The Stage Manager Blog

Musings of an overworked and underpaid Stage Manager

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Stage Managers be like:

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Happy International Stage Management Day!

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Sitting in a production meeting where someone calls me an expert at something.

Another person not paying attention: Whose an expect?

Me: Me! God help us all…

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We’re back! After 570 days we’re back!

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Did I just have an under 2 hour Q2Q? Yes. Yes I did.

Did I also tear up when I heard “lights standby” in response to my “standby lights” call at the top of the show? Also, yes. Yes I did.

It’s been too long. 😌

[placesgo]

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Set a spike for an actor. And they miss it by a mile

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First production meeting back and I think I’ve forgotten how this all works

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Virtual Theatre! Coming to you from Baltimore, Maryland! Tune in live tonight, Saturday March 21, 2020 to see Pandemic Players’ first production.

https://www.facebook.com/Pandemic-Players-110668513891671/

Pandemic Players

Pandemic Players. 309 likes · 385 talking about this · 5 were here. While theaters are closed, Pandemic Players will be producing streamed p

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A dark empty theatre is often a source of comfort and solace for me. A place filled with possibilities and memories. Today, stepping into a dark empty theatre filled me with a sense of unbridled sadness and longing. My heart aches for all that we’ve lost and yet sings for all we’ve gained from this aborted run. So many of us are feeling the same ache today and will be for a long time coming. Brothers and sisters, I am here for you. My heart reaches for you in this time of pain. Know that soon we shall once more be back where our souls can sing with joy and love at being where we belong. But for now, let us sit in our solemnity and know that we are not alone. All my love goes to all my brothers and sisters, my fellow artists, my friends, my theatre family.

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We open this show tomorrow and I’m already over it. My wonderful lovely amazing costumer told me I sounded like a parent while talking about the actors and I’m like well I feel like a parent. I have one actor who micromanages everyone and often gives them wrong information. I have another actor who is being a real b!tch to everyone and I have yet another actor who is just as done as I am. My poor costumer has to find one actor a new pair of pants because the chair I was told was dry (and I checked to make sure) hadn’t been painted properly apparently and there were paint bubbles and paint got all over this actor’s pants. I need the biggest drink in the world. Oh, and our comms went down mid tech tonight so there’s that as well. I’m seriously just praying to all theatre gods that we manage this show.

[stagemanagermusings]

me: *sends initial greeting email with my number*

me: *tells everyone my number at first rehearsal*

me: *sends every email with my number*

actor: i'm sorry i didnt call you i dont have your number

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How to help your stage manager

respond to their text/emails just so they know you saw them

DO NOT REPLY ALL stage managers tend to send group emails and when you reply all the whole group gets it when really just the stage manager needed to see your question/response

answer calls, its just as awkward for us to call you as it is for you to answer but it is incredibly important if we call you instead of text you

save our number in your phone!!

don’t wait until the last minute to tell us stuff

we don’t bite, directors do, its always a better choice to talk to us before you are forced to talk to them

chances are we haven’t eaten, especially during tech week, bring us food you will make us very happy

listen t our ASMs and Techs, chances are we told them to tell you something and its just easier if you listen

please be quiet

please be on time

we are the only ones that should have our headset on “talk” at all times so don’t get mad at our breathing

any fights you get into, drama you cause is just more work for us please get along

some SMs are nice, some are shy, some are strict, some are crazy, some are messy and look disorganized, we are all pretty great, learn your SM’s attitude early and learn how to work with them, disagreeing with us, or disliking us for petty reasons is just not productive 

chances are we haven’t slept, tread lightly during tech week and be forgiving of outbursts 

[deadghostofyourdad]

Why should stage managers be appreciated

They are ready to help everyone

They have to coordinate light crew, sound crew stage crew and actors AT THE SAME TIME

“Go. NO ACTORS GO, stage crew stay. Go. NO STAGE CREW GO, actors stay!1!!”

I swear they scream internally 24/7

… and sometimes that scream comes out

They work so hard to make the show truly amazing

They might seem angry and mean but they are really nice and just doing their job

They are always stressed

Their are the best at making theatre work as a whole

I swear EVERYONE listens to them

“Lights, go. Lights? LiGhTs?!”

They have the strongest nervous system

They are always worried about during the show

They are so happy when everything goes well

They are the most concentrated human beings on this planet

THEY ARE GREAT AND MUST BE LOVED, thank you

[mondays-off]

I said what I said

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An actor brought me gummy bears to replenish my stash because she noticed I was running low and I legit shed a tear of happiness. It’s the little things.

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The most dangerous places in theatre (feel free to add)

Orchestra pit (like what is going on there, it’s like a cave, is anyone alive?)

The 10*10 meters area around stage manager during tech week

Dressing room 5 minutes before the show

Behind the curtains, when the whole ensemble is waiting to go on stage

Light booth for anyone who isn’t light crew

Any staircase set piece in general

Space in between a set piece and a dancer in front of you during a dance number

In the storage room where all the set/costumes/props/dead bodies are kept (honestly got lost there once, scarred for life)

That one free spot that can be used for little personal rehearsal (IM THE LEAD I NEED THIS SPACE)

Bathrooms during intermission

Backstage if you are not a theatre kid

ANY THEATRE SPACE IF YOU ARE NOT A THEATRE KID

Beside an unfinished set piece (don’t you dare step on that, i’ll snap your neck)

Right in front of the choreographer, who is having a bad day

Beside a theatre kid, who just got insulted for doing theatre (honestly the worst)

Casting rooms during a callback (the most tension you’ll ever feel)

Backstage when there’s only 3 people who don’t really like each other

Beside an actor during quick costume change, which isn’t going great (if you see that situation: offer help, get a negative answer/deadly stare, run)

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Have gummies will run show