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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Honesty about running a show?
« on: Apr 05, 2013, 08:36 pm »
As a stage manager that almost never takes blocking (archival blocking at least) and never gives performer notes, I find this thread very interesting. The vast majority of the productions I work on have an AD present throughout the run who assumes these responsibilities.
Here's how I define my responsibilities during a production (copy and pasted from my current SM handbook)
Stage Manager Responsibilities:
-Perform those duties that are the industry standard for the position
-Run all rehearsals
-Call all performances
-Create and maintain the deck running
-Create and maintain the rail running
-Create and maintain the A/V & sound running
-Create, maintain and distribute the principal artist/staff phone lists
-Create and maintain the spot cue sheets, if necessary
-Create maintain and distribute minis (for blocking, and running paperwork)
-Procure lighting paperwork for SM archive
-Create and distribute the, "Train Schedule," for all technical rehearsals
-Create master cue sheet, if necessary
-Communicate number a dress rehearsal passes for Supers, Light Walkers and Stage Management to Production Clerk
-Create, maintain and distribute Master Production/Music Schedule
-Create show overview schedules
-Create and distribute daily schedules
-Fifteen seconds timings in score (Can be re-assigned to ASM) [This one's a little particular to opera]
-Measure ground plans (Can be re-assigned to ASM)
-Communicate with FOH for start and intermission times
-Create and maintain timing sheets
-Create and distribute onstage tech requests
-Create and distribute rehearsal notes
-Create and distribute performance reports
-Create and distribute dressing room assignments
-Set up archive book with tabs that match the file folder names in our computer show files
-Other duties as assigned [The always-ominous clause]
I find that these responsibilities alone are more than enough to keep me busy throughout the course of a production. My ASMs' lists of responsibilities are even longer (as the handbook was really written for them), but some of the highlights are:
-Create, maintain and distribute the prop running
-Create, maintain and distribute the wardrobe running
-Create, maintain and distribute the spike map
-Create, maintain and distribute the flame plot
-Create, maintain and distribute the prop inventory/source sheets
-Walk roles for room and stage rehearsals as needed
-Hospitality set-up and maintenance (Coffee, tea, etc.)
-Reset scenes as necessary during rehearsals
-Sign-in sheets
Once a show moves from the rehearsal period and into performances, the work load definitely seems to lighten up by a significant amount, but I always kind of feel it's my reward for the grueling hours spent getting a show up on its feet.
If your in a position where you have very light performance responsibilities, I say enjoy it
.
Here's how I define my responsibilities during a production (copy and pasted from my current SM handbook)
Stage Manager Responsibilities:
-Perform those duties that are the industry standard for the position
-Run all rehearsals
-Call all performances
-Create and maintain the deck running
-Create and maintain the rail running
-Create and maintain the A/V & sound running
-Create, maintain and distribute the principal artist/staff phone lists
-Create and maintain the spot cue sheets, if necessary
-Create maintain and distribute minis (for blocking, and running paperwork)
-Procure lighting paperwork for SM archive
-Create and distribute the, "Train Schedule," for all technical rehearsals
-Create master cue sheet, if necessary
-Communicate number a dress rehearsal passes for Supers, Light Walkers and Stage Management to Production Clerk
-Create, maintain and distribute Master Production/Music Schedule
-Create show overview schedules
-Create and distribute daily schedules
-Fifteen seconds timings in score (Can be re-assigned to ASM) [This one's a little particular to opera]
-Measure ground plans (Can be re-assigned to ASM)
-Communicate with FOH for start and intermission times
-Create and maintain timing sheets
-Create and distribute onstage tech requests
-Create and distribute rehearsal notes
-Create and distribute performance reports
-Create and distribute dressing room assignments
-Set up archive book with tabs that match the file folder names in our computer show files
-Other duties as assigned [The always-ominous clause]
I find that these responsibilities alone are more than enough to keep me busy throughout the course of a production. My ASMs' lists of responsibilities are even longer (as the handbook was really written for them), but some of the highlights are:
-Create, maintain and distribute the prop running
-Create, maintain and distribute the wardrobe running
-Create, maintain and distribute the spike map
-Create, maintain and distribute the flame plot
-Create, maintain and distribute the prop inventory/source sheets
-Walk roles for room and stage rehearsals as needed
-Hospitality set-up and maintenance (Coffee, tea, etc.)
-Reset scenes as necessary during rehearsals
-Sign-in sheets
Once a show moves from the rehearsal period and into performances, the work load definitely seems to lighten up by a significant amount, but I always kind of feel it's my reward for the grueling hours spent getting a show up on its feet.
If your in a position where you have very light performance responsibilities, I say enjoy it
