Mr. Redman gave me an article to read about Stage Managing. Being a stage manager is something that I’ve always wanted to do and I finally have my chance to do it. This article is written by a very experienced woman why the name of Laurie Kincman. She has been stage managing for a long time and reading all her tips and tricks was very beneficial. Here are a few of the notes that I took:
· Metaphor of air traffic controller. A stage managers job is to make sure that the planes all arrive and leave on time and stay in the air, without actually flying them
· Stage managers write down everything. EVERYTHING. Props lists, set pieces lists, daily report, directors notes.
· Have very good communication skills. Able to talk with the different production teams and coordinate deadlines
· The stage Manager doesn’t meant hat you are above everyone else. It’s not power. All we do is make sure that everyone and everything is running smoothly and on time
· Establish boundaries between personal and work life. A friend of your might be in the production. This doesn’t mean that they get to come late an not show up to rehearsals with out an excuse
· If you have an assistant stage manager, use them. It is impossible to write down every single thing that goes on so give some of the work to the ASM
· You have to use a mix of both verbal and written communication to get information out to the cast and crew. Also make sure that whatever information that you relay is understood and put into action
· Read body language. You are just eyes and ears. Notice how people talk to each other and keep a note of relationships. The more you notice other people’s body language, you’ll start to notice your own. This will change how you behave in rehearsals. Avoid looking bored of bothered by the whole process
· Its a lot more effective to share more detailed and large amounts of information using lists and charts rather than with a session of you just speaking Guaranteed someone wasn’t listening and wont actually remember what you said
· Always proofread everything that you write. Especially reports. Treat all written communication as public information
· The SM is the best at finding potential problems. We are there to see problems before they even become a problem. The director wants a costume change between scenes but still wants the actor in the next scene less than three minutes later? Its your job to tell them that its not possible
· Learn when to step in. If a costume problem happens during a performance, then it’s perfectly valid for you to go and use your extraordinary sewing skills to sow the piece. But during rehearsals, when the whole production team is there, let them do their job and fix the problem.
· Metaphor of air traffic controller. A stage managers job is to make sure that the planes all arrive and leave on time and stay in the air, without actually flying them
· Stage managers write down everything. EVERYTHING. Props lists, set pieces lists, daily report, directors notes.
· Have very good communication skills. Able to talk with the different production teams and coordinate deadlines
· The stage Manager doesn’t meant hat you are above everyone else. It’s not power. All we do is make sure that everyone and everything is running smoothly and on time
· Establish boundaries between personal and work life. A friend of your might be in the production. This doesn’t mean that they get to come late an not show up to rehearsals with out an excuse
· If you have an assistant stage manager, use them. It is impossible to write down every single thing that goes on so give some of the work to the ASM
· You have to use a mix of both verbal and written communication to get information out to the cast and crew. Also make sure that whatever information that you relay is understood and put into action
· Read body language. You are just eyes and ears. Notice how people talk to each other and keep a note of relationships. The more you notice other people’s body language, you’ll start to notice your own. This will change how you behave in rehearsals. Avoid looking bored of bothered by the whole process
· Its a lot more effective to share more detailed and large amounts of information using lists and charts rather than with a session of you just speaking Guaranteed someone wasn’t listening and wont actually remember what you said
· Always proofread everything that you write. Especially reports. Treat all written communication as public information
· The SM is the best at finding potential problems. We are there to see problems before they even become a problem. The director wants a costume change between scenes but still wants the actor in the next scene less than three minutes later? Its your job to tell them that its not possible
· Learn when to step in. If a costume problem happens during a performance, then it’s perfectly valid for you to go and use your extraordinary sewing skills to sow the piece. But during rehearsals, when the whole production team is there, let them do their job and fix the problem.