Messages

61

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: Backstage at 'Metamorphoses'

« on: Feb 09, 2013, 10:20 pm »

Very interesting - my first two thoughts were 1) temperature and 2) weight of the pool. I'm glad that after so many productions things have evolved into a more streamlined process.

What I do wonder is if the water is chlorinated for sanitary reasons, with everyone in the water, someone is sick or something is in the water = everyone sick.

Sounds like a headache of circumstances that I hope I never have to deal with

62

The Green Room / Re: SMASH - the TV series

« on: Feb 06, 2013, 08:56 pm »

Love the interview - can't wait to see what she alludes to as far as 'stage manager breakdown.'

The show itself feels like it had way too many 'insider' nudges in the two hours last night... name dropping, cameos, etc. Fun and whatnot for the NYC theater folk, but not sure if the rest of the country appreciates the references.

... although I did see it was a record low in ratings last night, so maybe NYC is the only demographic watching?

63

The Green Room / Re: The things we give up for theatre

« on: Feb 04, 2013, 11:19 pm »

The list of things we give up for theatre is long and varied, and indicated above. 

But remember, we also gave up long term security for the theatre.  How brave is that? (Pat yourself on the back.)

Here's the more important question:  What have you given up for theatre, that you regret giving up? If you had the chance to do it all over again, would you do it the same way?

Not to totally be a debbie downer, but I gave up spending time caring for my ailing mother to stay with my show in order to pay the bills and have enough health weeks to qualify for benefits in 2013. By far my biggest regret. We thought we'd have more time, but she passed just five months later. If I could do it again, I would have quit and moved home to be with her.

Consequently, I have taken a very long look at all the things I passed on because of a show and realized that at the end of the day I would rather have gone to that birthday party for my niece than work on a showcase that made me tear my hair out.

It's a hard balance.

64

The Green Room / Re: FACEWASH - clean up your facebook profile.

« on: Jan 31, 2013, 06:17 pm »

Very interesting - I try to thwart a lot of issues by adding colleagues and coworkers on a very strict filter. Leaves them able to see what I choose to post, and keeps the networking avenues open.

65

The Green Room / Re: SMASH - the TV series

« on: Jan 20, 2013, 05:01 pm »

From working auditions and my recent readings I've run into several actors like Ann who are pulling double duty as filming scene work on top of an 8 show week. Gotta pay the bills!

66

The Green Room / Re: Weirdest Item In Your Kit

« on: Jan 20, 2013, 04:57 pm »

Glucose tablets. I had one show with a half dozen people with blood sugar issues so if someone started fading they'd pop one until we could get them juice and a snack.

Also, a tiny tub of vaseline, works great for splinters for the jerk who insists on working in socks or barefoot in a rehearsal room.

67

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: NY TIMES saying no to college

« on: Dec 08, 2012, 04:32 pm »

I fought with this idea for a long time while in a 4 year BFA program and getting myself saddled with debt.

Ultimately I ended up with an amazing liberal arts degree that also gave me a varied background in all the aspects of theater with some good contacts in the NYC theater scene.

Did I need to go to college to become a stage manager? No. Do I think I ever get hired because of my BFA? No. I usually get hired by networking connections and good word-of-mouth, very few of which were made while at my college.

Now several years out of school I feel the pull of grad school (we were told as undergrads to NEVER go straight to graduate school, to take a few years off and feel it out) and always get told by stage managers with years more experience that it is a waste of time and money to get an MFA. Always. Without exception. Even people who have graduated from my dream schools will tell me not to bother.

So in the last year I have decided to give myself 2013 to freelance and then apply for graduate schools, but for Arts Administration and Early Childhood Education- two things which are valuable for me in my long term career plans.

But you know, if that open ended B'way run calls, I may toss those applications in the trash for now and enjoy the excitement while it lasts.

68

Employment / Re: Dear Abby: How do you say "stop"?

« on: Nov 23, 2012, 01:38 pm »

I've been in a similar situation and ultimately just had a frank discussion about it, starting with "Are you happy at work? You don't seem to be enjoying it" and leading into an honest discussion that maybe Stage Management isn't right for them. For someone who has thought of themselves as 'one thing' for so long it can be daunting to up and change careers, feels like failing. I ended up having him see that he was helping himself by not being miserable, he ended up going into a general management field where interestingly he is thriving.

That all being said... if they're still looking for someone for after the 1st of the year... I am available

69

The Green Room / Re: Catchphrases

« on: Nov 05, 2012, 10:29 pm »

Mine are usually:

"That... is an excellent question. Let me get back to you"

"Hold, please. Thank you." - Used in daily situations not related to tech or rehearsal.

"Of course." - deflates a numerous amount of situations just by inflections much like "I Understand"

70

Tools of the Trade / Re: Help with a sweaty actor

« on: Nov 03, 2012, 12:08 pm »

Had a similar issue for a long running show I was doing where our lead who was only off for literally 30 seconds in 90 minutes sweat through everything, including his face full of stage makeup... - we tried the following:

- Patting down with cornstarch preshow under all skin parts (helped for awhile)
- wicking undergarments
- double condom over an athletic sock for his mic pack (worked the best overall)
- Fans backstage and in the dressing room
- Asking the house to keep the theater a little cooler (luckily during the summer it was an ice box... he still sweat, but not as bad)

If possible get him doubles of everything including costume? That way it doesn't get dried while sweaty - that can seal in the odors permanently, especially in a man-made fiber situation. We had to throw out a suit because it wasn't properly cleaned after being sweat through so many times.

Also if you have a full intermission while he's off - a complete strip, quick rinse, cornstarch, and recostume with dry pieces. Sounds excessive but he will most likely be more comfortable!

71

The Green Room / Re: SANDY!

« on: Oct 29, 2012, 04:55 pm »

Seems like parts of NYC are flooding and chaotic, while the biggest worry I am facing on the upper west side of manhattan is a dog that doesn't want to go out in the wind and rain. Playing it safe and staying in until further notice, hardwood floors be damned. 

Stay safe everyone!

72

The Hardline / Re: AEA Lab or Staged Reading Contract - LOA to Off Broadway?

« on: Oct 26, 2012, 09:33 pm »

I've done a few of these, and it is very similar to the 29 hour staged reading as far as guidelines. Every time I've come across one there has been a rider from AEA to help explain the details, so I'm sure you'll get your answers there.

73

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ARTICLE: Stage Managers using a paperless process

« on: Oct 24, 2012, 10:41 pm »

...and to play devil's advocate:

Today an actor was immeasurably grateful for his hard copies. A very connected guy here in the city, Iphone, iPad, etc can bring up the information I had e-mailed or offered through the dropbox account, but today he accidentally left his phone at home and traveled over an hour into manhattan before realizing it. It was our second day of rehearsal and he was relatively sure he could remember the address/cross-streets but having that info tucked into his binder was invaluable.

While I am very big on using Dropbox and email to distribute information, I think for the most part it should supplement hard copies, and not replace it.

74

The Hardline / Re: Deputy Elections - Chorus and Principal

« on: Oct 24, 2012, 04:03 pm »

I agree with nmno - it's not really a secret who is on what contract, nor does it need to be.

I could see the petty side of actors not wanting the principals to know who the chorus deputy is and vice versa, but at that point it becomes a splitting of hairs.

75

Employment / Re: More on juggling: guilt and rejection

« on: Oct 15, 2012, 09:11 pm »

It truly depends on the market you are dealing with - in a smaller community setting it may be wiser to not come off as unavailable, and to wait and not have too many irons in the fire all at once.

I have over the course of my career had to turn down interviews, interests, contracts, and even had to leave projects mid rehearsal or run. Is it fun to do? No. Is it sometimes necessary when a more appropriate opportunity comes along? Yes.

When turning down an initial offer I keep things very professional and light, thank them for their interest/thinking of you for the position, explain that you are already booked or have accepted other work, and wish them well on their production and that you hope you can work together in the future. In a big market like NYC there are rarely hard feelings to this kind of response, sometimes it ultimately makes them remember you because it is a good sign that you are working

When having to leave a project after already accepting or beginning rehearsals, etc is much stickier and has always been my least favorite thing to do.  If you are union it can be as simple as the other job is offering more money (which has been the case with me.) In these cases I have taken time to line up my replacement (or generate a list of suitable replacements) before sitting down with the general manager to discuss my leaving the production. Often this requires a two week resignation, but on a showcase I have left on about 5 days notice due to getting offered a tour. If done tactfully it can be a relatively painless process.

Ultimately in my experience people understand you have to move on/move up to make ends meet or make more money. Without those enticements (as in picking one project over another based on staff, content, etc) it may be harder to come up with a legit out.