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Messages - CTsometimeSM

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16
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROPS: cookies
« on: Dec 23, 2008, 01:19 am »
So...I will start with the direct question:  I need a cookie recipe, to be eaten onstage.  No known allergy issues, but the cast will be talking (and singing) shortly after eating said cookies.  I was leaning toward a simple sugar cookie-any ideas or comments?  

17
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Handling an emergency
« on: Dec 11, 2008, 06:38 pm »
My first thought is why didn't he have his inhaler at the theater?  I try to know if there are medical issues from my actors (though come to think of it I am not sure the legality of asking this).

Not sure what you could have done differently-sounds like you handled what you were given smoothly.  I would agree with making sure the ASM's know to let you know when things are up (IE when the first call went out for the inhaler).

I cringe a little at the idea of sending a board op down, but that is probably show/venue/experience dependent.  When he was actually crashing I can't blame the ASM for not answering too explicitly, but in the same time it took to say they were dealing with an emergency, they could have said XXX having an ahsma attack, can't talk now.  (which seems like it would have given you at least enough information to know to hold the show) - then again, it would have been a heck of a presence of mind to think that far through it in the heat of the moment.


18
The Green Room / Re: I can't believe I just had to do that...
« on: Dec 01, 2008, 12:05 pm »
Rolling fake joints.

The show had several small daily tasks, which normally were accomplished by the ASMs and myself sitting around before the show.  This day, it was just too nice out, so we used the table outside the theatre.  We got a couple looks...

19
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Fill in the BLANK...
« on: Nov 25, 2008, 11:02 am »
Officially, I wasn't even there (really, no contract, no program, nothing).  Realistically, I was the non-frazled ASM/Costumer/Propsmaster/Fly[which consisted on tie-line and carabiners, and worked beautifully].

On that particular show, I pulled my script (which I thankfully had mostly updated), and used an actor who wasn't in the first act, but actually knew his way around a theatre as a second set of hands.  We pretty much had to rely on both board operators to be in synch and move things based on when the lights went up or down.  Not a hugely complex show, just managed oddly.

I came in late to the production, so trying to re-arrange the system wasn't a brilliant idea-but am working with the director of the next show to see what can be done to increase the level of sanity (day job commitment keep me from SM'ing the next show)

20
Tools of the Trade / Re: foggers gassing actors.
« on: Nov 25, 2008, 10:44 am »
Yup, problem solved.  We just closed actually, but the last weekend went significantly better.  Picked up some fogger cleaner, ran it for a while (for future referance-don't do this onstage, it stinks), then distilled water for a good 30 minutes.  No more coughing (which I still am guessing was because everyone was healthy, but seeing me hunched over a fogger with a bottle labled cleaner was a good placebo).

Incidentally it made the silly thing work much better.  Turns out one of the two the theatre owns has been around for a while, and cleaning never occured to anyone.

Conclusion-no idea if it was the fogger or not, but if you use one, clean it anyway. (duh)



Moderator note:  Topic locked as issue has been resolved.

-Kevin

21
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Fill in the BLANK...
« on: Nov 24, 2008, 03:10 pm »
I was surprised when I found out the SM did NOT call cues for the show.  Board operators are expected to do it themselves.  (and the SM's prompt book didn't have the cues, let alone a sensible system for anything else, as I discovered when she didn't show up till around intermission one show)

Yea community theatre. 


22
Tools of the Trade / Re: foggers gassing actors.
« on: Nov 19, 2008, 04:32 pm »
My guess is at least part the illnesses leading to increased sensitivity-

Dry Ice not an option (I don't have the equipment, and the theatre isn't about to spring for it-yes, I asked)

Manufacturer recomended fluid in use-heck, it is made by the same guys making the fogger.  That said, possibly bad fluid (does it even go bad) is the reason for the drain and replace already in the works.

Volume in the air is a possibility-working to manage it.

Still possible the fog is just incidental rather than causative.  Just running down the things that I can deal with to remove as many variables as possible.

23
Tools of the Trade / foggers gassing actors.
« on: Nov 19, 2008, 02:24 pm »
Community theatre, 2 small foggers (think haunted house style), in use for 4 weeks of a run with no issues, then Sunday Matinee it suddenly seems to be killing the actor's throats (one major coughing fit-to the point of unable to clear even with water and having to leave the stage, interrupting the show, plus several smaller coughing issues).

There had been an unusual amount of illness around previously, but it seemed to have cleared by last weekend.  The actress in question isn't exactly the most conscientious of taking care of her voice (HS students are fun), but had been solid since she recovered from our mystery cold.

So, the question is-any idea if the fogger's could be at fault.  Same fog juice that has gone into them last several weeks, no changes in use, amount, etc.  If so, any ideas?  Drain and replace fluid is already in the plan, but haven't extensively played with foggers before other than the Dry Ice version.

24
Did the same for my final thesis.  It is a daunting thing to start (which led to way to much procrastination).  I eventually started by trying to break it into managable bits (pre audition, audition, rehearsal, hell week, run) and listing what I wanted to deal with in each.  Any forms that you use, I would include.  Examples of everything you discuss (audition notice, prompt book, call sheets, line notes, etc).  Job duties of not just the SM, but ASMs, major production personnel, various crew positions, etc. 

Bit by bit I ended up with something like 65 pages, which seemed just about right-not too much doctrine that would stop someone from developing their own style, but enough to point them at thing they needed to handle. 

I also took the emergency procedures (medical, fire, weather, power outage) and included them on bright green paper with large text.  It even included the announcement for various issues to simplify the process.

Not in the industry professionally, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but feel free to PM me for specifics on what I threw in mine.

25
Tools of the Trade / Re: Road Cases for a kit?
« on: Nov 07, 2008, 02:32 pm »
Yeah, I know I have too much stuff.  The joy of this theatre is I went from volunteer to SM (without the title)/TD/Prop Master/wardrobe.  The different bags are bits for each job. (plus minor construction for actor safety that I just honestly prefer using my own tools for, as they are not scattered around in questionable maintainance states).  Still managing not to go far into my own expendables, as their budget at least goes that far.

I am somewhat thinking just a way to keep it all organized, even if it is at home.  Small apartment and several moves led to a hunt to figure out where I put things.

26
Tools of the Trade / Road Cases for a kit?
« on: Nov 07, 2008, 12:18 pm »
So, SM degree, but working professionally outside of theatre, doing community type theatre.  My collection of things...Kit, drill, 1st aid bag, tool bag, etc, is getting a bit rediculous.  I end up carrying 7 or 8 different bags into a given venue before long.  So, has anyone come up with a better solution.  I have seen nice roadcases used, but can't find a source for something that would work-lots of drawers of varying sizes, moderatly trasportable (pickup truck), under the price of a new car, etc.

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