#smblr stage managers

[whatislifebesidesrehearsal]

A couple of months ago, I did a Shakespeare-ish show, and two of the actors were the funniest two people I have ever worked with, and seemed to do everything with the intention of their dynamic being as gay as possible:

Actor 1: "I got away with an acting choice!"

DSM: "What was it?"

Actor 2: "Kissing my character on the forehead after he dies. Am I bloody?"

Actor 1: "Come into the light and let me examine you."

The actors had just been rehearsing a scene with modern words to help them understand the text.

Actor 1: "What think you of your heaven of happiness now, sir?"

Actor 2: "Oh, kill yourself. I'M SO SORRY I FORGOT THIS ONE IS PROPER."

The director: “The lighting is drowning all of your faces a bit, you need to— it’s just a suggestion, but eyeliner.”

Actor 1: “Even the men?”

The director: “Yes.”

Actor 1: “YES!”

Actor 2: "I think I have blood on my face."

Actor 1: attempts to say some combination of "Do you want me to wipe it off?” and “Just lick your lips to get it off.”

Actor 1: "Do you want me to lick it off?"

[beck-a-la]

There is a fucking bootleg of my show on this godforsaken hellsite. And not only that, it’s FOR SALE. Some little shithead is SELLING an illegal video of my show. Not only did they record it and post the video without permission, but they are MAKING MONEY off of MY WORK. I am fucking furious.

[thoughts-of-a-stagemanager]

Conversations with Lighting Buddy….had to share, hope you all are doing well! ❤️

[leslieexplainsitall]

I've never in my professional career (or honestly collegiate) had a director give me tech notes days after a show has opened.

It was bad enough that she gave the actors notes after opening, she came to me after a matinee asking if we could lower some levels on a couple of cues.

I told her the show was locked, the designer is in New York and our board op is 19.

I'm on an URTA contract with mostly college students. I don't think I've ever came across this when I was an undergrad.

[nameless-formless-entity]

a psa to all of my fellow people pleasing techies: working as an asm and winding up also being the assistant set designer because you’re helping out a friend is in fact exhausting

[heck-yeck-deck-tech]

i'm stage managing for the first time in a few years and it's just SO NICE, man i've missed this. i can't believe they're giving me MONEY for this!! the festival coordinator said i can make ALL THE PAPERWORK I WANT!

[midsummernightsscheme]

y'all i'm ASMing my school's fall play and we put the cast list out today so i left town cause i'm terrified of the actors yelling at me about it! they know that i'm in the room when casting decisions are being made and even though i'm not really making any decisions they can still get pissy towards me about it. plenty of actors did not get cast where they wanted to be (or cast at all) and i ofc get how tough that is but sometimes it just isn't your show. but i'm really really excited for this show and i think once the cast settles down it'll be really good! i think it's tricky to do theatre as a highschooler when you have a position of power. i think about that a lot.

[broadwaysymposium]

ADDitude Magazine lists #stagemanager as a good job for those w/ ADHD! It can be an asset or even a requirement for the wacky & wonderful work we #stagemanagers do sometimes! Hyperfocused, multitasking, constantly changing tasks, etc.., we do it all. Thanks so much to the Broadway Stage Management Symposium alum who shared this on out alumi facebook page. Loved this article! Enjoy #smblr 

[thestagemanagerblog]

Happy International Stage Management Day!

[whatislifebesidesrehearsal]

Director: "we're gonna try to get through this run without stopping"

SM: "Ok, Blackout! Preshow music, music music..."

Director: "Can we stop for a moment?"

(sobs)

yeah that sounds about right

[beck-a-la]

Have you ever been in tech for a show where everything was going really well but for no discernible reason the vibes are just absolutely rancid? That’s where I’m at now and I’m just baffled.

[thoughts-of-a-stagemanager]

Stage Managers be like:

[leslieexplainsitall]

I'm conflicted

I did a networking event back in September and met with a producer of a touring production company and we hit it off. We mostly talked about how to break into touring and possible vacation sub opportunities. I was really excited to connect with this company after the event, but I didn't get their contact information until 3 weeks later. Regardless, I sent an email anyway, hoping to get my foot in the door.

In October, I got offered to SM a show at a company that I've worked at before. I accepted the offer and it starts in January. I even got to choose my ASM who I enjoy working with.

Last week, I decided to follow up with the producer, since it was over a month since I initially emailed them. They got back the next day and apologized for not responding earlier. They said they were in the process of finding a PSM for their next tour that starts in January and would be interviewing ASMs after. They then asked if I would like to be considered and that they'll keep my resume in the mix for vacation covers as well.

Here is where I messed up.

I responded said I had a show in January.

I should have consulted with more people before I said that because when I told my colleagues, they told me I should have taken the interview.

Since the January show is 6 weeks away and I haven't signed a contract, my colleagues encouraged me to email them back and say "Circumstances have changed with the show in January. And I would love to be considered for an interview."

Idk, it feels a little disingenuous. And I'm worried they backtracking might make me look bad.

Again, this is not a guarantee. I don't even know if it would actually be an interview or them just handing my resume to the PSM they hire. I don't know. But I feel like I jumped the gun.

There are a lot of pros and cons to this, that I can list later. But I just feel so conflicted.

[standbyplacesplease]

Tech Bingo

Winner gets free coffee the next day.

[basecoatofglitter]

“you shouldn’t use too many exclamation points in emails”

my director, emailing our actors:

[deafwestnewsies]

me: Stage Managers are Gods and everyone else is a mere mortal in our quest for destiny.

also me taking notes during any meeting: