Choosing a Show to SM

[planetmike]

My current show (a musical, community theater) runs in February 2009, we're about 3 weeks into rehearsals now. So I'm starting to look for my next show. What do you look for when trying to decide which shows you'd like to work for? I know we can't always get onto the "coolest" or "most tech heavy" show every time. I'm guessing my next show will be a straight play, with not much action happening during the show itself (not much calling). But the experience of helping the rehearsal process go smoothly is very important of course. What else should I be looking for when searching for a show to stage manage? Mike

[Mac Calder]

It depends - I think early on in your career, it is less about choice and more about where you can find work. That said, early on in your career is a great way to branch out the resume - do the quirky gigs that don't always pay the best, but prove you are versatile.

Straight plays are great, don't get me wrong, and there is tonnes of valuable experiences you can get from them, but the quirky shows can really bring you out from the crowed during an interview - as well as providing great experience in coping with difficult conditions.

[geoffsm]

More often than not...it comes right down to what I am able to get.  If it's a job, then I can't get too choosy at this point.  When I'm SMing at school, I consider a lot of things. How easy the director is, how close to a professional situation will working with the director be, etc.  I just try to get what is going to give me the most valuable experience.

[crazylady]

For a little while, it came down to I needed a job and that was that. But then after a couple of gigs where I wasn't very happy, I decided I needed to be more selective. It was hard to be selective, I'm not gonna lie, only because there is always that fear in the back of your head that you will never get hired again and you will have to live in a van down by the river and eat government cheese - wait, i do that already. But anyway, the long and short of it is, because I waited to find a job that i was really happy with and didn't just take a job because it paid me, i am very happy now. I ended up being unemployed for about 2 months. I chose to look at it as vacation time - because really, when do we get a vacation unless we aren't working?