Messages

1

The Hardline / Re: AEA rulebooks no longer publicly available on website

« on: Mar 29, 2017, 11:24 pm »

I haven't checked myself, but be aware that word is that those rulebooks which can be found through Google may be outdated. Any rulebooks which have been updated since the move behind the member portal are protected (for instance I saw in one discussion that the Off-Broadway rulebook which can be found through a Google search is the old one and not the new one with the updates from last fall's negotiations).

2

Introductions / Re: Hi From KC!

« on: Jul 26, 2016, 09:39 pm »

UMKC grad here. I loved my time there and have always enjoyed when I get to go back. I was just at the Folly back in April with a Theatreworks tour and I can't tell you how happy I was to get to KC Joe's for BBQ the night we got into town and to Eden Alley for lunch after the shows!

3

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Contract Dispute... Advice?

« on: May 30, 2016, 07:35 pm »

The part that stuck out to me was the "we'll figure it out later" in regards to the actual payment. The whole point of signing a contract is that you are agreeing to the terms at the beginning, not going on good faith that when you sit down "later" you'll still both agree on what those terms are.

That's definitely something to take with you going forward.

4

Self-Promotion / Re: Wizard of Oz

« on: Apr 01, 2016, 02:45 pm »

I'm going to be in Beverly all next week. The TYA tour I'm doing (The Lightning Thief) is going to be at North Shore all week. I'll have to come check it out.

5

Introductions / Re: Preshow Announcement

« on: Mar 07, 2016, 05:29 pm »

I've never heard of any warnings about effects being given during the actual pre-show announcement (haze, fog, strobes, loud sound effects such as gunshots). In my experience it's alway been posted in the lobby, typically at the box office and then wherever the company board is if it's a significant distance from the box office, and sometimes a note in the program. I'm sure 99% of the audience tends to ignore those signs anyway, but having it in the pre-show announcement would seem very strange, since it would be a little late by that point to serve as a real warning to any audience members who might actually have concerns over any of those things.

6

The Green Room / Re: Just a little something fun...

« on: Dec 31, 2015, 05:42 am »

I don't remember if this was discussed when it first appeared, but here's "The Circle of Life" done in the same 360 style.

https://youtu.be/7T57kzGQGto

For those who have not encountered these videos yet, watch them on your phone and just start moving your phone around while you watch it (a friend of mine was holding his phone pretty steady the first time he watched it and commented that the video was kind of shaky and couldn't believe that Disney couldn't have gotten a tripod to film it on, lol).

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Report/Notes Language

« on: Dec 16, 2015, 06:39 pm »

I will admit that it's pretty much just force of habit for me. I don't remember when or why I started, just that it was already set in place by the time I finished undergrad and probably picked it up from the SMs I learned under, rather than a mandate from above (though it could very well be why those SMs started it).

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Report/Notes Language

« on: Dec 15, 2015, 09:45 pm »

"No notes today, thank you."

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The Green Room / Re: Facebook Group for SMNet members

« on: Dec 08, 2015, 07:07 pm »

Maybe not the appropriate place to post this, but I have to say that I have seen that particular person's behavior over several different SM groups on Facebook and it's pretty much the same M.O. in each one. I have to admit that it's a pretty big turn off and should I ever come across his resume it's certainly going to weigh heavily against his favor.

I'm sorry that so many people, especially stage managers, have trouble with following the rules, which were outlined pretty well in the post you had pinned at the top, as I recall (I seem to have already been removed, so I can't double check myself now and have to go from memory).

10

Employment / Re: The importance of on line presence

« on: Dec 03, 2015, 07:30 pm »

My LinkedIn page was the first hit, followed by About The Artists and my BroadwayWorld artist page. Then a lot of the old programs from Theatreworks in PDF form (even though the tours they are from are long since over).

11

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Is college a necessity?

« on: Oct 27, 2015, 03:14 pm »

I think that varies greatly for each individual and their circumstances. Did you decide early on in your undergrad program that stage management would be your focus and build up a resume in both your program and outside work during the summers, or did you come to stage management later in your undergrad career and could use the advantage of some more time in the safety of an educational setting?

I personally recommend that it's generally a good idea to take a year or more after finishing undergrad to experience the outside world. You may find that you'll be able to dive right into the professional world and won't need to worry about grad school. Others may realize that they could benefit from going back to school.

12

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: BLOCKING: How to label blocking in unconventional spaces

« on: Oct 27, 2015, 03:09 pm »

It's really just a matter of consistency for yourself and that you can translate the directions back to the director and cast. Posting the signs will definitely help. It's also a good idea to check with the director as to their thoughts, especially if they are the type to do any pre-blocking, and see what they are thinking, since consistency with them is also very helpful.

13

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Shadowing: General Q&A

« on: Oct 27, 2015, 08:56 am »

It all depends on the show and the stage manager.  Some stage managers are very invested in interacting and training the next generation.  Others not as much.  It will also depend on where they are in the run of the show itself.  You are more likely to have success shadowing a stage manager on a long running show where the routine of the show is pretty much set and having an extra person around won't throw things off, as opposed to a show that is just opened and still settling in to its run.

14

The Hardline / Re: Actor/ASMs on a TYA contract

« on: Oct 21, 2015, 09:42 pm »

I've done numerous TYA contracts with Theatreworks. Generally the ASM portion doesn't really come into play until we're on the road. While still in the studio I will have them help me refine paperwork such as the pre-set lists and any run sheets we may feel we need (usually for prop and costume tracking that does not get taken care of through staging) the same way I would if working with a full crew, but I will create and update that paperwork myself.

On the road of course they are working during load in. All of the cast are under the Actor/ASM contract, and Theatreworks will then sign two of them as the 1st and 2nd ASM, giving them an extra pay bump each week, but eliminating any half hour invasion payments (final call on who is signed as the 1st and 2nd is left up to the SM to decide during rehearsals). One of the two is generally used as the Sound ASM to assist the SM with setting up sound, while the other is meant to take the lead with the set load-in and spiking.

15

The Hardline / Re: Visit from My AEA Business Representative

« on: Oct 16, 2015, 03:48 pm »

I do miss all the swag that I would get from the Chicago office. I had just gotten my Equity card when I moved to Kansas City for grad school so I was there for a couple of the visits from the reps when they were doing their rounds of the liaison cities. I also remember Ann Gordon (not sure if she's still there in the Chicago office), coming out to visit us in St. Louis one of the summers I was working there at Stages.