Author Topic: Being Human vs. Professional  (Read 3456 times)

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ejsmith3130

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Being Human vs. Professional
« on: Apr 17, 2013, 10:48 pm »
So I'm going to start by saying that this is a unique week for me. In addition to my day job I am in Tech for a High School Production that I'm doing lighting, sound and set work for (as well as random SM jobs because the SM is a student who just gives light cues) as well as my first week of rehearsals as ASM for a regional Equity house. It's a lot. More that I have done in a long time, if ever, including an hour commute to the regional theatre (each way). I'm reverting to bad eating habits, and not getting nearly enough sleep.

I found myself talking to my Director (at the High School) and my SM at the regional theatre in a much more personal way- about my lack of sleep, or how I was feeling emotionally. Normally I have a clear line between my personal life and gripes/etc and take pride in my 'professionalism'. But then I got to thinking that maybe I come off as distant or cold. How do you balance all of the outside stuff with being professional, but still being a human being. I feel like complaing about my schedule this week, even if it is in a light way, breaks down the 'professional' persona that I like to portray. Maybe it is because I still feel like I need to compansate for looking so young while being in a management position. (I actually was mistaken for a student at the school today  ??? )

Perhaps this all belongs in a therapy session, but I was wondering if anyone else had ever felt this way. I know there are lots of different Stage Management styles out there so I was curious if anyone had thoughts.

Jessie_K

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Re: Being Human vs. Professional
« Reply #1 on: Apr 17, 2013, 11:25 pm »
It is a tough line to walk.  Of course you don't want to be seen as contently complaining.

You do want to be seen as professional, however you ARE human.  If you can calmly and honestly talk about your workload, that's how you can get help.  If you keep everything bottled in, you will break and at that point it won't be calm.

Be honest with yourself and honest with your superiors about your physical and mental well being.  Part of their job is to MANAGE you.  If you don't talk to them honestly and properly, they can't do their job.

KMC

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Re: Being Human vs. Professional
« Reply #2 on: Apr 18, 2013, 09:11 am »
I'd argue that the two are not mutually exclusive, you can be both.  So much of what the SM does can be seen as prescribed, task-driven, automatic, etc...  In my opinion the best stage managers are the ones that can accomplish all of this and still be seen as a person and not as a robot.  That is where part of the art of stage management comes in to play: managing the myriad personalities and situations an SM sees daily requires you to be human.  I no longer SM, however I regularly use personal bits about my life to build relationships with both clients and colleagues.  I'm quite selective, and share based on where I know their interests, problems, and likes/dislikes fall.  Adding a personal touch to daily situations an SM encounters is an invaluable way to build relationships that ultimately make your job easier.

Now, I don't think that it's inappropriate to talk about your workload, however if you do bring it up be deliberate in the way you broach the subject.  If you're framing your discussion from the point that you feel the production would benefit if x, y, z duties were handled by someone who may have a bit of spare capacity that is wildly different than saying "Holy crap I am so busy it's driving me insane!!!".

If you need to vent, and we all do, I'd keep that in your personal circles and out of the production; however, if you're legitimately stretched too thin it's both your personal and professional responsibility to bring that up.  As long as you can frame the discussion as a net gain for the rest of the production I think you're in good shape.

« Last Edit: Apr 18, 2013, 09:17 am by kmc307 »
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RuthNY

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Re: Being Human vs. Professional
« Reply #3 on: Apr 18, 2013, 10:26 am »
For a difference of opinion, I'm going to take the opposite, and perhaps hard line point of view to this question. YOU chose to schedule both jobs at once, so you have nothing, really, to vent about. You could have made another choice, protecting one gig or the other (and yourself) by giving it your full attention and not taking on a second job at the same time. However, having chosen, voluntarily, to do two jobs at once, including a rather lengthy commute, I'd say don't vent at all, and learn from this what your limits are, so perhaps you don't put yourself in the same situation again. Your job is to protect the processes of the gigs you say "yes" to, not to complicate them.
"Be fair with others, but then keep after them until they're fair with you."
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Re: Being Human vs. Professional
« Reply #4 on: Apr 18, 2013, 12:09 pm »
Yes, taking two jobs is a choice. But sometimes, especially in your early career, or in an arts-light city, the choice is between taking the two jobs and not being able to pay your bills or rent. The economy right now is brutal, and people in the Arts aren't the only ones working themselves to the bone just to stay above water. So I do have some sympathy.
As long as the people who see your frayed ends know you're working as hard as you can to make sure that they and their show are as successful as possible, they will be sympathetic.
I remember one particular show where the producers were impossible. They kept springing "extra" stuff on the cast at the last minute, and I was always the messenger-girl. "Today's rehearsal is actually a photo shoot." "We're letting a school group in to watch rehearsal. Right now." "They added an extra matinee, tomorrow." I was frustrated as anything that they weren't treating my cast right.
When they told me at five minute call, the day after opening (and hence an exhausting tech week) that, "There's going to be a long talk-back after the show and could you please got tell the cast they have to stay," I had just had it. I went backstage to make places call and this announcement and I was just so angry and frustrated and pissed that I couldn't do anything to protect my cast that I burst into tears when I was done. The lead swept me up in a big hug and they all told me they weren't mad at me, it wasn't my fault, and they knew I had always worked as hard as I could to make things as easy as possible for them.
Am I embarrassed about losing my composure in this way? To this day, and it was years ago. But because I was doing my best work and everyone around me knew it, they had a lot of sympathy when I had my very human moment.
Jessica: "Of course I have a metric size 4 dinglehopper in my kit!  Who do you think I am?"

 

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