In ten days, Nicholas and I fly to Chicago for the conglomerate nightmare, URTA. For those of you who know not of this exciting event, URTA is a place where young, eager theatre grad-student-hopefuls gather to place their lives on the line before the recruiters from the hoped-for grad schools of choice. Actors come to audition, designers display their portfolios and hope to grab interest, while directors, theatre managers and--you guessed it--stage managers interview with prospective schools. Next weekend, I will be there, praying and hoping and sweating out two days of this madness.
So, the great debate this thus: what to take to the interview. The guidelines are unspecific in this matter, for stage managers such as ourselves. Nick wants to take a laptop to display his digital portfolio. I'm more in favor of taking a prompt book from a specific show. Pros and cons:
PORTFOLIO
Pros: It shows off a greater range of work. It shows technical/technological skills. It includes photographs (mine does, at least) that give an idea of the scope of work.
Cons: It's awkward--you have to gather around a little screen, do you or the interviewer control the mouse? Do you give a running commentary? What do you talk about while you're setting up? It's just awkward. You may have technical difficulties. And it doesn't give a deep, process-oriented showing of your work.
PROMPT BOOK
Pros: It does give a deep, process-oriented showing of your work. It shows your paperwork, blocking/calling notations, and organizational skills. It's easy to show off, with little chance of technical difficulties, and lessened awkwardness.
Cons: It only displays one show, and none of the technical skills. You have a more awkward entrance into the interview--big bulky binder, where do you put it while you're talking, etc.
I guess in my mind, my ideal situation would be to take a prompt book to show off in the interview, but also to have a portfolio, on CD, to give the interviewer if they ask or if the opportunity's there, so they could take it and look at it later, if they wanted, which would--conveniently enough--help them to remember you.
Aah! Any ideas?
Notes About Wilmington, MA
2 years ago
2 Additional Hiccups:
My opinion, go with the book. Having tangible evidence of your experience that an interviewer or judge can hold in his or her hands isn't over-rated, even in our technologically-advanced society. If you had a guarantee of a projector or something, however, I would say laptop. As it is, BOOK is my vote, along with the take-home digi-portfolio that someone can take, and PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES that you can show off. It brings more life to the presentation.
Good luck, and kick ass Val!
I say prompt book with a sack/purse/bag/back pocket filled with CD portfolios. If you're feeling jazzy and lazy, you could always record audio to go along with the clicky slide show to offer commentary.
oh, and if you're moving to the ft. union area, there is an apartment complex called... Promontory Point. I can't remember what the rent is, but it's next to a park, a maceys and harmons and the Union Heights movie theatre. I should know. I live across the street from this comple
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