Messages

16

The Hardline / Re: Visit from My AEA Business Representative

« on: Oct 14, 2015, 09:09 pm »

I've only seen old deputy badges, I didn't know they still were handing those out (or had started it back up again). Nowadays in NY when the business reps come for the first rehearsal meeting the deputy gets the fancy erasable highlighters.

17

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Sondheim on Sondheim

« on: Aug 20, 2015, 11:24 am »

On Broadway the multimedia consisted mainly of filmed interviews with Sondheim himself introducing and explaining the various songs coming up in each segment (and there were a lot of those, if I had to guess I would say probably between 75 and 100 video cues). I remember when it was first announced for licensing that MTI said it would be including the videos as part of the show rental package. Obviously you'll need somebody to handle how that is being run, but knowing the range of groups that MTI works with, I'm going to guess that they'll include instructions for at least a simple set up of how to run it.

18

The Hardline / Re: AEA Contracts

« on: Aug 06, 2015, 09:11 am »

There is also a section that will give quickly give you the salary basics, along with pension & health. If you're just looking for some of the financial info like that it's a lot faster than going into each full agreement.

http://actorsequity.org/AboutEquity/contracts.asp

19

Self-Promotion / Re: 39 Steps NYC

« on: Apr 15, 2015, 11:47 pm »

I saw the final dress rehearsal a couple weeks ago.  The cast seemed to be in great shape at that point. 

I also just finished working with Robert's wife.  Enjoy all the treats and goodies that will be coming with him (the two of them kept my last cast very well fed).

20

Employment / Re: \"What Not To Post\": Job Listing edition

« on: Mar 25, 2015, 12:03 am »

(I wonder what their reaction would have been when I answered their question about "what you include in your stage manager’s kit" by saying "I show up with my stopwatch, favorite pencil, and erasers. You, the producer, supply everything else....")

I'm curious to that as well, since that would have been very similar to my response (I'm a stage manager, not an office supply store).

And thanks to reaching out to Equity and informing them about the vehicle situation.  Not that I was going to apply (as I've got my summer work lined up now), but that was one of several things that made me go "really?" when reading through that posting.

21

The Green Room / Re: Nick Offerman to Star in "Confederacy of Dunces"

« on: Mar 02, 2015, 01:40 pm »

I'd just like to point out that while he's obviously most famous for Parks and Rec, he came to Hollywood from the Chicago theatre scene having worked at both Steppenwolf and the Goodman, to name a few.

22

Job Postings / Re: Shanghai Disney

« on: Jan 24, 2015, 01:21 am »

Just an observation, I noticed that the posting for the Production Stage Manager does not have a listing of Basic Qualifications like the Stage Manager posting does.  I can't help but wonder if the posting is incomplete and it does turn out they want somebody who is fluent in Mandarin (though of course it can't hurt for somebody who is not fluent in Mandarin to apply, since right now that is not listed in the posting).

23

Self-Promotion / Re: Latest Project - starting a company - need your help!

« on: Jan 21, 2015, 10:54 pm »

I took the survey. Best of luck with this newest endeavor!

24

Tools of the Trade / Re: Ergonomics and the Tech Table

« on: Jan 20, 2015, 12:17 pm »

For me it depends, not so much where I'm calling from, but what sort of surface I have.  If it's a higher surface then I'll most likely end up standing, as I find stools, even the ones with backs, get fairly uncomfortable for me in a pretty short amount of time (though if there's space for it I'd keep a stool nearby to kind of lean/perch against if there are long gaps between cues).  Obviously if it's something more standard table/desk height then I would much rather have a chair so that I can be closer to the book.

25

December Madness 2 / Re: SOFTWARE Round 2: Excel vs. PDF

« on: Dec 07, 2014, 03:22 pm »

I'm giving my vote to the PDF.  I remember the "olden" days before it was super easy to export documents in that form and the number of complaints of either not being able to open it, or having the format change drastically once it did get opened, or (and this really made my blood boil) people out and out changing and altering my documents to cover their own hides or set me up as the "bad" example when they were using my paperwork after the fact in a class they were teaching.

26

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Bugsy Malone Splurge

« on: Sep 25, 2014, 06:57 pm »

Maybe some children's bath soaps that are in a foam based dispenser?  I would imagine that if it's marketed for children it's probably a "no tears" formula.  However I don't know if it would get the pressure needed to really shoot out super far (not sure what kind of distance you are hoping to get from these).

27

The Green Room / Re: Article: lighting glitch for The Full Monty!

« on: Sep 21, 2014, 08:50 pm »

It happened during previews once when I was doing the show (ASM).  It turned out to be something got patched/programmed wrong in the board, though the ME tried to say it had something to do with the fact that a piece of the sign (it was the biggest "Full Monty" sign I've seen yet, three large rolling units since the theatre had limited fly space) didn't get plugged in during the shift.  I admit that I gave one of the biggest eye rolls I've ever done and flat out said "So you're telling me that not plugging in part of the sign made front lights come up in the cue?"

I also recall Patrick Wilson talking about the times it would happen during the original run on Broadway.  He said once he could just tell that something was off and locked eyes with some mother and her 15 year old daughter right in the front row as if to say "Sorry, this is going to happen" because even if he knew that the effect was not going to go right he still had to do the staging.

28

The Hardline / Re: Changing rehearsal hours?

« on: Aug 23, 2014, 10:55 pm »

I actually asked the business rep about that rule on my first TYA tour six years ago. What I was told then was the announcement at the end of the day just had to be the total span of day, i.e. 10:00-6:00. Then any adjustments like staggered calls, early releases, and time of the lunch break would have to be given to them by 12 hours before. Now, again, this was six years ago, so the reps may have a new interpretation of this rule, but no actor has questioned it so I've stuck with the explanation I was originally given.

29

The Hardline / Re: Meetings as rehearsal hours?

« on: Aug 09, 2014, 05:15 pm »

It will be based on your region and which contract you are under.  If you are unsure of who to talk to just call the Equity office in your region and ask the receptionist to connect you to the business rep for whatever contract you are under.  I can't speak for the Chicago or LA office, but the receptionist at the NY office always knows who to connect you to.  And even if they do connect you to the wrong rep that person will pass the message along and make sure the right person gets in touch with you.

30

The Hardline / Re: Meetings as rehearsal hours?

« on: Aug 09, 2014, 02:15 pm »

I'm not sure how much of it is the director (who is an outsider to the company, but she's a Tony-nominated and Obie-winning actress, she should know how this works) and how much is the disorganization of the company, but I'm not impressed.

Don't count on a director also being an actor to follow the rules.  A lot of actors either just don't know the rules (because they've been in situations like this where nobody stood up for them), or they go in with the mentality of "I wouldn't mind doing these kinds of things if I was an actor in this show, so I'm sure everyone I cast will agree with me as well and go along with it."  I've seen that second scenario especially used somewhat often to try to justify ignoring of certain rules, and I learned early in my career to not let them get away with it.