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1

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / COMMUNICATION: Taking over a show

« on: Feb 23, 2007, 11:37 am »

I am about to take over calling a show.  I am currently composing a list of questions for the departing Stage Manager to make sure I get as much needed information out of her as possible.  Just wanted to pick the collective stage management brain:

Aside from having her explain her book/cues/notes/needs and quarks of the cast and crew, introduce me to the various scenic/sound/lighting/video/etc elements, give me keys/copy codes, and tell me how I go about getting batteries, what other questions should I ask?  What should I be on the look out for?

2

Employment / What questions should I ask in an interview?

« on: Jul 11, 2006, 07:19 pm »

I recently graduated from college with a BFA in Theatre, Stage Management, and in the middle of applying for Assistant Stage Management positions.  I know that when I interview I should have a list of questions ready about job specifics, the theatre's organizational structure, etc etc.  Can you give me more examples of questions that would be helpful so that I'm not surprised by anything when I start work?


Some questions I've thought of (or gathered based on past topics posted here) include:

-When do I start work?  When in the rehearsal process do I start work? 
-When day do I end work? 
-What are my days off?
-What times are rehearsals held?  What is the policy on lateness?
-Will I be working with a run crew, or is it just me backstage during the show?
-Will I be organizing scene changes?  (Or rather WHO organizes scene changes?)
-Will I be creating the backstage routine?
-Who is my supervisor?
-What is the company policy on reimbursements?
-Will I have access to a computer, printer, xerox machine?
-Does Stage Management have a budget for supplies?
-What are my specific responsibilities?
-Technical Director?  Prop master?  Master Electrician? (Who exactly makes up the production staff?)
-How do the SM and ASM communicate during the show?


I think some of these questions I can figure out before the interview. 
What else should I ask?
ALSO, what questions are most important to ask?  I feel like I could go on and on asking questions, but after a while it would get annoying.