Messages

31

The Green Room / Re: What do we do?

« on: May 14, 2012, 10:54 am »

If I'm trying to summarize quickly for someone who just needs to understand that I'm not an actor or a director, I usually explain it as keeping everyone - cast and crew - on schedule and on top of their cues throughout rehearsals and performances.

It doesn't delve very far, but most people understand people management. And similarly to what BayArea said, they understand the vastness of making all of those things happen during a show.

32

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PEOPLE: Walk-Ons; How do you handle them?

« on: May 13, 2012, 11:27 pm »

Un-screw-uppable.

Never say that. Someone will always find a way.

33

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TOURS: Tips for Packing?

« on: May 02, 2012, 11:02 pm »

Thanks for all the tips so far! I really appreciate it! (And feel free to keep 'em coming - I'll take any thoughts out there!)

I was planning on bringing my full set of plug adapters - just to be sure.

Mac Calder - Do you feel comfortable sending a duffle bag into the cargo hold of a plane?

ChaCha - great idea about gifts for the crew there! It will also ensure I have room in my suitcase that I can later fill with Korean gifts for everyone at  home!

Bwoodbury - THANK YOU for sending me to this site! It's like the Office Max of luggage! I wish I could afford everything I see, but I will definitely be picking some things up there.

34

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TOURS: Tips for Packing?

« on: May 01, 2012, 09:58 am »

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I wanted to get some weigh-in on a packing question. Mods, feel free to move this somewhere more appropriate if need be.

I'm looking for information on suitcases. I'm going to be flying to South Korea for a show this summer. I have a very basic suitcase at this point, but I think it is pretty much about to be useless (I think I've had it for 10+ years now). Bottom line, I'm looking into investing in a new one. What are your recommendations for suitcases (for checking, not carry-on)?

Also, does anyone have any touring/packing/travel tips for international trips?

Thanks!

35

Self-Promotion / Blogologues: Younger Than Springtime --- the internet performed!

« on: Apr 16, 2012, 09:08 am »

My show, Blogologues, just opened this past weekend. It is a hilarious exploration of all things spring-y as told by some of the wackiest people on the internet! So come check it out!!!

From their own event listings:
Blogologues didn't see its shadow this year, which means it's Springtime! Join us as we frolic through fields of allergies! Watch as we tell you our favorite parts of spring break! Journey to road's less traveled and graduate! Survive the Hunger Games! And more!

Performance Dates:
Thursday April 19th 8:00
Friday April 20th 8:00 & 10:00
Saturday April 21st 8:00
Thursday April 26th 8:00
Friday April 27th 8:00 & 10:00
Saturday April 28th 8:00
Thursday May 3rd 8:00
Friday May 4th 8:00 & 10:00
Saturday May 5th 8:00

Tickets are $18 and include a beer!
https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/911993
Click a date on the calendar to purchase tickets.

As seen in Crushable, Betabeat, Metro, Backstage and more!
http://livelyproductions.org/home/press/

The Players Loft
115 MacDougal Street
New York, NY 10012

36

The Green Room / Re: SMASH - the TV series

« on: Apr 13, 2012, 07:16 am »

I'm hoping that at the end of the process, they (whoever "they" is, NBC?) will release Bombshell (originally titled "Marilyn: The Musical") to theaters to produce. They're doing a bunch of the work, they might as well let it make money into the future, right?

I've heard rumors that may be happening. I don't know how true they are, but I've heard it.

37

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Special Skills on a Resume

« on: Apr 13, 2012, 07:15 am »

When I was in school and creating my first resume to send out for internships and such (I was applying to various areas, not just stage management), my advisor told me to think of being in a theater at 10:00 at night, and someone runs onstage and says, "Quick, does anyone know how to _________?"

While this creates a RIDICULOUSLY long list (hopefully), and looked like I was trying to hard to fill the single page, it was at least a good jumping off point. Since then, I have 1. focused my career to stage management, so I don't need to necessarily specify my electrics experience, just that I have some, and 2. fine-tuned what I put on my resume.

I have a separate document on my computer called "Full Special Skills" where I do list out pretty much every theatrcial/management/office/musical/whatever skill I have. Then, every time I'm adjusting my resume for an application (which you should always do), I have a bank of skills that may be relevant to that position. I simply copy and paste them into the bottom of my resume and away I go.

Try the "Quick! Can you _____?" method. Think of it as a brainstorming activity before writing an essay. You won't use it all, but it's good to know it's there, just in case.

38

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Short Form ans Symbols

« on: Apr 10, 2012, 11:27 pm »

Ooh, thank you for the link!! I've never officially looked at a system; I've just developed my own system over the years.

39

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Short Form ans Symbols

« on: Apr 10, 2012, 12:47 am »

There's also a second level to the "it feels right the way I write" idea -- There's a value to the way I say things in my head as I'm writing them down. The reason that your lowercase "ntr" and "xit" work (at least why it makes sense to me) is that it sounds like I'm actually saying the words when I write those abbreviations -- the first letters say their own name (kindergarten, anyone?).

If I didn't feel like I was somehow writing the word, I think it might take me longer because I would end up trying to ACTUALLY write the word before I got to the abbreviation/symbol.

40

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Short Form ans Symbols

« on: Apr 09, 2012, 11:58 am »

I like "inf" for 'in front of'.

I use the "/" to stand for "of" like A x SR/Bed (Amie crosses stage right of bed"

I use "o" for of. A x SRoBed. I find that it feels better the way that I write.

I am definitely in the furniture shape school of thought. Although, for some furniture pieces I find that an abbreviation of the word is faster... "sett" for "settee", "dsk" for "desk", "ctr" for a counter (not to be confused with "ctr, circled, with a directional arrow" for countering another actor).

One thing I've started adding in lately are notations of QC (quick-changes) and QX (quick-crosses). It's great to scan across the page and see "QC Tom" for easy reference.

41

The Green Room / Re: Picture Wars!

« on: Apr 04, 2012, 10:09 am »

The fairy godmother will turn your boring Isotoners into  a beautiful glass slipper!

42

The Green Room / Re: The Greatest Show Never Made

« on: Apr 04, 2012, 01:16 am »

My friends and I used to joke about Snakes on a Plane: The Musical.

43

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Packing for a Summerstock

« on: Apr 02, 2012, 08:58 am »

Similarly, altitude can affect temperature as well. I've worked several summerstocks that have been at reasonably high altitudes for the region. What it will often do is be warm during the day (often pretty hot in July and early August) and then get quite cold at night (okay, maybe it'll only be mid-40s to mid-50s, but after a 90-degree day, that feels quite cold).

So, as someone mentioned earlier, bring two 'seasons' of clothes -- or at least a couple of good sweatshirts/jackets/longsleeves/whatever.

Also -- Rain. Everyone tends to forget that it rains in the summer so they end up getting soaked in that sudden downpour.

44

The Green Room / Re: Article: Six Degrees of Innovation What Broadway musicals tell us about creativi

« on: Mar 30, 2012, 12:43 pm »

Very interesting article. I really enjoy learning about sociology and macrocosmic trends like this. Thanks for sharing!!

45

The Green Room / Re: A Sticky Wicket

« on: Mar 23, 2012, 03:20 am »

So long as the actor is performing his professional role to the satisfaction of the company, what he does with his personal time is frankly nobody's business.

The only other person whose business it MIGHT come close to being is the owner of the home in which the actor is staying.

Otherwise, I agree with everyone else -- it's not yours to say until it affects rehearsals/performances.