61
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Require cast to have an email?
« on: Sep 06, 2009, 11:40 am »I can't imagine how management of acting calls was done 10+ years ago.
Effeciently and with a lot less lateness.
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Effeciently and with a lot less lateness.
62
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Multitaskers are "Lousy at Everything"
« on: Aug 31, 2009, 07:21 pm »I don't think that it's possible to do the job of a stage manager without some-to-a-lot of multitasking. Things just happen too fast for us to focus on only one thing until it's done!
I agree. However when we multi-task it is, as tempest_gypsy later listed, all related to our job.
Well, I would say in the example given by Tempest_gypsy, that being on book, writing line notes and tracking changes in blocking are all one "track" and can be done at once: sending an email to the costume designer and trying to choreograph complex scene changes are two seperate tracks that have nothing to to do with paying attention to the rehearsal and should properly be part of homework.
63
SMNetwork Archives / Multitaskers are "Lousy at Everything"
« on: Aug 31, 2009, 11:02 am »
[Moderators -- not sure what forum this belongs in.]
For those of you who think you can take blocking, text, and check your email at the same time...please take note of this recent study, as described in the NY Times.
“Multitaskers were just lousy at everything...it turns out that high multitaskers are suckers for irrelevancy...[they] think they’re great at what they do; and they’ve convinced everybody else they’re good at it, too.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/weekinreview/30pennebaker.html?_r=1
For those of you who think you can take blocking, text, and check your email at the same time...please take note of this recent study, as described in the NY Times.
“Multitaskers were just lousy at everything...it turns out that high multitaskers are suckers for irrelevancy...[they] think they’re great at what they do; and they’ve convinced everybody else they’re good at it, too.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/weekinreview/30pennebaker.html?_r=1
64
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Contact Sheets
« on: Aug 25, 2009, 11:27 pm »
I don't include designers, vendors, crew etc. in my actors contact sheet.
65
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Too many sick days on Broadway.....
« on: Aug 23, 2009, 10:19 am »
I need to check with sources to find out more about the current state of affairs.
But I do know the first time I heard of this phenom was during the earlier days of Rent. According to an audio engineer on the show, the producers refused to hire singers with legitimate voices and insisted on hiring talent lacking in proper training (in order to retain a "gritty" feeling.) Without legitimate training, these perfromers continually blew out their voices, so absenteeism soared.
But I do know the first time I heard of this phenom was during the earlier days of Rent. According to an audio engineer on the show, the producers refused to hire singers with legitimate voices and insisted on hiring talent lacking in proper training (in order to retain a "gritty" feeling.) Without legitimate training, these perfromers continually blew out their voices, so absenteeism soared.
66
College and Graduate Studies / Re: Transitioning into community theatre
« on: Jul 30, 2009, 10:29 am »
The best book (or anything) I've read on community theatre is: The Stuff of Dreams: Behind the Scenes of an American Community Theater by Leah Hager Cohen.
(The tone is more anthropological/sociological than most theatre books but Leah participated in theatre as undergraduate so it might be an interesting viewpoint for you.)
(The tone is more anthropological/sociological than most theatre books but Leah participated in theatre as undergraduate so it might be an interesting viewpoint for you.)
67
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: What I did over my summer vacation...
« on: Jun 11, 2009, 12:52 pm »IIn there, before July 6, I have to ride 24 more roller coasters to finish my "100 Roller Coasters in a 100 days" Challenge.
Awesome! Do you have a Six Flags Season Pass? Have you hit up either of the "new" (actually remodeled) "Bizarro"s -- we got on the one at Great Adventure this past Monday -- the soundtrack and the FX are a hoot.
68
The Hardline / Re: Stage Manager's Association
« on: May 12, 2009, 11:33 am »Even though the SMA is the only professional stage manager's organization very few of its members are working Broadway, Off Broadway or LORT.
I strongly question this assertion.
69
Tools of the Trade / Re: drug use onstage
« on: Apr 20, 2009, 08:56 pm »
Geez, I really find it hard to believe that actors need to be actually snorting any substance onstage -- seems terribly ill-advised to me. Can't this be solved with judicious staging?
70
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?
« on: Apr 14, 2009, 12:46 pm »Even in rehearsal, I tend to dress a bit more. For me, dressing up a bit means "I'm going to work" and helps to put me in the right mindset. I'm also the crazy sort that really enjoys working in a dress, jewelry, etc. My producer always says that I don't dress like a typical stage manager!
How do you tape the rehearsal floor, manipulate props, and move around unobtrusively in a dress and jewelry?
71
The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo
« on: Mar 04, 2009, 06:52 pm »Therefore I've done something a little creative this time around.
Every day will be using the "Mixed Bag" topic.
Craaazy -- sounds like fun!
Avanti!
72
Employment / Re: Unemployment Benefits Claims??
« on: Feb 07, 2009, 10:03 am »
Allison is completely on target in her caveat on unemployment and Showcase. Also note that no money you earn on a 1099 job can be used in calculating your unemployment benfits.
73
Employment / Re: Company Management
« on: Feb 04, 2009, 12:47 pm »
Law school would be a good graduate degree for company management.
74
Employment / Re: Blacklist of companies for SMs?
« on: Feb 04, 2009, 12:40 pm »
I think that warnings about "bad" companies can be useful and I don't have any ethical qualms about it. Some producers do deserve to have their names dragged through the mud. (Discussion about a companies past practises is fair game on the Equity committee meetings that I've been involved in (when companies/producers are asking for concessions.))
Probably too many early-career folk on this board for this to be a useful and fair forum in this context.
BackstageJobs.com does offer a "Rants and Raves" forum for members (replaces thier old "Blacklist" forum) that see light traffic.
In general, such discussion might be better suited for in-person moments (SMA drink nights and other semi-informal gatherings).
But don't think that Producers aren't willing to bad-mouth any of us to their peers. And that producers with questionable practises don't count on our tendency (and actors especially) to keep our mouths shut. Some of these people have been getting away like this for a long time.
P.S. And in response to the original posting -- your union rep. is the appropriate AEA context to register your complaint about questionable practises. And checking with appropriate rep. before you sign a contract might be a good idea.
Probably too many early-career folk on this board for this to be a useful and fair forum in this context.
BackstageJobs.com does offer a "Rants and Raves" forum for members (replaces thier old "Blacklist" forum) that see light traffic.
In general, such discussion might be better suited for in-person moments (SMA drink nights and other semi-informal gatherings).
But don't think that Producers aren't willing to bad-mouth any of us to their peers. And that producers with questionable practises don't count on our tendency (and actors especially) to keep our mouths shut. Some of these people have been getting away like this for a long time.
P.S. And in response to the original posting -- your union rep. is the appropriate AEA context to register your complaint about questionable practises. And checking with appropriate rep. before you sign a contract might be a good idea.
75
SMNetwork Archives / Re: Just neet to vent...
« on: Nov 19, 2008, 10:40 am »
I have to say that if this is a real "Off Broadway" show with an Equity contract -- not a Showcase, that the Producers and the actors have every right to expect that the ASM be in attendance for every rehearsal and not be scheduled for a weekly absence.
Whether the pay seems adequate or not, any contract is considered a full time job and needs to be the employee's primary obligation.
Off Broadway committee members and their representatives in contract negotiations fought long and hard to get the ASM requirement into as many productions as possible and anything less than a full-time obligation weakens the position that the ASM is a vital part of the rehearsal process.
Sunday as the day off is the norm for the rehearsal process. (If I understand my sources correctly, Shrek is continuing Sunday day off throught the preview period, even though they are exepcted to go to Monday day off once the show officially opens).
Personally, as either production manager or PSM, I would prefer a 2nd choice ASM who is completely available to a first choice who isn't.
There is a surplus of qualified stage managers in NYC who are looking for contract work.
On the other, if this is an Equity approved Showcase, then the language in the Showcase agreement stipulates that the rehearsal schedule be built around the Actor's availability and I believe this should include Stage Management.
Whether the pay seems adequate or not, any contract is considered a full time job and needs to be the employee's primary obligation.
Off Broadway committee members and their representatives in contract negotiations fought long and hard to get the ASM requirement into as many productions as possible and anything less than a full-time obligation weakens the position that the ASM is a vital part of the rehearsal process.
Sunday as the day off is the norm for the rehearsal process. (If I understand my sources correctly, Shrek is continuing Sunday day off throught the preview period, even though they are exepcted to go to Monday day off once the show officially opens).
Personally, as either production manager or PSM, I would prefer a 2nd choice ASM who is completely available to a first choice who isn't.
There is a surplus of qualified stage managers in NYC who are looking for contract work.
On the other, if this is an Equity approved Showcase, then the language in the Showcase agreement stipulates that the rehearsal schedule be built around the Actor's availability and I believe this should include Stage Management.