Stage Manager Portfolio

[wheatwheat9]

Hey everyone!

I just started my senior year of high school so that means I am just starting to apply to colleges. Some of the schools I am applying to  require portfolios. I've been working of productions for a long time but I just started SMing last year. I have one completed book and it's not really something I would be comfortable showing to a school.

What exactly are schools looking for when they look at prompt books? I am SMing my second production in the coming months and I want it to be something I am proud to turn into a school. Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks!

[SMExtraordinaire]

They are looking for well organized, clean blocking (if you can add diagrams that always makes a good impression), they are looking for a clean calling script that is well maintained and "easy to follow."

Basically they don't want you handing them a pile of papers and calling it your production book. Gets lots of dividers with tabs - make sure you break down your script by scene as well as sections of the book (and preferable print out the tabs - not hand written). Include every piece of the show you can think of from welcome letters to any designs drawings to costume pictures, to all rehearsal and production reports.

Now, I warn that in a professional SMing situation this will not always be the case for your book as you are in a time crunch, but this is supposed to be your shining moment so your prod book should reflect that passion for your job. I tend to focus on one production book once a season that I go back to and "make pretty" with the cool font and a beautiful cover for the book and typed tabs, etc. so I can use it at interviews.

Good luck!

[johnB]

I know the feeling - I dealt with this just last year. The best thing to do is try to showcase some of your work. They don't need or want an entire prompt script because they know what a rehearsal report looks like after the first one, they won't need to see 30.

What I did was get a 1.5" binder with around 12 tabs. Each tab I labeled with "Excerpts from.." and had one for Blocking, Calling, Reports, Schedules, Cast Information, Scenic, Lighting, Sound, Deck, etc.

Within each tab I took various forms, from each of the shows I've done. For example, I did the Laramie Project two years ago and threw in the 6 page sound cue sheet, and then I threw in some of the calling script from South Pacific, etc. Just show the options. Maybe put it in such an order that you show them how you've learned. I put the newest stuff first and as you flipped back within each section you saw how I had modified things, learned to do things better and they really appreciated that.

If you have any other questions about your portfolio, colleges with SM programs or anything like that PM me, I just went through it and now im a BFA Stage Management major.

[Libby]

I second all of the above. They just want to see where you are at, and what experience level you are. The big thing I learned (towards the end of my college career when I was TAing) was that, in reality, the people interviewing you do not expect you to have a ton of amazing professional experience, or to even be an amazing stage manager who knows how to do every piece of paperwork. If you did why would you be going to school for stage management? They want someone who seems to have a good head on their shoulders, has a passion for sming, and can prove that they are willing/able to LEARN how to be a good stage manager. Johnb had the best suggestion with doing "Excerpts from...", but don't worry if you don't have that many shows to put in. Use your best paperwork/blocking examples/cueing examples and make everything VERY neat/clean.

[SM19]

Omg...this thread actually helped me out a lot too...i'm in the same situation. Good suggestions, thanks