I am finding that my list is getting longer and longer, as I get older and older.
1) I do want our styles to mesh - but most important - I want our sense of humors to mesh. Spending 12-16 hours together, I want us to get along. I want out communication style to get along. I want out attitude toward the job to get along. At the end of the day, I would prefer2 a B+ stage manager who I get along with then an A+ stage manager I hate working with.
2) I want an ASM who has experience PSMing. This is vital to me now - if the ASM doesn't know what it is like to sit in my in seat, I am not sure how they are going to know what I need, or anticipate what I need or don't need.
3) I need an assertive, leader, who is also a team player. Passive aggressive or passive managers need not apply. Seriously, I don't have time for that style of communication or management. If you can't manage people, in my opinion, you have no place in stage management.
4) TEAM PLAYERS - once we start work until the day we close, we are team working together, with our focus being to put the show up - there should be no internal competition, trying to outshine the other team members or put down other team members. THAT ONLY MAKES YOU LOOK PETTY, CHILDISH AND NOT MANAGEMENT MATERIAL.
5) I want a manager who knows what to do. I never want to hear "What should I do next?", I want to hear "I have these three things to do on my list, what do you want me to do first?" The first makes it seem like you have no idea what needs to be done.
6)They need to compliment me (not the "hey, you look nice today", although that is nice), but we need to work really well to together.
I have a lot of other little things . . . but those are big ones.