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Stage Management: Other / Finding ASMs
« on: Nov 06, 2007, 10:50 pm »
I am a freelance stage manager working for opera companies across the country. I mostly work for small to medium sized companies, and I keep running into the same situation everywhere I go. Sometime before I arrive, I ask about the ASM. I am, as often as not, told that they haven’t found one yet, but “we’re looking everywhere.” The ASM is hired just before, and not infrequently after, rehearsals begin. My show just finished, the ASM was hired after the first week of rehearsal.
Now I understand that companies are not rich, and they don’t have the resources to bring in an ASM from outside, so they have to hire locally. Otherwise, I’d give them a very short list and tell them to hire someone on it. Still, it’s always the same line. “we’ve been trying, but there’s just no one out there.”
Poppycock.
My latest ASM (the one who started the second week of rehearsal) told me that there were a dozen students at her university who would have jumped at the chance to work on a professional show and earn a few shekels in the process. She happened to be the first to respond after they heard about it.
So my question is this: what is the best way to get the word out to those of you in colleges and in the community that your local opera company needs an ASM for their upcoming production? I’m asking so that the next time I get the “we’ve looked everywhere” speech, I can reply, “Well, what you ought to do is….” .
What does it take? Signs on the bulletin boards? Notice given by your teachers? Posting to a local web site?
Give it to me chapter and verse. Tell me how you would best find out about the job, and how it ought to be worded to get your attention. No, you won’t get in the door this way at the Met or the Lyric. But I’ve faced this issue in Fargo, Reno, Albuquerque, Birmingham, Shreveport, Tampa, and I’m betting I’m not the only SM who has faced this.
And, on a side note, those of you looking for work could do worse than to contact your local opera company and ask about working as an ASM. The small-to-medium-sized companies might very well be delighted to not have to look for someone. This assumes, in addition to the basic skills required of an ASM, the ability to read music, foreign language skill helpful (but not obligatory) and a willingness to learn how things are done differently in opera than in theater.
So please, help me help you get hired. Tell me how to tell my bosses how to get the word out to you so you can come work with me.
Thanks,
John
Now I understand that companies are not rich, and they don’t have the resources to bring in an ASM from outside, so they have to hire locally. Otherwise, I’d give them a very short list and tell them to hire someone on it. Still, it’s always the same line. “we’ve been trying, but there’s just no one out there.”
Poppycock.
My latest ASM (the one who started the second week of rehearsal) told me that there were a dozen students at her university who would have jumped at the chance to work on a professional show and earn a few shekels in the process. She happened to be the first to respond after they heard about it.
So my question is this: what is the best way to get the word out to those of you in colleges and in the community that your local opera company needs an ASM for their upcoming production? I’m asking so that the next time I get the “we’ve looked everywhere” speech, I can reply, “Well, what you ought to do is….” .
What does it take? Signs on the bulletin boards? Notice given by your teachers? Posting to a local web site?
Give it to me chapter and verse. Tell me how you would best find out about the job, and how it ought to be worded to get your attention. No, you won’t get in the door this way at the Met or the Lyric. But I’ve faced this issue in Fargo, Reno, Albuquerque, Birmingham, Shreveport, Tampa, and I’m betting I’m not the only SM who has faced this.
And, on a side note, those of you looking for work could do worse than to contact your local opera company and ask about working as an ASM. The small-to-medium-sized companies might very well be delighted to not have to look for someone. This assumes, in addition to the basic skills required of an ASM, the ability to read music, foreign language skill helpful (but not obligatory) and a willingness to learn how things are done differently in opera than in theater.
So please, help me help you get hired. Tell me how to tell my bosses how to get the word out to you so you can come work with me.
Thanks,
John