Messages

16

The Green Room / Re: Facebook Group for SMNet members

« on: Dec 10, 2015, 02:45 pm »

Facebook does not make it possible to see a groups intent and rules before requesting membership.

Even though I have made it clear all over the group that it's only for news pertaining to SMNetwork and not a general stage management discussion group, people have continued to post off-topic material, in particular one very rude individual by the name of Michael Fernandez who has been using the group as his personal employment search site.

It is chiefly the fault of Mr. Fernandez that the group is going away, as his response to my message asking him to stop posting job search requests to the group was met with a rude instruction to "get a life."

In order to shut down the group I have to remove all 300+ members one at a time, so it will take me a few days to make it go away entirely. I'll probably replace it with a fan page somewhere further down the line when I'm not so steamed about the whole debacle.

I think we should make a "I"m a fan of PSMKay" fan page. Sorry the group had to be removed, but at least this place is still going strong!

17

The Green Room / Re: WICKED backstage videos

« on: Dec 03, 2015, 09:06 am »

I love these videos! I use them in class, as they talk a lot about making theatre, and it's not just a promoting tool for the show.

18

Self-Promotion / The Clean House

« on: Oct 19, 2015, 02:24 pm »

It is falling for Fall here in New England. If you have some free time when you're not apple picking or drinking pumpkin spice lattes (or working on a  show), come up to Beverly to see "The Clean House" by Sarah Ruhl.

They added a 10am Friday matinee and it is free! It's a funny show, and different from the usual norm

The Clean House
Endicott College
10/22nd-10/24 at 7:30
23rd at 10am
24th at 2pm

19

The Hardline / Re: Visit from My AEA Business Representative

« on: Oct 14, 2015, 09:45 am »

I remember hearing about the deputy badges, but never seen them in person!

I had the LORT rep visit my show back in 2004. They were about to negotiate the new LORT contract and she wanted input from all of us. I don't remember much about the meeting, but I do remember she stayed for the show and the show was terrible that night.

20

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: The Clean House

« on: Sep 15, 2015, 07:10 am »

These are great ideas. My director loves all things sparkly, so the confetti might be perfect.

I'll look in the BTDT thread.

21

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROPS: The Clean House

« on: Sep 14, 2015, 01:51 pm »

The college I teach at is doing the play "The Clean House". There are a couple of props that I'm trying to see what we can use.

The set is an unit set with all white furniture that has to get dirty every night and clean up after the performance.

One prop is a spice that is thrown from the balcony onto the white furniture. It's supposed to be yellow. It could hit some actors.
Another prop is a plant with dirt that is spilled onto the white rug.

We do not have laundry facilities, and will have to purchase cleaning supplies. It's only for five shows.

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

22

The Green Room / Re: SMNetwork Member Spotlight Interviews (now with text transcription!)

« on: Aug 28, 2015, 10:53 am »

This looks fun! Is it wrong that I had "Spanish Flea" in my head while I was reading it? (probably)

For those who need a reference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mML2fPec7xU

23

The Green Room / Re: Patrons behaving badly

« on: Jul 10, 2015, 12:49 pm »

Oh sooo many...

Years ago I was ASM for "Shirley Valentine" which was a one woman show. We had two sets, the first one was in a kitchen, and the second one was a beach. A beach with real sand.

People were curious about seeing if it was real sand, so they would come up to touch, grab, take. Me and my backstage crew had to stand there and say "It is real, and we ask that you do not touch the sand".

When I saw a woman reach out I said the above, and she said "Oh but I have to".  And then proceeded to caress the sand.  She then tried to have a discussion with me about between the similarites of this show and "The Heidi Chronicles".  I said "Uh, I don't know". She was upset that we didn't have a full blown literary discussion while she was petting the sand that she walked away.

Another time I used to work summers out at Tanglewood, where they have concerts. People can purchase season lawn passes, which you can sit on the lawn for free for all the concerts.
One person took it too far and thought it was an actual backstage pass. After the concert the crew was busy getting large instruments offstage when he would come back and flash his season pass at us and walk right onstage with his friends.
When we tried to explain that it was not a backstage pass he would argue that he was allowed to do this because he had a lawn pass. The crew would then try to run him over with a piano.

24

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Wonderful article for young SMs by Julia P Jones

« on: May 14, 2015, 10:13 am »

I went down the rabbit hole and read a few more entries. Her post on Elaine Stritch is priceless.

25

The Green Room / Re: Employment after a Career as a Stage Manager

« on: Apr 21, 2015, 10:13 am »

Going on twenty years as a stage manager, sixteen years as an Equity stage manager.  I can't say that I'm doing it full time, I'm more of a "dabbler" (Is that a word?) I try to do a show here and there, but I'm not completely out of the industry.

As for what to do after stage managing, the sky is the limit. The skills you acquire stage managing can take you into a variety of places.
I found that I enjoyed the mentoring side of the job, so I've been attempting to be a full time teacher. Emphasis on attempting.

26

Self-Promotion / Once Upon A Mattress

« on: Apr 13, 2015, 01:10 pm »

Here's my twice a year plug for Endicott College, where I teach.

This weekend they are performing "Once Upon A Mattress". The tech aspect of this show is fantastic for a small college, and the girl playing Fred is an absolute joy.

Spring finally made it to Beverly, so if  you're in the area come check it out

Thursday-Saturday at 7:30
Saturday Matinee at 2pm
Endicott College
Beverly, MA

27

The Green Room / Re: Milestone - 40 years of Stern's "Stage Management"

« on: Mar 27, 2015, 11:05 am »

My college professor back in 1993 lent me a copy when I volunteered to stage manage my first show. I read it cover to cover, and like what the clerk said at the gas station, it did save my butt. I enjoyed the easy style in which he wrote in. For me its the book that started it all.

28

Employment / Re: "What Not To Post": Job Listing edition

« on: Mar 24, 2015, 11:14 am »

I agree with Matt. It sounds like they have gotten burned in the past.  What they focused on was interesting: nearly 11 paragraphs on what stage manager they are looking for, and one confusing paragraph about the season.
And then out of the four they will choose one to be the PSM. I guess they will do it Hunger Games style.

29

The Green Room / Re: Nick Offerman to Star in "Confederacy of Dunces"

« on: Mar 03, 2015, 12:16 pm »

Maybe he'll build the sets, and then destory them because they are too "perfect"

Or

He'll go to the Panera across the street and say "Give me all the bacon and eggs you have. Wait, wait. I worry what you just heard was give me a lot of bacon and eggs. What I said was: Give me all the bacon and eggs you have."

Or the hundreds of other brilliant things he has said..

30

The Green Room / Re: Broadway SM Symposium

« on: Jan 31, 2015, 09:11 am »

I tried the "This is a conference, don't we have conferences in the budget" line and it didn't work.
Now I'm going to try the "Honey this can be our vacation" line.