Messages

226

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Trouble Finding Support.

« on: Mar 23, 2008, 06:53 pm »

I've also gotten constant warnings about the lack of money and jobs in the theatre buisness from family as well as family friends. However, I think it might be that adults feel they should warn you about all the possible consequences to balance out the I-can-do-anything attitude that students have when they start to plan futures.

Don't throw asside what your parents have to say, but make sure they understand that this is something that you love doing. Good luck!

227

Tools of the Trade / Re: latest toys...

« on: Mar 22, 2008, 06:22 pm »

Someone a while back mentioned personalised Sharpies and I completely agree, they are wonderful and beautiful things. It's certainly one way to stop people running off with them.

I got some of the mini highlighters and, while they were  cute and easy to use, they were so small they kept getting lost in the bottom of my pencil case. That's the only problem I have with mini stuff. However, they tend to fit nicely into pockets which is a great thing since highlighters and Sharpies are too thick to get stuch in my pony tail.   

228

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Taking Notes

« on: Mar 09, 2008, 02:57 pm »

I keep a notpad or a fairly large stack of paper nearby. However, Inever take notes directly on my script because when I'm in a rush my handwriting becaomes fairly disorderly, to say the least. 

229

The Green Room / Re: Things You'll Never Hear a Stage Manager Say

« on: Mar 03, 2008, 10:21 pm »

Of course you can just go and hang heavy objects willy nilly around the venue above the audiences head from the venues plaster roof. I am sure they won't mind the holes, and I am sure that nothing will fall down and brain someone!

Please tell me that was your crew and not your cast.

230

The Green Room / Re: Things You'll Never Hear a Stage Manager Say

« on: Mar 03, 2008, 08:42 am »

"Of course I'm okay with you not knowing your lines! What? Didn't bring a script with you either? Well that's perfectly alright, you can just borrow mine! Don't worry about me having to write down blocking or cues, all that's just as much fluff."

231

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Issue with actors...suggestions?

« on: Mar 02, 2008, 09:01 pm »

Agreed. The director should hear about all the drama that happens in the theatre ASAP so he or she can fix it before it blows into something way out of controll. Always remember that you are the link between the cast and the director and that you should saty neutral when dealing with situations like this.

232

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Directorial relations crisis

« on: Feb 28, 2008, 08:36 pm »

Well, the best way to get over the "don't ask me questions" barrier is to ask questions. Sit down with the director in a private and relaxed environment and ask them what they value in a good stage manager, what things you are doing well, and what they think you could improve upon. Make sure you're both on the same page with the way you handle things like scheduals. Ask him to explain his logic and then when he's done explain yours. Make sure your director knows that you are doing this to help make you better at what you do and not as any sort of criticisim.

There are always things that we, as stage managers, can improve upon but things like this do not mean you are bad at what you do. Clearly, you don't seem to have problems in other areas that you work on; therefore my best advice would be to look at the way you handle the making of scheduals and talk to people to see if they can give you pointers. Also, always double-check with the diractor about what they want done and keep a written record of their response so you can go back to it if you need to.

Good luck!

233

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Set Stuff for sale

« on: Feb 28, 2008, 08:21 pm »

If I were in NY I would buy them (I can't trip all the way from Canada just for that I'm afraid!), I always seem to be attracted to large amounts of rendom things. For instance, I once found a box of those really colourful cloth coat hangers for free (there must have been over fifty) and very nearly brought them home to pile up in my closet, but my family caught wind of my plans and put a stop to that. I just thought it would be lovely to open my closet every morning and see all those colours! 

234

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #2

« on: Feb 19, 2008, 12:01 am »

Yes, do tell!

235

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Beginner Stage Manager experiences

« on: Feb 18, 2008, 11:59 pm »

"Tonight honey, you're learning to operate a follow spot"

Pure gold! It's ow my new all-purpose phrase!

236

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Northern Illinois University Tragedy

« on: Feb 18, 2008, 11:33 pm »

Good luck, I hope that somehow everything turns out as good as possible.

237

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Director and Actor don't get along

« on: Jan 30, 2008, 09:54 pm »

Happy to hear it! Hope it continues like this!

238

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Director and Stage Manager Conflicts - Help!

« on: Jan 26, 2008, 12:35 pm »

THERE IS NO HIGH SCHOOL JOB THAT IS WORTH ME SACRIFICING MY HEALTH AND SANITY.

Repeat that over and over untill you really believe it. The kind of stress that you're talking about is what leads to early burnouts, and I assume you don't want that to happen. Rest, relax, take a bath, and then come up with a compromise. Like everyone above has suggested, there ar thousands of ideas out there that will keep you in theatre and out of the hospital, you just have to find one that works for you.

Hope this works out!

239

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Director and Actor don't get along

« on: Jan 26, 2008, 12:24 pm »

Is it possible to give them a written notification? Or alternately sit hem down with the producer or company manager to have a chat? It seems to me as though this actor has to learn the hard truth that no one in theatre is indespansable, including him.

Hope this works out well, and kudos to your director for keeping cool.

240

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Visual Cues--Who's Responsible?

« on: Jan 26, 2008, 12:18 pm »

Often times, the SM will take off the headset during the performance and ask us to watch the book while he "takes a break."  He missed a standby once because of that.

Definately notify management about that, it's inexcusable. If your SM isn't on top of things to the point where he's leaving the booth during the time there are cues that he should be calling it's gone much too far.

Just out of curiosity, what does he do on his "breaks"?