ASM doing almost all of SM work

[shortie]

here's hoping that someone can help with suggestions. I will be ASMing a show for my school starting in Feb. I am excited about the show and what not minus the SM. This SM is unbelievably disorganized, constantly late, and never prepared. She always "dumps" her work on the ASMs, and in the end, the ASMs have done about 90% of the work. Does anyone have any ideas as to how someone might go about dealing with her? Thanks in advance.

[ricc0luke]

Here is something that I have learned-

There are some people which you just don't work with.

There are people that will make you life hell during shows, and often times you don't realize who they are until you are in the middle of the show- LEARN!

Don't work with people you know you won't get along with. Noticed I used 'get along'. I still work with plenty of people I don't like, but we do get along.

If you have to work with someone you don't get along with- put a buffer in between you. I know I am going to have to work on a show but I hate the director and there will be not tech director- therefore- I decided I will not design the show myself, but allow a friend to be the designer and I will just be the assistant there to help him- and I won't have to deal with the director.

Just a few suggestions for the future- guess they don't help much now.

[TechnicalDirector3-W]

Talking to her about it could always help.... maybe...

[Lisa]

Hrm. Well, does she know exactly what her job is supposed to be? I would suggest finding some sort of Stage Managers' Handbook and make her give it a read through. It might help her with tips for organization, etc. I actually skimmed through one and it was really cool. ^^ Ideas for lists, charts, schedules, etc. ALso, who's in charge? They might be able to help.

Anyway, best of luck.

[ccfan213]

is the adult in charge aware of the situation?

we have co-stage managers and an assistant stage manager. not to suggest that one of my SMs is bad, but that distributes the work between three people instead of two, so even if one SM does a terrible job there is still the other. so unless both SMs are terrible no one person does all the work. this also becomes very convenient during shows when we have a SR and a SL SM and the ASM is around to help.

it also helps if the co SMs are friends or atleast dont hate eachother or the asm really gets stuck in a bad situation.

[ccfan213]

i just realized i forgot to ask if the adult in charge would be willing to try something like this :-P

[avkid]

I would talk to the director, and relate your opinion(supported with facts)and ask him or her to help make a better show possible!

[SuperCow]

I would talk to both the TD and the AD, and ask them to help you rectify the situation and to talk to the SM.

[shortie]

to answer your questions; Yes. the adult in charge is fully aware of her behaviour and in fact recently has been encouraging her. My entire class was given several different handbooks to review and go through, and I guess my professor thought that it would help us, which for the most part it has. I just don't think she read them.

I will have a buffer on the show. A second ASM.

And I wanted to say thank you for all your great advice.

The director of this show is one of the largest names in my city. Both myself and the other ASM are trying to talk to him, but he's too busy. So, the soonest I could talk to him is after rehearsals have started.

But all of your advice is a big help.

[tenor_singer]

Here are some suggestions to help you with your plight:

1. Tardiness by the stage manager is inexcusable. Let your drama advisor know.

2. Stage managing is a position that requires leadership skills that many high school students have difficulty implementing. It may be time for your advisor to sit down with your SM and go over some tricks to help her along. On another front, though, it could be misperception of what she is doing. Maybe she is delegating to others and they are perceiving it as her sloughing her duties.

3. Are you an organized person? If so why not try to help her become more organized. Do it politely. For example you could say...

I just found this neat way to organize the cues. Can I show you and see what you think?

A bad approach...

Listen, you unorganized twit..........(fill in any text here that won't be heard because of the initial insult).....

4. Really, the most important thing for you to do is to give honest, open and constructive criticism to both your SM and your advisor. Tell them your concerns and put it in a language that will help them see that your suggestions will only make the show better. After all... isn't that what you are all there for?

Best of luck,

Tenor.