Show Posts
1
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Teamwork: ASM choice conflict
« on: Sep 17, 2006, 08:01 pm »
Okay, so here's my problem. There's a certain tech crew member at my school (let's call him Stu) and our quasi-technical director. Stu has approached me on multiple occasions about ASMing for me, and I have sort of skirted the issue and said "maybe." However, I was recently informed by our quasiTD that I "must" appoint Stu as one of my ASM for a production because Stu went over my head and talked to our TD. However, I have considered him in the past and decided against having him work with me because:
1. My crew has approached me with complaints about how power hungry and abusive he can be backstage. They have also flat out said that they will not listen to him if he is an ASM, or that they won't do crew. The people saying this are very competent, useful people to have backstage and I don't want to risk losing them.
2. He has a very hard time taking direction. Once the former SM and I asked him where he was going and he proceeded to scream at us and say for us to shove it in a certain area and that he won't listen to us.
3. He simply isn't as competent as other members of my crew. He is simply a junior and believe it's his "right" to be an ASM due to his age. Personally, I go for competence before age.
4. I have personal qualms with working with him given his personal views on the world, and his inability to put them aside during "work." He has sent me multiple sexist emails (despite the fact that I never gave him my email address, or at least not the one he's using) with instructions on how I am "supposed" to act like a 50s housewife. He has also declared to nearly the whole school (I go to a very small private school) that he hates gays and wouldn't work with them. I am a lesbian, and although he doesn't know yet, it's not uncommon for one of my cast members to arrive at rehearsal early and in small talk while we are doing our respective tasks ask "how's your girlfriend doing?"
5. I am also a little apprehensive that I don't have free choice of who my ASMs are given that every stage manager before me at my school has had the choice.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!
1. My crew has approached me with complaints about how power hungry and abusive he can be backstage. They have also flat out said that they will not listen to him if he is an ASM, or that they won't do crew. The people saying this are very competent, useful people to have backstage and I don't want to risk losing them.
2. He has a very hard time taking direction. Once the former SM and I asked him where he was going and he proceeded to scream at us and say for us to shove it in a certain area and that he won't listen to us.
3. He simply isn't as competent as other members of my crew. He is simply a junior and believe it's his "right" to be an ASM due to his age. Personally, I go for competence before age.
4. I have personal qualms with working with him given his personal views on the world, and his inability to put them aside during "work." He has sent me multiple sexist emails (despite the fact that I never gave him my email address, or at least not the one he's using) with instructions on how I am "supposed" to act like a 50s housewife. He has also declared to nearly the whole school (I go to a very small private school) that he hates gays and wouldn't work with them. I am a lesbian, and although he doesn't know yet, it's not uncommon for one of my cast members to arrive at rehearsal early and in small talk while we are doing our respective tasks ask "how's your girlfriend doing?"
5. I am also a little apprehensive that I don't have free choice of who my ASMs are given that every stage manager before me at my school has had the choice.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!