Messages

1

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dinner Theater

« on: Aug 01, 2019, 11:36 am »

JustinJanke,

It does give me some anxiety but luckily it doesn't happen too often during the show and if it does and I have a cue coming up, I've usually been able to indicate to them to give me a second and I'll be with them. Typically people approach me more during the dinner portion of the evening which is much less disruptive. It also doesn't help that my tech table/booth is on a small platform, about a foot off the ground (for sight line reasons) so not only am I exposed, I'm also elevated so everyone can easily see me lol.

I noticed you're currently working at Virginia Rep in Richmond! I was the Stage Management intern there about 3 years ago! Small world!

2

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dinner Theater

« on: Jul 28, 2019, 01:24 pm »

MarcieA, I thought you might be! Our owner has been going up to Lake George for years and actually based the layout of our theater on what she'd seen up at Lake George. Several of our shows have been performed here because she saw it there and loved it and wanted to do it here.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dinner Theater

« on: Jul 27, 2019, 05:44 pm »

MarcieA, I'm down in Fishkill at Clove Creek Dinner Theater! Where are you at?

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dinner Theater

« on: Jul 26, 2019, 06:12 pm »

BenTheStageMan: Yes, I definitely help out whenever possible and since I have been here 3 years usually can help out with whatever they need. I'll usually help seat people if it's a big house since we don't have a house manager and our owner stopped hiring a hostess awhile ago.If we're ever understaffed for a performance, I'll also run bar or go around with the water pitcher, refilling glasses. I have actually been a server myself for a show I was also SMing which got a little crazy, mostly during intermission. I'm a one-woman SM team and have no crew backstage for most shows so I'd have to deal with checks as well as my intermission duties. Luckily our actors don't also double as the waitstaff, they are 2 totally separate entities so I don't have to deal with that aspect!

BilOregon: I love the idea of a "not available" light but I don't think I'd be able to get away with it lol. The worst though is when people approach me in the middle of a performance. More often than not, it's not a time when I have a cue coming but I think because I'm typically the only one in the house during a performance who works for the theater, they don't know where else to go! Some will tell me "good show" or similar as they pass by the booth on their way out, which I appreciate! Otherwise I'd love to just be in a nice enclosed booth, hidden away from everyone!

5

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / VENUES: Dinner Theater

« on: Jul 25, 2019, 01:21 pm »

Any other dinner theater stage managers here? I've been the resident stage manager at a dinner theater in upstate NY for about 3 years now and while I've appreciated the steady paycheck, I definitely miss a more traditional theater environment. My booth is more of a tech table in the back of the house with a table on either side that patrons can sit at. I constantly get asked questions that don't pertain at all to stage managing because I'm out in the house, at my booth, and easily approachable.

Anyone else at a dinner theater experience similar things?

Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

6

Introductions / New SM from upstate NY

« on: Oct 21, 2017, 07:27 pm »

Hi everyone!

I'm Katherine and I am currently the Resident SM at a dinner theater in upstate New York. I've been stage managing since my junior year of college, about 4 years ago.

I discovered this site a few weeks ago and just now was able to take a look around. Looks like a lot of information that is super helpful now but would have been so helpful during college as well! Looking forward to picking up some new ideas and tips.