Author Topic: PM responsibilities during rehearsals?  (Read 2072 times)

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SMeustace

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PM responsibilities during rehearsals?
« on: Aug 26, 2013, 06:18 pm »
This upcoming semester, my theater department and the new director/instructor wants me to act as Production Manager, train future SMs & ASMs (because I am leaving after the school year, and I am the most experienced of the departments two SMs).

My question is what responsibilities of a Production Manager be during rehearsals or in general? I was thinking about asking him what expectations of me as a PM, but i don't want to sound like i'm inexperienced and not capable.

In the past i've already did scheduling with the director and tech staff. I've assumed prop master, costume master and sound designer responsibilities when there wasn't a person for it. I even found people for missing staff positions (to help deal with costumes, props and such).
"On the first day the lord said....Light cue 1, GO! Then there was light".

dallas10086

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Re: PM responsibilities during rehearsals?
« Reply #1 on: Aug 26, 2013, 06:32 pm »
Like many positions, Production Manager means something different from place to place. When I was in school I had never heard of a Production Manager - or a TD or a Company Manager or many other positions you never hear of in high school theatre - so don't be afraid to sound inexperienced because that's what school is for. I would first ask the department for a job description. They may want you to oversee the production department or only train new stage managers, they may want you to venture deeper and track the budget or staff different productions.

I would sit down with the department head and hammer out the details of the job description. This way they clarify what they need and you don't get hit with any surprises down the road.

SMeustace

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Re: PM responsibilities during rehearsals?
« Reply #2 on: Aug 26, 2013, 06:58 pm »
Thank you! I appreciate it!

I do have a little knowledge of what a PM is, but never really worked with one. I'm sure that a lot of the work I've done as a SM, also went into the PM side as well.

I believe I should have a sit down meeting with my new director soon, to outline what jobs I would be in charge of and what he has in mind that it entails. I wouldn't want to walk on people's toes, so to speak.
"On the first day the lord said....Light cue 1, GO! Then there was light".

 

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