Messages

31

Tools of the Trade / Re: Arc Customizable Notebooks

« on: Jan 23, 2013, 01:11 pm »

The director I just finished working with used one. I was impressed, actually. The pages stayed in well, and they were super quick to take out and put back in, especially on the go (I always find it the MOST difficult to handle a binder while walking around, especially if I need to remove something). Personally, I'm not a convert, but I was impressed.

32

The Green Room / Thank You Cards for Interviews

« on: Jan 19, 2013, 10:17 pm »

I'm curious if this is something you do - send follow-up cards to the interviewer(s), thanking them for their time. And if so, what you put in them.


I'm writing up quick little cards, just thank you for your time/consideration and pleasure speaking with you. I also try to include something that relates back to our conversation (for example, the one I just wrote up, the interviewer recommended an opera I should look up, so I said a few words about that).

33

Introductions / Re: Another Brand New SM!

« on: Jan 19, 2013, 07:55 pm »

We are doing Alice in Wonderland... (yeah yeah same old same old)

Don't say that too fast.


The first show I ever stage managed was a version that combined Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. Three hours long; a cast of 23 playing over 30 roles; a chorus of dancers; complete scene changes (performed by the cast) every three pages or so; cues for lights, sound, three followspots, two smoke machines, and a bubble machine.


It's left me with the distinct impression that if I can do that, I can do anything.


That being said, it's a fun story to work on. Very difficult for people not to enjoy that odd assortment of characters.

34

The Green Room / Re: Weirdest Item In Your Kit

« on: Jan 19, 2013, 12:19 pm »

I keep an old-fashioned tally clicker in my kit. A thousand and one (perhaps up to 9999?) uses, yet nobody seems to carry them any more.

Now I'm curious. What do you use it for?

35

The Green Room / Re: Thread to vent about / Actors behaving badly / As haiku only

« on: Jan 15, 2013, 06:01 pm »

Actress with no voice.
I read; she gestures onstage.
No line notes tonight.

36

Stage Management: Other / Royal Opera Live

« on: Jan 07, 2013, 11:43 am »

I've been flicking back and forth to this all morning. The Guardian's running live (and some not live) broadcasts from the rehearsals at the Royal Opera House.

http://thespace.org/items/e0001grq/v0001gru

The last thing they have (at London's 7:20 pm, my Canadian 2:20 pm) is a per-recorded performance of The Valkyrie, which you can either watch from the audience perspective, with the conductor, or with the SM backstage calling the show.

37

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: December Madness Finals: Paper vs Laptop

« on: Jan 02, 2013, 11:06 pm »

Clearly, the Technology Gods and their supporters have quite a large stake in the outcome of this match. I object to the blatant favoritism shown by only making this poll technology accessible. I demand my right to MAIL a PAPER BALLOT to the IDMC Headquarters.

38

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: December Madness Finals: Paper vs Laptop

« on: Jan 02, 2013, 12:34 am »

Paper is great and useful and I would struggle to do a production without it, but its just not a better tool, it is good at what it does and we need it but laptops are more versatile,  safer to use for storing information and documents, they are always updating and changing to become more useful, they have benefits we haven't even discovered or perfected yet, can you say the same about paper?

"The book is like the spoon: once invented, it cannot be bettered," said Umberto Eco.

People don't issue improved versions of paper, because there is nothing to improve upon. Paper remains steadfast. Paper remains constant. For reliability, durability, and stability -

CHOOSE PAPER.

NO FUSS -
JUST GET THE JOB DONE.

39

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: December Madness Finals: Paper vs Laptop

« on: Dec 31, 2012, 09:02 pm »

I have done paperless shows... interesting process.
I have NEVER done a show without my laptop in some shape or form.

Laptop wins.

I have done laptop-less shows... pretty regular process.
I have NEVER done a show without paper in some shape or form.

Paper wins.

40

Employment / Re: Websites

« on: Dec 31, 2012, 08:48 pm »

www.mercedescoley.com

I like the way you've worked the images into your site - I think it makes for a pretty appealing layout. Though, on the 'About Me' page, in the top right (USL), I think you mean Cymbeline instead of Cymbaline.

41

Employment / Re: Pictures

« on: Dec 24, 2012, 03:35 pm »

You cut a dashing figure, Matthew.

42

Employment / Re: Pictures

« on: Dec 23, 2012, 06:46 pm »

And although headshots can be pricey, I did get me new headshots . . . for $50.00 at picture people . . . which gave me a professional look in no time, for very little money - and the cd was handed to me.

My little avatar is a small version of that headshot.

This topic came up as I was searching for something else, and I had a really good laugh, considering your new avatar.

43

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: University, Round 7: Binder vs Stopwatch

« on: Dec 23, 2012, 12:32 pm »

I...don't know...what to do...

Eeny meenie miney mo?

44

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: Community, Round 7: Gaff Tape vs Paper

« on: Dec 23, 2012, 12:30 pm »

I'm just going to say it: y'all are afraid to embrace paperless stage management. 

For me to be a paperless SM is one thing, but sometimes the only way for me to make sure someone has a copy of the rehearsal calendar, is if I put it in their hands. E-mailing and expecting them to print it out (or look it up on their iPhone) doesn't always work. I can't be a truly paperless SM unless EVERYONE around me is FULLY paperless too.

Plus, think of all these other things that are technically also paper. Kleenex and Post-Its come to mind.

45

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: Commercial, Round 7: Pencil vs Laptop

« on: Dec 23, 2012, 12:18 pm »

I voted Pencil, bearing in mind that the alternative vote is Laptop, and not Computer. The last show I did, I had a desktop computer at home, one in an office in the theatre, and one in the rehearsal hall. Yes, I have a laptop. But if you had taken it out of the equation, it wouldn't have made much of a difference.