8. Stage Management

WHAT DOES A STAGE MANAGER DO??

* In charge of rehearsals before and after opening (understudies/replacements)

* Actor discipline – quiet at rehearsal, lateness

* Prompt book – actor blocking technical cues

* Communication – rehearsal reports and send to designers / production meetings (run them and distribute notes)

* Maintain artistic intentions of director (and designers) after opening

WHAT MAKES A GOOD STAGE MANAGER?

List of terms/adjectives

         Patient, detailed oriented, calm under pressure, organized, neat, thorough, artistic, a communicator, etc… The list is endless!!

10 Golden Rules of Stage Management

1. Learn From Mistakes. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes as we practice our crafts. The best thing anyone can do is to analyze these situations and learn how to avoid making the same mistake again. Learn from other stage managers you work under – both good and bad.

2. Don't Panic! Always remain calm, cool and collected. Never, Never yell. All Stage Managers should know the difference between raising their voices to be heard and yelling. If the Stage Manager loses it, everyone will panic. Sugar vs. Spice.

3. Safety First! The cast shouldn't set foot on the stage unless you would walk on it barefoot. Inspect the set daily for potential problems. Are all stairs and platforms secure? Are all escapes adequately lit and glow taped? Do you know where the first aid kits and fire extinguishers are located?

4. Plan & Think Ahead. What can be done to avoid problems? How can the Stage Managers make life easier for everyone?

5. There Are No Dumb Questions. It is better to ask and fell silly for a few seconds than to cause a disaster later.

6. Prioritize Tasks & Delegate Authority. One person can't do everything. Why do we have assistants if we don't use them?!

7. Early Is On Time. The SM should always be the first person in and the last person out of the theatre for a meeting or rehearsal. I always try to show up about 15 minutes before I really think I need to be there, just in case traffic is bad or any problems or delays occur.

8. Put Everything In Writing. In other words, be a communicator! Dated daily rehearsal notes aid in communication and help to avoid conflicts over when requests or changes were made. (Voice mail and email are also great forms of communication! Get a cell phone so you are easy to reach at all times! Finally got a smart phone over the summer)

9. Please & Thank You. Use these word everyday, especially when you are working with volunteers.

10. Stage Managers DO Make Coffee. They also do a million other menial tasks that are meant to make people happy and boost morale. Buy donuts, bake brownies, make sure birthdays are recognized, and hole-punch all paperwork. These little things are really appreciated by everyone.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

1. Prompt Book – 3 ring binder, dividers, hole punch,

2. Kit - Prior to the start of rehearsals, and maybe even before the auditions, you should put together some kind of stage management kit. This kit should contain anything and everything you, your assistant, the Director, or the actors may need over the course of the rehearsal process.

Things to include – pencils, pens, highlighters, white out, first aid supplies, pain medication (have aspirin and a non-aspirin alternative), sewing kit, safety pins, spike tape, gaff tape, glow tape, scotch tape, stapler, 3 hole punch, paper clips, hole reinforcers, sharpies, board tape, tape measure, knife, multi-tool, pencil sharpener, post-it notes, chewing gum, lotion, hair ties, blank paper (lined and blank), floppy disks (for light boards), spare change/phone card, nail clippers, alarm clock/stop watch, lighter, push pins, extension chord, power strip, blank CDRs etc…

         Every stage manager’s kit is slightly different, and the more you stage manage you’ll discover more and more items you’ll want to include in the kit; learn from your experiences!

All the items can be contained in any kind of portable box. For example, a tool box or tackle box. (My current one is a scrap book kit with wheels.)

A good place to look for a cheap kit would be Walmart.