Author Topic: CALLING: Backstage or Booth? (meta-topic)  (Read 80850 times)

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Mac Calder

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Backstage or In the Booth?
« Reply #30 on: Dec 29, 2005, 06:16 pm »
The theatre is definatly the biggest impact on calling location. I prefer to call from PC with a video feed from FOH.

With the wonders of technology I have the ability to monitor the stage FAR better than a booth which is often 70m from the stage. A camera on a FOH bar with zoom and pan with infrared gives me a really good view of the stage, and the ability to zoom into an upcoming event on stage (ie a visual cue) means that I dont have to whip out the binoculars (which I have had to do on many an occasion from the booth. I also get to view the forestage from right up close, and can visually communicate with my trusty ASM's who are P and OP. It also gives far more direct access to the stage controls (like the iron and fire boards).

My 'uber' prompt desk baby has three LCD monitors which get the video feeds (as well as providing a number of other monitoring services), combined with a decent control surface I am probably better informed than ever, and could call the show from the foyer if needed with minimal hassel.... or from home (if we had a decent internet connection)

isha

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Backstage or In the Booth?
« Reply #31 on: Dec 29, 2005, 06:40 pm »
heheheh. The picture of stage management in the future... :D

"Need a job that you can work from home? well then stage management is right for you! everything is recorded live and transfered straight to your home, all the actors are in simulations (wherever they may be) so all can attend rehearsals. no need for anybody to do anything in person anymore..in fact audiences won't see any live performances because the shows use simulations for the actors to be there too! so it will look like everybody is there, but really all the audience is seeing is people being broadcast.
sounds remarkably like TV.....heheheheh......
anyways. sorry totally off topic..... 8O

-isha
~isha

Melugin

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:)
« Reply #32 on: Jan 30, 2006, 06:11 pm »
i'm with amy lee. ... i really enjoy watching the show and being able to see what is going on. i am glad to have 2-3 trusted ASM's backstage. :wink:
If All the World's a Stage, i want to operate the Trap Door!

MatthewShiner

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my 2 cents
« Reply #33 on: Jan 31, 2006, 01:01 pm »
if I have a choice, I choose backstage.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Anything posted here as in my own personal opinion, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of my employer - whomever they be at a given moment in time.

carebear3885q

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Backstage or In the Booth?
« Reply #34 on: Mar 09, 2006, 06:15 pm »
I would definatly choose backstage over the booth. But it all depends on the type of theatre and if from backstage you can see the stage clearly or not.
Carrie

Melugin

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Backstage or Booth?
« Reply #35 on: Mar 10, 2006, 06:17 pm »
Quote
I want to take over the back 2 rows of seats, or the front two in the balcony.

me too. i take over the first two seats in the balcony of my auditorium.  the sound guy loves it  because he can hear a lot better than inside a booth in the back of the auditorium. the Light OP and Sound OP are on either side of me. i don't really like it backstage becasue i can get distracted a lot and miss a cue. the ASMs are of course on headset with me so if there is a problem, the actors know where to go to. i make the executive decision based on what they told me happened backstage. one show (footloose) a girl was doing a kick and her toenail broke off when she smacked a speaker. they told me what happened as soon as they found out. luckily it was the start of intermission so i could leave and help backstage for 15 minutes before intermission ended.
If All the World's a Stage, i want to operate the Trap Door!

carebear3885q

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Definatly Depends!!
« Reply #36 on: Mar 13, 2006, 09:36 pm »
It mostly for me depends on the type of theatre. I usually call from backstage because the lighting and sound people were with us from the VERY beginning of the theatre company and the show and they know their stuff. I like being backstage with the teens and kids to be able to solve problems with them right away because thats most likely where the problems are going to occur. But for my school, when I SMed the way the theatre is designed you can't see from offstage L or R easily. So I would call from the booth for school shows.
Gotta Love both!!!!
Carrie

groovygert

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Backstage or In the Booth?
« Reply #37 on: Mar 21, 2006, 01:35 pm »
i prefer calling from the booth (so i can see exactly what is going on from the back of house). then i expect constant communication as able form backstage. it is important to me that i have dependable people on headset. i make sure all my crew knows my headset expectations. this was especialy important when i had an asm that refused to stay on headset during the run. (she didn't last long.)

i've only called from backstage during one show and that was because i was also in the show (originally cast in a small role in a local historical show) and was asked to sm after they lost the first one. it wasn't possible for me to get to the booth or anywhere close and still do my few scenes.

BalletPSM

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Backstage or In the Booth?
« Reply #38 on: Mar 21, 2006, 10:57 pm »
deja vu...this has been covered in the green room forum -- check there.

that said...backstage is best!
Stage managing is getting to do everything your mom told you not to do - read in the dark, sit too close to the TV, and play with the light switches!

Oobleck1441

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CALLING: I need everyones opinon... (booth vs backstage)
« Reply #39 on: Dec 26, 2006, 05:04 pm »
Any help would be great. I have recently had the torch passed to me from My director of where I would like to call the show. Either in the back of the Aud or backstage.

In the back of the Aud there is no booth. I would be at a table with my book, my callights, and headset with a clear view of the stage from the back. I am just worried that I will try not to make a lot of noise while calling the show

However, Backstage Is a small 10X10 area that has a view across the floor of the with a view of all the actors on stage and a view to the other wing. Also I would have a closed circut view of the stage from the back of the Aud. i would think it would be easier to call from back stage where I wont need to watch My noise as much and I would have more room to be organized.

I know this is a very vague idea and I have tried to fit all of this info into a couple paragraphs but any help or advice you can give would be very helpful and appreciative.
« Last Edit: Jun 09, 2009, 12:09 am by PSMKay »

LisaEllis

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Re: I need everyones opinon...
« Reply #40 on: Dec 26, 2006, 05:13 pm »
Hi there,

I always prefer to call from backstage, although for various reasons.  I too, would be uncomfortable being that close to the audience to do what I need to do.

Good luck!

mca

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Re: I need everyones opinon...
« Reply #41 on: Dec 26, 2006, 05:30 pm »
It sounds like you have a good setup backstage, so I would use it. I have only ever called from a booth, as our facilities at school do not easily allow the show to be called from the wings. You've got the CCTV and a view of the stage, so go with it from backstage.

Tempest

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Re: I need everyones opinon...
« Reply #42 on: Dec 27, 2006, 09:50 am »
I've called from both front of house and a backstage "booth."  Given the option to be front of house, in the light and sound booth, with reliable ASM's back stage, is my first choice, but I don't know that I'd like to be right in the house.  With your setup, it sounds like backstage is the way to go.  Let us know what you choose and how it works out.
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Scott

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Re: I need everyones opinon...
« Reply #43 on: Dec 27, 2006, 10:15 am »

Calling from onstage can be off putting at first if you aren't used to it -- but most Broadway shows (all?) are called this way and so are most operas.  Go for it!

Mac Calder

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Re: I need everyones opinon...
« Reply #44 on: Dec 27, 2006, 04:11 pm »
Traditionally, Prompt Corner (that small space back stage on the Stage Left side) is where you would call a show from, if you have the facilities.

Calling from the "booth" is a relatively new thing (compared to the age of the stage managers role), which has come about with a lot of theaters either being ex-cinemas, built to be able to act as a cinema or being built with multimedia capabilities (the booth being the projectionists room (bio-box)), and also from 'recent' explosion of black box theatres - at least that is my take on it - SM's moving from black-box and feeling more comfortable in the bio-box, or new SM's feeling more comfortable with the ops in a separate room.

If you plan on being an SM after school, then there is no question where you should call from - Prompt Corner - because chances are, if you ever get into anywhere remotely resembling the "Big time" you will be calling from PC. If you cannot trust your ops, then you may wish to be within hitting distance, so the back of the theatre is a good place, however if you cannot trust your ASM's, then PC once again.

 

riotous