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Keep watching this page for words of advice from Stage Managers all over the globe.
March 28, 1999
March 28, 1999What do you wish someone had told you when you were first getting started as a stage manager?
If you have some advice you'd like to share, please email me your words of wisdom along with a brief history of your own experience as a stage manager. (Are you a student, in community or professional theatre, a memeber of AEA, how long have you been stage managing, just some kind of general background on who you are!)
Advice received: choose a role different than the director's: i.e., if he's an airhead, you be super-organized. If she's tyrannical, you be a sympathetic shoulder.
Advice I give to would-be community theatre SM's; don't do the producer/production manager's job, even if you're really tempted to step in and help; protect yourself from burn-out.
My favourite piece of advice to a new stage manager (or any SM I think is getting too intense) is that it is only theatre, it's not brain surgery. Just make sure no one gets hurt, you have as much fun as possible, and respect yourself and those around you...the show must go on, but it is only a SHOW.
Maybe fewer of us would have heart attacks and drinking problems and failed relationships if we just relaxed a little!
Hey, there, Carissa. I got your email asking about little nuggets of golden info for you HP. The best that I can think of for an SM is "Be Flexible!"
I know this sounds obvious to anyone with about two shows under their belt, but I'm constantly amazed by the inflexibility of some of the 'older, more experienced' SM's that I've met in my community. I have found out, from personal experience, that no one director will ever be the same as the one you just finished working for. While certain things don't change often (Such as a preferred prompt script layout), most things concerning SM/Director relationships will. I've found that it's quite helpful to sit down with the Director during 'Prep Week', and sort out just what the Director expects his/her SM to 'assume' and do 'automatically', and what the Director would like to have input/control over (Aside from the obvious things such as anything dealing with the Director's 'vision'). I'm in the middle of a run of a show that for the Reh period, the Director insisted that anything regarding times (Such as a cast member asking 'Do I have enough time to go to the bathroom?') be routed to her, and she would answer. That is something that would normally fall under the SM's discretion, but hey, our job is to keep everyone happy, and make the Director's Vision come to 'life', eh? *S* Well, at any rate, I've rambled on for long enough, so I'll let you alone now. *S* If you've got any questions, or would like any clarification, just drop me a line,
(graduate degree in stage management and 10 years of experience as an Equity stage manager. Currently Production Stage Manager at Tacoma Actors Guild in Washington.)
Never take anything personally, and keep your sense of humour.
(student/community theatre (TOTS) SM/school SM (Carmel)/stage managed like 7 shows?) Always be calm...once you get worked up the rest of the world will and then everything will blow up...I think that is the biggest advice I could give.
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