The Backstage Handbook – an “illustrated almanac of technical information”, this book is essential for any theater stage manager, and is quite useful for concert stage managers as well. 3. Kerry Hishon is a director, actor, writer and stage combatant from London, Ontario, Canada. Bind Your Resume to the Stage Manager Job Description But not if you have the right stage manager! The stage manager is the glue that holds a production together. AFTT’s stage management course will prepare you for a spectrum of roles from production manager to stage manager, and everything in between. When it became pretty much everything I was, I couldn’t shake off little things anymore. My stage manger has the entire prop table labeled and divided into section, like all the props in the in the first scene were in the top right of the prop table. Remember that being confident and being assertive is not the same thing! We’ve established that a stage manager needs to be organized, confident, assertive, and a good listener and observer. When it comes down to it, students need to treat others the way they’d like to be treated. If I had a bad day at work, I could just leave it in the work slice and shake it off. Good stage managers are hard to find, but those students are out there. View her blog at www.kerryhishon.com. These are the desirable skills to have to become and ideal candidate for a stage management role: High standard of organisational and communication skills; Computer skills and understanding of current technology; Ability to work under pressure; A sharp eye for detail ; Problem-solving skills, ability to think on your feet Being assertive takes practice, and being a stage manager definitely helps to grow that skill! In order to receive respect, students must first demonstrate respect towards others. Part of a stage manager’s job is to assist with administrative tasks such as keeping actors and artistic staff on task, taking attendance, and calling absent cast and crew members to find out where they are. Attention to detail is the difference between a good stage manager and a great stage manager. Check out our plays for student performers, and teaching resources for drama educators. Use of teleprompters . 1-416-410-2282 (International), Billing / Accounting Questions Mar 14, 2016 - So you think you might want to be a stage manager? You have to oversee not only the technical staff such as the lighting and sound engineers, but help manage actors and work closely with directors and producers. You'll also need the following attributes. They are usually the go-to person for any additional tasks that need to be done. Email Email can be useful for communication between production departments, sending reminders to cast and crew, or distribution of rehearsal reports and other materials. Get on our list! They also tell the sound and lighting desks what the cues are for the show. A good stage manager can take in all of the scheduling needs from the director, music director, vocal director, choreographer, fight choreographer, dialect coach, movement coach, production manager, costume designer, etc. Just because you are an organized human being doesn’t mean you have the skillset to be an excellent stage manager. Stage Manager Duties, Education Requirements and Career Info. Learn to be patient, kind and learn to COMMUNICATE. At the very least, they are responsible of delegating these tasks to others. That way you’ve got plenty to summarize. A stage manager must know how to do every job in the production. and reasonably accommodate everyone's needs in … We know you do too. billing@theatrefolk.com, Drama Teacher Academy Support 1. AFTT - ACADEMY OF FILM, THEATRE & TELEVISION, Acting graduate gets role in Musical Theatre Production of Oliver, Industry Outcomes from studying Live Production and Management Services. Learn about the education and preparation needed to become a stage manager. Involved from the rehearsal stage through to the live performances, you'll be on hand to deal with any emergencies that may arise. Once you have the necessary skills, you can apply at local schools and colleges, theatres and playhouses, as well as concert halls and music venues. As a manager, you have to communicate up, down and across the organization. To be able to multi task efficiently not only saves time, … Learning how to find the problem and solving it efficiently is vital part of a Stage Managers job, whether it be in lightning or props. Creativity problem solving is a must when it comes to stage management. Artistic staff members get super-busy and it is easy for them to lose track of time. When providing missed lines, assigning pre-show tasks, or calling the actual show from the booth, stage managers must have confidence in themselves and their teams to make sure the show goes on. Artistic staff members get super-busy and it is easy for them to lose track of time. Academy of Film, Theatre & Television Stage managers are leaders. You need to make presentations and communicate to the senior management one minute and then communicate to your peers the next minute. Teleprompters if needed; Essential reading. While some skills that are needed for implementing successful performance management may come naturally to managers, in many cases they need to be learned. A movie theater. The role of the stage manager is a vital one in the theatrical process. submissions@theatrefolk.com, The Bullied, the Bully, and the Bystander: Funhouse, Theatrefolk Featured Play – Ashland Falls by Steven Stack. 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