Messages

946

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Free Stuff

« on: Nov 06, 2006, 02:42 pm »

I'll second the Vistaprint endorsement....I got the free ones and chose not to pay extra to have them shipped quickly, but they arrived in about a week anyway. Definitely a good deal!

947

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera Staff

« on: Nov 05, 2006, 08:18 pm »

Welcome!

I'm by no means an expert, but I worked at a small opera company that doesn't usually hire ADs- however on one of the productions the director brought his own AD. Just something to keep in mind. Is that what you're interested in doing?

948

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Prompt Book Help

« on: Nov 03, 2006, 03:16 pm »

...however I don't use the back of any pages. I put a white page between each page in the script for blocking/notes/et al. All it means is I have to turn two pages instead of one.

I put a separate blocking page in as well, and (as I learned from another SM), if you cut a small corner off of the blocking page, it makes it that much easier to turn the page. Sort of the samething Erin mentioned. Keep extra blocking pages so it's easy to replace the blocking page if you need to, and less fumbling around when turning pages.

949

The Hardline / Re: EMC pay as an ASM

« on: Oct 05, 2006, 03:34 pm »

I'm EMC, and the show I'm ASMing now pays between 9 and 10 an hour, with time and a half for overtime. When I was an apprentice it was between 7 and 8. It works out to a reasonable amount when you figure 40-50 hrs/wk in rehearsal and more than that during tech. I pick up overhire work doing painting or other things during performance weeks to make extra money.

950

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Grad School vs Experience

« on: Sep 15, 2006, 01:28 am »

I don't know that much about grad school, but I finished my undergrad a year ago and then did an apprenticeship for a year. The theatre I did it at had a resident stage manager, and I was the ASM for the season. It was great to learn from someone more experienced, and I got a chance to get to know the ins and outs of this particular theatre. Also, it was a really good way to make connections with people I worked with, which has helped me to line up work for the future.

I loved my apprenticeship, and it was a really good way to bridge the college/"real world" gap. Also, I was eligible to earn EMC points for the shows I ASMed. It's definitely something to look into. 

951

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera tips

« on: Jul 07, 2006, 12:34 am »

The diction guides sound perfect- I'll have to look around and see who has them that I know. I don't know about you, but if I can, I like to get a copy of the score with an English translation printed below the original, just to help me follow and understand better. Obviously, it's not crucial to do this, so if it's not possible no biggie, but I know it helps me.

952

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera tips

« on: Jul 05, 2006, 01:22 pm »

I enjoy the difference in protocol that opera brings, as well. I have always treated the art with a touch of formality, paging "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chorus to places, please" and calling Principals "Mr. Smith" and "Ms. Doe" over calls and in reports. But to me it is the most fun and challenging art form to SM.

Me too! It's definitely a different process/ atmosphere than theatre. I love the idea of color-coding the chorus nametags- that's so useful! I'm definitely going to steal that. And I didn't know about the Ricola lozenge thing- thanks. Singers do appreciate little things that show you are respecting their work- lozenges, water, spaying down the dust in the air.

Do you speak other languages? I know French decently, and I had a chorus member teach me to pronounce Italian, and a frined of mine is teaching me to pronounce German. I'd love to get to the point where I felt confident in pronouncing them off the page- I can follow them now, but I'd love to be more comfortable. Are there any skills besides reading music and languages that you think are useful to you?

953

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera tips

« on: Jul 04, 2006, 12:24 am »

Yes, I do most of that myself. Do you ever use 15 second timings or do you find that 30 seconds is enough?

Once the entrances/exits are set, I go through and put flags at 5 and 2 mintues out, for audio paging and then to check and make sure everyone is in places. Putting the flags at the top of the page is a good idea, and it would definitely be useful to mark the arias (i usually just do scenes). I also highlight rehearsal numbers if they exist, and highlight the top of each system, so that it's easier to jump to the next line during the show.

That's defintiely helpful, I wish I had some more specific questions, but I'm sure I'll come up with something. Thanks!

954

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera tips

« on: Jul 04, 2006, 12:02 am »

I do both theatre and opera, but I've only worked at small opera companies and I haven't had as much experience working with experienced opera SMs. I've found out most of the differences between working in theatre and opera through my own experience, and was just curious about other people's experiences.

955

Stage Management: Other / Opera tips

« on: Jul 03, 2006, 01:01 am »

I'm curious as to any hints/specifics that any opera SMs on this forum use- forms, prep work, book layout, policies in rehearsal, etc. I haven't worked with as many SMs who do opera, so I'd love to compare notes!

956

Uploaded Forms / Re: Calendars

« on: Jul 01, 2006, 12:34 am »

Weekly rehearsal schedule in Word format.

957

Uploaded Forms / Re: Costumes and Wardrobe

« on: Jul 01, 2006, 12:14 am »

Fitting schedule, in Word format.

958

Uploaded Forms / Re: Preproduction Forms

« on: Jul 01, 2006, 12:13 am »

Performance space info checklist, in Word format.

959

Uploaded Forms / Re: Miscellaneous Forms

« on: Jul 01, 2006, 12:08 am »

Another version of wallet phone cards, with performance schedule on reverse side. In Word format.