Author Topic: Working with a fellow student SM?  (Read 5468 times)

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berstell

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Working with a fellow student SM?
« on: Oct 20, 2012, 04:01 pm »
I'm the assistant stage manager for a show at my school and have worked with a fellow student who is a year older and the stage manager for two years.  However, in those two years we've never managed to be anything other than awkward passive aggressive co-workers. There is a complete lack of communication (which has ended with one of us looking like idiots more than once).  We've managed to scrape by on two shows already but I don't know if I can stand a whole other production with no one telling each other anything, never knowing if something's been done or it's still to be done, etc.  I'm tired of looking like an idiot in front of the director and have no idea how to go about improving this working relationship.

Please note that working together on this show cannot be changed and it is a full-scale production, albeit, a high school one.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

MatthewShiner

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Re: Working with a fellow student SM?
« Reply #1 on: Oct 20, 2012, 05:29 pm »
You know, this isn't just going to be an issue between two students; this continues to be an issue in the professional world, the problem is you don't have a lot of experience behind you to come up with great solutions to the issue at hand.

I think someone, and this is probably you, needs to point out the elephant in the room, and come together and have a conversation - perhaps accenting the issue of communication, and wanting to improve that - both ways - and find a way you can truly be working together as a team.  My history in problem solving would be to keep the issues clean and separate, not about you or the other person.  "I wish we were better at communicating" is better then "You need to stop hording information."  Offering creative, positive, upbeat solutions that you can implement . . . may help the situation.

But, I am not Polyana-ish enough to rule out the two of you might be oil and water and there maybe no way to make this idea - you need to figure out a way to work together - but you may never like it.  As the assistant, you need to accommodate the other person's style and way of working.  Check the passive aggressive crap at the door, and genuinely support them.  If he is not giving you the information you need to do the job, don't throw him under the bus - all you need to do is say "I am sorry, I thought I had all the notes about this set piece, apparently there are somethings they may not have gotten to me."  This happens all the time. 

I wish you luck, and keep us up to date.
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berstell

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Re: Working with a fellow student SM?
« Reply #2 on: Oct 20, 2012, 09:16 pm »
Thanks so much for the advice!

I'll let you know how it works out.

planetmike

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Re: Working with a fellow student SM?
« Reply #3 on: Oct 21, 2012, 09:57 am »
Is the director a student, or a teacher? Who is overseeing the production? Since you're in school, and assuming this is possibly for a class credit, it would be appropriate to ask your teacher for assistance. After all, you're still learning. Good luck.

BARussell

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Re: Working with a fellow student SM?
« Reply #4 on: Oct 21, 2012, 10:30 am »
I was in a situation once where there were 3 assistants and we all had issues with each other for one reason or another, mostly because we were all inexperienced and trying to impress. It came down to us coming in an hour before call and talking it out, it turns out everything was about misunderstandings, assumptions, and selfishness, but it worked really well and we were able to work with each other for many years to come, that doesn't mean all the problems were fixed, but it did mean we knew HOW to work with each other in the future and didn't have to go around hating each other, which causes so many problems especially with communication.
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MatthewShiner

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Re: Working with a fellow student SM?
« Reply #5 on: Oct 21, 2012, 02:18 pm »
I think involving faculty or an advisor is something to do down the line; I would strongly advise you to figure out how you can improve the situation on your own - developing your own management style in interacting with another stage manager.

I know in the professional world, I would be extremely upset if an assistant of mine went to the producers to deal with an interpersonal working relationship without coming to me and us trying to work through the issue together.  Just as I would expect my assistant to be upset if I went to the producer directly to deal with an interpersonal working relationship without trying to solve it among us.

At the end of the day, you both will "own" the new working relationship much better if you guys forge it on your own then have in imposed on you by a professor.

But remember, you are paying for your education - so don't be afraid to use those resources.

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PSMKay

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Re: Working with a fellow student SM?
« Reply #6 on: Oct 21, 2012, 08:59 pm »
I don't know about that. Yes, I think if they can organically come to an agreement it's a great thing, but this is high school we're talking about, not college. I've found most high school theatre to have very little bearing on how the pro environment behaves. While it's great to try and handle things like an adult, if the participants are not adults yet it might be useful to make this a learning experience for everyone involved.



MatthewShiner

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Re: Working with a fellow student SM?
« Reply #7 on: Oct 21, 2012, 09:58 pm »
Again, my only worry is "My ASM went and told on me to the teacher." - that's the big deal for me.  Having them both have an ownership over the solution - and I think it may have a better chance at success.  Now, if you immediately sense resentment when you bring up the issue, then by all means, go to teacher.

You both deserve to have a positive working experience. 

(This from the pudgy gay kid who dealt with bullies one on one, without involving the teacher)
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missliz

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Re: Working with a fellow student SM?
« Reply #8 on: Oct 22, 2012, 08:07 pm »
I agree with Matthew, but also- if this has been going on for the last 2 yrs (and mistakes have been made due to lack of communication), I bet a teacher/director/supervisor has noticed.

I say broach the subject with the SM, and if they deny the situation or are unwilling to find an agreement, I'd involve a higher-up.
I personally would like to bring a tortoise onto the stage, turn it into a racehorse, then into a hat, a song, a dragon and a fountain of water. One can dare anything in the theatre and it is the place where one dares the least. -Ionesco

On_Headset

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Re: Working with a fellow student SM?
« Reply #9 on: Oct 24, 2012, 01:50 am »
I don't know about that. Yes, I think if they can organically come to an agreement it's a great thing, but this is high school we're talking about, not college. I've found most high school theatre to have very little bearing on how the pro environment behaves. While it's great to try and handle things like an adult, if the participants are not adults yet it might be useful to make this a learning experience for everyone involved.
I like this advice so much that I'm quoting it and fully intend to "like" this post, just to drive the point home. PSMKay is exactly right: the only thing you do when you try to force high school theatre to "behave" exactly like professional theatre is you make things inefficient, uneducational, and miserable--especially for those who aren't already "into" everything.