Stage Management
Stage Management generally involves providing accessible support to the actors, director, designers, performers, speakers, technicians and stage crew for the duration of the event and production.
Stage management takes instruction from the aforementioned Show Caller. The Stage Manager (and any supporting staff) are the strong bonds that hold the production together. They tie in the talent, technical staff, back stage crew, event managers, producers or directors.
These are the people who manage and time rehearsals, sound checks, technicians, performers, costume fittings and props, and deal with the front of house crew, producer, director and show caller.
Stage Managers must possess the composure and the ability to communicate in both the technical and the artistic aspects of the production with a solid understanding of their role.
Stage Managers are good planners and organisers, who are natural multi-taskers, able to prioritise and keep cool in tense situations. Technical understanding helps too, especially when things go askew.
Good stage managements forbids any number of incidents from having a negative impact on the show. The devil hides in the detail, so a solid array of communication skills are crucial to good quality stage management.
The show caller, who’s mainly needed for the show only will differ from the Stage Manager in that the Stage Manager is integral from start to finish in any show, production or event.
Stage management Duties
Stage managers need to meet the demands of the event director or producer, as well as everyone else in the middle. This includes the choreographer, music director, technical manager, vocal coach, costume designer, production manager, the food wrangling caterers and (most importantly for some) the local cafe managers!
When something goes south they wear it, and if everything goes well they will most times be overlooked.
Their job is to make sure everyone is following them, all the time.
They conduct and know the details for everyone involved the event, and control:
- Production calendar
- Rehearsal and run sheet schedule
- Set design needs
- Costumes
- Decor, furniture and styling list
Stage manager kit may include:
- Stopwatch
- Small sewing kit
- Scissors
- Safety pins
- Ruler
- Pens
- Paper clips
- Note book
- Gaffer tape
- Chalk
- Erasers
- Batteries
- Band-aids
- Lollies
- Tampons
- Back up Laptop
- Phone chargers (android/iPhone)
- Comfortable shoes – you’ll be doing a lot of running around
- USB backup of all powerpoint slides, images, videos (including font files)
- iPod for Background Music
- Dietary requirements Pins
- Seating Charts & Lists
- Host Notes copies
- Run sheet copies
- Clip board
- Contact List for all suppliers Pens
