Poll

How do you refer to yourself in reports?

First person.  (*I* replaced a cyc gel.)
Third person by name.  (*Tempest* continues to suffer from a cold.)
Third person by title.  (*Stage Management* believes the heat may be broken.)
Some combination thereof.
You are all peons.  We use the royal we.

Author Topic: REPORTS: Referring to Stage Manager IN the report  (Read 9870 times)

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Tempest

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REPORTS: Referring to Stage Manager IN the report
« on: Dec 26, 2010, 01:40 pm »
Doing a report last night, I had to reference myself a lot (more electrical troubles and reports on my struggles to get the show back up once it crashed), and really, I'm not very fond of doing that.  I prefer to refer to self in the third person in reports, but it's so awkward when you have a lot of referring to do.  I ended up reporting my struggles with the computers in first person, but in the Accident/Illness/Injury section, I used third person: "Lead Actor" and "Tempest" continue to suffer from serious colds.

And then my high school creative writing teacher bellowed in my head all night for mixing POV...

Anyway, after that ramble, I'm just curious, when you have to refer to yourself in reports, how do you do it?

Edit to subject line-Rebbe
« Last Edit: Dec 26, 2010, 04:53 pm by Rebbe »
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nick_tochelli

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Re: Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #1 on: Dec 26, 2010, 04:04 pm »
I use a combimation of first names, and titles. I don't like saying I or things like that because who knows who typed the report (i realize that information is also on the report, but people shouldn't have to search for it because you started to refer to as I).

In rehearsal reports, if it comes from a director, I use we. If its from myself, I use my name in the third person. If its a question or request from an assistant, I'll use stage management.

bex

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Re: Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #2 on: Dec 26, 2010, 04:07 pm »
I usually refer to myself as either My Name or Stage Management.  I dislike using the personal pronoun, I'm not sure why. I think it sounds too informal for a report that's going way on up the food chain.
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On_Headset

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Re: Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #3 on: Dec 26, 2010, 04:12 pm »
I use initials for everyone on the production team, myself included. ("JC will check with RR in order to ensure that FP or JP will get the costume shop unlocked early on Tuesday.")

It was a great system until I worked a show involving Mark Micklethwaite and Mike Mansfield and Mona McCullough. :o

Rebbe

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Re: Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #4 on: Dec 26, 2010, 04:51 pm »
It depends on the theater company for me.  If it’s a big company where scores of people are reading the report, I’ve used third person sometimes for clarity’s sake.  When the distribution list is more contained to the production team and relevant theater staff, I generally use first person to describe my own actions.   I think it is clear enough who is writing and sending the report, and feels pretentious to do otherwise when everyone knows each other and is on a first name basis.  If a note involves several of the SM team, I may use “stage management”.   
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PSMKay

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Re: REPORTS: Referring to Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #5 on: Dec 26, 2010, 11:30 pm »
I used to write two reports.  The Rehearsal report only went to production management & the company head, and included start times, end times, and any personnel notes, e.g., tardiness, absences, scheduling conflicts, personality conflicts.  This document was written as evidence in case of terminations or future lawsuits.  In this case I always referred to myself as my role for the sake of clarity, as the rehearsal report could very well be used by the company many years later.

The Tech Notes went to the design team and implementation leads.  (TD, Wardrobe, ME, Props, etc.)  This was for all of the concrete decisions and needs that evolved during the course of the rehearsal and was designed for clear communication.  For Tech Notes I'd use far more colloquial phrasing, and would generally refer to myself by name or in the 1st person.  This was mostly due to doing remounts.  When saying "stage management did X" in the context of a remount, it becomes a bit vague as to whether you're referring to the present day or the original production.

philimbesi

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Re: REPORTS: Referring to Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #6 on: Dec 29, 2010, 09:34 am »
I normally say I when it comes to things I do.   I use position or character names when it come to “in the flow of the show” kind of stuff but for accidents, injuries, absence, lateness I’ll use the person’s names.

Sarah

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Re: REPORTS: Referring to Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #7 on: Dec 29, 2010, 11:35 am »
It's always been my practice to use the third person by title when referring to myself in a report. Using my name or the first person always feels too informal and since the stage manager's name is always included in a permanent header or footer in our paperwork, it doesn't create any confusion.

VilleSM

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Re: REPORTS: Referring to Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #8 on: Jan 16, 2011, 09:55 am »
I generally use something like "Phil (SM) will check in with [Director Name] (Dir.) first thing in the morning."
I do the same thing with actors, referring to them by name, and then by character, especially for costumers who might only know the character and not the person's name. I think it's easier for clarity... at least from my point of view.
"The stage is not merely the meeting place of all the arts, but is also the return of art to life." - Oscar Wilde

catalinacisne

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Re: REPORTS: Referring to Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #9 on: Jan 16, 2011, 10:52 am »
The style of performance report already established at the theatre I work at before I arrived was bullet points and fragment sentences. I'm low enough on the ladder that rocking the boat would be looked down upon, so I follow that example, which oftentimes omits proper nouns if they're not needed for clarity's sake. Examples:
"LX 37 late - operator error"
"LX 37 late - calling error"
"SL portion of deck was not fully swept before 1/2 hour; [Actor Name] had traction issues at top of show and almost fell"

In the props or sets section when something needs a touch-up/more consumables, I almost always refer to stage management as we (even though it's a one-person team), "The papers on [Character Name]'s clipboard are getting wrinkled, may we please have some back-ups?"

Scott

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Re: REPORTS: Referring to Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #10 on: Jan 17, 2011, 12:40 pm »
The style of performance report already established at the theatre I work at before I arrived was bullet points and fragment sentences. I'm low enough on the ladder that rocking the boat would be looked down upon, so I follow that example, which oftentimes omits proper nouns if they're not needed for clarity's sake. Examples:
"LX 37 late - operator error"
"LX 37 late - calling error"
"SL portion of deck was not fully swept before 1/2 hour; [Actor Name] had traction issues at top of show and almost fell"

Style looks fine to me -- I think my eyes would glaze over if I were to see any more complete sentences in regards to LX errors.

jonharden

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Re: REPORTS: Referring to Stage Manager IN the report
« Reply #11 on: Apr 13, 2011, 05:35 pm »
As a Stage Manager in the UK, I have had to write numerous show reports following a performance.
If a remark concerns an actor/opera singer, I always refer to them by their surname: "Mr. Bloggs missed a cue line on page 98, causing SQ18 (Dog Bark) to be cued late."

If a remark concerns a member of Stage Management, I always refer to them by their management title: "During act one a circuit breaker tripped switching off two lanterns, the Stage Manager was able to reset the trip switch, solving the issue. The two lanterns were not operational for approx. 3 minutes."  I write in this way even if the note concerns myself.

I hope this is useful!

Edit changed text formatting-Rebbe
« Last Edit: Apr 13, 2011, 06:54 pm by Rebbe »

 

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