Author Topic: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere  (Read 21377 times)

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PSMKay

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Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« on: Apr 12, 2008, 05:34 am »
When most new stage managers think of their job, they see themselves in a situation that involves a stage, a curtain, and a script.  But acting, singing and dancing are far from the only venues where a stage manager could be useful.  In fact, in pretty much any case where there's an audience, there's a need for a stage manager.  For this round of the challenge, give us some situations beyond the normal world of the stage where a stage manager (or someone in a similar role) could be useful.  Think of situations where a group of people are watching something.  Describe your situation and hypothesize as to what a stage manager (or the equivalent) in that situation would do.

Pro members, let's leave this one for the student members for the first page.  If we get enough momentum going I'll open it to the membership at-large.

BLee

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #1 on: Apr 12, 2008, 01:01 pm »
Well, the internship I'm trying for right now has a great position for Stage Mangers outside of the stage environment. They call it the Production Manager, so instead of just dealing with a stage you are dealing with multiple shows going on in different venues very close together. It is a festival setting so basically the job is and an extensive pre-production (setting up, scheduling, assigning, and training), three week run (50-ish performances plus recording sessions for musicians), then one week of strike (returning rented equipment, putting away everything, and cleaning the venues).

Very busy and for a short engagement, but a great challenge. I would be working under the Production Manager as the Assistant Stage Manager so it would be great to help with all those tasks.
XX. The only valid excuse for missing one's cue is death.
-Proverb from the Techie Bible.

ewharton

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #2 on: Apr 12, 2008, 02:57 pm »
Last year I worked an outdoor festival. The main street of the city was shut down and there were four stages placed in various locations. The stages had musical acts, talent shows, poetry readings and many more things.
I was the SM for one of the stages. I worked with the sound guy to make sure there were mics when neccessary, that performers knew what order they were going on in, and basically made things run smoothly.


killerdana

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #3 on: Apr 12, 2008, 03:35 pm »
Completely outside of the Theatre world:  a friend called and asked my help for her wedding.  It was outdoors and the wedding party dressing area was a 10 minute walk from the ceremony area.  She (the bride) asked me to be on walkies to cue the wedding party when the guests had all arrived and cue the musicians when the groom's party was in view to start the wedding music.  They specifically asked me (as opposed to lots of other friends--mostly actors) because they knew I would stage manage their wedding just as efficiently as I would do any show.
Science without art is sterile.  --Albert Einstein

StageMgr2Stars

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #4 on: Apr 12, 2008, 05:40 pm »
Completely outside of the Theatre world:  a friend called and asked my help for her wedding.  It was outdoors and the wedding party dressing area was a 10 minute walk from the ceremony area.  She (the bride) asked me to be on walkies to cue the wedding party when the guests had all arrived and cue the musicians when the groom's party was in view to start the wedding music.  They specifically asked me (as opposed to lots of other friends--mostly actors) because they knew I would stage manage their wedding just as efficiently as I would do any show.

damn! you stole mine! I was gonna say that you can stage manage a wedding!
-C-

shanakathleen

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #5 on: Apr 13, 2008, 10:57 am »
Another one outside the theatre world...

I worked at my old barn as a show manager. During horse shows, I would have to coordinate the people/horses for each round of competition, cue them to enter the ring, cue the ribbon girls when the winners were announced, shovel horse poop, and help my jump crew reset the jumps for each round.
Shana Kathleen Ferguson
shanakferguson@gmail.com

Srlaupan

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #6 on: Apr 26, 2008, 10:47 pm »
I thought of the wedding planner thing because that's totally something I think I could want to do on the side using stage management experience. Other ones I thought of are things like Event Planning in general for corporations or organizations. My friend has a job at a great non-profit arts center as their Event Planner so she handles all the execution of the fundraising events and galas and such. Another one is for competitions (kinda like the horse show thing) for cheerleading, dance teams, tournaments for sports teams like basketball 3 on 3's and such. Pretty much any event where people need to be told where they need to be and when or any other direction. ;)

saladressing

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #7 on: Apr 27, 2008, 03:35 am »
To expand on Srlaupan's point about sports:

I'm not sure about international soccer and things, but for netball (which I play), the team manager takes care of the mountains of admin work regarding touring, competitions, venue bookings, equipment, etc.

Have been in some situations where I have been under a team manager and I think of the way she does things in a very SM-y way.. ;D

smalltimeSM

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #8 on: Apr 27, 2008, 04:55 pm »
Anytime you are planning a party or big event, you NEED someone of the stage management persuasion.  Or else its just disorganized.  I have taken this role many a time from people who thought they could do it, but when things fell apart the called me or found me at the event and handed the reigns over.  Now I can never go to a party w/out helping in some way. :'(

PSMAK

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #9 on: Apr 27, 2008, 06:12 pm »
Okay, this kinda, sorta relates to SMing. I am currently an Elder at my church. Among my tasks is to open up the church, set up for church (e.i. putting the hymn numbers on the boards, setting up for communion, making sure that everything in the pews are all straight and organized, lighting the candles, setting up the microphones, making sure the bible is on the correct pages for the scripture lessons on the lectern, and make sure the flowers are by the alter). I also have to make sure that everyone gets an order of worship sheet (what is going to happen during the service), and I control the lights and the microphones during the service (I have to take my own cues of course). I also have to help distribute communion with the pastor. Plus, I also have to help the other Elders clean-up after the service and close up the building. So you can see that it is quite similar.

Psychedelictheatre

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2008, 10:28 am »
Most business presentations, launches, dinners, and awards evenings all require a Stage Manager, even if they are not specifically called that!

Laura

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2008, 09:36 am »
I tried to stage manage my family reunion. It was held at my parents house. So, it sort of worked out. Everyone was comfortable looking to me for leadership. I even went as far as typing up a photo call sheet for the "photo day" and broke down all the different groups of family (all cousins, all guys, everyone from this side of this family, etc). After about the first 12 hours though, I had to realize this wasn't a production, and I could just relax.

stephaniebyrnes

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #12 on: May 10, 2008, 11:01 am »
What about a politician's campaign manager? If you think about it, the whole campaign is a type of production. They're there to make sure it all runs smoothly, all the schedules work, stay calm when things hit the fan, etc.
« Last Edit: May 10, 2008, 11:03 am by stephaniebyrnes »

chops

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #13 on: May 23, 2008, 07:16 pm »
outside of the theatre world but my buddy just reminded me that he puts a few of the things he learned in SM classes to work coordinating wildfire firefighting efforts for a hot shot crew. 
Peace,

Chops

quandtcj

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Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere
« Reply #14 on: May 23, 2008, 09:18 pm »
I did the same thing as ewharton. I worked an outdoor festival but I stage managed 3 different sites that were close by. Each had things going including one with poetry, one where special guest were reading stories to children and then one where a performer sang children songs. It was a challenge having to be everywhere at once but it was also a great learning experience. I leaned how to manage my time down to the very minute.