Messages

211

The Hardline / Re: The Ever Scrutinized Straight Six

« on: Oct 20, 2008, 01:59 pm »

Like everyone else, I like a mix of straight sixes and 7 out of 8's.
I do like a straight six on a Sunday (day before a day off). Start at 10:00, end at 4:00. It's a little more civil. I also like them for designer run-thrus.

I don't like straight sixes if I have a lot of costume fittings that need to happen. 

Do Stage Managers make good Production Managers? That's a great topic.

212

Employment / Re: When is enough enough

« on: Oct 14, 2008, 12:44 pm »

I had a few things that made me stop:

1) When I dreaded going into work: For a long time I did not dread working on weekends, 10 out of 12's, one day off for Christmas, etc. I felt it was part of the process, no need to waste energy on it.

However, one day on a really, really, really bad show, I woke up feeling sick to my stomach. Thinking about going into work made me sick. Never happened before.

2) Realizing I was becoming too bitter and resentful about theatre.

3) Losing the idea that theater was an art form. I saw it as a paycheck. 

4) Not wanting to go back after taking a month or so off. That's when I knew it was time to look for something else.

213

Employment / Re: Taking Time Off

« on: Oct 09, 2008, 02:20 pm »

I've wanted to do the Peace Corps forever, so I am a little jealous that you have the opportunity.
Go for it. Theatre will always be here.

214

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Overly Involved Playwright

« on: Sep 30, 2008, 01:12 pm »

So folks who have worked on new stuff-how do you handle a playwright (who's also a primary producer) who is at the majority of the rehearsals, and too involved?  He's constantly distracting the director, he gives the actors notes, and today at a first read through he was already taking notes on the acting when it was the first time they'd ever read through it!  This show is a re-mount (with changes) and the director is afraid he's going to be a problem again...giving the actors notes, constantly talking to the director, launching into character discussions with the director in front of the cast, etc.  Anyone have any ideas on how to help curb his input?  My major thought is to have him hold all of his notes and comments until lunch break and the end of the day and to talk to the director and I and then we can somewhat  selectively decide what the cast will actually get from it.  Please feel free to offer suggestions...

I wonder if you have the same playwright/director that I had.

I had the same exact situation. The playwright mounted the show. He was the most annoying (and sexist) person in the room, but his name was on my paycheck.
He also was the biggest idiot. He created the production schedule before I came on board. We would rehearse in NYC and than we would perform the show on a college campus in his hometown...of Altoona PA. He scheduled our first day of tech the same day we would arrive after traveling 6+ hours! I was able to put an end to that.
He also scheduled no days off for a month, we got paid lots of overtime for that.

In summary, there wasn't much I can do, as he was the bottom line. I just made sure that if conversations between the playwright and director got too long, I would remind them of the amount of time left before break/lunch/end of day.

215

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Slightly Nervous, Advice and Words of Wisdom Please?

« on: Sep 11, 2008, 10:08 am »

The worst possible thing happened- she quit... during the audition process. Over not being paid when I get a stipend. She thinks she should be paid because she has worked professionally before. This is educational theatre I'm lucky if I'll ever see a dime from it. 

Soon you might be able to say "the best possible thing happened.."
Better to have her quit now than to have her walk out on you before tech.

216

Employment / Re: Team Dynamics

« on: Sep 05, 2008, 11:49 am »

I've been there. I was a PA on a 6 person stage management team, and two of them did not like me at all. One of them called me stupid in front of the cast and crew. I felt awful.

20/20 hindsight I wished I talked to the two people that had a problem with me. I would have asked if there was something I was doing wrong or if there were ways I can make the team better. If there was nothing I could do and they continued to be petty, I would be like cream and "rise to the top". Do my job to the best of my ability and let those idiots drown in their crap.

Hope this was helpful.

217

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Is an AA degree enough?

« on: Sep 05, 2008, 11:40 am »

I agree with Matthew.  You have your whole life to hussle for a job.

Take your 4 years, get your full degree.  Change your major or don't.  Take electives, make friends.  Study abroad, do it all.

And be aware that many schools have better equipment and nicer theatres than many "real world" theaters.

And many schools will pay you work study to work in the shop or on tours that come in.  Therefore, more experience, more connections and more real life education.

I see no reason to press yourself to start SMing in the real world as soon as possible.  The jobs you get at that age are low low low end for the most part.  And starting 2 years earlier will not necessarily move you up the professional food chain any faster.

Couldn't agree more. Work hard, play hard, make mistakes, learn from them.
This business may have it's ups and downs, but it's not going anywhere for awhile. It'll be here for you when you graduate.

218

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Slightly Nervous, Advice and Words of Wisdom Please?

« on: Sep 03, 2008, 01:27 pm »

Oh how I would love to have an experienced ASM.

I'm sure that she has learned from her experience she will treat you with respect that comes with your position.


I'm sure that you know what a valuable team (emphasis team) member she will be.

Is your backstage crew young? Perhaps she can use her experience in teaching the crew the ways of backstage.

219

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Help! Beastly show and actor!!!

« on: Jul 17, 2008, 11:05 am »

Wow! So sorry you had to go through this.

I was tour manager "A Christmas Carol". My Scrooge lived up to his name. Just hated every minute of being on tour. It was my first tour, and I was doing the best I can, but it was never good enough for him. It was his first time being away from home for an extended period of time.

One night I was in a hotel's pool/garden area and I saw him sitting there. I went up to him and said "X, I'm noticing that you haven't been happy since we went out. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Well, he went into a screaming monologue that ended with "I am trying to get you fired!!!!" And I stood there taking it. I then said "Well, it looks like there isn't much I can do so I'll leave you alone." I went up to my hotel room, and cried my eyes out.

I then told the management what happened, and they said that they would take care of him. I shouldn't talk to him for the rest of the tour. I left him alone, only giving him updates on schedule. In the end he did apologize to me.

I agree with Matthew that you should document her lateness/absence and give it to management. This situation won't last forever, and she'll be gone before you know it.

220

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Aging in stage management (those late 20's)

« on: Jul 16, 2008, 11:50 am »

This thread is so encouraging!  I'm leaving my very stable job with 52-weeks and benefits to go back to graduate school in the fall.  I've got two weeks left in my PSM position and then it's off to the west coast to get my masters.

Everyone keeps asking me two questions.  1) Why? and 2) what are your plans after school?

My answers, 1) because I had to! I don't want to be a "lifer" at this company! and 2) I don't know!  That's why I'm going to school. That's the beauty of it.  i know what to do something else -- but I'm not really sure what -- and figure that grad school is as safe a place as any to figure it out while I earn a degree in the process.  =)

I have left the theatre world in order to go to grad school. I'm glad that I did, and I will be glad to jump back into theatrical stage management when I'm done.
I wish you the best of luck! I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one who worked for a while then decided to give school a try.

221

Stage Management: Other / Re: Orchestra Stage Management & Unions/Pay Rates

« on: Jul 03, 2008, 10:53 am »

I work as a stage manager for various orchestras. There isn't a union per se, but you could look into seeing if you can join IATSE.

If you want more advise feel free to PM me. The world of classical music is way different than the theatre world.

222

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Aging in stage management (those late 20's)

« on: Jun 24, 2008, 11:16 am »

I am 30++ (though I still get carded!) and was an active stage manager in my 20's and 30's. Although my career is on pause while I go to grad school, I plan on re-entering it as soon as I graduate.
It isn't easier, but things that would have made me explode in my 20's now just make me shrug my shoulders.

I was pretty lucky, as my parents lived commuting distance to NYC and a wide variety of theatres. They also didn't mind that I lived at home while doing it.

My advice: don't give up. Have a circle of friends that you can vent to. Every day try to make strides toward advancing your career. Don't be afraid to shift directions if you need to. It's not like there is one path to take towards working as a full-time stage manager.

223

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Director From Hell

« on: Jun 17, 2008, 11:07 am »

Yes, I have dealt with that.
I worked at a summer stock where the prop department had 4 other shows to do and had to deal with crazy directors and set designers. My show was not at the top of their priority list.
If it was something that was easy to fix and/or find, I did it. I also let the department know what I was doing and if they had a problem with it they should tell me.
I didn't tell my director what I was doing. It was a fine line I was balancing. If I did the note wrong I didn't want the director to march in and yell at the props department for something they didn't do. Luckly this didn't happen and by tech the props department got up to speed.

224

The Hardline / Re: NYTW Laying off Production Staff

« on: May 12, 2008, 03:43 pm »

It's upsetting to look at your resume and see that more than half of the places that are on it are closed.

225

The Green Room / Re: Cooking for Stage Management

« on: May 06, 2008, 02:17 pm »

I try to make a spinach mushroom lasagne the day before tech week begins. It's easy, and it tastes good after sitting in the fridge for four days.

Usually I go off the healthy wagon during tech week. I tend to eat all the dark chocolate off the tech table, so much that my assistant would grab some for me for later. I also go out to eat if I can. Sometimes its good to get out of the building to see how the real world is doing.