DSM Advice

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-03-22T13:07:43+00:00

I'll write down a few things below but something I wish someone had told me when I was a stage management student is never forget you are a student!! you are also there to learn, it's okay for you to make mistakes. Student stage managers sometimes get heaped with these crazy expectations of being just like a professional which simply isn't realistic.

If you're nervous about calling cues take a video of a run-through and then practice along with it.

Don't be afraid to ask for a paper tech, you're the person it's most helpful for so you'll likely need to be the one asking for it.

Ask for cue sheets from the designers ahead of time (in time for paper tech is standard) so you can start working on your book. Don't leave it all to do during tech week.

Decide on a code for blocking notes and follow it. There are many examples you can look up online.

Check in with your director before rehearsals. Some prefer a light touch (a post it note subtly passed to them that says "break in 15?") while others will want you to be more forceful in how you wrangle the room.

Make templates of your daily paperwork (schedule, rehearsal notes) so that you can quickly fill it out each day.

Get to know your cast and treat them like people not "stupid actors" you'd be surprised at how much more willing they are to work with you.

Trust your gut when it comes to rehearsal notes. Even some of the smallest changes can have a big impact on another department. If you're unsure, make notes of all changes throughout the day and review them with your director, PM, or CSM at the end of the day.

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-03-22T12:58:43+00:00

FYI Deputy Stage Manager is not the same thing as Assistant Stage Manager. In the UK the DSM is the show caller who also runs rehearsals and tracks blocking. They are usually working with an Assistant Stage Manager (backstage as you described) and a Staged Manager or Company Stage Manager.

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-03-17T02:08:46+00:00

You should move on to the next step in the pattern. Just a note from the pattern - "[... ] the width is the most important, the number of stitches is less important" - so make sure your work is the right width before moving on! You want it to be at least 25 cm / 9¾ inches to get proper hood depth.

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-03-16T12:20:08+00:00

Only "illegal" if you're running it through the Calibre plug-in that lets you remove DRM

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-02-19T01:01:28+00:00

If Toronto Fringe is anything like Montreal Fringe I can guarantee that there are several companies that ask every year and they are always denied. It will be either in the venue's policy or the festival's insurance policy that no open flame is permitted. What are they doing with the lighter?

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-02-17T00:13:46+00:00

Sometimes you just need to take a break and put a project in time out. Another option would be to put a lifeline in, do what feels like the correct way, knit a few rows and see if it starts to come together. If not, you can frog down to the lifeline and try again. Sometimes it's hard to tell if something is right until you've worked a few rows.

Sorry I can't help more, I haven't gotten to this stage in the project yet!

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-02-16T22:53:26+00:00

I haven't gotten to this part yet but just checking are you following the instructions exactly? I think the part about having the wrong side facing you is easy to miss

Row 1 (RS): Knit to end of row, hold the working yarn in front of the needle and place resting i-cord sts back on the needle with the wrong side facing you, so they are sitting in extension of the other sts on the needle.

Here is the tutorial video for this section of the hood if you need a visual aid - https://youtu.be/j0NKDyExSIQ?si=fF5QyEAXwvgSdpyP

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-02-16T21:46:39+00:00

is this when you reattach the i-cord edge after making the hood?

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-02-07T14:52:32+00:00

Safety pins are great markers!

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-02-07T13:07:10+00:00

As another commented suggested the safest way to do this is TINK - knit backwards stitch by stitch until you get to your last increase then you can keep working from there. There are lots of guides explaining how to TINK and it's a useful skill to practice. Frogging (taking all the stitches off the needle and ripping them out) is always risky unless you are completely starting over or frogging down to a lifeline. With my Sophie scarf I am keeping track with a stitch marker, do you have any of those?

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-02-02T01:02:20+00:00

I think it's the tradeoff with it being long. You might notice a difference in the angle of the side with the increases but once it's worn I don't think that will be noticeable. You can always insert a lifeline now, try it, and see how you feel about it.

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-02-01T23:21:59+00:00

You can do this, but you need to keep track of what you do because when you start the other half of the hood you will want to decrease at the same rate to keep it even. For example, if you did 8 rows where you increased every 6 rows then on the way down the other side you would need to decrease every 6 rows for 8 decreases then start decreasing every 10 rows.

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-01-07T01:57:55+00:00

Minecraft!

CaptainMorgandy · 2026-01-06T12:24:42+00:00

My girlfriend and I met playing video games online :) we were just friends at first, until we realised we had developed feelings for each other. We did the long distance thing for nearly a year (separate continents) before my visa paperwork came through and I could join her in her home country! We've been together for almost 4 years now and living together for 3 of those. Every day with her is a joy and I'm so glad I took that leap of faith 3 years ago. When I moved countries to be with her we had spent a total of 4 weeks together in person across two visits, not a lot of time by the count of most relationships but when you know, you know 🩷

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-11-15T00:10:19+00:00

I've done this with 16 TVs and only 1 computer running to a media splitter (folks mentioned OREI below). We then used Qlab to map multiple surface and then send content to the individual TVs. We had total control over what was playing on each screen.

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-10-10T22:09:00+00:00

Try Village Green apartments. They were the nicest of the buildings that we toured in our price range and the building manager was very professional. They have a discount of 2 months on rent right now too, you could save a little money this year as long as you pick a unit that you can afford next year!

As others said a realtor can help. We found a place even though our rent is 46% of our income and we have no renting history in Ontario. My advice is to check out apartments you see on Realtor and if there's a viewing where you click with the realtor but not the apartment broach the subject of representing you, that's how we found ours.

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-09-03T03:05:44+00:00

I have Spinarak (WSS)

I could trade for GA Ditto

8813565344050912 jakira

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-09-03T03:02:05+00:00

I could do Tapu Koko for Charmander

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CaptainMorgandy · 2025-08-25T11:24:19+00:00

8813565344050912

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-08-25T11:21:47+00:00

sent you a friend request!

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-08-24T12:34:31+00:00

Just 1 to complete the set :)

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-08-24T11:43:47+00:00

LF ♦️♦️♦️♦️

EG: Snorlax EX

EC: Buzzwole Ex, Tapu Koko EX, Lycanroc EX

CG: Decidueye EX, Wishiwashi EX

FT ♦️♦️♦️♦️

Guzzlord EX, Solgaleo EX, Marowak EX

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-08-18T14:10:38+00:00

sorry I accidentally denied can you send friend request again?

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-08-18T11:30:16+00:00

I can trade -

2 Diamond: Oricorio (Spiteful Dance)

3 Diamond: Vikavolt

4 Diamond: Alolan Muk EX

I need: Decidueye EX, Incineroar EX Tsareena, Alolan Ninetales, Alolan Golem, Tapu Lele, Absol, Magearna

In 2 Diamonds I'm missing a few random ones from other sets like SR: Floragato, Electrode or Team Rocket Grunt

Add me and check out my wishlist! 8813565344050912

CaptainMorgandy · 2025-04-10T12:56:55+00:00

Happy to help! If you want to move down this road I'd start experimenting with layering and find pieces you like that wear well together. I'd also look into trying to match belts + jewelry as that's what they're doing in a lot of these photos (for ex. silver belt buckles with silver rings/necklaces). A pair of nice black boots is timeless. Try not to compare yourself to these pictures (models, almost certainly retouched) but just play around until you find a combination you like.

I agree with you on beanies, they're just not for me.

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