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Topics - MatthewShiner

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211
The Hardline / HAVE I EVER READ THE RULE BOOK?
« on: Oct 08, 2005, 12:07 am »
Interesting note . . . after combing the book . . . there is this rule . . .

(b) Each Stage Manager and Assistant Stage Manager shall have a meal break of no less than one hour during each work day at an appropriate interval. (It goes on to list the penalty)

Does this mean that even on straight sixes, the SM and ASM gets a meal break?

Or does the Straight Six rule trump this?

I just found it interesting.

(I swear one time I will pick up that red book and find a rule stating that "ALL SMS MUST CALL THE SHOW DRESSED AS A CHICKEN."  I think new rules pop in all the time.)

212
The Hardline / A Straight Seven
« on: Oct 08, 2005, 12:05 am »
Damn Equity for not having a 24-hour "non-emergency but just an annoying question" hotline.  But this group is good enough.

I am currently working on a production that due to actors rolling over from a show currently running, plus a lot of conflicts, we are severly limited in times we can rehearse - so much that we are taking 2 days off this weekend.

Anyway, today I scheduled a straight seven.  (A stright seven you ask?  How does one do this - I shall explain.)  I want it to be clear there is both an Equity SM and ASM on this show.  The theatre did not tell us to do this.  The director did not ask, I offered.  (I figured since I we only reheased four hours yesterday, and off Saturday and Sunday, and extra hour within the magic hours was pretty harmless.)  I did tell my assistant last night I was scheduling a stright seven, and he needed to take a break when ever he wanted to.

I opted to not take a break.

Note:  No single actor was called more then 3 hours, it was just a bunch of staggered calls.  

Then tonight my assistant pointed out the following rule  (LORT CONTRACT PEOPLE, TURN IN YOUR RED HYMNALS . . . ):

Rule 62. STAGE MANAGERS AND ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS
 
(I) Working Conditions for Stage Managers and Assistant Stage Managers.

(1) The Stage Manager or Assistant Stage Manager must be present at all rehearsals  and performances.  The Theatre shall not require members of the Equity Stage Managerial staff to absent themselves from rehearsals or performances.

His take on this - and I see his point of view, I just don't agree with it -  is that by asking him to take a lunch break during rehearsal, in essecence I am "require himself to absent himself from rehearsal".  (note:  he did not take a lunch break - nor did I require him absent himself, he work thru, like I chose to work thru - mind you we had 4 20-minute breaks, so don't think we working ourselves to death.)  I would just expect us each to take our hour break at different times.

Now, I have always scheduled in such creative ways, as long as each individual was within the rules.  I feel that it's part of my style to get as much in as little time as possible.  But I am just that way.

What does everyone else think?  Is my assistant entitled to overtime?  Does anyone else do what I do?

Help.

(Note:  I will contact my business rep and check in on Tuesday . . . damn columbus holiday.)

213
I am looking for someone who is either a British Equity SM or someone from America who has SM'ed in England . . . I am preparing to take a show later this season to England (RSC), and would like to know what I am getting myself into - what sort of differences there are, what different expectactions there are from over here.

Interested to know the differences.

214
SMNetwork Archives / HIRING: what employers look at
« on: Jul 23, 2005, 12:53 pm »
I think that the origional post had to do with an internship or some early career move.  You know, I do think that is legit for someone coming only out of education experience to ask to present a calling script, sample paperwork from a show.

But you know, as I have looked over paperwork it's not so much the style of paperwork I begin to look at it - I love to look at someones rehearsal or performance reports and see how they look at the show.  (I grimace when someone has a complete rehearsal report with nothing to report - NOTHING - IN 4 - 8 hours NOTHING happened to put on a report.)  In the end the pretty form, the clean calling script, etc, etc, only shows how much you prepare.  (Like asking an actor to bring in a monologue they have been rehearsing for four years.)  But it will always be in the interview where the make or break happens.  I think the 85% of stage management can not be shown on paper.  (Or 95% or maybe 99.9%)

Experience is what is key to this job (why all things being equal, I will take the more experience stage manager.)

215
One of the main aspects of stage management that I feel is not covered enough in education, and even less so outside of the education world, is the "management" portion of the job.  Too often focus is put on the some of the more simple parts of our jobs, and the big white elephant in the room is how we management people.

As I am about to take on two new interns for this season, I am putting together a list of "projects" for them to do outside of their normal work load to help agument the job (some are as simple of putting together a list of what they want out of the internship, or go observe another Stage Manager do their job, some are a little more complex, like a rather length quiz on the LORT rule book.)  One of the projects I want to do is have them read an outside management book - nothing that is particular to stage management.  For example, my favoirte book is "The Heart of Coaching" which never mentions theatre, but as far as a "general management" book, has helped me develope my personal style.

Does anyone else have a "favorite" management book they could recommend?

216
Okay, I am looking for some advice;  may I am getting old, and I can not for the life of me remember how else I ever did this.

Here is the current situation.  

Right now, I am working on some pretty big shows, technically very challanging.  As far as runsheets/runbook for the ASM/PA/Crew for the show, we create a document in rehearsal, and hand them out as we star tech.  

We tech during the day, and then, what has been the standard here, is the ASM collects the run sheets, and inputs/updates the run book before the next tech slot; sometimes meeting with the the run crew to go over the changes.

My problem with this is that is a such a time intensive process.  (sometimes takes 2 hours a day on a very complicated show)

How do other SMs work with their team and their crew to update runsheets throughtout tech, make sure they are updated and kept current?

Help?

217
The Hardline / Joining the Staff
« on: Jan 28, 2005, 03:38 pm »
Okay, so things are going well at my current theatre, so well, they want to bring me aboard on staff, for a full time and permanent staff position.

Has anyone had experience with going from a contract stage manager to being a staff position?  What should I ask for?  What should I avoid?

I am a little flummuxed what the theatre gains by this, other then the warm and fuzzy feeling tht I am committed to them?  What can I gain, other then the warm and fuzzy feeling that I have a commitment from them?

218
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PEOPLE: New Director
« on: Jan 06, 2005, 08:25 pm »
I start off with the basics; how to communicate with them, how they want the room set up, their concept for the show, casting choices and/or disappointments, and then get down to nit picky stuff like when to call brakes, how they want to deal with schedule.  Usually by the time I have answers to thinks like that, I do get a pretty good idea of how they like to work.  I also end the dialogue by asking if there is anything else, and wait for them to start letting me know things about everything.

I also, on my own time, try to track down people who have worked with them before and learn things that way.

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