Author Topic: Shadowing Etiquette  (Read 4668 times)

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Chloe.E

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Shadowing Etiquette
« on: Apr 27, 2013, 01:02 am »
I've found all of the shadowing threads very helpful, but I'm still left with a few questions!

I've been stage managing professionally (albeit at 'lower rung' companies) for a few years now, but never thought to shadow! SMing is definitely a learn-by-doing craft, but I feel like observing a tech or calling of a show could be really beneficial. I'm curious about shadowing specifics that haven't yet been addressed (I believe) such as

-Is emailing these days now more appropriate than sending a true letter, especially regarding convenience?
-Do you as SMs expect your shadowers to come prepared with questions, and if so, what questions do you wish they did/didn't ask?
-Is observing tech heard of, or appropriate?

Cheers!

MatthewShiner

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Re: Shadowing Etiquette
« Reply #1 on: Apr 27, 2013, 03:24 am »
I think e-mailing would be the preferred point of communication now - if you can get their email.  Otherwise, a letter with your email address mentioned would work. 

I think coming up with questions are fine - - - just be prepared for time for questions to be limited, depending on the show.

No, I have observers during tech all the time, and I have observed tech.  It just sort of depends on the temperature of the room.
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Anything posted here as in my own personal opinion, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of my employer - whomever they be at a given moment in time.

On_Headset

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Re: Shadowing Etiquette
« Reply #2 on: Apr 27, 2013, 05:44 am »
Observing tech might actually be strongly preferable to observing a show. Once you get the basics down, most shows run more or less the same, especially if you're watching from the booth: unless there are unusual technical elements, you won't see anything from the booth on one show that you wouldn't see on dozens of others. Tech is a completely different beast, and would also give you special insight into how the venue affects technical processes, how similar functions are performed with different equipment by different companies, etc.

In other words, my advice: given the choice between tech or a run, push for tech!

MatthewShiner

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Re: Shadowing Etiquette
« Reply #3 on: Apr 27, 2013, 06:52 am »
On the flip side, most of the time you shadow on a big show, you will be backstage - something you are probably not going to see during tech.  It sort of depends on what you want out of the experience.

The reason some stage managers may not want you to be at tech, is tech can be a very stressful moment - designers are doing their work, actors are not performing, etc.  I have directors being very clear that tech is for the team only, and no guests should be there. 

It all depends on the project and those involved.

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nrs2014

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Re: Shadowing Etiquette
« Reply #4 on: Apr 29, 2013, 09:23 pm »
When I shadowed I sent them an email and we worked out a time. I made a list of questions but I definitely didn't ask all of them. They sort of just told me about their duties the whole time - it went so fast I didn't have a whole lot of time to ask questions!

chadparkerla

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Re: Shadowing Etiquette
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2013, 01:43 am »
-Is emailing these days now more appropriate than sending a true letter, especially regarding convenience?
-Do you as SMs expect your shadowers to come prepared with questions, and if so, what questions do you wish they did/didn't ask?
-Is observing tech heard of, or appropriate?

I live in LA, so my experience may differ from yours. (I am also trying to shadow tours sometimes, so I getting emails can be hard.)  In any case, I've found that a printed letter in an envelope delivered to the backstage door is a good way to get contact. Always take the time to figure out who to send it to, and learn about them and the show. It helps.

In my letter I let them know about myself and what I'm looking for. I ask them what time they want me to arrive. Generally, I find I have some time to chat, but not all that much. I think it's more important to talk to them and meet them and their crew than to arrive with 20 questions. Maybe 1 question instead, as a starting off point for a conversation.

I've been welcomed at load-in for tours before, but haven't ever tried tech.



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lsears

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Re: Shadowing Etiquette
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2013, 11:11 am »
I love having people shadow me, especially on longer running shows where I've developed a comfortable routine.  I normally ask that the person see the show first so that they understand how what I'm doing connects to what the audience sees, and also so that they come in with questions.  I try to narrate what I'm doing as much as possible, having talked briefly before so I can judge what their interests are/experiance is.  I'm not a huge fan of someone spending three-four hours with me and never saying a word - have thoughts, have questions, have opinions, please. 

On my last show I had a playwright shadow me before she gave a post-show lecture (not the author of the show I was calling) and it was so much fun to answer her questions about how I time out specific cues each night, feeling out the mood of the actors and audience, as well as talking with her about the notes I was taking for the actors.  It was nice to talk with someone about maintaining the show, rather than the technical part of things other stage managers are interested in.

The assistant to the director on that show was an actor who had just finished undergrad and asked if she could shadow as well.  Again, I had a great time, her questions were very different, she'd never seen someone call a show before so it was really about going back to square one.  Because she had been with us our whole rehearsal and tech process we got to talk about what I look for in rehearsals in anticipation of calling the show.

Last year I had a very precocious five year old watch me call an act while his father was onstage (and his au pair standing next to me).  Also fun, better than students who may get more out of it but I leave unsure of what they learned or were interested in.