Missing Stage Manager

[nate]

I am the SM at my high school. I happen to have a job that requires me to miss a lot of the build sessions. I feel bad that I can't be there all the time. I realize that it is not the SM's job to do the building, but I like to help. It seems that nobody understands that in for me to be there at all, I have to go to work to make money so that my car can actually have some gas in the tank. I can understand that since the same few people tend to do everything for stage crew, they get sick of it. I feel that if they are truly sick of being the only ones to do the set preparation, they need to talk to their friends who say that they are going to come to our build sessions and then never show up. Do you think that I am wrong by going to work instead of set construction? Should I quite work so that I can be on the stage more often, even though it would only last for a short time(until I run out of money for gas)? I have my mind made up, but I am curious as to what others think. Thanx in advance for your input.

[tenor_singer]

Nathan,

You neglected to mention that despite the fact that you are missing a lot of the construction sessions, you attend EVERY rehearsal (something that many SM in the past have not done). You are doing more as SM this year than past SM have done.

Stage management is more than set construction. Your job is to "manage" the stage (know the blocking, cues, safety issues, organizing the crews, organizing the actors, preparing rehearsal summaries, preparing a master script, organizing the set pieces... feel free, anybody, to add on what you do as SM here _____). I personally think that you are doing an excellent job!

Quit your job? I won't let you... you have college to pay for on top of your car and gf :wink: .

Mr. D.

[LX-88]

Don't quit. SM does a ton and I believe that a stage person's life should not be solely lived on stage.

I’m not a great example though, I act as Student Tech Director (STD ) for my school and find myself at every light focus and set build session. I love it but do get tired of it. For myself I make sure that I have something that I enjoy doing that is not work plugged into my day. Fly-Fishing. It keeps me sane.

[nate]

Thanks Mr. D! I appreciate both replies. I just have to remember not to let a few winers get me down.

[Diarmuid]

I always think, that the most important thing for the SM to do is to make sure that when they are there, they know what they are doing, and keep up to date.

I have DSM'd on some shows where the SM was late for the dress rehersal, so just remember that you shouldnt worry if you cant always be there, just be there when you can or are needed.

[avkid]

Originally Posted by nate

I just have to remember not to let a few winers get me down.

Turn those whiners into weiners and roast them!

[nate]

Good idea avkid!!!
I just might try that.

[JahJahwarrior]

I'm always trying to figure out the heirarchy of command at my school...the way it tends to work though, I function as TD, and tend to handle set building, though we have several parents who help us out (and dang are some of them good at it! A few of them in particular are almost part of the crew as far as that goes, they are so helpful and do not just do all the work, they let us do alot of it too. they respect us and we respect them), in a way I handle some of it and assist in some of it. I don't usually handle set design, but work with others, putting in my touches here and there. Our SM purely handles blocking and things like that--this year our SM was not at any build sessions, Tech Crew, myself, and our few parent volunteers were there, and our Director was often there (she was usually always there, but sometiems was working on yearbook proofs, she's the yearbook advisor too), but she did not build much of anything, she was just supervision. I found myself at almost every build session, with some of the tech crew being there, and other's finding excuses. Some of them did have ok excuses--our builds were often on saturdays, and one kid was Jewish. Another one lived pretty freaking far away (like, an hour or more). The one that lived really close, and the one that lived far away but stayed at his parents work all day (they build doors (?) and he works there sometimes and if nothing else, does his homework there) and myself tended to be at all of them. The two that had good excuses were at a couple, the kid that always forgot about them was at a couple (if I reminded him several times, he would remember), and our SM was at none of them.

Personally, I don't think you need to quit your job to be at them. Your TD or someone else needs to be handling construction. Of course, maybe your heirarchy is designed (or just happened) differently and the SM does do more of that...in that case, you should get your TD doing more of it!

[Dustincoc]

The SM's job is to manage the entire production, i.e. make sure everyone who needs to know something does and to act as a go-between for the director(s) and actors so that the director can concerate on sculpting the preformance. It is the job of the Head or Master carpenter to head the construction crew. The SM never actually needs to attend the construction unless the crew for the show is exceptionally small or they want to help

[Van]

I have to say I agree with what everyone else here is saying. Comming from the perspective of Professional Theatre, I can tell you the S.M. has nothing to do with construction. When I was in college Our school required everyone to work , and put in "Shop" hours, the one notable exception to that rule was the S.M. they were given a pass for that particular production as they were spending so much more time in rehearsal, meetings, and office time. If a few individuals are causing really bad problems I suggest you speak with your instructor, < who, it seems is aware of the difficulties. > Speak with someone about a system of tracking hours spent on a production. Having students maintain time cards as a part of their "Grade" is not unheard of. I'm sure when you compared cards they would find you are putting in as many or more hours per show as they are. As final note remember you are in school. The point of which is to learn and prepare for college. Your primary goal is getting into college. Take it from someone who spent WAY too many hours in the shop in High School, You need to concentrate on some life and academics as well as doing theatre. Good luck ! Have Fun !