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A Valentine to Stage Managers: Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. It makes me think of the love we stage managers have.
What? Love and Stage Management, yes I say! Love is at the root of what we do. That is why I use the hashtag #smlove in many social media posts. Love is the engine that drives us to go the extra mile. We arrive early, stay late, take our trash, order lunches, make coffee, always taking care of everyone in the rehearsal room and the theatre.
It seems easy to accept that love is part of actors, directors and designers pursuing their craft. They love what they do, performing, designing, creating a show. But stage managers??
Steve Farber, a top leadership consultant, describes his approach to leadership this way:
“Four words that describe leadership,” he counted them off on his fingers. “Love. Energy. Audacity. Proof.” ― Steve Farber, The Radical Leap Re-Energized: Doing What You Love in the Service of People Who Love What You Do
Notice what the first one is? Love. A leader needs to love what they do. That love is the drive, the engine that gets you through each day. Steve Farber has written a few books exploring this topic, the most recent of which is titled “Love Is Just Damn Good Business.” Seems like Steve has some important things to say about the importance of love in leadership.
As a stage manager, we are the leaders of our company, we lead during rehearsals, laying out plans, making schedules, and communicating info to achieve the director’s vision. Then in tech, we are charged with implementing and executing based on the plans. Finally, after opening, we are the one in charge, making decisions to keep our company on task, morale high, and maintain the show.
Without the love in stage management, you are going to fall flat. The process is going to be very difficult or painful and you won’t enjoy it. Frankly, you risk not succeeding. The skill set we stage managers have is very valuable. So valuable in face, that good managers in many other industries make much more than a Broadway stage manager. However, if you love theatre, if you love stage managing, then that is worth much, much more than a high salary. That joy and happiness cannot be measured in dollars and it’s the #smlove that is behind this success.
Just because we love our job, doesn’t mean we don’t have hard days and difficult times. It is, however, the thing that gets us back up when we are knocked down!
Think about the song, “What I Did For Love.” It’s an homage to all the things we sacrifice for a life in the theatre. For the love of being a part of the theatre. We make many sacrifices and do many difficult (sometimes wacky and weird) things, because we love the theatre. This is true for stage managers, and all of us in show biz, just like those in A Chorus Line. We accept the challenges and sacrifices because we love what we do.
Give yourself and your fellow stage managers a big hug (and flowers if you are inclined)!
Anywhere you are stage managing, you are helping to create theatre, and it’s the #smlove is the powerful force that makes it all happen! Happy Valentine’s Day Stage Managers, thanks for the love you pour in to your work every day.
Top 10 Broadway Stage Management Symposium Panels
The Misconceptions & Myths of Stage Management
The mission of the Broadway Stage Management Symposium is to create a safe and welcome place for stage managers to connect, share, learn and inspire. Each year, our annual event brings together the most experienced and highly-regarded Stage Management professionals on Broadway for a two-day program that offers practical insights, instruction, and inspiration for anyone interested in stage management. Through a variety of panels, Broadway’s stage managers share their experience, techniques, offer practical career advice, and answer questions. These sessions dive deep into important issues for stage managers of all levels, revealing insights into the why’s and how’s of stage management, that only come with the benefits of decades on Broadway. This unique forum presents opportunities to engage with top professionals as well as network with fellow attendees, exponentially growing professional relationships and opportunities. Past attendees have come from all over the U.S., as well as Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Mexico, and Australia and some alumni have gone on to work on Broadway shows. By sharing their knowledge, Broadway stage managers give a hand up to the next generation, illuminate proven strategies for success, and advance the profession. As the leaders of a company, stage managers’ actions have a significant impact on a show and its participants. The Symposium helps stage managers develop the tools for successful leadership and stewardship. In this way, the Symposium can have a positive impact not only on stage managers’ career, but the industry at large. Please join us for our annual event and the ongoing conversation all year long over our social media platforms (twitter, Instagram, facebook & tumblr) as well as the Symposium blog.
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