JOB DESCRIPTION: So what's a Broadway SMs Performance schedule like?

[PSMAK]

So just wondering for those of you who are currently working on a Broadway or Off-Broadway show or have in the past. What is a typical performance schedule day like for you? From the moment you get into the "office" till you leave the "office".

Added tag to subject line-Rebbe

[MatthewShiner]

Doing off-Broadway right now.

Today we had a 8:00p show.
I came in at 6:30p
we had a 7:15 fight call
7:30p half-hour
8:05 start show
Show is down by 10:03
I have the report and schedule done and out the door by 10:30p

I do a lot of paperwork during the time between 6:30p and 7:15p

We have 8 shows a week
Monday 8:00p
Tuesday Off
Wednesday 3:00p, 8:00p
Thursday 4 hours of understudy rehearsal, 8:00p Show
Friday, 8:00p
Saturday 3:00p, 8:00
Sunday 3:00p

Total work week is about 36 hours.  I am sure a larger scale musical with a longer run time is closer to 45 or 50.

[nmno]

The other part I'll add is having a team of multiple stage managers who all call the show so you rotate.  Last show I did, 3 stage managers: 
*The PSM would call 2 shows a week; the other 6 shows a week the PSM would have free to watch/note the show, do paperwork (schedules, organizing press events, reports/payroll) or rehearse new company members.  The PSM would not run the deck. 
*The 1st ASM would call 3 shows and deck when the other ASM called; the other 2 shows a week (when the PSM was calling) the 1st would do paperwork (sign-in sheets, update track sheets, help with payroll, order office supplies, create new hire packets, order playbill stuffers, etc).
* The 2nd ASM would call 3 shows a week and deck the other 5.  Every so often, the 2nd would get to take a show off to watch from out front, do paperwork, etc. 

(This is just a template...  other teams sort it out differently.  On one show, the PSM was the original 1st (ie. set up the deck track) so would occassionally run the deck, just to stay in touch with it/because she was bored.  I've also heard tale of shows (something like Les Miz) where the PSM only called once per YEAR (that's amazing to me...  but to each his own...)

[MatthewShiner]

We are a two person team, with one sub.

I will run the deck once a week so my ASM stays fresh on calling it.

Twice a month I will go out and note the show.

We will soon add a second sub to help dealing with stepping out to note the show, train new understudies or new cast members.

[Candy0081]

Matthew do you have an AD around that is noting on occasion as well?  Only getting out twice a month to note would be tough for me. 

Do you have understudy rehearsal every week?  That sounds like a lot, but then again each show has its own needs. 

Currently since I am in week sits I am able to get out twice a week to note and my dance captain gets out once a week to note.  When we were in split weeks and one nighters I was lucky to get out once a week. 

[MatthewShiner]

We do have an AD around who notes.

I can actually watch a bulk of the show, even when calling, and when I swap out to the ASM track (which is pretty easy on my track) - I can watch almost the entire show - if I remember to bring a pad and pen . . . which I almost always forget . . . so I end up scribbling notes on the back of my run sheets.

We do have understudy rehearsal every week (or now 3 out of 4 weeks).  We have one understudy who has three tracks . . . and has yet to go on for them . . . so, we still have work to do.

I would love to go out more then once a week, but it takes the two SMs we have on staff to run the show, and on the contract we are currently on . . . it just a lot of money to bring on a SUB if it is only for me to note (1/8 salary + Health Care / Pension / What Note) . . . if we have a scheduled out already, I tend to add one more show on so I can watch. 

Once we figure out how to run the show with only one SM, I think I would gleefully go out and watch more often.