Christmas Wish List

[Beaniechan]

Hi,
My daughter has been a High School Stage Manager for 3 years now and she is really starting to like the idea of continuing this field as a career.  Her sister and I would like to get her some Christmas gifts that will help her get started on the right foot.  Any ideas?

[Scott]

My first suggestion would be an associate membership with the Stage Manager's Association: http://www.stagemanagers.org/

Also some gadgets that she might not already have, such as:

- good leatherman (multi-purpose tool)

and/or

- swiss army knife

- a nice mag-lite

- a nice pen with built in-light

- black wardrobe items (maybe a nice black blouse/skirt for opening nights, or a nice black leather baseball cap if that fits her style)

- nice leather boots (?)

- a really cool backpack (like a rucksack from LL Bean)

- small leather desktop accessories kit -- something like this: http://www2.shopping.com/xPF-Stebco_Genuine_Leather_Zippered_Letter_Legal_Size_Padholder_Organizer_w_8x11_Pad_Black_STB324041BLK

- a cool led light (like on a keychain or a really good one from a dive shop)

- the book "Backstage Guide to Stage Management" by Thomas Kelly

- a large tin of antacids -- just kidding

There's a whole thread on this board on people's favourite gadgets --  you can look there for other ideas.

[ChaCha]

A handy toolbox to hold a small SM kit ?
staple gun
a good stopwatch

all stage managers seem to have a weakness for stationery...

[smejs]

My first suggestion would be an associate membership with the Stage Manager's Association: http://www.stagemanagers.org/

I'm the co-Secretary for the SMA, and if you do decide to go for a gift membership, I highly suggest you wrap up a note saying you'll do it, but don't try to purchase one online until after January 1st.  The credit card system is not set up yet for 2007 memberships (it would only give you a pro-rated version of the last few days of 2006).  Or you could send in a check or money order for 2007, and we'd process it after the first of the year.

The other ideas are great too.  Perhaps her own set of easy-to-read measuring tapes.  25' foot "straight" ones, and 50' or 100' cloth/vinyl rolled up ones.  There are several out there hard to read....take a look at them before you buy them blindly.  See if the number for each inch is right by the hash mark, etc. 

My dad's always into giving me more flashlights...

Erin

[LisaEllis]

As the Anti-SMA person on this site, I would suggest the gadgets would be more fun than a membership that may or may not be handy, particularly since she's in high school and should be thinking about colleges.  Networking doesn't help until you have time to work...

That said, I think all of Scott's other suggestions are great!

[nmno]

I would second the book, the good stopwatch, maglite, leatherman and would add some moderately priced mechanical pencils (nothing too expensive because they do tend to grow legs and walk away, but something more sturdy than the cheapies out there.)  These would make a nice "stage management gift basket". 
Regardless, the best part of the gift is clearly the love and support you are offering your daughter as she explores this career.  That will likely mean more to her than anything! 

[Mac Calder]

A gift I was given when I started out my career in SMing, was an invitation from a company to sit next to the stage manager of a pro show in prompt corner with a set of cans, followed by a back stage tour. You may be able to wrangle something like that with a nearby company.

Or, if you are after a more physical gift, I would probably suggest a Leatherman Wave, a AA MiniMaglite and a set of blacks - with the Maglite, there are a couple of "kits" out there - one in a nice plastic case carry case, and one in a "blister pack" - I would go for the blister pack as it comes with a belt holster, and get the Gel kit as well (a small black rubber cap, with a couple of pieces of red and blue plastic, to change the colour of the maglites beam). You could then put it in a nice box as a "Theatre Essentials" gift.

[loebtmc]

and one of those great scale rulers -

[Beaniechan]

Thank you all so much for the great suggestions!!

I think sis and I have decided to go with several of the above.  There is a nice black canvas laptop tote at Staples with one wide gusset and internal lap top pocket for "files" or notebook, while the gusset space can be used to hold some gadgets (until she grows into a larger gadget kit, and keeping the tote for more files, SMbook, etc.) It's got 2 big pouches on the front and it locks.  It has both a top handle as well as a shoulder strap.  (I'm a bag fanatic, the girls have a bag suited for every sport and activity they've ever been involved in.

The stage management book suggested was the first I bought for her when she expressed an interest.  That book has been her bible and she's got things highlighted and flagged.  She was recently promoted to HS Production Manager and has selected a freshman Stage Manager as her understudy.  The first thing she did was to share her book with the new girl on the promise of getting it back as soon as that girl found her own.  

Sis will fill the bag with a generous dose of the many gadgets you've suggested here, and some on the gadgets forum, beginning with the Mag Lite and Tape Measures.  The light pen is an awesome idea!  I'll have to watch for that.

I checked out the SMA site, and I'm sure she will find the information in the public section very interesting.  We are just down the road from NYC, I think it will be fun to join in some of the volunteering opportunities posted there.  The cost for annual membership is very reasonable, I may get that for her birthday in January.

I never even imagined the thought of an invitation, but I know she would be thrilled to have that opportunity.  I will keep my eyes and ears out for that type of opportunity for her.

You all sound like a fabulous bunch of people.  I will enjoy staying in touch with the board.  Thank you for the compliments.  I guess you could say I am enjoying living my life through the new experiences I've been able to give my fabulous girls that were never offered when I was growing up.