Stage management

Good stage managers

accept responsibility
keep their cool
keep their eyes and ears open and know when to share their
opinions
think ahead
are considerate
keep their sense of humour
are organised and efficient
are punctual and dependable

This is not a job about power.

This is not a job that will focus on you and make you the be-all end-
all of theatre. By accepting the title of Stage Manager, you have
accepted responsibility for making the show work. In order to make
the show work, the stage manager must become an assistant to
nearly everyone. The Stage Manager must leave their own ego
outside of the theatre and cater to everyone else to see that the
creative atmosphere in which the show will form is constant and
unwavering.

The Stage Manager has an enormous responsibility, which is

rewarded by the show successfully running and closing.

Working with people rather than people working for you, is how
your show is going to survive.

The ten commandments

1. Thou shalt be prepared
2. Know thy contacts
3. Taketh good notes and giveth good notes
4. Know thy blocking language and abbreviations
5. Go forth and make it fun
6. Thou shalt be accountable
7. Thou shalt stay classy
8. Be thou courteous
9. Thou shalt not gossip
10. Know thy tech

Definitions to know and think on:

Accountability:
The state of being accountable, liable, answerable. Subject to
the obligation to report or justify something-responsible.
Integrity:
1. Uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles;
soundness of moral character, honest.
2. The state of being whole or entire.
Motive:
1. Something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do
a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
2. The goal or object of a persons actions
Collaboration:
The action of working with someone to produce or create
something.
Manage:
1. To take charge of, supervise
2. To take care of and make decisions
Manager:
A person who manages an enterprise or one of its parts; a
person who directs the activities of an athlete or team.
Stage Manage:
To direct unobtrusively or in secret.