Messages

541

Employment / Re: So...I want to go on tour

« on: Apr 30, 2009, 11:08 am »

I have been stage managing professionally for four years and I think it is time for something new. I am 21 and I don't have a degree. (Educational theatre and I don't mix.) I think I want to go on tour, but I don't really know what to do. I'm a stagehand at a couple of different theatres so I've met a lot of people and gotten a lot of different opinions about being on tour, and I think I want to go. Any tips on what to do, or who to call? I don't know a lot of people currently on tour, so anything will help. Thanks in advance.

Deb

Hey Deb! Are you still at Surflight? (Remember? I was the awful ASM?   

I am actually looking to go on tour also. I've done a few little things with Theaterworks (their touring office is next to where I work now) and so far really like them. I'm hoping to do a tour with them. It sounds like a manageable step between what I'm doing now and doing a big tour. It's a small group, and a lot of it is planned in advance by Theaterworks. Personally, I don't feel ready for a giant truck-and-bus outfit, so this one looks like a step in the right direction.

Glad you opened up this topic- definitely looking into all the suggestions!

542

Employment / Re: Share your special skills

« on: Apr 29, 2009, 09:13 pm »

The one that I have listed that seems to get notice is "works well with children and animals."  You may laugh, but I've worked with some stage managers who I would never want to see working with children.  I'm sure we've all done our share of Christmas Carols, Sound of Musics, Music Mans, Annies, etc, etc to know that it definitely does take a special skill set to work with kids.

Oh definitely. I have a friend who did a tour of Annie followed by a tour of Oliver! Special circle of hell for some people. 

543

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Managers, Stage manager.

« on: Apr 28, 2009, 03:16 pm »

Well funny thing. Now, Blake has been out of town and has missed some rehearsals multiple times.  So during one rehearsal when he was not there I totally crossed the line. I did character development with the actors. That is not my job. But I saw that he was not going to do character development with them so I did. I have not told him and I made the cast promise me not to say a word. But now I'm doing his job. Its just awful. I don't even think there is a line any more. I'm doing a lot of the directing and he does not even care. I'm just worried that this might back lash on me. What can I do to prevent that? I mentioned to him that maybe one day we can sit down and write out who's jobs are who's but he pretty much just said, you job is my job when I don't do it. (He did not say that, that is how I interpreted what he said.)

This sounds like a bigger problem to me. It's one thing to say he has a hard time delegating, but when you take over his job when he's away and sneak around and make the cast lie about it...this is a pretty big issue of people not knowing their own jobs' boundaries. You really need to sit down and at the very least make a list of jobs that are definitely his, definitely yours, and things you can both work on together. Even deciding things like "scheduling rehearsal times is up to me, what happens during rehearsal is up to you" will be helpful. You need to figure out your respective domains and then stick to them.

544

Tools of the Trade / Re: drug use onstage

« on: Apr 27, 2009, 06:03 pm »

Just posting a followup for all this-

I called Equity to verify what I'd heard (from another girl who used to be a stage manager) and they said that there IS an approved substitute- powdered baby formula. It looks remarkably similar though a little yellow-tinted. However, it's going to be in a brown-tinted glass vial so it's not a problem.

We've had actors trial-snort it and they haven't had a problem. It dissolves quickly and doesn't get mucusy. They only do little bumps, not lines, and only a few times, so the rep said not to worry about long-term problems. They also recommended having actors moisturize inside their nostrils with Vaseline post-show if we're really worried about them drying out.

Hope this can help anyone else dealing with cocaine onstage!

545

Tools of the Trade / Re: drug use onstage

« on: Apr 20, 2009, 08:04 pm »

How close to the audience is this snorting?

It's a typical 99-seat black box. So fairly close.

546

Tools of the Trade / Re: drug use onstage

« on: Apr 19, 2009, 01:04 pm »

Too many vitamins can be bad for your system. I would suggest asking your pharmacist if they are able to get in placebo pills (sugar pills) for the show. You can also get a hard candy (tastes like chalk) which looks like a pill from a distance.

As for snorting - any powder will irritate the nose - The nose is not designed for snorting powder

Hard candy...don't know why that didn't occur to me. Thanks!

And I know it's not a good thing to be snorting things in general, but it's necessary in the script. I'm trying to look for the least evil.

547

Tools of the Trade / drug use onstage

« on: Apr 18, 2009, 10:50 pm »

I'm working on Fifth of July right now. There's a lot of drinking, smoking, and drug use onstage. The food/drinks I'm fine with, and we've gotten the herbal cigarettes.

For the pill popping, I'm planning on going with vitamins because it seems like the best option. Is there something that'd be better/safer that someone with more experience with this would recommend?

The biggest thing is all the cocaine that gets snorted. I've done the research and was told that the Equity-approved cocaine substitute is powdered baby formula. I then had an actor tell me they've used that before and it hurt their noses. I've also gotten bee pollen and crushed-up vitamins as recommendations.

The actors aren't doing big lines, but they do pour the coke out and do small bumps. The show runs for 7 wks, so I want to make sure nothing's going to mess with them long-term (the same guy who told me about bee pollen said that it ended up bothering one of the actresses' noses, but it was also 2 months of Hurlyburly, which has a lot more drug use that this show).

Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

548

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Apr 16, 2009, 06:31 pm »

Even in rehearsal, I tend to dress a bit more. For me, dressing up a bit means "I'm going to work" and helps to put me in the right mindset. I'm also the crazy sort that really enjoys working in a dress, jewelry, etc. My producer always says that I don't dress like a typical stage manager!

How do you tape the rehearsal floor, manipulate props, and move around unobtrusively in a dress and jewelry?

That's just what I'm comfortable in...plus on days where I know I'm taping the floor or something like that, I'll wear pants. But heels and jewelry don't bother me at all.

Where do you find this takes you in setting a dynamic for the rehearsal room?  As an SM every word an action has an impact on the atmosphere of the rehearsal and the production.  Have you found formalizing the rehearsal room has had an impact on those working in said rehearsal room?

It helps a lot, actually. For me, it's a way to signal "Ok, I'm going to WORK." I had a friend in high school who wore suits on standardized test days because it helped him focus. I guess it's a similar thing for me. I know I'd be fine in jeans and a tshirt (and I wear that sometimes too, esp tech days) but I enjoy how I feel when I'm a little more "dressed up."

As for the rehearsal room, I think it helps a lot, especially in the beginning. I'm young, very petite, and look very young anyway- if I show up in jeans and a tshirt, I risk looking like a junior high kid who wandered in from her internship.  Looking pulled together helps me look my age and helps me with respect that I had a harder time with when I dressed down back in the beginning.

549

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Apr 15, 2009, 10:50 pm »

Even in rehearsal, I tend to dress a bit more. For me, dressing up a bit means "I'm going to work" and helps to put me in the right mindset. I'm also the crazy sort that really enjoys working in a dress, jewelry, etc. My producer always says that I don't dress like a typical stage manager!

How do you tape the rehearsal floor, manipulate props, and move around unobtrusively in a dress and jewelry?

That's just what I'm comfortable in...plus on days where I know I'm taping the floor or something like that, I'll wear pants. But heels and jewelry don't bother me at all.

550

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Apr 13, 2009, 08:59 pm »

For an interview, I definitely agree that you have to dress up a bit. I always wear slacks and a nice top for those.

Even in rehearsal, I tend to dress a bit more. For me, dressing up a bit means "I'm going to work" and helps to put me in the right mindset. I'm also the crazy sort that really enjoys working in a dress, jewelry, etc. My producer always says that I don't dress like a typical stage manager!

551

Employment / Re: Share your special skills

« on: Apr 13, 2009, 08:53 pm »

I'm an award-winning baker! I've definitely done a few shows where I've done food prep, especially specialty food (bath buns, or a full israeli breakfast).