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This book is written by Richard Cadena, who is the technical editor of Lighting and Sound America. It will answer virtually every question you've asked in your post, and it will also help you stay safe on the job. Worth every penny.
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EDIT: Submit your questions for Richard's r/livesound Q+A here.
https://www.amazon.ca/Back-Stage-Guide-Management-3rd/dp/0823098028
You've got to take blocking/light/sound cue notes, call the show, hold talent accountable for call times, lots of paperwork... generally be in charge of the show when the director isn't there. As a disclaimer, I've never been a professional stage manager because it's way too much work, but I work in professional theater.
The Makeup Artist Handbook is less artsy and WAY more in-depth than most makeup books. I adore the Kevyn Aucoin and Bobbi Brown ones but those have a lot less detail, and feel more "supportive."
Whereas if you are comfortable with being uncomfortable/somewhat clueless, and being smashed over the head with a lot of information, this Handbook has more depth IMO. I remember reading a lot of complaints in the Amazon reviews before I bought it, but I think those people were expecting a Kevyn Aucoin type "let me hold your hand and guide you through this beautiful journey of color and inspo and unintimidating but powerful tips." But this is more instructional and better if you struggle with the basics BUT are totally willing to power through and struggle more before coming out on top.
Something like the Kevyn Aucoin book works GREAT for a super casual makeup user or someone who has a good natural eye for color and proportion but if you are naturally not so artistic (and that's most of us!) and want to become technically proficient, I think this is a wonderful book.
So the best way to think about it is in terms of the stage and the lighting areas. Imagine a small stage, where there are three lighting zones across and three lighting zones deep, or a 3x3 grid. Normally, you want to number them 1-3 across the downstage edge, 4-6 in the middle lane, and 7-9 on the upstage lane. Whether you do left to right or right to left is dependent on personal preferences, although most common is to put 1 on the downstage left area.
Now, how does that relate to channel numbers? In an ideal world, you match numbers. So, starting with your front light, you number them 1-9, in accordance with what zone they hit. Down lights over stage would be 11-19, high sides 21-29, etc.
If you have more than 10 zones, say in a 5x3 grid, your numbering would just skip to the nearest ten. For example, fronts are 1-15, downs would then be 21-35, etc.
Moving lights, would be labeled the same. I usually try to start at 101, and move up from there. Obviously, if you have doubled or tripled up on lighting zones for conventionals, you might not be starting until the 200’s.
Specials and practicals I usually start at 900, just to keep them out of the way. And I try and keep them labeled similarly to the lighting zones.
The real key here is to try and keep the numbering consistent across the board.
Also, this is just talking about the channel numbers in soft patch in the console, not the hard patch dimmer or DMX numbers.
Steve Shelley had a good book about lighting design, which might be useful. And Richard Cadena also has a great book, although this is more aimed at electricians, and explains more of the electrical aspect of lighting.
Of course! It’s a book by Lin-Manuel Miranda (writer of the play and the guy who plays Hamilton). It’s basically the book of the play but with more info and facts.
I don’t know where you’re from so I went with the USA but you can most likely find it on the amazon of your country as well:
What's helped me is Hamilton the Podcast and LMM's book Hamilton the Revolution (which I now am seeing that I paid a lot more for at my local bookstore than it is on Amazon. Trying here!)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hamilton-the-podcast/id1087073710?mt=2
Try amazon smile to donate to a charity of your choice automatically at no cost to you!
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1455539740/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NumJFbF0Z096J
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>how to construct physicality, gestures, voices, and accents to create characters
Specifically in regards to that, I don't think there's much out there. Most improv books I've read are about mindset and how to more strongly utilize the spirit of Yes-And. Like, I'm not aware of any books that go "In order to create a physicality, follow these steps:"
You may find some value in Jill Bernard's Small Cute Book of Improv which discusses her idea of VAPAPO, a simple acronym mnemonic to key into characters. But it, like most improv books, kind of assumes you already know how to change your voice to sound different or change your posture to move differently. (VAPAPO is, if I recall correctly, Voice, Attitude, Posture, Animal, Prop, Obsession.)
You may also find some value in Viewpoints which breaks movement down into three basic vectors. Playing with varying degrees and combinations of the vectors can change your physicality and thus the character you're creating. Applying that thought process to other things (like for voice, adjusting timbre, pitch, tempo, volume) may help.
I personally wouldn't try to do accents in improv. Save that for when you're with a vocal coach working on a scripted piece that calls for a specific accent. In improv, accents tend to lean toward unfair and un-fun biases and stereotypes.
This is the one I have and it's still retailing for $45-60 CAD. Worth every penny tho.
> the book is called "Hamilton the revolution" by Lin Manuel Miranda
The book is $23.69...
> i forgot too say we cant watch the play as i currently cant afford disney+. And even if we could, my daughter would still want the book
A month costs $8, can't your daughter get that with her birthday money if you can't?
Buddy. YTA. That book is 23.99 dollars on Amazon for a hard cover book.
The link is
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1455539740/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_4MKC41ZAWB4HBHG14EYX_0
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Massive YTA. Persy jackson lighting thief is 20 dollars on Amazon.
"Expensive" give me a break.
This is well explained in Richard Cadena's book on electricity for event technicians. It's a great investment: https://www.amazon.com/Electricity-Entertainment-Electrician-Technician-Richard/dp/0415714834
Check out Technical Theater for non Technical People!
Backstage Handbook is a really great resource, too.
If you’ve been a production manager and assistant director, stage management would be a good fit for you. There are many SMs in theatre that are also PMs. Community theatre is always an excellent way to get into theatre!
I fell into stage management in college and I haven’t looked back. Starting as a production assistant for assistant stage manager for a show is an excellent way to learn the ropes. It’s all about trial and error, and the more you do it, the more you will make all the duties your own. You will learn very quickly what works for you and what doesn’t.
There is an absolutely wonderful book called “The Backstage Guide to Stage Management”. It’s very informative and the author throws in funny and realistic experiences. backstage guide to stage management
Its a thorough, start to finish guide to programming. From the bits I’ve skimmed it in the past, it has had a great amount of solid, well explained concepts.
If you’re looking for the business side of things and a good breakdown of a particular workflow for LDs Steve Shelley’s A Practical Guid to Stage Lighting is a good resource.
Or toward my new favorite book to recommend Electricity for the Entertainment Electrician and Technician
I saw it a few months ago and avoided the soundtrack altogether and understood everything fine. However, my dad didn't think he'd be able to follow so I got him the Hamilton book and he read it as if it were a play. He loved doing that because the songs and melodies were still a mystery, but he knew the plot.
Here is her book. As for seeing performances of her, you're going to have trouble. She was placed on the Hollywood blacklist early in her career so she moved to NYC to start her stage career, where, back then, there were almost no videos of live performances. Her legacy is in her teaching though and you can watch the performances of many actors that she has taught
I'm looking forward to my birthday (May 22nd) just because I'm asking for the Hamiltome as a present, and I'm really excited to get it.
I'm also looking forward to the new seasons of America's Got Talent and Project Runway this summer.
Oh, and I'm really looking forward to the Tony Awards, and hoping that Hamilton wins most of them, since they definitely deserve it! (And I can't wait to see what James Corden is like as the host, too.)
This has good reviews on Amazon! I would just look around there for books! You'll find some good things. Also knowing period makeup and what was popular for men and women in each decade is super helpful!
The Makeup Artist Handbook: Techniques for Film, Television, Photography, and Theatre https://www.amazon.com/dp/0240818946/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_YkEEwbMX719MH
I'm pretty inexperienced with power myself, but I'm reading this book and it has been fabulous. Even has questions at the end of each chapter to check your understanding!