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Are you finding yourself in a rut? Can’t get motivated? No need to wait till New Years to set some resolutions, the first day of the rest of your life is today. So here are some resolutions for those in stage management or any management role to consider right now.
Anticipate problems or issues and find solutions before they even become a concern. This is challenging, as we have so much on our plate to manage each day, it can be hard to see those few extra steps down the road. But if we spend a few minutes each day thinking farther along the process, any potential rough spots along the road from rehearsals through closing night can be smoothed out before anyone knows there was even a hint of an issue.
Try to see issues from the other person’s point of view. In this way, annoying complaints and seemingly petty concerns will be understood and solved easier and with less stress and strife. By simply understanding more, we create more trust and a better work environment.
We focus on taking care of others. Don’t forget to make time for yourself. Create some space to relax, spend time with friends, exercise… all of the things we usually sacrifice while working on a show. We matter too and the same way we invest in the welfare of the company, we can take care of ourselves.
You are not a super hero, as much as stage managers try to be. If you have to tape a complicated floor, ask for some extra hands. Need to change rehearsal studios, ask for help moving everything. Have a question or concern about a union issue, reach out and call. You are not alone. The theatre, producer and you have resources you can call on when needed. Even Superheroes can’t always do it alone (see the Avengers or Justice League!).
Of all the sacrifices we make, this is probably the worst. We need sleep to function at our best. It helps our brains and bodies. Instead of staying at the theater late to update all your paperwork or rewrite all those line notes, get some shut eye to recharge and refresh. You’ll be more efficient and effective because of it.
You are allowed to be sick too. You are human. And it’s better to take a sick day than get the cast infected too. There is also that little quirk in the AEA Production Contract where you can only get paid out 11 of your 13 sick days, so when you get that long run, you gotta take at least two sick days a year anyway! You can empower your assistants, find a sub and know that you will be covered. And if you are so valuable that you can’t get sick or the show falls apart, maybe that’s a good time to ask for a raise!
Those hard skills such as dance vocabulary, computer skills and reading music can be learned in a class, from a book or online. Today could be just the right time to add to your skill set by taking a CPR/First Aid class or learning Filemaker or Final Draft. Not only is it fun, but it makes you a more valuable stage manager.
There are many of us that use coffee or diet coke for a boost or grab that snickers bar for a quick jolt of energy. However, too much can result in dehydration, headaches and more. When in tech for The Little Mermaid, Disney producer Thomas Schumacher kept nuts and dried fruit on his tech table so folks would have real energy snacks available.
I’m not saying give up your go to beverage or snack, rather work towards a healthier balance. This will help us be better in the long term. And we all want long careers, right.
Unfortunately, we use a lot of paper in our profession. Let’s try to find ways to cut back, reduce and/or reuse paper more. The Broadway Green Alliance has done great work on this front. See their website. One of the stage managers on Doctor Zhivago had a fantastic system for using “dirty paper.” Any paper that was printed on only one side was saved in a special pile and the daily in/out sheet was always printed on the back.
It’s easy to get caught up in all the day to day minutiae of running a show. Everyone needs something and herding all those cats is challenging. If you step back a moment, you can really appreciate the wonderful and amazing job we are privileged to do. We get to work on PLAYS! No cubicles or time clocks, instead we get song and dance all day long! When working on An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, I had to pinch myself to realize that I was working with icons that I grew up admiring and dreaming about being in the theatre with.
This is a real tough one, but worth the effort. Can you get lost in a show enough to not picture calling it or timing the quick changes or re-organizing the scene shifts? Try to give yourself this gift and enjoy the theatre like you did before it was your vocation. I try and fail at this often, but when it works, it’s a very special night of theatre.
Pick one or more of these, whenever you can, today, tomorrow, or New Year’s Eve, it’s never a bad time. As Jonathan Larson wrote, “No Day But Today.” We all can continue to grow, learn and improve. We all occasionally need reminders of why we are in this wonderful, crazy business and how we got here. So I hope this list helps p give you the boost you need.
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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