Messages

16

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS: Post your requests for electronic scripts here!

« on: May 18, 2014, 05:30 pm »

Looking ahead to next season, does anyone have editable versions of the following:

Rounding Third by Richard Dresser
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
Unnecessary Farce by Paul Slade Smith
Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits by Gerard Alessandrini

Thanks all!

17

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Non-Dairy Stage Dip?

« on: May 11, 2014, 10:00 pm »

What about actually using dairy free yogurt? Almond Dream makes yogurts that are dairy free. There are also soy based yogurts in a variety of flavors. I'm not familiar with the show so I'm not sure of all the technicalities, but if you just browse for a bit in the organic section of your grocery store (Wegmans has the almond dream brand in the Nature's Marketplace section) you can find a variety of dairy free options.

And here are some dairy free vegan mayo recepies: http://www.treehugger.com/easy-vegetarian-recipes/3-recipes-homemade-vegan-mayonnaise.html

18

Self-Promotion / Man of LaMancha

« on: Apr 27, 2014, 02:13 am »

I'm actually super excited about the show I'm working on right now- Man of LaMancha is usually a really large scale production, and our version has been really stripped down for a 130 seat theatre. With no room for an orchestra, the 9 actors play all of the instruments and much of the score has been re-arranged to work within the talents of the group. It adds an interesting flavor, and has been exciting to work on, and truly an interesting experience having to track instruments as well as props and such.

The local paper did a spot on us that you can see here: http://www.theintell.com/videos/local/man-of-la-mancha-rehearsal/html_9dca7283-1d1e-5f55-a6fe-3777d14ef4a2.html#.U1pys6YHxkY.facebook

I was a little excited to see myself at the SM table in the finished video- although I did a good job of avoiding the press people the actual day of rehearsal.

If anyone is in Philly the show performs at Act II Playhouse in Ambler (just north on the Lansdale/Doylestown regional line) with previews starting this Tuesday, and running until June 8th.

19

The Green Room / Re: "I quit!"

« on: Apr 09, 2014, 10:30 am »

Is funny, most stage managers would never think of quitting a show, or calling in sick, or asking for time off - until you get on a long running gig, and especially a long running commercial gig, when you are three years into a show (or longer) you realize the show indeed goes on, and you can leave - for a day, a week, or forever. Part of being a good stage manager means making sure the show can transition and continue when you leave for a day, a week or forever.

I am in my second year at the same theatre and had to finally step up to the plate and ask for a weekend of a show off. I have a wedding the last weekend of an unconfirmed extension. I was so extremely nervous to even broach the subject, but my husband insisted that if I never asked, I would be upset with myself. I spoke to the stage manager informally first, asking what she thought, and she said to go for it and email the production manager. When I did, I got a positive response, and they will have someone fill in for me the last few shows. Then in a crazy twist, the SM's daughter finally nailed down a date for her wedding- the same weekend. So the stage management team will be replaced for the weekend.

I moved far from home, as did my siblings, so we all rarely get together at the same time. As much as I love my job, I can tell you that looking forward to an event with my entire family (something that rarely happens once a year if at all) is a real highlight.

Now I have put in a lot of time and good work to feel comfortable asking for time off, but at least now that I've asked once, I won't be so fearful the next time something really important comes up.

20

Tools of the Trade / Re: SM App Price

« on: Apr 09, 2014, 01:09 am »

I was a little late jumping on the smartphone bandwagon, so maybe I could be considered a bit of a luddite, but I don't see the point of a "stage management app". Right now what I have is a folder of an assortment of free apps on my phone that work well for stage management. I think a single 'multi-purpose' app would just be too bulky for the variety and scope of work we do. I have a free Microsoft office suite type app, Scan to PDF which turns my photos to PDF files, a Stopwatch, Dropbox, and Box. All of which were free. And work just fine.

(And many apps I have found through recommendations from here- Thanks!)

21

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: MUSICALS: Covering missing actors

« on: Apr 09, 2014, 01:00 am »

Working on a musical right now with a group of actors with weird schedules, I am running into the same situation. However, it has not really become an issue for stage management. The actors are all covering for each other nicely. We have an intern to fill in spaces for blocking purposes, but when it comes to singing and lines, other actors are more familiar (and can obviously sing- something I cannot!) with the parts so they just jump right in.

22

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ASM supervising backstage

« on: Apr 09, 2014, 12:55 am »

As an ASM I totally appreciate this approach to management. I work with a resident stage manager, and we have been together for just over a full season now, so we really have a rhythm when we work together, and although our specific division of duties changes a little bit due to the needs of each individual show (we have worked on everything from one man shows to musicals to farce and drama) we work well as a team.

I think it is important to look at this from the ASM point of view as well- when I begin rehearsals (and even prep) for a show I try to step up to the plate and take on responsibilities without being asked. Now that I have been working for several years and really know how to anticipate the needs of a production, I take steps to do things before being asked. This has always been a good way for me to kind of forge a position for myself on the stage management team and show that I can work independently.

I like the idea of being a "Co-Stage Manager" as you had said, but this doesn't mean that I still don't get coffee and lunch for my boss a good deal of the time- there is a hierarchy- but we know where our strengths and weaknesses compliment each other so we can do an effective job.

23

Tools of the Trade / Re: Who builds your Qlab file, and how?

« on: Apr 09, 2014, 12:47 am »

The SPT level theatre I work at now uses Qlab just for sound and projection cues. Our sound designer always creates the files and lists to whatever works for them. Occasionally if it is a sound heavy show, I will have the theatre's laptop with Qlab at rehearsals, and have moved things around and done minor adjustments, but then during tech the Sound Designer will Screen Share with the Mac that I have backstage.

As the ASM I run both sound, and do backstage running, so this is the most convenient way to handle it. I always run the show off my own paperwork and script. The SM runs lights at the back of the house and doesn't have anything to do with the Qlab Mac.

24

The Hardline / Re: AEA: E-Cigarettes

« on: Feb 17, 2014, 05:33 pm »

I saw this news article, and thought that it was really important to share. E-cigs are not all created equal, and if they aren't regulated, it is tough to be confident in what they actually contain:

http://www.wgrz.com/story/life/2014/02/12/roswell-researchers-present-results-of-e-cigarette-studies/5407983/

25

Employment / Re: Theme park work

« on: Feb 03, 2014, 11:02 am »

I actually had some middle management experience from an amusement park before I started stage managing. Although it was a fun job, and I did learn a little about managing people, I think that my experiences directly involved in theatre were more important. My management experience was something I would put into a cover letter or mention during an interview, but my theatre work on my resume actually got me the interviews.

I agree with dance stage manager too that you should opt for a stagehand position as well. You will learn a lot backstage, and can possibly shadow the SM (officially or unofficially) and learn a lot that way.

26

Introductions / Re: Good day!

« on: Jan 25, 2014, 05:20 pm »

Welcome!

I love little stories like that- I was watching the special features for the Harry Potter films and the costume folks were talking about a man they covered in tatoos in knockturn alley that took hours and hours to do, and it ended up not being in the final cut of the film. They did show all the work in the special features, but it kills me inside to think of all that work on the cutting room floor.

27

Employment / Re: Reasons to Reject a Job Offer

« on: Jan 23, 2014, 07:12 pm »

At Home versus travel (this is becoming more and more important)

It is amazing to me too how much more important this is in my life now. I google maps a job before I even apply now. Having a real home instead of living out of my suitcase is so much more important.

28

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Unpaid Interns, Complicit Colleges

« on: Dec 22, 2013, 07:34 pm »

Interesting quote from the article:

"The United States Department of Labor says an intern at a for-profit company may work without pay only when the program is similar to that offered in a vocational school, benefits the student, does not displace a regular employee and does not entitle the student to a job; in addition, the employer must derive “no immediate advantage” from the student’s work and both sides must agree that the student is not entitled to wages." (emphasis is my own)

Considering many theatres are catagorized as non profits, are they to be held to the same standards?

--

Another point I wanted to address was the idea of When you are working an internship. I have worked two, one unpaid while I was a sophomore university student that my college helped me secure (it was not an advertised position) that I received college credit for, and another one that was paid, after I graduated that was advertised and essentially a low paying job. In college when I had only a few bills to pay and was primarily supported by my family, it was absolutly appropriate and feasable to essentially pay-to-work.  After that I took an internship to further my connections, and under the belief that work breeds work- at the time it was take the internship with housing and a low stipend, or move back home and work as a substitute teacher. Either way, I think timing was very important in each decision. You need to weigh where you are in your career and decide if the internship is worth it. In my case, I felt that I gained a lot in both situations.

29

The Green Room / Re: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PSMKAY

« on: Dec 22, 2013, 07:04 pm »

  Happy Birthday!!! Have so much Fun!! 

30

The Green Room / Re: Your Paranoia/Obsession

« on: Dec 16, 2013, 09:23 pm »

I'm paranoid about not having all the performance dates correct on my performance calendar.

This is totally legit. I just realized that my calendar has a show on it that doesn't exist. Thankfully I've only ever shown up for shows that have been cancelled/didn't exist rather than the other way around.