Messages

241

Employment / Re: Too Old

« on: Mar 10, 2007, 04:39 pm »

It was my understanding that it is illegal in the entire United States to ask how old you were in an interview. They also can't ask if you are married; which I've had a few interviewers ask me.

I did end up working for a producer who asked me on my interview if I was married. It turned out to be a bad experience for me. The producer had no idea what he was doing. It might have been good that you didn't get the job.

Oh, and 28 is NOT old.....

242

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Tense Director During Tech

« on: Mar 09, 2007, 04:35 pm »

There is some great advice here. One of the first things I learned when I got into theatre is to NEVER take anything personally. Works well for the real world as well.

When things get real bad, I always think of Dori from "Finding Nemo". She sings "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

Beer is a big help as well.

243

Employment / Re: Warnings about interviews

« on: Feb 28, 2007, 06:23 pm »

"Ban crew backstage" That is priceless.
Your post is one of many reasons why I've left theatre.
I'm sorry that you are going through this. What I find is that the theatres that have treated me crappy have eventually gone under. You can't be in business for long if you treat your folks like dirt.
NYC is a "small" town in terms of theatre. The word will get out on how terrible he is.

244

Employment / Re: How many pages?

« on: Feb 25, 2007, 05:04 pm »

 If I snail mail my resume, I have one page as resume and one page for references. Many places are asking the resume to be emailed nowadays.

245

The Hardline / Re: AEA Deputy selection process

« on: Dec 04, 2006, 11:03 am »

I usually say "Okay, let's have a staring contest. Whoever blinks first, is the deputy"

246

Employment / Re: Hiring and references

« on: Nov 29, 2006, 11:29 am »

I agree with Matthew.
I've had potentional employers see a director on my resume that they know and give them a call, regardless if they are a reference or not.

247

Employment / Re: When Nobody Wants You

« on: Nov 10, 2006, 03:17 pm »

I think Matthew gave you some great advice.
The only thing I would like to add is that you are not alone.

248

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stop The Show!

« on: Nov 10, 2006, 03:08 pm »

Got a question for you guys that came up in dress rehearsal this week. A Gel frame came loose but did not fall from a light over the stage.  I wanted to stop rehearsal to get it but the tech director said not to.
Needless to say it fell on an actresses head 5 minutes later. no harm done except for her and the guy next to her to pick it up.
What are your thoughts on that?

The top priority is safety. The tech director needs to understand that now or it will cost him later (either his job or a lawsuit or both)

249

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stop The Show!

« on: Nov 04, 2006, 09:40 am »

I had to stop a production of "The Blue Room". For those who don't know the show, it contains nudity. My director did this "opening prolouge" that had the two actors naked under bedsheets on a floor in sexual positions. It was done in very, very low light and was very tasteful.
Well we had problems with the lighting; a daisy chain was loose and I had this BRIGHT white light on for scene changes. I started the show; and instead of the low light, it was the bright light. The lights were screwed up. No way were my actors going on naked in bright light. We explained it to the audience, who were very good natured about it. We continued with the show without the prolouge. It was fixed halfway through the show.
I worked on a show where the set caught fire at half-hour, and on another show there was a heat wave that caused a power outtage and the show was cancelled. Then this past winter my show was cancelled due to 27 inches of snow.
Wow. No wonder I enjoy drinking... 

250

Employment / Re: just resigned :(

« on: Nov 01, 2006, 10:58 am »

I am sorry that this is happening to you. I do believe that you would regret staying instead of leaving.
This too, shall pass. In a few months this will be a memory and you'll be better for it.

(One has to think, what kind of person curses out another person in front of everyone???)

251

Tools of the Trade / Re: how essential is a kit?

« on: Oct 24, 2006, 09:22 am »

I have a kit.  It sits in the storage room of my rehearsal hall where it pretty much has been for two years.

If you are working for a resident theater, and they have an office and supplies, why bring a kit?  So, my office supplies, my first aid supplies, my toys are get used, stolen or broken?  (speaking as somone who has purchased over 20 tape measures in his career)/

The kit is great to have if you are freelancing and moving about, but honestly I am not sure why I would be expected to bring in supplies - that's the theatre's responsibilities to have tools, to have first aid supplies, to office supplies, etc, etc - not mine.

Now, when I freelanced, sure, I loved have the kit, and being there ready to pull out a sepctic pencil or some off office supply - but I work in a different thing now - where I stock my office, and I make sure my office has everything I need . . . when I leave here, who knows.

I agree. I have a kit and a file box. I only open it once a year to throw out stuff that got funky. The theatres I tend to work at have these supplies. I did work for a small company this summer where I requested petty cash to get supplies.

I finally threw out the file box when I got my laptop.
If I continue to work for larger theatres, I will probably store my kit away. I won't throw it out since it was the first thing I bought when I decided to go into stage management full time.

252

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera suggestions

« on: Oct 23, 2006, 10:31 am »

I understand how you feel about the SMA. For a while, I didn't join due to that.
However, they are trying to branch outside of New York. This website is also joining forces with SMA.
I have noticed that many of the job postings have been outside of NYC. There has been a lot of opera job postings in the past (which inspired me to get into opera)

253

Stage Management: Other / Re: Just SMed my first fashion show

« on: Oct 16, 2006, 09:42 am »

Congrats! I'm glad that it all worked out well for you.

254

Stage Management: Other / Re: Opera suggestions

« on: Oct 16, 2006, 09:39 am »

I agree with operaamerica.org being a great resource. They list all company members and their websites.

It was a great tool to help me secure my first opera job.

255

The Hardline / Re: MRE

« on: Aug 31, 2006, 01:36 pm »

I worked on an SPT that had an MRE. (wow. Sounds like I'm speaking another language there)

I did have an actress use the MRE clause to go work on a film for a few days. Bottom line is that if you found work that will pay you more than your contract and it's not before a public performance (not sure as to how many days) you can do it.  I also think it can apply to stage managers as well.

Read the rulebook carefully. If still confused, call the Equity Rep.