What does it mean to be an “Ethical” Stage Manager?

In this week’s article, I am discussing ethics, values, and conflict. What does it mean to be an ethical Stage Manager, how do we lead by our values while also respecting others’ values, and what types of conflicts could be considered an ethical dilemma?

Stage Managers are at the heart of every live performance production, but our work can be challenging. We need to be able to handle a variety of situations and personalities, as well as handle stress and tight deadlines. For example, it’s not uncommon for stage managers to have no idea what will happen in a show until the day of Opening Night because actors can change their minds about character direction or last-minute props may not arrive on time, and lines might change. Stage managers also deal with a lot of conflicts—between cast members and crews—and must make decisions about what is best for both parties without knowing all the facts at hand.

Stage Managers need to be ethical leaders of their teams.

As Stage Managers, we are responsible for many things. We are responsible for the safety of your actors and crew members. We’re also responsible for maintaining the consistent quality of the production–every night, every show. Our job is to ensure that everyone on stage knows what they’re doing so they can deliver their best work with confidence in themselves and their abilities. It really is a team effort.

You may have heard this before: “A good leader leads by example.” That’s doubly true when it comes to being an ethical leader! It’s important not only that we behave ethically ourselves but also that we lead others toward behaving ethically as well–and even more important than both of those things combined (which is saying something), we must strive not only toward behaving ethically ourselves but also encouraging others’ ethical behavior within our own organizations or communities by modeling those behaviors ourselves first before asking anyone else take action themselves.”

We often have to make decisions for which we don’t have the answers, so we must act based on our values and the best information we have at the time.

In a world where we can find out anything with the click of a button, it’s easy to think that all decisions are black and white, a constant battle for me. But when it comes down to making tough calls in real life, Stage Managers often have no idea what will happen next–and this can be frustrating.

What if you have a performer who needs medical attention? What if someone gets hurt on set? How do you handle these situations ethically without compromising your values or endangering others’ safety?

It’s important for us as humans to recognize that we often don’t have all the answers–and even when we do, there may be factors at play beyond our control (like another person’s values). Therefore, it’s vital that we act based on our values and use good judgment when making decisions under pressure.

Our work influences other people who are not always trustworthy or reliable.

In our work, we often deal with people we don’t like. As a stage manager, you might have to work with someone who is unpleasant or even unprofessional. In addition to this challenge, as a member of the production team and someone in authority over others on set or in rehearsal space, you may find yourself using your power in ways that aren’t ethical. This can be difficult because it’s easy for us humans–even those who consider ourselves good people–to fall victim to our own biases and prejudices when making decisions about how others should behave or feel about themselves.

The best way I’ve found for dealing with these situations is simply by acknowledging them: recognizing that there are some things about myself that aren’t perfect; admitting when I’m wrong (or at least having an open mind); asking questions when something doesn’t make sense; listening carefully when another person speaks so they feel heard; trying not saying anything offensive even if what comes out sounds like something offensive because sometimes words mean different things depending on context…

Stage Managers often do not get credit for the work they do

As Stage Managers, we are often the first to be blamed when things go wrong. In fact, it might feel like everyone else on your team knows that they can get away with not doing their job as long as you do yours. The reality is that no one else has your job description or responsibilities. You are responsible for keeping track of everything from performers, and props to costumes and making sure everyone knows what needs doing at all times. Stage Managers also have to make tough decisions about whether or not something can happen in a particular scene because of time constraints. physical constraints, or safety concerns. We have to consider multiple factors and hold space for a lot of concerns all at the same time.

At times, we have to make calls that feel safe in the moment and get feedback from the rest of our team so we can learn and execute better on the next crisis. Resolving a crisis and conflict can be a difficult thing to manage. It’s important to not take things personally and to stay objective. Learning how to understand our communication defaults and physiological responses when we enter a crisis and conflict induced state will help us to manage our response. The more information we can understand, the better we can communicate.

Stage Managers are often sometimes expected to know everything about every department in order to solve problems quickly.

As Stage Managers, sometimes we are expected to know everything about every department in order to solve problems quickly. We need to have knowledge in everything from building sets and running lights to sewing costumes and playing the lead role. While we do not do these things in practice, the knowledge we possess about them helps us communicate with others and doing our jobs more efficiently. It allows us to understand the impact of our requests and communication.

The most important thing we can do as Stage Managers is to listen to our own instincts and question our own motives when making decisions.

• Question your own assumptions. If you think it’s right, ask why you think that way. You may be surprised by what you find out!
• Ask for help from others. It can be scary to admit when we’re unsure of ourselves or our abilities, but it’s often much better than making mistakes because we don’t know any better (or worse yet, because someone else doesn’t want us questioning them).
• Ask for help from your team members if they have different opinions from yours–the more perspectives there are on an issue, the better off everyone will be in the long run!

Conclusion

Ethics is often not discussed in the context of being a Stage Manager and it is an important and complex skill to investigate within ourselves so that we can approach conflicts from a more informed perspective. The most important thing for you to remember is that we are all human and sometimes things don’t go as planned. The best thing we can do when faced with ethical dilemma’s is listen to our instincts and question our motives when making decisions.

Also by Bryan Runion:

Phases of Production: The Rehearsal Process as a Stage Manager

Inviting Feedback, Encouraging Diversity and Challenging Tradition