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Post by sherriebythesea on Apr 6, 2017 16:26:36 GMT
Baemax is correct, technically, it's theft. I have changed my seats, but I've always asked either an usher or the box office before doing so. That's the right thing to do. If you do move without permission, at least behave - I've noted a correlation between unauthorised moves and scummy behaviour to follow, is all I'm saying Considering all the warnings in posts about watching your behavior I've seen on the board all I can think is that all of you must have witnessed some really rude and inconsiderate things. I promise you all my mother brought me up right . And I will try to control a little "squeal" of amazement that I am actually at a London play when I sit down to my first play in your wonderful town.
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 6, 2017 18:37:40 GMT
My local theatre allows, and even on occasion encourages, people to move if it's a fairly empty performance (and I still remember Stephanie Beecham coming onstage & encouraging the sparse audience to move forward at the start of Masterclass!). I always ask the ushers first though.
The only time I can think of I've moved in a London theatre recently was when I saw Murder Ballad & I scooted along a couple of seats to be slightly more central rather than on the aisle behind a pillar. Since the entire rest of the row was empty, as were the majority of the seats for several rows behind, I didn't feel I was inconveniencing anyone.
Given my tendency to sit front row stalls whenever I can afford to do so, there often isn't anywhere better for me to move to!
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Post by Mark on Apr 6, 2017 19:40:00 GMT
I can only think of twice I've done it without asking and it was at the Garrick. Once I was in the front row, way too close so I moved back before the show. For this house I moved across the aisle because there was a pillar right in view and a chunk of empty seats.
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Post by d'James on Apr 6, 2017 19:45:41 GMT
I downgraded myself seat-wise today!
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Post by CG on the loose on Apr 6, 2017 19:57:51 GMT
Yep, I've moved further back before now, to give myself a clearer view instead of peering round a tall head. I've also moved sideways and forwards but, in the latter case, only after asking at the interval.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Apr 6, 2017 20:08:48 GMT
I've also moved sideways and forwards like an inquisitive crab.
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Post by d'James on Apr 6, 2017 20:19:21 GMT
During the first number they should just play musical chairs. You keep weaving up and down the rows until the music stops, then that's your seat.
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Post by alece10 on Apr 6, 2017 22:45:00 GMT
I really should know this but what us a dance captain?
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Post by theatre-turtle on Apr 6, 2017 22:51:42 GMT
I understand Cam Mac is one of the richest men in entertainment - how did he achieve this without being a creative and also not being an investor? Does he get a salary from the production? I get the impression that for most entertainment businesses the majority of the money goes to whoever owns the creative rights of things e.g. the writers?
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 6, 2017 23:00:29 GMT
I really should know this but what us a dance captain? It's what keeps a show as close to the original version as possible. Choreographers rarely come back to give notes like directors, the dance captain has to preserve the choreography and not allow the cast to take too many liberties with it
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Post by Jon on Apr 6, 2017 23:30:07 GMT
I understand Cam Mac is one of the richest men in entertainment - how did he achieve this without being a creative and also not being an investor? Does he get a salary from the production? I get the impression that for most entertainment businesses the majority of the money goes to whoever owns the creative rights of things e.g. the writers? Producers rarely invest their own money in a show (it's rule number 1 of producing according to The Producer), producers get a percentage of the profits once a show has recouped, the creative team will get royalties which would included in the weekly running costs. It'd be interesting if any of the producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child invested their own money.
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Post by d'James on Apr 7, 2017 1:53:07 GMT
I asked before and have seen it mentioned since, but can someone tell me what a cut show is? I, apparently, saw an In The Heights 'cut show' but all I noticed were fewer dancers. Do they cut lines or songs in a 'cut show' or is it just fewer cast members on stage?
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Post by Mark on Apr 7, 2017 7:04:43 GMT
I asked before and have seen it mentioned since, but can someone tell me what a cut show is? I, apparently, saw an In The Heights 'cut show' but all I noticed were fewer dancers. Do they cut lines or songs in a 'cut show' or is it just fewer cast members on stage? That's basically it, no cut lines really just a smaller ensemble and maybe some doubled up parts.
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Post by Kim_Bahorel on Apr 7, 2017 10:59:22 GMT
I asked before and have seen it mentioned since, but can someone tell me what a cut show is? I, apparently, saw an In The Heights 'cut show' but all I noticed were fewer dancers. Do they cut lines or songs in a 'cut show' or is it just fewer cast members on stage? What Mark said howevr I did see RENT in London (not when they did the concert version) there were too many off for full show. Right at the end they did have to cut out a scene. I love cut shows if I have seen the show too many times before. Once or twice wouldn't notice a thing.
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Post by emicardiff on Apr 7, 2017 11:16:53 GMT
On the note of money makers, I've been enjoying 'How did you get so Rich' hosted by Katherine Ryan on CH4, which has detailed some fascinating tales of rich folks, from the former Mafia member to a Big Brother contestant to a teen chess player. But yes most of them have managed to hold on to and increase it via property. Ownership of which now remains as much a dream as the lottery for us mere mortals.
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Post by Baemax on Apr 7, 2017 11:19:54 GMT
Does anyone remember that relatively recent article by a millennial who managed to pay off all her student loans by the simple technique of being gifted a condo by her mother, accepting a well-paid job from her mother, moving in with her grandmother and renting out the original condo, and buying more property with her nepotastic wages and the rent from the condo, and rounding it all off with an "it's SIMPLE, if *I* can do it, *anyone* can do it!"? I mean, yeah, I'm sure I *could* pay off my student loans if people were willing to throw great wealth at me, but what a disgusting display of unrecognised privilege that article was.
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Post by emicardiff on Apr 7, 2017 11:24:59 GMT
Does anyone remember that relatively recent article by a millennial who managed to pay off all her student loans by the simple technique of being gifted a condo by her mother, accepting a well-paid job from her mother, moving in with her grandmother and renting out the original condo, and buying more property with her nepotastic wages and the rent from the condo, and rounding it all off with an "it's SIMPLE, if *I* can do it, *anyone* can do it!"? I mean, yeah, I'm sure I *could* pay off my student loans if people were willing to throw great wealth at me, but what a disgusting display of unrecognised privilege that article was. YES
And I do not have enough CAPITALS AND KEYBOARD SMASHES GIASDFHLSDFKSG to convey my rage at that.
If *only* I'd known the answer was my Mother getting me a well paid job and giving me a house. OF COURSE.
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Post by d'James on Apr 7, 2017 11:41:43 GMT
Ooh. Who was that? Don't suppose you have a link?!
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Post by Jon on Apr 7, 2017 13:26:53 GMT
He began as one of the poorest, learning his craft and being broke regularly for 20 years. He then took a massive chance on "Cats" which paid off. Once the show had paid its backers, he took management fees for years. Same went for his next 3 shows, pretty much. At that time, it was possible to buy property and get a reasonable interest rate on other investments. These he did, as well as buying rights to other shows to licence and do other things of course that helped that capital grow. The results of the way the UK economy has gone simply means that anyone who bought property 20 or so years ago has amassed a phenomenal "paper profit" - particularly if, as Sir C has - you have a mixed residential and commercial property portfolio. Partly, I laugh a bit at the "Millionaires" on "Dragon's Den" for similar reasons, and a lot of others. Sure, they got wealthy from their creativity, but it is the shift in their property portfolios that gets them into the "Sunday Times Rich List." The income his theatres generate from rent alone is probably a nice earner although to be fair, he does invest money back into them and it does show when you visit the likes of The Prince Edward, Gielgud etc
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Post by Baemax on Apr 7, 2017 14:32:56 GMT
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Post by emicardiff on Apr 7, 2017 14:38:43 GMT
ALSO I know living expenses are relative yadda yadda but she was making the equivalent of £30,000 a year and 'barely covering expenses'? hurmph.
Although currently a friend of mine isn't speaking to me after I politely pointed out that on the salary I know he's on-which is more than double my own-that I was not perhaps the best person to complain about lack of money to...(at least he followed my instructions at least?)
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 7, 2017 14:54:20 GMT
It made me feel sick rather than want to scream but other than that... The horror of only having 2 cars so when 1 breaks you're down to a mere 1!
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Post by The Matthew on Apr 7, 2017 18:55:42 GMT
While everyone's situation is different — not everybody can move back home, and not everybody will have a small rental property gifted to them
They say that like it's a triviality instead of a life-changing event. "Oh, not much happened yesterday: got up, did some shopping, had a pizza, got a guaranteed roof over my head for life, watched some TV. You know, the usual sort of stuff."
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Post by Tibidabo on Apr 12, 2017 11:05:18 GMT
Could someone explain what a casting director actually does? I can understand if they need to find all the extras for Ben Hur, but in the programme for Love in Idleness the casting director gets a longer schpeel than some of the actors. There are only SIX of them. Surely the director chooses his cast? (Especially if he's Trevor Nunn!)
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Post by emicardiff on Apr 12, 2017 11:08:57 GMT
Make sure you're not in a quiet room while you read it, you'll probably want to scream: Baemax REALLY is not kidding on this warning, folks. I think someone in the next street to my home just dialled 999 a few seconds after I read that article... I just came into the thread for a new post. Got reminded of that news story. Needed to go up to the roof and scream again.
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Post by Flim Flam on Apr 12, 2017 11:36:55 GMT
Ha ha. Yes, makes the blood boil. Don't see what the point of the article is exactly.
Its not as if you are telling people how to do something constructive if the only way to achieve that is with a lucky combination of relatives you can stay with/ cheap property prices/ good rental returns/ parents offering you jobs etc. Only applies to a tiny subset of the population...and unfortunately to a subset with no self-awareness.
Mind you, it somehow reminds me of the type of entitlement expressed by people on those property shows, who turn up at a house and say (about a perfectly clean and reasonable kitchen)- 'Oh, I couldn't live with that kitchen. I am not interested in the property.'
It's a kitchen for goodness sake. Live with it until you can afford to update it. What is the matter with people!
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 12, 2017 11:54:45 GMT
New question: do fringe venues use "deps" in their orchestra for musicals, in the same way as West End ones do? They do indeed! I know it's happened at the Union, Southwark Playhouse and St James (when it was...) before.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Apr 12, 2017 13:03:13 GMT
Could someone explain what a casting director actually does? I can understand if they need to find all the extras for Ben Hur, but in the programme for Love in Idleness the casting director gets a longer schpeel than some of the actors. There are only SIX of them. Surely the director chooses his cast? (Especially if he's Trevor Nunn!) The director makes the final choice and sometimes the director has specific actors in mind. Generally: The casting director meets with the director. The director says if they have any particular actors in mind. It's very rare that a director would have already cast and even then only 1-2 lead roles. If they don't have actors in mind the CD has to have a long talk with them to try to intuit (or bloody mind-read) what they have in mind. The CD phones those actors' agents to see if they are available, and then either makes an offer or organises a meeting. The CD also carries out contract negotiations with the agent, liaises over rehearsal schedules, etc. For any roles where the director does not have an actor in mind, or where their choice is not available, the CD draws up a longlist of potential actors. For a major role they may do this entirely from their own 'mental rolodex' of actors, but usually they write and post casting breakdowns on Spotlight. There is also industry pressure eg from Equity to go via Spotlight rather than via direct invite which is less practical and more time-consuming but also necessary to stop theatre being a closed shop. Posting a breakdown on Spotlight gets you hundreds or thousands of submissions. The CD has to narrow down perhaps 1500 CVs to 20-30, paying attention to any necessary special skills like accents or musical skills. This is not just a case of looking to see who has "singing" listed on their CV but to look at their credits for proof, because unfortunately a LOT of actors exaggerate. This process involves looking at past credits, making sure playing age is correct and headshot up to date, maybe phoning other directors they've worked for to check out unknowns. The CD must also be aware of the director's preferences as some directors have biases towards or against certain drama schools or histories. Plus aware of putting together a diverse shortlist in more ways than one. If it's a small fringe production from an unknown director, a good CD can get you access to a higher tier of actors through their own contacts and reputation. When the CD has whittled down a shortlist they book rehearsal space to hold auditions, start phoning agents to schedule auditions (which involves a lot of juggling), choose audition pieces and send them out. They run the actual auditions which the director may or may not attend, and during which the CD might have to read-in the other parts while analysing how the actor interprets the role, how well they take direction, and what they'll be like to work with. CD shortlists a small number of actors for a call-back which the director attends. The director chooses from those final few. CD starts negotiations with agents and prays the actor doesn't announce they can't make the dates. In the evenings CDs attend showcases, drama school showings and theatre performances and film screenings, to keep up to date on what actors are entering the industry and try to discover and monitor new talent. They also have to open and deal with a mountain of mail receiving easily 100+ CVs and invitations per week, reading them all and keeping track of new promising actors and who's doing what. Outside the big companies most CDs are freelance and are hired per production. If they invite an actor to audition who is rude, aggressive, a no-show, older than their headshot, auditions but then says they're not available, or can't do something listed on their CV (all of which happens all the time) that reflects badly on the CD and potentially harms their career. They also cast understudies and LiI is currently advertising for u/s on Spotlight and no doubt being deluged with CVs!
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Post by Tibidabo on Apr 12, 2017 13:29:45 GMT
samuelwhiskers Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write such an informative answer - I for one had no idea it was so involved and found your account fascinating reading. I would imagine that a casting director is VERY popular at parties! What is LiI? Edit: You don't have to answer this obviously, but I presume you are a CD or close to someone who is?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2017 13:32:42 GMT
samuelwhiskers Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write such an informative answer - I for one had no idea it was so involved and found your account fascinating reading. I would imagine that a casting director is VERY popular at parties! What is LiI? Love in Idleness.
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