Day: October 4, 2020

BIPOC Female Sound Designer – MidwestBIPOC Female Sound Designer – Midwest

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020| JessicapazJessicapaz| 0 Comment

“I believe that 10 out of 12 schedules is not a realistic schedule for a breastfeeding mother. This is from the perspective of a breastfeeding mom with a husband who works and the baby age two to six months. Clearly, for the single mother, the challenge will be much more… a breastfeeding mother working in a nonprofit (due to the lower fees the theatre needs to provide some sort of assistance for them. If not, the choice becomes either sacrificing a design job or her baby.”

“Some essentials and needs for a breastfeeding mom: housing within walking distance to the theatre, or a private safe space for the caretaker and her child. If the designer is local, the theatre should also provide transportation fees or support for commuting. Using public transportation late night after the production meeting is rough.”

READ MOREREAD MORE

Male BIPOC Admin/Design – WestMale BIPOC Admin/Design – West

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020| JessicapazJessicapaz| 0 Comment

“I accepted a tenure-track position and taught for nearly seven years at a public university with a majority BIPOC student body, and moreover, a significant percentage of underprivileged students, first-generation college students, and DACA recipients. It was saddening, then, to see students immersed in a theatre-making culture which reinforced damaging, self-sacrificing practices… unpaid sessions occurring during class hours, throughout the night… The spirit of volunteerism can be fiery and wonderful, but for many – especially for young BIPOC artists – the approach ultimately discourages engaging theatre as a meaningful profession. The exploitation begins early.”

READ MOREREAD MORE

Male BIPOC Admin/DesignMale BIPOC Admin/Design

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020| JessicapazJessicapaz| 0 Comment

“…The issues highlighted by the 10/12 tech rehearsal – would come into clear focus when, at age 36, I decided to enter a “soft retirement” of the robust regional theatre career I’d cultivated. It was the year my first child was born. I simply couldn’t afford to maintain a lifestyle that required my regular absence from the home for extensive day and night hours, while sharing with my wife (who also has a full-time career) the responsibilities of raising a child. The extent that I had succeeded to that point already felt, in fact, like an extension of privilege unavailable to artists with a different background.”

READ MOREREAD MORE

AnonymousAnonymous

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020| JessicapazJessicapaz| 0 Comment

“And there was one night where it was a few minutes to the time we supposed to be released for the day but the director insisted that we run the scene that was just teched before leave. There clearly wasn’t enough time to do this and everyone was dead tired but our stage manager did not stop it. This scene required a transition into another scene where a multi-hundred pound living room set had to be hung maybe 40-50 feet in the air. Now because everyone was rushing to get this done since we were clearly the out of time for that day’s 10/12, the set piece was not hung properly and almost dropped on a cast member who thankfully had moved out of the way in time.”

READ MOREREAD MORE

AnonymousAnonymous

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020| JessicapazJessicapaz| 0 Comment

“A 10/12 or whatever the tech rehearsal length is easily and normally a 14-16 hour day, and it takes a physical and emotional toll. I’ve had off and on tingling on one of my feet for a few months for being on my feet so much over several weeks of putting in a show. I have a permanent knot in my neck now, and during a few weeks of one tech I could not fully turn my head.”

READ MOREREAD MORE

AnonymousAnonymous

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020| JessicapazJessicapaz| 0 Comment

“We should strive for solutions where no one on the show is asked to work more than a 10/12 on any given day. One path might be to have more tech notes days (e.g. 1 full day of tech notes for every 2-3 days of rehearsal). On the tech notes days, actors would go back to rehearsal room for acting/blocking notes. Another path is to hire more folx and do split shifts. Another might be hourly pay for everyone.”

READ MOREREAD MORE

Sound Designer – MidwestSound Designer – Midwest

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020| JessicapazJessicapaz| 0 Comment

“From a composer/sound designer point of view: The expectation is that we will work through every break, and then amend or change content after and between tech hours. Each individual addresses this the way that they can. Either they work during the tech itself, and are not as active during the process, or they work outside of tech knowing they will lose time to sleep and eat, but usually it’s a mixture of both depending on what part of the tech you are in.”

“We are one-person teams working through every moment, and between tech, every day through previews. Additionally, when we’ve been asked to be part of rehearsals, there is very rarely compensation for that time as well – or the understanding of the work that is needed to have a rehearsal show in addition to the actual show, and the rigging of that system.”

READ MOREREAD MORE

Costume Designer – WestCostume Designer – West

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020| JessicapazJessicapaz| 0 Comment

“For the designer and assistants this is at least a 12 hour day, and usually more like 14 when notes after rehearsals and an abbreviated meal break are taken into account. This then leaves less than nine hours before work begins the following day. It’s a grueling schedule and does not promote work/life balance in any way. Quality and quantity of work are directly impacted, quality of life suffers, and it’s is all completely avoidable with advanced planning. To do this 2-3 times per show with 8-12 shows per season is not sustainable for “in house” folks.”

READ MOREREAD MORE