Messages

16

Employment / Resume Chat thanks

« on: Jul 30, 2009, 01:50 pm »

I wasn't sure where to post this but I wanted to say things to those who did the resume chat and gave some input on my resume. I was stuck late at work and couldn't get to a computer. I took the comments into consideration and made some changes to my resume.
Thanks so much!

17

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Plan B for everything?

« on: Jul 29, 2009, 11:56 am »

This is one of the things I love about Stage Managing. I am a quick thinker and a problem solver and work really well in the moment when I have seconds to think of a quick fix. But I definately recomend that you have back ups of sound, and other computerized or electrical type things because things like that usually need a bigger fix. As much stuff as you have a plan B for I can promise you that it will be something that you don't have a plan B for that breaks. It's just one of Murphy's laws. That's why being knowlagable in all areas of the theater is important.

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Uploaded Forms / Re: Weekly

« on: Jul 25, 2009, 06:56 pm »

I worked on shows before that had a very large cast and most of the time the majority of the cast would be sitting around waiting. The longer I worked with the director I was about to eventually get her to sit down with me and we would work out a schedule for the dates that we would work on different scenes. I would hand it out the cast at the first rehearsal and put a disclaimer on it as well as said in person that it was subject to change and that they should be prepared to come in.
I worked much better that way and the cast was much happier and always willing to come in when called because they knew we weren't wasting their time.

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Employment / Re: Locations and Area Codes

« on: Jul 19, 2009, 12:12 pm »

I have lived in NYC for 5 and 1/2 years and I still have a Maine cell number. I kept it because it's local for my parents to call me. And on several occasions it has been a conversation starter in interviews with "where are you from?" and so on.
I have a friend that is a Hair Stylist and has worked on Phantom, Law and Order, and Lip Stick Jungle just to name a few and she still has and upstate cell number and it hasn't stopped her from getting work. It really doesn't matter what your number is anymore. People know that your cell phone is with you no matter what the area code is. I think that if you also have a number that you've had for a long while it shows people that you aren't going to change your number the minute you move somewhere and they'll loose contact with you.

20

Employment / Re: resume format

« on: Jul 16, 2009, 09:38 pm »

Hi everyone!  Question for you all...

I  consider myself a stage manager and general technician.  I am recently out of school and am currently working my first long-term contract at a theatre (3 shows: 2 as crew, 1 as ASM).  I want to send out my resume to theatres in anticipation of the end of my contract.  I would be open to either SM or crew work.  When not applying for a particular position, how would you suggest I format my resume?  Does it harm my image to present myself this way?  Should I concentrate on stage management (as some people have told me I should)?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
-V

I would suggest 2 resumes each highlighting one thing while still including the other.


I also have a question myself.
I have a short run I am working on in August and I plan to be sending out my resume for stuff so I can get something lined up for after that. Should I include that gig? or leave it out until I have actually done it?

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Shadowing: General Q&A

« on: Jul 14, 2009, 10:31 pm »

My friend who is in the cast of Little Mermaid has offered to pass a letter on to her SM for me. What do I say in this letter? I don't want to be too long winded or too short. and writing is not one of my strong points.

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Stage Manager Books/Manuals

« on: Jul 11, 2009, 12:29 pm »

I just finished reading Tom Kelly's Book and I went to the Drama Book Shop on 40th a couple of days ago and wouldn't it be just my luck that he just published the 3rd addition.

23

The Green Room / Re: Best reason from an actor for being late

« on: Jul 09, 2009, 01:37 pm »

I was rehearsing a show in Brooklyn, NY and at one of the first rehearsals one of the actors came up to me and said she wanted to let me know that it would be hard for her to be on time for Saturday rehearsals because she was coming from the Bronx and you know how the trains aren't running on normal schedules on the weekend. So I then proceeded to explain to her that she can look up on the MTA website and see what trains are running on different schedules and that she can plan accordingly and also that its a good idea to leave early anyways because it is better to be early and have time to grab a bit to eat or sit and relax then to rush in late. She was like OH ok I'll do that. As my high school teacher said common sense isn't that common.

24

College and Graduate Studies / Re: i need free books about Stage Management

« on: Jul 05, 2009, 10:03 pm »

Most Libraries can get books for you from other libraries. Get together a list of books (title and author) that you want and ask the librarian.
some community theaters have libraries/ books just lying around. You can try contacting other theaters to see if they have anything you can borrow.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: COMMUNICATION: What to include in a report vs when to send a private email

« on: Jul 02, 2009, 06:20 pm »

I would suggest that if you don't include it in the report that it be in writing some where. If you send a private email then print it and keep it so that if there are any issues later you have prof that you took action. Make sure you cover your butt.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Just graduated and need advice terribly

« on: Jul 02, 2009, 06:12 pm »

my thoughts are this:
as crazylady said apply to everything. I would add to that also try to round out your experiences. do some Ushering, House Management, Light or Sound Board Op, Crew, Box Office. This will not only widen your understanding of theater and how things work it will also fill up your resume and who knows you might find you like one of those things better then SMing. A lot of Theaters use Volunteer Ushers and you get to see the show for free. Also doing these various things opens door for more. You may get a chance to network with an SM while you are running lights and then the SM asks you to be the ASM on the next show. Building your resume takes time to take every opportunity to put something on it.

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Employment / Re: Forced to be stuck in a rut. Please help.

« on: Jul 01, 2009, 10:27 am »

Thanks for clarifying things a little better.
Some of my thoughts are this.
you said that you understood that you had the SM position. you will get this feeling a lot starting out in this biz. Its never yours until either its in writing or its done and you actually did it. People's minds change all the time.

I am not sure what your qualifactions are as far as SMing goes. Education and experience factor into the position. and Maybe your boss feels you are not qualified enough. Maybe you can suggest that some SM work be worked into your schedule maybe one day a week in rehearsal. If you do have plently of qualifications then if they aren't inclined to give you the SM position begin to look else where.

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Employment / Re: Forced to be stuck in a rut. Please help.

« on: Jun 30, 2009, 02:15 pm »

In my opinion no one can limit you but yourself. If you are given something to do and finish it don't sit and wait for someone come and give you something else to do. That is a big part of SMing. being proactive, seeing what needs to be done and doing it. Many PSM's are looking for people who will do what needs to be done with out being told to do. Also in the rush of needing to get things done it's easier to do it yourself then ask someone to do it for you.

I could have miss understood what you said but from what I gathered this is my advice.

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Stage Manager Books/Manuals

« on: Jun 28, 2009, 01:26 pm »

I'm glad I found this thread there are several books here I haven't read yet.
My recommendations from the books I have read are.
of course Kelly and Ionazzi

A Phaldon Theatre Manual Stage Management and Theatre Administration (it was written in the UK and I've found some things that they do that we don't do over here but it's good to know)

Stage Managing and Theatre Etiquette A Basic Guide by Linda Apperson (its a good place to start. It's very basic but easy to read so anyone just starting out should read this first as some other books get really in depth and can be over whelming)

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROMPT BOOK: Creating a Calling Script (meta-thread)

« on: Jun 28, 2009, 01:02 pm »

regarding highlighting your cues. I did that once and highlighted the sound cues in blue and the light cues in pink and once the script was under the blue light in the booth the blue highlight went away and the pink turned to purple. Now I just use the bold and underline features when I print it.