We've been helping students for over a decade now. Many of our members have been with us all the way along. We have seen certain questions from students over and over again. If you want answers for research help, your best bet is to be original, creative and resourceful with your questions.
The following questions have all been asked on SMNet before - many of the multiple times. They will probably not get an answer here. They have either been done to death, are too broad, too personal, or are answered elsewhere on the site. If your help request is filled with questions of this nature, it will not be approved.
This is not a job interview. Don't get too personal.
How long have you been stage managing?
What was the first show you SMed?
What companies have you worked for?
Where else have you worked?
What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome?
Job Description
What is your personal job description of a stage manager?
What are the basic tasks/responsibilities of the Stage Manager?
What forms/paperwork do Stage Managers usually fill out?
How many shows do you as a stage manager typically handle at once?
What does your job entail?
What is the best part of your job?
What is the worst part of your job?
What does a typical work day look like for you?
Lifestyle
What is your lifestyle like?
How many hours a week do you work?
Do you take work home?
Do you travel?
Techniques
How do you distribute your duties to your ASM(s) during the rehearsal period?
How do you handle pre-production?
How do you handle tech and tech week?
How do you keep stress down during production work?
What do you keep in your kit?
How do you call a show? Do you give warnings and standbys? Just standbys? Nothing?
What is the typical rehearsal process for (a play/musical/opera/ballet/etc)?
Career choices & training
What are some personality traits that make a good Stage Manager?
Why did you decide to go into this field?
What did you do to enter the field?
What did you study?
Where did you go for training/did you go anywhere for training?
What college did you go to and what was it like pursuing technical theatre in College?
How long have you been involved in theatre?
What do you wish you had known before you entered the field?
What made you want to pursue stage managing?
What advice do you have for someone who’s thinking about entering this field?
What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue technical theatre?
Getting started in SM
What were some of the challenges getting into and succeeding in the field?
When is it a good idea to become an AEA Member?
How did you get started as an SM?
Have you worked in other technical departments before or while SMing?
In retrospect
Did this field turn out to be what you expected?
Would you make the same choice again?
How has the field changed since the time you entered it?
What was your most memorable/favorite/hated show?
What are the main pros and cons of the job?
Too vague or too broad
Any advice? Tricks/tips? Anything that might be important to include.
What do you like about your job?
What has been your best experience so far in the field?
Are you happy with your job?
What kind of people do you get to work with?
Crisis management
Have any crisis situations come up in pre-production/rehearsal/tech/performance? How have they been handled?
Favorite production crisis or issue that has arisen?
What is the worst issue or crisis you had to handle in your sm career?
What is the most embarrassing moment in your sm career?
Special situations
What is the background of most SM's working in (Vegas/cruise lines/Cirque du soleil/Broadway/etc)?
What are the requirements to be an SM working for (A cruise ship/Disney/Cirque/Opera/etc)?
What is it like to be an SM working on (a cruise ship/a tour/an international production/etc)?
What are the main differences between working in (Broadway/repertory/regional/community) theatre?
What are the main differences between working in amateur vs pro theatre?
What are the main differences between working in musicals vs. dance vs. straight plays vs. concerts?
No, No, a thousand times, no.
"I am writing an SM Handbook for my school. What should I include?"
