. Are you ready with the band.
MD: Yeah, lovely

19.27
FOH & Bars: "Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen. Please take your seats as this evenings performance of 'Alice' will comence in one minutes. Thank You" & 1 Bar Bell

19.29
FOH & Bars: "Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen. Please take your seats as this evenings performance of 'Alice' is about to commence. Thank You" & 1 Long Ring of Bar Bell

Around 19.30
FOH Manager (Radio): FOH to Stage Management this is Clearence for Act One. All yours.
DSM (Radio): Thanks, All recieved

DSM (on cans): And thats Clearence. Standby Please LX Qs 1 through 14
LX: Standing-by
DSM: Sound Qs 1 through 6 (Q-Light too)
Sound: Standing-by
DSM: Auto Qs 1 & 2 (Q-Light too)
Automation: Standing-by
DSM: Deck Q 1 (Q-Light too)
Deck: Standing-by
DSM: And Fly Qs 1 & 2 (Q-Light too)
Flys: Standing-by
DSM: Thank You

DSM (Q-Light only): Stand-by MD for top of Act One
MD Q-Light goes solid (stood-by)

DSM: LX Q 1 .. GO Slow House Lights to Half

FOH/ Auditorium: "Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen and Welcome to the 'The Harry Crook Theatre' for this evenings performance of 'Alice'. Please can you ensure that you turn all mobile phones and pagers off and can I please take this oppurtunity to remind you that photograhy and the use of cameras is strictly prohibitted during this evenings performance. Thank You

DSM: LXQ 2 & Sound Q 1 GO Start Stopwatch

C.D Set USLDSM: LXQ 3, Fly Q 1, Auto Q 1 & Deck Q 1 .. GO

Backstage: "Ladies and Gentlemen of the 'Alice' Company. Act One is now underway. Thank You"

C.D: "My Head Hurt"DSM: LX Q 4 .. GO Very Slow Fade

LX: Executed

etc. etc.

Now obviously everyone (even in the same country!) calls a show slightly differently but I would say the above is near the norm for British Shows! I look forward to seeing the differences around the globe!

Sam x



55
The Green Room / Re: thank you notes
« on: Jun 17, 2006, 08:13 pm »
The most important thing I think when doing Thank Yous is ensuring that you treat everyone fairly with Thank-Yous, especially when ultimately your in a position of authority and responsibility (i.e. Stage Manager/ DSM).

So if you are going to do the cast cards then you have to do them all cards. And if you are going to get crew cards or presents do them all cards/ presents! Even when I've had my boyfriend on my crew he's got the same Thank-You card and pressie as everyone else!

Personally, I'll get the cast as a whole and the crew as a whole a Good Luck Card on the first night which I'll stick on the Call Board then at the end of the run I'll get little cardettes for each of the crew and cast and try to put something personal in each one like a funny experience or anecdote about the show! If its a musical with loads of cast and dancers though or its been a short production period then I sometimes just get the whole cast one card!


The only exception I'll make is an individual card and present to the director. As a DSM I rarely give cards or presents to the Designs/ Design Team because its not my place to, often the director will sort this out!!

Sam x

56
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stop The Show!
« on: Jun 17, 2006, 07:55 pm »
When I'm a DSM my normal show stop procedure would be:
  • Notify Crew of Incident & Radio FOH
  • Bring in House Tab/ Grand Drape/ ... & Raise House Lights to 75%
  • FOH:"Ladies and Gentlemen it has become necessary to temporarily suspend this evenings performance. Thank You for your patience and we will return to this evenings performance as soon as possible. Thank You
  • B/S RELAY: "Ladies and Gentlemen of the "Show Name" Company. This evenings performance has been temporarily suspended due to [issue] reasons. [Any Special Instructions]
  • Liase with relevant departments and keep crew updated on cans
  • Once Issue Resolved; "Ladies and Gentlemen of the "Show Name" Company. This evenings performance will now continue from [place to continue from]. This is you beginners call to continue to performance from [place in script]. Thank You
  • Radio FOH & 1 Min Bar Bell & "Ladies and Gentlemen please take your seats as this evenings performance will be continuing in one minute. Thank You
  • Talk to Crew on Cans and Stand-By for Cues from place. If relevant Stand-By MD to play a short entre-act type piece
  • When Company Set : House Tab Out & CUE's GO!
  • B/S Relay: Ladies and Gentlemen of the [Show Name] Company. The performance has now resumed. Thank You


A detailed show report (with timings of the show stop, audiances reactions, info from FOH and concerned depts.) would obviously be done.

Sam x

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