Messages

16

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PRE-PRODUCTION: Marking Out Techniques: empty Stage, Set flies in.

« on: Mar 22, 2015, 06:13 am »

I think the question is how to mark on the floor where drops will be when they are flown in?

I mark them with broke up line of spike tape with "drop" as a label. Once I introduce the actors to what the tape signifies on the floor I mention to them that this line is a wall that stays throughout the show, this line is where a drop will be during scene x, y and z.

17

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / REPORTS: Rehearsal Report Question

« on: Mar 21, 2015, 09:06 am »

Do you only include what your director says or tells you to put in the rehearsal report? Or do you occasionally add things the director did not tell you to include.

A friend of mine was SM'ing one show and he told me how'd the director only wanted him to write notes for the rehearsal report only after directly telling him to include it in the report. The director would get mad if he included notes that the director did not tell him to include.

Usually in my rehearsal report I would include things that the director did not directly say or tell me to make a note. For example if we blocked the scene with actors crawling and kneeling I would include a note on how the actors were blocked to crawl and kneel in my costumes section. So the costume designer would know the type of physical activity the actors were doing. If an actor was blocked to turn off a light switch I would include that as a note for Lights.

Is what I'm doing wrong or is it something that SM's should occasionally do?

Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

18

The Hardline / Stage Manager's relationship with IATSE or union stagehands/crew?

« on: Dec 15, 2014, 07:56 am »

What is a stage manager's relationship with IATSE and/or union stagehands and crewmembers? In terms of scheduling, distributing jobs/assignments, cue sheets, call times, breaks and etc.?

Can they have a crew member be called at a certain or specific time or is it by the authority of someone else (PM?)

19

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PRE-PRODUCTION: Meeting the director for the first time

« on: Dec 15, 2014, 02:21 am »

What sort of things do you like/want to talk to a new director or one that you will be working with for the first time? Do you prefer to get straight into the business and schedules or not? What would be too-soon questions?


Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

20

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: COMMUNICATION: Communication with the production team/what do they need from us?

« on: Dec 15, 2014, 02:06 am »

I found while working as an ASM with a lesser-experience SM that the SM's have little to no communication with the designers and prod. staff other than rehearsal reports and what's said in prod. meetings. This could be because they are not guided on or told to communicate with the designers/prod staff other than filling out rehearsal report templates. As a SM, I meet with my costume designer for a costume list and to understand the costume needs for the show. I meet with the scenic designer/props to go over not only the set and prop needs but to understand scene shifts.

Is this what a stage manager should be doing for every show, or am I just micro-managing too much?

What tangible (or maybe non-tangible) things do they need from stage management? Besides detailed rehearsal reports...

21

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Deputy?

« on: Aug 06, 2014, 07:00 am »

After doing some research on deputies.

Were the "company reps" assigned specific tasks? Were they required to report safety issues, do paperwork and other things that a deputy does?

22

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / COMMUNICATION: Preferred method of contacting

« on: Aug 04, 2014, 01:45 pm »

If a director, actor, designer or someone working for the production has to contact you for a question or letting you know they'll be late..What's your preferred method of them contacting you?

Phone call? Text? Email?

And does it matter which method they contact you depending on the reason?

Edited to add topic tag - Maribeth

23

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Sharing Paperwork with ASMs

« on: Aug 04, 2014, 01:07 pm »

Open Office is free and compatible with Microsoft Office formats.

EDITED TO ADD: And it works on both Macs and PCs.

OpenOffice is great. It allows you to save in a DOC format that can open on PC or MAC.
It also has a feature to record revisions and changes.

 

24

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Deputy?

« on: Aug 02, 2014, 01:25 pm »

I've searched the boards, but couldn't find an answer other than rulings of electing one and alike.

What exactly is a deputy? What responsibilities does she/he has? What qualifications does one have to have to be a deputy or elected?

Could the role of deputy translate at all in a educational/community theater setting? (of course with some changes or something.Perhaps to be more of an educational tool of what a deputy is and does)

25

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: RUNNING: Taking Show at the Last Minute

« on: Aug 01, 2014, 04:24 pm »

I've always been on the other end of this situation. Putting in/training a new addition or replacement of an ASM. Sound's very interesting. I've always been to afraid of throwing a thousand things at them on the first day..

I would love to hear more about your experience. 

26

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / RUNNING: Calling Half-Hour

« on: Aug 01, 2014, 04:09 pm »

At what time do you generally call Half-Hour and does it typically mean half hour to places or to curtain?

I generally say "Half hour to curtain", as my places call is sometimes 3-5 minutes before curtain, depending on the size of the cast and how long they would have to travel. If, we're holding house I make sure my actors are notified that we are holding house for x minutes.


Edited to add topic tag. - Maribeth

27

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Giving Notes Advice?

« on: Jul 28, 2014, 03:50 pm »

Thank you very much. I have the AEA rulebook already saved on my computer. I guess, I skimmed over the section mentioning that, very quickly.

 

28

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Learning how to read music

« on: Jul 28, 2014, 03:11 pm »

So a system is a stave or grouping of staves, then?

29

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Giving Notes Advice?

« on: Jul 28, 2014, 02:57 pm »

Thank you so much. I will be giving all my notes in person from now on. I can see why it would be better if all notes are given in person than by posting them.

I tried the writing notes in envelopes and giving it to the actor after seeing someone write/post about doing something similar. But they also mentioned that the enveloped had to be sealed (probably cause of Equity rules/standards). Did i misinterpret that?

My college's theater department head wanted rehearsals to bed held as close to Equity rules (as much as possible in a community college setting and within reason).
Post Merge: Jul 28, 2014, 03:09 pmThank you Maribeth.

I find it easier (sometimes better) to give notes at the next call as everybody is in a rush just to go home after the show. But I still try to pop my head in the dressing room to check in with the actors.
 

 

30

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / COMMUNICATION: Giving Notes Advice?

« on: Jul 28, 2014, 01:45 pm »

Are there rules or standards that deal with giving notes to the cast/crew?

On one show (which was in a community college setting) I tried something new. I copied some notes from my performance reports onto a sheet next to the schedule/sign-in sheet. The notes were separated by actors/stage management, set, lights, sound and so on. The notes were things like "the bed was slightly off spike last night, can we run the transition at 6", "I could see so-and-so during scene x", "discovered that the doorframe was broken and won't shut properly", "button on so-and-so's jacket fell off, button in pocket". 

Any note for actors (other than general notes) I would speak to them in person or include the note in envelopes addressed to that actor on the callboard.

I wanted to make sure if this method is/would be unacceptable, should possibly return to this, or "revise it".     

I'd really appreciate your advice and input. Thank you.

Edited to add topic tag - Maribeth