StageManagersDoMakeCoffee AHandbookforStageManagers byCarissaDollar February7,2000 Index:JobDescription/Introduction/10GoldenRules/MeetingtheDirector/Preproduction/Auditions/The ProductionBook/TheComfortZone/TheRehearsalPeriod/TapingOuttheSet/TakingBlockingNotation/ Prompting&LineNotes/HandlingArtisticTemperaments/PreparingforTechWeek/RunningTechnical Rehearsals/CallingtheShow/OpeningNight&Performances/MaintainingtheShow/ JobDescription Thereisnosingledefinitionorjobdescriptionforthetasksperformedbythepersonwhoacceptsthetitleof StageManagerforanytheatricalproduction.Everytheatreorproductioncompanyhasdifferentideasand expectationsregardingtheStageManager'sroleintheproductionprocess.EachProducerorDirectormayask differentthingsoftheStageManagerforeachindividualproduction.Therefore,theindividualwhoacceptsthis positionmustbeasflexibleasthejobdescriptionitself. AccordingtoActor'sEquityAssociation(AEA),theunionofbothprofessionalActorsandStageManagers,the StageManagerperformsatleastthefollowingduties: • Callsallrehearsals,beforeorafteropening. • AssemblesandmaintainsthePromptBook. • WorkswiththeDirectorandtheDepartmentHeadstoschedulerehearsalandoutsidecalls. • Assumesactiveresponsibilityfortheformanddisciplineofrehearsalandperformance,andisthe executiveinstrumentinthetechnicalrunningofeachperformance. • MaintainstheartisticintentionsoftheDirectorandProducerafteropening. • KeepsanyrecordsnecessarytoinformtheProducerofattendance,time,welfarebenefits,etc. • Maintainsdiscipline. AStageManager'ssuccessgenerallycan'tbemeasuredinquantitativeterms.Thereare,however,somebasic qualitiesandcharactertraitsofgoodStageManagerswhichremainconstant. • AStageManagerissomeonewhodesiresandacceptsresponsibility. • AStageManagerisatactfulcommunicatorwithasenseofhumor. • AStageManagerisorganized,adaptable,andthinksquicklyonherfeetwhilekeepingthegoalsand prioritiesoftheartisticstaffinmind. • AStageManagerisoftenprivytoconfidentialinformationsuchassalaries,disciplinaryactionorhealth problems.Asaconditionofthisknowledge,aStageManagerknowswhentokeephermouthshutand hereyesandearsopen. • AStageManagercreatespositiveenergyandinspiresthosearoundhertogive110%tothetaskathand. • AStageManagerhasatleastsomebasicknowledgeofeachaspectofatheatricalproduction. • AStageManagershouldbefamiliarwiththerequirementsofthemanyunionsforStagehands,Actors andMusicians. Inshort,aStageManagerisanartist,parent,friend,confidant,nurse,drillsargentandcheerleader.Anyonewho doesnothavethepotentialtopossessallofthesecharactertraitsandisnotcomfortablewithjugglingallof theseresponsibilitiesandrolesatonceshouldthinktwicebeforeacceptingastagemanagementposition. Introduction Toomanypeoplearepushedintostagemanagementwithoutthetrainingorexperienceneededtofulfillallof theresponsibilitesofthisimportantposition.Myownfirstexperiencecouldbecomparedtobeingthrownintoa poolinordertolearntoswim. MyfreshmanyearofcollegeIhadexpressedaninterestinstagemanagement.ThenextfallIwaschosento stagemanagethefirstshowoftheseason.Iwasbothexcitedandalittleoverwhelmed.Iknewthebasicjob description,butIhadneverevenservedasanassistant. Iwasgivenaphotocopyofthescript,a3-ringbinderandsomeformsonacomputerdisk.Iwasthenrushed throughacrashcourseingettingashowupasIstumbledmywaythroughrehearsals. Iwastreadingwaterverywelluntiltechweek.Unfortunatelyforeveryoneinvolved,Iwastotallyunprepared forcuetocue.NoonehadsuggestedthatIsitdownwiththedesignerstotalkthroughtheshowandplacecues andtheideahadn'toccuredtome.Wejustslowlyblunderedourwaythroughtherehearsal.Everyfewminutes wewouldhavetostoptodiscussthefunctionandplacementofcues.Agreatdealthatwasaccomplishedinthat rehearsalInowknowshouldhavebeendiscussedbeforehand.Thelackoforganizationandpreparationwasmy faultandwastedalotofman-hours. OnopeningnightIwassonervousandunsureofmyselfthatafterIopenedthehouseIwentstraighttothe dressingroomandthrewup.EachtimeIcalledastandbyIwouldfeelasthoughIcouldn'tbreatheuntilthe sequenceofcueswascomplete.ThatwasthenightIlearnedthatstagefrightdoesn'tjusthappentoperformers. Aftertheclosingperformance,Imadetwopromisestomyself.Iwasgoingtotrystagemanagementagainand usemypastmistakesasbuildingblockstoabetterendproduct.IalsoknewthatIwasnottheonlyonewho couldlearnfrommymistakes.IwantedtomakeitapersonalmissiontodoeverythingIcouldtohelpless experiencedStageManagerslearnthecraftandavoidsomeofthepitfallsthatbefellme. IreadeverybookonstagemanagementthatIcouldfind,startingwithLawrenceSternandmovingonto ThomasKellyafewyearslater.Ifoundstructure,guidance,inspirationandmotivationintheirtexts.Iservedas anAssistantStageManagerontwoshowsbeforeIstagemanagedmyownshowagain.Iwasmuchbetter preparedforthechallengesaStageManagerfacesandwasabletosucceedintrainingsomeexcellentassistants. SincethenIhaveservedonthestagemanagementteamofmorethanthreedozenproductionsforseveral differentproductioncompanies.Ihavealsocrewednumerousshowslearninghowdifferentdepartmentswork andhowvariouspiecesofequipmentfunction.Ihavelearnedalotinthesepastfewyearsandcontinuetotryto sharemyexperienceswithlessexperiencedStageManagersinhopesofbeingamentor,friendandgeneral soundingboard. Mygoalinwritingthishandbookistoaddresseachstageoftheprocessofputtingashowupandsuggestsome stepsthatcanbetakentoforseeandavoidpotentialproblems.IwanttosharenotonlywhatIhavelearned,but howIlearned.Ihopethateveryonewhoreadsthesepagestakesawayjustonephrasethathasvaluetothemand lendsintegritytotheirwork. IhaveputmanyhoursintothisprojectwiththehopethatbeginningStageManagerswillfindguidanceand motivationinmyownprocess.IhopetoprovidenewideasandanaffirmationoftheimportanceoftheStage Manager'sroleineveryproductiontothoseofyouwithmoreexperience. IalsohopetoinstillanewrespectandunderstandinginthoseofyouwhoworkwithStageManagers. Unfortunately,noteveryoneinthetheatricalcommunityunderstandsthefullscopeoftheStageManager'srole inaaproduction.AnactorfriendofminewasonceshockedwhenhediscoveredhowearlyIarrivedtoprepare thespaceforarehearsal.HislastSMhadalwaysarrivedjustintimetostartrehearsal."IthoughStage Managersjustsatoutinthehouseandatecandy,"helaughed,basedonthepreviousexperience.Hewasquite surprisedtodiscoverhowmuchresponsibilityforthesuccessoftheproductionactuallyfellonmyshoulders. ItseemsthebestplacetostartourexaminationoftheStageManager'sroleintheproductionprocessisthe personalcodewhichhelpsmetomakeeverydecisionaboutaproduction.Ihave10GoldenRulesthatIliveby asaStageManager.Ibelievethattheseguidelinesarewhatgivesmeintegrityandpushmetoexcelatmyjob. My10GoldenRulesofStageManagement 1.LearnFromMistakes.Nooneisperfect.Weallmakemistakesaswepracticeourcrafts.Thebestthing anyonecandoistoanalyzethesesituationsandlearnhowtoavoidmakingthesamemistakeagain. 2.Don'tPanic!Alwaysremaincalm,coolandcollected.Never,Neveryell.AllStageManagersshouldknow thedifferencebetweenraisingtheirvoicestobeheardandyelling.IftheStageManagerlosesit,everyonewill panic. 3.SafetyFirst!Thecastshouldn'tsetfootonthestageunlessyouwouldwalkonitbarefoot.Inspecttheset dailyforpotentialproblems.Areallstairsandplatformssecure?Areallescapesadequatelylitandglowtaped? Doyouknowwherethefirstaidkitsandfireextenguishersarelocated?WhoiscertifiedinCPRandFirstAid? TheSMshouldbe! 4.Plan&ThinkAhead.Whatcanbedonetoavoidproblems?HowcantheStageManagersmakelifeeasier foreveryone? 5.ThereAreNoDumbQuestions.Itisbettertoaskandfellsillyforafewsecondsthantocauseadisaster later. 6.PrioritizeTasks&DelegateAuthority.Onepersoncan'tdoeverything.Whydowehaveassistantsifwe don'tusethem?! 7.EarlyIsOnTime.TheSMshouldalwaysbethefirstpersoninandthelastpersonoutofthetheatrefora meetingorrehearsal.Ialwaystrytoshowupabout15minutesbeforeIreallythinkIneedtobethere,justin casetrafficisbadoranyproblemsordelaysoccur. 8.PutEverythingInWriting.Inotherwords,beacommunicator!Dateddailyrehearsalnotesaidin communicationandhelptoavoidconflictsoverwhenrequestsorchangesweremade.(Voicemailandemail arealsogreatformsofcommunication!Getapagerorcelphonesoyouareeasytoreachatalltimes!) 9.Please&ThankYou.Usethesewordeveryday,especiallywhenyouareworkingwithvolunteers. 10.StageManagersDOMakeCoffee.Theyalsodoamillionothermenialtasksthataremeanttomake peoplehappyandboostmorale.Buydonuts,bakebrownies,makesurebirthdaysarerecognized,andhole- punchallpaperwork.Theselittlethingsarereallyappreciatedbyeveryone. MeetingtheDirector IftheStageManagerandDirectorofaproductionhaveneverworkedtogether,itisadvisabletohavea preliminarymeetingtodiscusswhatisexpectedoftheStageManagerduringtherehearsalprocessandhowthe StageManagerpreferstoruntechnicalrehearsals.ThegoalofthismeetingshouldbefortheSMandDirector togettoknowoneanotherandgetafeelforhowtheotherpersonlikestowork.Someofthequestionsthe StageManagermightconsideraskingare: • DoestheDirectorallowguestsintherehearsalarea?ForDressRehearsals? • Atthefirstreadthrough,wouldtheDirectorlikeyoutoreadthestagedirections? • Howlongwillthecompanybesittingatatableworkingwiththetextonly?Whentheyfirstgetontheir feet,howmuchrehearsalfurniturewillbenecessary?WhenwouldtheDirectorliketointroduce rehearsalpropstothecompany? • Howheavy-handedshouldyoubewithtardyorabsentcastmembers?DoestheDirectorliketohavea strickstarttimeevenifsomeperformersarenotpresentyet? • Inanon-unionproduction,doestheDirectorliketohaveformalbreakscalledorshouldbreaks“just happen?”Ifyouwillbecallingthebreaks,wouldtheDirectorliketobewarnedafewminutesaheadof time? • ForanEquityproduction,whatbreakscheduledoestheDirectorprefertofollow?EquityActorsand StageManagersshouldreceiveeitherafivemiutebreakafterevery55minutesofworkoratenminute breakafterevery80minutesofwork.Dinnerbreaksmustbe90minutesunlesstheEquitymembers electtotakeashorterbreak. • Shouldyougiveblockingnotesandcalloutpropsthattheactorshaveforgottentocarryon?