HAVE I EVER READ THE RULE BOOK?

[MatthewShiner]

Interesting note . . . after combing the book . . . there is this rule . . .

(b) Each Stage Manager and Assistant Stage Manager shall have a meal break of no less than one hour during each work day at an appropriate interval. (It goes on to list the penalty)

Does this mean that even on straight sixes, the SM and ASM gets a meal break?

Or does the Straight Six rule trump this?

I just found it interesting.

(I swear one time I will pick up that red book and find a rule stating that "ALL SMS MUST CALL THE SHOW DRESSED AS A CHICKEN."  I think new rules pop in all the time.)

[DeeCap]

It's a page turner that's for sure!

[VSM]

It's been my experience when doing straight sixes that we take a 20 minute break about halfway through rehearsal or when someone's eyes start glazing over from low-blood sugar. I always recommend that everyone bring food as opposed to going out for it as there simply isn't enough time.

If I'm in a chicken suit, where do I hang my mag?

[loebtmc]

This is what the reps have told me in the past:

the 6-hr option - 6 hrs straight and out, no meal break beyond that new 20-minute food window and no overtime - trumps the "after 5 hours you must have a one hour meal break" since the 6 hrs qualifies as a full day. If you intend to work more than 6 hrs, then you have to have that meal break after 5 hours, and than you work your regular 7 out of 8 or 9 (or whatever your contract and the cast vote is assuming on the first day the cast did the vote for a 1-hr meal break instead of 1.5 or 2).

Make sense?

someone pluck me...

[jspeaker]

Yeah... straight 6 trumps.

what else would you wear to call the show??

[MatthewShiner]

No, it all makes sense to me - it's just wierd that this rule exisits in the stage management section as it own rule.  (Other then to make a special penalty for the SM's meal break being missed.)

No, it makes sense.  I used a striaght six block all the time - I just never remember reading this rule about SM's meal break as something special.

Matthew "What I am going to do with all these Duck Costumes" Shiner

[isha]

....burn them.......MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!


..sorry..random outburst of stress that..
-isha

[VSM]

Well, you could throw a huge DISCO DANCE and we could all be...

Nah, too easy

[MatthewShiner]

let's not talk about the duck customs

VSM just bought all mine via ebay.

(Must be a west coast thing)

:-)

[smejs]

Totally different, but I actually did have to wear a gorilla mask as a non-Equity ASM before.  We were doing the 2 person show Solitary Confinement which basically has one guy on stage playing his own double and the only other person onstage's face is always covered...either by a suit of armor or a gorilla mask.  Well the change was so quick for both of them at the point where the burglar/killer is supposed to be coming in through a dumbwaiter, trying to cut through the cords tying the handles together, that I had to start the cutting of the rope from "inside" the dumbwaiter.  But sometimes the doors weren't tied shut that well, so I started having to wear a gorilla mask TOO, with a headset over it...the thought was that IF the audience saw anything they'd see the gorilla, and not even notice the black headset too.....

Erin

[MatthewShiner]

the vision of Erin in a Gorilla masks makes my day.

[Debo123]

Now that you're an Equity SM, would having to wear a gorilla mask require some sort of special rider? Do you get paid extra - how much do you suppose that would be worth? And if your theater is operating instead under the Section 9.7764xyz "chicken calling clause" previously mentioned, does the theater have to provide you with the chicken costume or is it BYOCC? Matt, you should also be asking important questions like these when you call on Tuesday. :-)

[VSM]

I know somebody who knows somebody that can get you chicken suits at a great price...

Of course, this offer is only good on the West Coast...

[StageMgrJon]

...Tigger.

Yes, Tigger.  I had a production manager at my last job who had "themed days" for tech (Pirate Day, Funny Hat Day, Hawaiian Shirt Day, Backward Cap Day, and Pajama Day), a holdover from his Community Theatre roots.

And yes, on almost every Pajama Day he would pull out his Tigger suit.  I mean the full thing from the feet to the hood with ears.

Talk about a good way to laugh at your boss.  Of course it was kinda cute.

[ChaCha]

I've always found this 'hardline' section fascinating but largely unfathomable...now i am sure that your US union rules would require a lifetime of study!

ChaCha the Chook