Messages

16

The Green Room / Re: Silly things done when we're not at our best

« on: Apr 21, 2015, 10:38 am »

So my rehearsal studio is a pretty informal place, we like to joke a bit and as anyone who SMs for ballet knows sometimes you just make up names for movements or lifts so that you can easily identify them in blocking notes. Well my director loves them and thinks their funny so spurred on by the idea that wow people think I'm funny I should open my mouth more when a new young dancer wasn't getting the concept of Phantom of the Opera (really who doesn't know the story of phantom?) so I blurt out "basically it's like Friend-zoned the opera" To which 90% of the room cocked their heads in confusion while the one other native english speaker tried desperately to hold back laughter.
  I should have left it there but instead I proceeded to try to explain the concept of friendzone-ing and how it applies to Phantom of the Opera to a room containing ESL dancers and my Ukrainian Artistic Director.

That happened and my American dancer will NEVER let me live it down.

17

Employment / Prospect letter

« on: Apr 19, 2015, 11:22 am »

Hi all,

  I'm looking for summer work in ballet and was about to write a prospect letter to send out to some companies I'm interested in and realized....how do I write one? Anyone have positive experience sending one that may have suggestions? I'm thinking a quick work experience summary and a little bit of why I want to work with you?

18

Stage Management: Other / Re: Roadhouse SM

« on: Apr 16, 2015, 09:26 am »

I have found from experience being a touring SM that a good modus operandi for communicating with companies is email-phone call and then email confirming what was said in the phone call. And make sure you get whomever is in charge the day of from that company's cell number. If they don't show up or are lost (as is often the case trying to navigate college campuses for load ins!) if you can just quickly get in touch with them it will save a lot of wasted time.

19

Stage Management: Other / Company package for new company members

« on: Apr 16, 2015, 09:23 am »

Hi all,

  As we reach the end of the dance season at my company(we've got approx 6 weeks left and no new shows just running one we've been doing all season) I'm starting to prep for next season. We will be bringing in 3 new dancers and I was looking for help/input on what to include in a dancer intro package. They would be moving here from at the very least other parts of the country and not unlikely other parts of the world and so I want them to feel welcomed and informed about the company practices and where we live but have no idea where to start realistically so...help?

Thanks!

20

Stage Management: Other / Rehearsal DVDs becoming obsolete

« on: Feb 04, 2015, 08:26 am »

Hi all, so I am running into a problem that I am sure I am not the first to run into so I wanted to see what other people have done/thought of. As a ballet SM a big part of what I do is maintain a DVD library of past performances so that dancers can take a copy home to review their parts prior to rehearsal. DVDs are great, they are physical copies I can lock so they can't be ripped and people have to give them back when they are done. Unfortunately the physical medium is not working for most of my dancers who have laptops without DVD drives or use tablets. USB keys work for people with laptops but half of our dancers don't have laptops either. I have thought of private Youtube links but whats to stop it being shared? Thoughts?

21

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What is a "good" pay for touring gigs?

« on: Jan 30, 2015, 09:44 am »

My first touring gig out of university was $100 non show days (rehearsals, travel etc) and 125 for show days plus 31/day per dium...diem? It was short jaunts like you with a company that toured part time. It was a good gig right out of the bat, some companies make up the difference in pay with a) being amazing people, and b) adding a lot to the touring experience (We got a lot of activities organized for us that we wouldn't have been able to do other wise like private winery tours and behind the scenes at the zoo!). Touring is a difficult business to break into sometimes. If they seem like a good company that treats their people well and you can pay your bills and then some I say go for it. But keep in mind PD goes fast and you will want to spend more money than you normally would (at least I did!) and get in the habit of buying whatever groceries you can use in a hotel room or pack your lunches for the week before you set out! Also resist the urge to drink your PD it's a bad habit that is VERY hard to kick (she says 6 years in and still drinking her PD away).
  Have fun! Make yourself get out and see the sights touring can be a great opportunity to see places you never would otherwise!

22

Stage Management: Other / Re: Help Organizing costumes...

« on: Jan 29, 2015, 03:59 pm »

So helpful! And yes I do fittings and everything. We don't even have a seamstress, I do fittings and try to communicate that to our local alterations shop and then drop of the costumes and pick them up when they are done as they won't come to the studio to do fittings. It's very stressful. Things I come up against include;all of the costumes moved from their locations on the costume racks in the warehouse to behind a bunch of dirty risers and set pieces so my ATD could store his 4-wheeler up on blocks in the warehouse for the winter... 

  Thanks for all your input!

23

Stage Management: Other / Help Organizing costumes...

« on: Jan 26, 2015, 09:53 am »

I apologize if this is in the wrong area! I am the new CSM of a ballet company who has no wardrobe mistress. I will pause and let that sink in for a second. Are we all back? We tour 5 different shows per season plus have a youth program which mounts two full musicals per year. We have a lot of costume items that bounce back and forth between shows as well (white shirts, mens trousers etc). I am trying to get our costume situation organized more efficiently, right now it is more or less by show with accessories in boxes or tupperware all over the warehouse. Does anyone have ANY suggestions what so ever on getting this set up more logically? Right now I have to try to sift through all the shows to put up a new one to see where blank costume item was last used. Also I have just come on board and no costume inventory is left from previous shows before the inventory I've been plugging away at with costumes used this season. We also have no shop so I have 2 6' wide closets and some warehouse space with pipes hung over head for costume storage.
  ANY suggestions would be super helpful I'm sure as I am very much NOT a costume person!

Thanks

24

Employment / Re: ASM vs. PA

« on: Nov 10, 2014, 09:11 am »

It's so different. In the theatres where we've had PAs (which is very few ) they've basically just been workers who are young enough (or lack experience) and so the company feels justified in paying them less than their co-workers for the same job. We had a PA who was a scenic painter and thats what she did but because she was only 2 years out of school and management felt justified in paying her less because of it.
  It all depends I guess

25

Employment / 2 volunteer ASMs needed in Canada

« on: Nov 10, 2014, 08:59 am »

Hi all,
  I'm looking for 2 volunteer ASMs for A Christmas Carol in Moncton New Brunswick. The show is a joint venture with the Atlantic Ballet and its youth education wing so its a mix of professional and community members. The show runs Dec 12 & 13 and Load in is Dec 6&7 with tech running 6-9pm monday-friday of the week of the show. It's a big show but would be great opportunity to get a little more experience if you are a student SM and a reference letter on letterhead would be provided if you do a good job!

Feel free to PM me or send me an email at stagemanager@atlanticballet.ca for more info!

Thanks all

26

Stage Management: Other / Re: How To call a Dance Show when your Unsure

« on: Nov 10, 2014, 08:50 am »

Let us know how it goes - and if you picked up any special tips or tricks to share with the rest of us!

Merde!

Agree! I'm always looking for ways to make calling easier, I just did a show that averaged a visual cue every 20 seconds for a whole act...it can be tough!

27

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Prop turkey

« on: Oct 24, 2014, 08:57 am »

Any suggestions on how to replicate the raw skin look with paint?

28

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

« on: Oct 23, 2014, 12:53 pm »

I agree with jr! Some people are just terrible at responding to emails so its good to have a little walk and chat. The accountant at my company has never sent me an email but when I go to her office I see she has printed off all my notes and highlighted out anything that pertains to her and has them on her desk for reference.

29

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALLING: Calling Score examples and advice

« on: Oct 22, 2014, 10:18 am »

Haha could you? You would be my new favourite person (especially since we have 9 days of rehearsal until our tech DAY)

30

Tools of the Trade / Re: Books Books Books

« on: Oct 22, 2014, 10:04 am »

if you are Canadian Stage Managing the Arts in Canada by Winston Morgan is great is sits on my desk constantly full of post it flags!