Actors Equity Association (
AEA) requires on a musical that there be two
AEA stage managers working the show, for plays they only require one. However they do not specify where the
stage managers are located. Most of the time the placement of the SM is determined by where there is space to put them.
Here is the thing, the
stage manager's primary function during a performance is to
call cues and make sure that the show runs smoothly. Often times putting a
stage manager backstage can impede his or her ability to do this. Why? It is human nature, when you have a problem to go to the person with the highest authority, however if a crew member or actor goes to the SM during a show to talk about a prop or costume or whatever it distracts the SM from their job. It is for this reason that we have
props people and costume people and ASM working on a show. The crew and ASMs should be the filters for information, so that only show critical information get passed on when needed. It is one thing if some big moving set piece isn't going to move, but very different than the actor who forgot his hat in his
quick change. The SM needs to know about the scenery, the hat probably won't affect the show. The ASMs or crew heads backstage show be the people who make most of the decisions backstage, handing off the show critical decisions to the SM.
Having the SM in the booth or
FOH creates a useful separation between cast, crew, and the SM. It makes it so that only the information that needs to be passed on get passed on, and makes for less distractions for the SM. Also, being in the booth or an
FOH position allows the SM a
clear view of the
stage. The SM can see the action and thus is better equipped to
call cues. Often the only video feeds needed by an SM in the booth are IR and
conductor cam.
Now this is not to say that one can't
call the show effectively from backstage. It is just very important to establish the fact that the proper chain of command still needs to be followed. If the SM calls from backstage it is not the SMs job to wrangle the crew or cast, and the cast and crew should not be bothering the SM with the questions that should go to ASMs or crew heads. Also the SM should be provided with any video feeds needed to see any view of the
stage to make calling cues easier. This may include a front view, a top down view, an IR feed and
conductor cam. When calling from backstage it is very important to have good cameras that provide
clear images so that the SM can actually see what is going on.
There are certainly pros and cons to both placements for SMs, however most SMs that I have worked with prefer the booth (or
FOH) for the sightlines and lack of distractions.