Messages

31

The Hardline / Re: Deputy

« on: Sep 11, 2007, 11:25 pm »

Fiddler with 8 cast members? AWESOME! I concur, you should have 2 deputies.

32

The Hardline / Production Meetings

« on: Aug 13, 2007, 03:36 pm »

What is the average number of Production Meetings for your shows?

33

Tools of the Trade / Re: SM Computer

« on: Aug 11, 2007, 06:31 pm »

I LOVE LOVE to use Vectorworks.  It is great to make minis and scene shift diagrams and be able to take any measurement you want.  I am rare though, I think.

It is mighty pricey and I honestly wouldn't have bought it just for use as a theater SM.  But in the dance world often the SM is the LD or TD as well and I need to use it for that.

SM with good taste! I also use Vectorworks, love it!

34

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Calling a warning for a cue

« on: Aug 03, 2007, 02:10 am »

Calling warnings is not my thing. This summer was my first summer using the warnings because we averaged a cue every pg. and it was helpful to my sound op. to know how much time he had to finish setting up. (Bullshot Crummond) As a board op. myself, I think warnings are pointless because board ops learn to disregard it anyway. Standby and GO is quite sufficient. Just my opinion.

35

The Hardline / Re: Equity "half-hour"

« on: Aug 01, 2007, 03:38 pm »

It seems that the 3 min to places call avoids the common "OMG, Places already?!?!?" rush that I've seen by actors. That 3 min call allows them to finish up and get ready to head backstage. I've also noticed that my actors went to places early when I called 3 min. That's always nice.

36

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: theatre romance

« on: Jul 25, 2007, 05:44 pm »

No, as long as everyone is being treated fairly...I know it's hard... but it can be done...

37

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Do you call from house or backstage?

« on: Jul 23, 2007, 12:42 am »

House... I love having a full view of the stage and watching a live show on a monitor from backstage isn't my favorite.

38

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Bows

« on: Jul 18, 2007, 07:47 pm »

if you want applause, you're in the wrong job

Bingo.

Bingo. Bingo. Applauding to the booth is a secondary education practice. This is when mom and dad come to see their precious son or daughter.

39

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: calling cues

« on: Jul 17, 2007, 08:06 pm »

As a designer that SM's, I was taught that Sound Cues should be lettered and Light cues use #'s. This really clarifies to the operators who I am talking to and who should respond. I think it works brilliantly. LX 1 and SD A - GO! If for some reason I can't get out the "lights or sound" before the cue, the operators can still respond. As for fly/rails we resort back to the #'s.

That works great until you have more than 26 sound cues!!

Ideally the designers meet and discuss.  For example if Lights doesn't anticipate more than 200 cues then Sound can start at 5 or 600. 

Then the letters start over, AA then AAA then AAAA. A production of Angels in America went to SQ TTTT (Quad T)

40

The Hardline / Re: Equity "half-hour"

« on: Jul 17, 2007, 03:46 pm »

Equity wise, in my history, all equity actors can be called 30 minues before they have to go onstage.  (If you have some wacky concept where the cast is on stage at house open, then you can call them 30 minutes before they have to go.)  Fight call is 15 minutes before the half-hour, and only 15 minutes.

At my current theatre, artistic has made it very clear the stage is to be made available for phyiscla/vocal warm ups, so we make the stage open for 15 minutes prior fight call or, in the rare case I don't have fight call, half-hour.


You can make exceptions and call people earlier for speciality hair/wig/make-up calls, but you need to check your rule book, or more likely, with your business rep - as sometimes this additional time we eat up your weekly rehearsal time.  (My current understanding is on LORT, these early calls come out of the 10 hours of rehearsal . . . so if I have to call an actor 30 minutes early make up and wig for 8 shows, that uses up 4 hours of rehearsal time for them.)

The rest of the calls are up to the SM - when to page half-hour, 15 minutes, 5 minutes and places - and should depend on the space.  If it takes actors 5 minutes to get form the dressing room to places, then you need to adjust accordingly.  I also do my calls relative to places (15 minutes to places called 18 minutes to show times, 5 minutes to places called 8 minutes to show time, places called 3 minutes to show time - but it takes my cast 3 minutes to get to the deck.)

Thanks for the reply! DTC misses you!

41

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Do you call from house or backstage?

« on: Jul 16, 2007, 09:48 pm »

Very puzzling question! ALWAYS IN THE TECH BOOTH CLOSEST TO THE BOARD OPS! From experience, when those headsets decide to go out on opening night, you can still call the show. The actors and set crew should be capable of taking care of themselves during the show. And if the show is large, there should be ASM's that can be on the stage floor for emergencies!

42

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: calling cues

« on: Jul 16, 2007, 09:43 pm »

As a designer that SM's, I was taught that Sound Cues should be lettered and Light cues use #'s. This really clarifies to the operators who I am talking to and who should respond. I think it works brilliantly. LX 1 and SD A - GO! If for some reason I can't get out the "lights or sound" before the cue, the operators can still respond. As for fly/rails we resort back to the #'s.

43

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Headset Etiquette

« on: Jul 16, 2007, 09:28 pm »

I don't allow anyone to speak on the headset when it's showtime other than myself as SM... I've seen too many cues missed because of conversations over stuff that doesn't pertain to the show...

44

The Hardline / Equity "half-hour"

« on: Jul 16, 2007, 05:47 pm »

Does equity require that actors have access to the stage during "half hour" or is this just a 30-minute period in which the actor (in the building) should not be bothered? Can half hour occur when house opens 30 minutes before GO? If the actors are called at 7pm for an 8pm GO, does/can half-hour start at 7? Is half hour a time aside from getting into makeup etc.?

Examples of pre-show calls/schedules would be helpful.
Here's mine.... (I am aware that times don't add up equally, but my biggest pet peeve is when the audience has to wait on the actors or crew  )
6:30pm CALL - 7:30pm GO
6:30 ACTORS CALLED
6:40 20 TILL HOUSE OPENS
6:50 10 TILL HOUSE OPENS ACTOR'S CHECK PROPS
6:55 LIGHT/SOUND OPERATORS IN PRESHOW
7:00 HOUSE OPEN HALF-HOUR 30 TILL PLACES
7:12 15 TILL PLACES
7:17 10 TILL PLACES
7:22 5 TILL PLACES
7:24 3 TILL PLACES
7:57 PLACES; BREAK LEGS!

Does Equity have specific call times? The 3 minutes till places seems weird, and I honestly have no idea wear I obtained the call from, but I just can't seem to let it go! 

Thanks in advance for any help!

45

SMNetwork Archives / More Technology in Stage Management! Website for my shows!?!?!?

« on: Aug 22, 2006, 08:13 pm »

I've created a website for my shows! Check it Out!
http://www.mycastboard.com

Your opinions/questions/comments are greatly appreciated!