Crazy Schedule!

[ThanosIsKing]

So, in my final semester of college, my free time has gone away, perhaps never to return. I know that I've mentioned the two plays I'm working on at the moment, one that has kind of a jerk for a director but he's also a friend, and another that's going to be a load of fun but seems to want to over-rehearse (show is an hour and a half, no intermissions, and director wants to rehearse for 4 hours a day, 6 days a week). Well, it turns out that the number of shows I have commitments to has doubled to 4. Third show is tied to a class I'm taking; it's kind of a PSA show for kids about the ear. Fourth show is a 10-minute play. Each student in the directing class directs a 10-minute play, from analysis to casting to rehearsal to performance. Now this last one is a bit special for me, because I've been auditioning for 4 years, and this is the first time I've been cast. Again, my final semester. The only problem is that the performances for the 10-minute is during the same week as hell week for the play I'm stage managing (the one I think is being over-rehearsed).

So I'm very torn. My career seems to tell me that I should decline the role, since I don't see myself as an actor, SMs are almost required for each rehearsal during hell week, and the 10-minute play doesn't really pad the resume that well. On the other hand, 4 frigging years, man.

Lucky I've got Spring Break to try and figure out my schedule.

[trailerparkmedic]

As someone who is also incredibly stressed and overstretched this semester--DROP IT.

You may have been auditioning for 4 years, but how long have you been in school, working for good grades? What does a risk/reward analysis indicate about the 10 minute play? It sounds like the risks outweigh any rewards.

[AdminAssistant]

A few things:

1) When are the performances? As in, is it physically possible for you to do both?
2) What other class stuff do you have going on? Will the time commitment cause you to do poorly in the other classes?
3) Have you already begun rehearsal for the 10 minute play? Because if you have, dropping out would be a dick move, frankly. The theatre world is a small one, and a slight miff today may cost you a job a few years from now.

Honestly, unless it's physically impossible for you to do the 10 minute piece, I'd say do it. I know you're overloaded, but that's stage management for you. I'm friends with quite a few, and it's very common to be rehearsing one play during the day, running another performance at night, while prepping for the next show down the line. But that's why SM's are among the highest paid professionals in the business (more than actors, no, really!)

Are you getting any Equity points at the theatre you're working at now? Career-wise, that should be your focus. Gotta get that AEA card.

[ThanosIsKing]

1) When are the performances? As in, is it physically possible for you to do both?
2) What other class stuff do you have going on? Will the time commitment cause you to do poorly in the other classes?
3) Have you already begun rehearsal for the 10 minute play? Because if you have, dropping out would be a dick move, frankly. The theatre world is a small one, and a slight miff today may cost you a job a few years from now.

1) Found out that the performances don't conflict at all. During the day I'd be rehearsing/in normal class/performing, and at night I'd be running the full-length play.
2) Most of my classes are really light on preparation, and outside work is minimal. I'm not worried about my time management. If anything, I'm most worried about keeping 4 different scripts straight in my head at once!
3) Had our first rehearsal this afternoon. I went over it with my 10-minute director, and we're all cool.

I'm friends with quite a few, and it's very common to be rehearsing one play during the day, running another performance at night, while prepping for the next show down the line. But that's why SM's are among the highest paid professionals in the business (more than actors, no, really!)

This is pretty much what's going on. Good thing is that the performances are during class time anyway, so it turns out that I'm not going to miss out on any work. Rehearsals are also during the day, so I'm in the clear.

But that's why SM's are among the highest paid professionals in the business (more than actors, no, really!)

And I enjoy it a lot. I just found this shirt design and I MUST HAVE IT! So true!

Are you getting any Equity points at the theatre you're working at now? Career-wise, that should be your focus. Gotta get that AEA card.

Unfortunately, no. Equity opportunities around here are very slim. Only 3 equity theatres in my entire city. I've still got family and connections back in Chicago, though, so as soon as possible I'm gonna see about looking up opportunities back there.

[AdminAssistant]

Chicago is a *great* place to start out. There are tons of little storefront theatres that need SMs, ASMs, PAs, etc. You might not get paid, but you can get experience. You may also want to look at an MFA program once you get a few years practical experience under your belt. Good way to make connections, learn skills, gain even more experience*, etc.

*Especially if you go to a school connected to a regional theatre like U of Alabama, U of Arizona, UMKC, etc.

[Jester]

I just found this shirt design and I MUST HAVE IT!

Get it. Get it now. You will never, ever, ever regret it. The day I got my "Bartenders are gods" t-shirt was awesome. The fact that I got it for free for participating in a Finlandia Vodka bartender competition made it that much better, though I had seen and wanted the shirt before I ever knew about the competition.

*Especially if you go to a school connected to a regional theatre like U of Alabama, U of Arizona, UMKC, etc.

FUCK the University of Arizona!

Ooops. Sorry! That had nothing whatsoever to do with theater or stage managing. It's just that I went to Arizona State, and that's pretty much a normal reaction when I hear them mentioned.

[AdminAssistant]

I understand, Jester, but Arizona State is not, to my knowledge, connected to a LORT regional theatre, and University of Arizona is. I went to UMKC (connected w/ Kansas City Repertory Theatre) and the stage management MFA's often served as Production Assistants for KC Rep shows (when not SM'ing UMKC shows, of course). That means 1) resume building and 2) networking. Plus, if the crew at KC Rep (or Arizona Rep or, etc.) like you, that means that there's a chance you could get hired for SM or ASM work, and that means Equity points which are *really* important.

Trust me, I understand where you're coming from. But sometimes school loyalty has to step down to job opportunities.

[Jester]

But sometimes school loyalty has to step down to job opportunities.

Absolutely. And U of A is a *cough* fine *choke* learning *gasp* institution. And if you say it's a good theater school, than I have no doubt *ack* that it *merk* is. And I am glad that I am not in theater and don't have to make that decision or cross that line. In my major, ASU was far superior to U of A. But there are several fields where the reverse is *gack* true. Pre-med and mathematics, for example. And apparently theater as well. Or so I hear.

It's just a natural reaction of mine to dog them. Can't help it. Three high schools, one college. Do the math.

[AdminAssistant]

I'm the same way about another U of A (Arkansas), which I affectionately call Walmart University. I'm sure it's a fine school, and Fayetteville is a lovely city to live in and blah blah blah. Arkansas State is better in every sense of the word. Mostly because I went there.

Complete sidebar to the sidebar here - I actually like smaller state universities for undergrad. Yes, my current school is great, but I would never send a kid here for undergrad. Too big, too impersonal, and, frankly, too much of a party "beer and circus" atmosphere. Also it's freaking expensive!