Messages

31

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Can A Stage Manager Give A Dirty Sound Techie The Boot?

« on: Apr 28, 2008, 10:38 am »

Because it is high school, I would suggest that you leave any discipline to faculty/administration. Furthermore, you should be sure to talk to the faculty as soon as possible.

32

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Can A Stage Manager Give A Dirty Sound Techie The Boot?

« on: Apr 26, 2008, 03:03 pm »

I agree that the guy seems to have lots of strikes against him.  In my opinion the SM needs to talk with the sound tech's boss about his replacement or his discipline, but this stuff still needs to be listed on the report on a daily basis, and the SM still is not in the position to reprimand or fire the technician.

33

Tools of the Trade / Re: The Internet

« on: Apr 25, 2008, 02:01 am »

With the theatre I work for, laptop computers are provided for the rehearsal room. This can be very useful when needing to accomplish a few tasks without distraction. The most useful times are when needing to contact stage door.  They are at a computer all the time and receive emails instantly.  So when the air needs turned on, or if it's getting too cold, shoot stage door an email and they call facilities. if the weather looks bad, send them an email and they'll let you know about alerts.

Also, the SM staff has begun to use google talk as a way of communicating to each other in the rehearsal room instead of whispering back and forth. It is used primarily for work related things...but every once in a while other conversations can begin between the SMs...we do our best to keep it in check.

Of course there is the obvious.  Reports sent via email, a lot of designer/department emails instead of phone calls.  The schedule is posted daily in a folder that the entire theatre can see (in the computer network) so it is not sent by email. Hard copies are still distributed of course.

Actors do not give their email addresses and we do not email them for any reason. Most of the time they check the tape for their daily call, but any other communication with them is at rehearsal or on the phone.

Being online can be a great help to a process. When in rehearsal you can get answers much quicker than if you're without internet. Looking up info on wikipedia or google can also help a lot. Of course this goes the opposite way, and I think to some degree those of us with internet in the room fall into the trap from time to time...sometimes we do look at things on the computer that are not work related. That, simply put, is the major pitfall.

34

The Green Room / Re: SMs in media?

« on: Apr 25, 2008, 01:49 am »

Four pages of SM examples and no one mentions the SM from Waiting for Guffman!!!

"We're on in 15 minutes"

...help me everyone, I can't think of anything else she says, but she always makes me laugh!

And if you haven't seen the move, shame on you and GO RENT IT NOW!   

35

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Can A Stage Manager Give A Dirty Sound Techie The Boot?

« on: Apr 25, 2008, 01:18 am »

I ask because if it were a professional venue the stage manager has reign over anyone in the venue. 

Sorry. I've got to disagree with you on this one, at least from my experience. If I were having problems with my sound tech, I'd talk to him/her about the problems I was having with his/her supervisor present.  Though during shows I'm the one running the show and making the decisions, I do not have reign over everyone in the venue. I have a boss just like he/she has a boss.  This may be different in the venues that you've worked in, but from all of my experience, talking to that person's is your best bet.

Also, be sure to note all the problems in the daily report. That alone might whip them into shape (out of embarrassment) and will also provide documentation of the problem. If the sound has feedback tomorrow, put it on the report. If it has feedback the next day, on the report again. Sooner or later they'll get the hint.

36

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Sound Booth Clean?

« on: Apr 24, 2008, 11:03 am »

I think suggesting it is fine, but just a reminder that we as stage managers aren't the head-honcho's.  We don't run the theatre and it is not our place to mandate how another department keeps their areas maintained.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Cast/Crew call format question

« on: Apr 16, 2008, 11:47 am »

I am a fan of calling relative to beginners. However I do not think that that is the norm in the US (please correct me if I am mistaken)

Mac- You are correct. At least for the half hour call, it's not the norm to make the call relative to beginners or places.  The main reason for this is that with union casts, their standard call time is 30 minutes before the top of the show, not 30 minutes before places.  As far as 15 min, 5 min, I do call those relative to the places call, and make the places call between 2 and 5 minutes before GO depending on where the dressing rooms are (usually more like 2 minutes)

The theatre I work at, I need to call the show name but not the company.  Since there is one paging system serving 2 different stages and usually 2 different casts, it's necessary to denote who I'm talking to---however, since the paging system is shared, many times an ASM from one of the casts will make both calls simultaneously, as the same information is going out... as in "Ladies and Gentleman of X and Y, this is your 15 minute call. 15 minutes until the top of Act I."

38

Tools of the Trade / Re: Wireless Headset

« on: Mar 08, 2008, 01:54 pm »

From what I've understood, the cheapest wireless systems are around $1500. And they don't work well.

One option might be to get some walkie talkies with earpieces if you need constant communication with others while not at the tech table or on headset.

Other than that, from what I understand of the wireless headset world, you'll have to spend quite a bit of money to get a system that works well.

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The Green Room / Re: Things You'll Never Hear a Stage Manager Say

« on: Mar 05, 2008, 10:41 pm »

"No fast food for me, thank you.  I only eat organic, all natural foods."

I think you'd be surprised on that one. I for one don't eat fast food!  To be completely honest, eating good food during tech week can make ALL the difference!

40

Tools of the Trade / Re: Spike corners

« on: Feb 22, 2008, 03:21 pm »

Well, if the stage floor is laid down and painted specifically for the show there's no reason it would be a problem. It's really no different than spike marks. If the floor is not specific to that show, I suppose one would need permission.

41

Tools of the Trade / Re: Spike corners

« on: Feb 22, 2008, 12:49 am »

I agree with Thomas'  comment.

My preference is to use spike tape until we're at opening, when I know things won't change, then use colored paint pens to draw the spikes onto the floor. Saves me having to check if they've come up off the floor, and I can make the paint pen do any shape I want!

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Tools of the Trade / Re: i discovered the best SM/backstage shoes ever

« on: Feb 06, 2008, 11:03 am »

I have a pair of Steve Madden tenni's that I really like. They are comfortable and make me look damn sexy at my console backstage!

43

Tools of the Trade / Re: A stopwatch that doesn't keep accurate time?

« on: Feb 06, 2008, 10:58 am »

How did the director hold auditions for ghosts? 

44

Tools of the Trade / Re: i discovered the best SM/backstage shoes ever

« on: Feb 06, 2008, 10:57 am »

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I just go with black or dark tennis shoes.  Since the number of days that you are actually on your feet for 12hrs/day are limited, I'm fine with what I've got. Plus-- I got to look good backstage!

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Injured actor, no understudy

« on: Feb 06, 2008, 10:52 am »

Well, since this is before opening, in my opinion, this is not the SMs responsibility to solve the problem. It's for the director and the artistic director (who decided that understudies weren't important or affordable).  An SM can only do so much to fix a problem that's not fixable. Not having understudies is a huge problem. It ties your hands to a point. Of course another person can stand onstage reading the lines from the script but I always find that to be really annoying. 

If this were a week into the run and it happened, in this situation I'd contact management since no understudies were hired, and alert them to the problem. Worst case scenario would be then to make an announcement before the show explaining that a pivitol moment of the show will not be played out. OR, as mentioned above, have a stand-in onstage to read lines (like an intern from the company) But since it's before opening, I think the SM just goes with and helps to implement whatever decision the director and artistic director make (and if the SM has suggestions or ideas, he/she should throw them in of course!)