Messages

136

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Blocking using a score

« on: Jan 04, 2010, 11:39 pm »

I like to use a photocopy of the score. One page at a time on the right-hand side of my notebook as I'm looking at it, and on the back of each page, (so I can see it on the left-hand side) a copy/diagram of the set. Sometimes I leave it blank if I can't get a mini-ground plan, and I create a sketch for myself to notate blocking.

For specific positions, especially opening/closing positions or maybe transitional movements, I'll notate the placement on the mini, with a notation in the score of when that happens.

Also, if a lot of action happens on one page of music, I've written a blow-by-blow list on the left-hand page, with each event numbered. I then insert the number in the specific measure/beat/etc where it occurs in the score.


However, as with all forms of notation, it needs to fit your needs and your personality. What works for me may not work for ANYONE else.
Posted on: January 04, 2010, 09:35:29 PMAlso, if there are only a few characters on stage, and there is little movement (i.e., an aria where the singer only moves once or twice), I would just notate the movement right above, inside, or next to the measure (whatever is most convenient) where the movement should happen.

Hope this all helps!!

137

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: SM Internships??

« on: Dec 29, 2009, 11:23 pm »

rpicket6, I looked at West Virginia Public Theatre company and they did not have any info on an internship, should I contact them directly?

keep S sane,

I would suggest contacting them directly. As a PA or ASM, it is not technically an 'internship'. It's a job, although the PA job is right on the border, I suppose. The Company Manager (if it's the same as last summer, which I think it is) is quite cool, and will not be offended or put off by an inquiry email.

138

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: SM Internships??

« on: Dec 27, 2009, 02:25 pm »

I worked last summer with West Virginia Public Theatre company, they do six shows--and as a PA or ASM you work on half of them with a Stage Management team. They provide housing and pretty good pay. The city, the company, and the housing are all really great. It's a really big facility: you'll learn about calling fly cues, as well as work with actors both equity and non-equity. You'll learn so much.

139

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Resume questions

« on: Dec 19, 2009, 03:09 pm »

Thanks for the input, everyone! This is all very helpful.

140

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Resume questions

« on: Dec 19, 2009, 01:50 am »

That's a great strategy, missliz. I might look into that. However, at this point I'm at the point where my technical credits take up either a rather crowded single page or two rather empty-looking pages.

How empty-looking can the second page be and still be worth having?

141

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Resume questions

« on: Dec 19, 2009, 12:53 am »

Thanks. I've actually already looked through the Resume Browser. This is where my question actually came from. Clearly some of the resumes there are AT LEAST two pages if printed out. So I wasn't sure if I've been selling myself short by editing down too far.

I do appreciate the variety of organizational ideas I found on the Browser. I was just looking for opinions of perhaps people who have tried different ways themselves, or perhaps anyone who deals with incoming resumes at their theatre--what they prefer to read through.

But thank you Candy0081 for your input on references. I have just kept mine attached to my resume at all times, but I will look into separating them.

142

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: First Tech related anything

« on: Dec 18, 2009, 07:20 pm »

If your director is a teacher, I can entirely understand the discomfort in confronting them about your qualms: there's a strange barrier between students and teachers with regards to disagreements. It sometimes feels to a student that there is no way that they can stand up to a teacher.

However, this is the theatre business. And even at the academic level, the production team MUST treat each other with respect and a sense of equality (of course keeping the hierarchy in mind). But the Stage Manager and Director should be able to discuss their issues, because that is what they are: SM and Director, not student and teacher.

I have encountered this several times in my academic SMing career--a previous professor at my school, who was a designer for most of the shows I've SMed, was rather obnoxious. He was arrogant and self-centered, and often ignored the director's concept in order to pursue his own. Most importantly, he was rude to the entire production team, but especially student members. And for the first few shows I worked on, I always felt odd when I would have to confront him about anything--simply because he was a teacher. It took two years (and five shows) of working with him to finally understand that as the Stage Manager, I was no longer a student when I was dealing with the productions and production teams.

143

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Resume questions

« on: Dec 18, 2009, 06:48 pm »

I know there's a thread for resume questions in the regular forum, but since student SMs / recent college grad SMs are in a different genre, I wanted some feedback on the best presentation of a resume. My resume is not so much a comprehensive CV as it is a presentation of myself for job applications.

That said, what is the general opinion on one-page versus two-pages when applying for jobs? (My references are currently included on my single-page resume.)

Thanks for any help you can provide

144

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Best schools for SM.

« on: Dec 18, 2009, 04:05 am »

As has been mentioned on several different threads here, the best suggestion I have overall is to find a theatre department which allows you to experience and develop skills in a variety of areas. That way, when you do graduate, you are much more marketable in a variety of areas, and thus able to get jobs and make money.

My department at Nazareth College in Rochester NY, while it has very little in terms of a tech program, does make sure that actors take some tech classes and tech kids take some acting classes. I've taken an acting class, a directing class, as well as Light Design, Costume Design, Tech 1 and Tech 2, and Stage Management. In addition, the department requires a variety of production positions throughout your years at school--I've SMed and ASMed of course, but I've also been Deck Crew, LBO, SBO, Light Design, ME, House Manager, and Producer. I feel as though I am prepared to take on a variety of jobs when I graduate in May (yikes!).

Also, just because my school doesn't have a great tech program, does not mean that I don't feel prepared to tackle the real world. I love my school and I love my department. Above all, I think that is the most important part of finding a college -- regardless of the intended major. You have to love the school and the department.

So my best advice: find variety and somewhere you love.

145

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Humor: Stage Managing the World

« on: Dec 18, 2009, 03:35 am »

I am DEFINITELY in the SMing the world category.

I almost obsessively check my cell phone for the time, and each time I calculate what the end of a 10-minute break would be, as well as the 5-minute mark.

I was taking a science class once, where we had weekly quizzes. Each test was timed at 20 minutes. The professor sat in the front and announced, "10 minutes," "5  minutes," "3 minutes," and "1 minute," and it took all of the strength in my body to not respond enthusiastically with "Thank you, 10!"   All the strength.

I watch TV or movies--ESPECIALLY movie musicals, and I try to anticipate where cues might be, and thus when they would be called.

My one roommate is INCREDIBLY disorganized. When we leave in the morning for classes, I literally do a 'prop check' of her stuff. Do you have your purse? Your glasses? Your keys? Your tap shoes? Everything.

Also, I am DEFINITELY in the category of organized prompt book, messy everything else. In high school, my parents referred to my room as having a carpet of clothes. My car tends to pile up with empty water/soda bottles, empty fast food bags, textbooks and notebooks, and sometimes even shoes and clothing.

146

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student SM Challenge #8: Running Late

« on: Dec 18, 2009, 03:18 am »

My general solution to this problem is to strike preemptively. As Stage Manager for my collegiate productions, I generally ask my ASM(s) to arrive 30 minutes prior to rehearsal start times (of course, depending on the set-up procedures). In addition to that, I arrive at least 15 minutes prior to that. Since my travels to rehearsal are generally only across campus with no driving involved, I am only detained by perhaps a class running over, or weather conditions (I go to school in Rochester, NY: the SNOW BELT). The 15 minutes allots this buffer, but in the event that I am on-time for my personal call, I have time to 'zen out,' and have a built-in break in my otherwise hectic day. I look forward to this time every day. Often, it is my time to have a 'relaxed' dinner, at least compared to my lunches which generally occur as I walk between classes.

Similarly, I make sure that I call myself at least 30 minutes, if not 60 minutes, prior to the earliest call for actors or crew during a performance run. Again, I give myself a buffer of 'Oh crap, my car won't start' or traffic or weather or whatever, but I also give myself time to relax and get myself into the right frame of mind for the show.

As to the specific challenge of running late for a performance in an emergency-type situation, I would definitely call my ASM(s) to instruct them in what was needed to check/set-up/call/etc. Hopefully, I would be able to give them a time estimate for my arrival, and hopefully, I make it in time for the scheduled curtain time.
However, this has provided me a new insight (learn something new every day, huh?). I have never installed a 'back-up' system in my chain of command, such as training an ASM to cover the prompt book and a crew member to take over for the ASM. I am going to incorporate this into my upcoming projects.

147

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

« on: Dec 18, 2009, 02:28 am »

I thoroughly believe in the benefits of Shadowing. 'nmno' mentioned karmic debt: I am a Senior in college, pursuing a Theatre degree with Stage Management concentration, and my senior comprehensive project this spring is Stage Managing our season closer: The Rocky Horror Show (I'm so excited!). While working an open house for my school, I met a high school senior who is interested in Stage Management, but is worried that she doesn't know what she's 'getting herself into.' I offered to let her shadow me throughout the entire process: from the audition process through performances. She is so pumped, and I am as well. I look forward to talking to her about her experience--I hope that she'll be able to help me grow from the experience just as much as I can help her.