BIG FAT CAVEAT: I am only speaking from my experience and this is in no way to be taken as a universal set of truths, or, even as a terribly informed opinion. I just remember seeing a lot of posts by people who have only done theatre asking about transitioning to opera and thought I'd post my experience.
Most of my professional work is being done in a 200-ish seat partial thrust house, converted from an old elementary school cafe-torium. It's a good company, been around 25 years and is Equity or not on a show-by show basis. I've ASM'd for them once, and SMd two or three shows of their five show season every year for the last five years.
Late this last winter, a call went out on the local job boards for an ASM position for one show at the Opera, this spring. I'd done two summer seasons of Opera as a carp/stage hand in college, and enjoyed it, so I applied. I was lucky enough to get the job. We're teching now, and I'm having a blast. Here are a couple of observations and suggestions from my transition experience.
EVERYTHING scales up. Sets, costumes, numbers of performers, number of details, budget, amount of paperwork. Except time, that seems to be very condensed. We've got a 5 week schedule from first rehearsal to CLOSING night.
Respect, respect, respect. Everything is Mr. or Ms. on all paperwork (though most of the singers I'm working with have asked I use their first names when talking to them)
You will do more paperwork than you know what to do with, a lot of it stuff that you've never even heard of, before. A lot of the time, there will be a very specific format that the company wants you to do it in. When in doubt, ask your SM, and/or the department you're going to be giving it to. My laptop has been invaluable for this process. Not in rehearsal, but I'll find myself darting down to the office on breaks and typing in the latest notes.
You will do that paperwork about three million times. Be sure to include not only the date, but the version number!
Pay attention to
everything, but be prepared to let go of things that are not your responsibility. Example: I'm the costume liason for this show, so I need to note all principal/chorus/super entrances and exits for their dressing sheets. I put a lot of energy into keeping track of the chorus and supers, in particular, since they've got most of the costume changes. But, their blocking is not my responsibility, nor am I their SM-team liason. Now that we're in tech, I find myself contantly reminding myself, "xxx is not my job, the best way I can help is to stay out of the way and be prepared for the next thing that IS my responsibility." I'm really bad at that....
Despite the condensed schedule, because singers are coddled more than actors, you will get more rest, or at least time out of rehearsal. I am astonished to report that I've only had three nights in the last three weeks where I couldn't manage eight hours, and I have an hour commute, one way! This would probably be very different if I were the SM instead of an ASM, but right now, I'm just grateful for the rest.
Performers are performers. I expeceted opera singers to be a little more serious and persnickety, but I'm experienceing about the usual proportion of jokers/serious, personable/aloof, attentive/goofing off, etc. that I see in the cast of a play.
I'm sure I could think of more, and will, later, but we teched everything last night, and my brain is sort of going 'splodey. I'm grateful for the Sitz/Wandel day off to catch up on life! And paperwork.
But, really, I've never had such a good time working on a show; I could do this for the rest of my life.
I hope this little set of observations is useful for anyone else making the transition!
