PEOPLE: Adjusting your style

[MatthewShiner]

As I grow older, the more and more the job of stage management becomes about style.  The style in which you interact with people, communicate with people, in general deal with people.  As I have the benefit of working with a lot of different stage managers, I find it interesting to watch other people’s “style” on interaction (with other stage managers, with cast, with crew), and how people put different emphasis on different priorities.  (It again reinforces the concept that there is not one “right” way to stage management.)

The question I pose is, how much do you find yourself adjusting your style when you work with a new team?  Work at a new theatre?  Or just generally evolved in the business?  I work at one theatre, and have for six years now, so I find that my style is pretty consistent, although with new team members or new shows or new directors, I try to be even more flexible then I am normally am.  What I do find changing, is, as I get older, within my team, I become more and more rigid.  I know what I want, what I like, and I know what works for me.

Just out of curiosity, I was interested in hearing other people’s views on their style and adapting their style.

[centaura]

What I do find changing, is, as I get older, within my team, I become more and more rigid.

I think I have to agree with this statement.  Part of it is just the confidence of experience - you know that certain things work or don't work, and aren't interested in re-inventing the wheel.  Of course, while I've grown more rigid in some areas - there are other areas that I've grown a little more relaxed on.  I analyze on a show by show basis what paperwork I need to generate - instead of doing everything for every show, I ask myself what do I really need to get the job done.  I've also let my self change with the electronic age, and have adapted things that I do to deal with changing technology; but on an as need basis.  I've grown less interested in playing with every new toy, but analyzing things for whether they will really be helpful or not.

-Centaura

[Rebbe]

Using systems that work isn’t necessarily rigidity; it’s just smart!  When you're at the same theater, with scores of full-time staff, and your cast and SM team are the main source of turn-over, it makes sense to use the same proven methods.  Interns/apprentices may have to adjust to your style if it's not how they were taught, but they may find your ways click for them in a way others don't, so going with what's comfortable for them isn't always doing them a favor.

I find that freelancing definitely keeps me flexible, but I don’t consciously change my style, since in my mind style is mostly about personality.  An example of style might be that I never yell at actors, I try to keep things positive, even when telling them things they don’t want to hear.  My priorities do change though, to meet the expectations of the theater or director.  How soon we use props, or take line notes, or tell actors they’re blocking is off, are based on the director.  Who communicates crew call times, leads production meetings, or schedules the design run, can vary by theater.   

The ways I use my team, beyond the basics of coffee making, sharp pencils, and copies, is based on the strengths of the people involved.  Some people just aren't as good at pre-sets or handling script changes.  But I do expect that if I give someone a project, it will be done unless they tell me otherwise.  I expect them to ask me questions if they don’t understand, rather than just moving forward blindly.  And there are probably a dozen little things I'll ask of my team, couched in phrases like “just humor me..,” or “I’ll sleep better if…” or “this sounds crazy, but please”  that I’ve learned through experience just work better a certain way.