lewisa Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Hi. I'm doing an essay on stage managing and I would love to get in contact with people, preferable stage managers to find out what their view is on stage managers. I'm tracing the history of stage managing which there is hardly any information about and I want to link it to today's stage managing and why it's so important to have one as before in history there wasn't one really. So if anyone has the time to put down a couple of lines as to why it's so important to have a stage manager and tips on what makes a great stage manager I would be forever grateful. If you could also state your name and what theatre/company you work for It would be really helpful. You can either post your answer here or email me on: linn_lewis@hotmail.com Your Thankfully Linn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 This may be useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisa Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 This may be useful. Hi! Yes I've already been on that page and I think I've found out as much as I need on the history part. I'm now really just trying to get in touch with people to find out about their views on it as my topic is on the importance of having a stage manager. I'm only using the history to trace back to who used to do their jobs and why it is we have them today and not then! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I'm confused now. There have been stage managers since there were stages. The only real thing that matters is what they are 'managing'. I think we're all a bit wobbly now on exactly what it is you want to put in the essay. Why not tell us what you think and then we can comment on if you've missed something important out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisa Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Well in my research It wasn’t until the eighteenth century in England that the term stage manager was used instead of director. During Shakespeare time the actor and/or playwright was well established as the director of the show and was the one putting together a production. And since then the role of a stage manager has become more established. So I thought that the director did the role of a stage manager? That's why I would like to do a survey to find out why stage managers are so important as to which duties they have today and what is it that makes a great stage manager. So basically what I'm trying to write about is why the role of a stage manager exist as a seperate job as the director in old days had it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 No mention of actor-managers in your research so far? I'd have thought that would be an integral part of the 'story' ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisa Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 I've just begun my research on it's history so I still have a long way to go. So there will definitly be a mentioning of actor-managers and everything. I'm trying to find as much history as possible. I've found a bit that I need to go through. But at the moment I'm just focusing on todays stage managers and why they are needed and so on. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 But that's the point - this is your essay, so you tell us why you think they're needed, and we can then comment and discuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisa Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 But that's the point - this is your essay, so you tell us why you think they're needed, and we can then comment and discuss. Oh I get what you mean. Well I just want people's quotes on it. It's a more of a "yes we need stage managers" rather than "no lets go back to how it was" because obviously they are very much needed in the theatre. Peoples statements are just going to add more to the reasons why they are needed. But my question will still be why do we have them and then peoples answers will give the reasons to why we do have them. If you understand what I mean? I'm probably really unclear what I mean as english is not my first language so sometimes I do have troubles trying to make myself understood. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Well how was it then? Of course you need stage managers, its not a matter for debate... Also think about how you can ensure quotes from the blue room are serious truthful comments from industry practitioners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 OK, I'll try this again ... There's a generally-held attitude among Blue Room members that people posting requests to have their essays/assignments/homework written for them are .... well, lazy. It's far better to tell us what you've done so far and ask for comments, rather than just post with a completely open question and expect answers to come rolling in. For example :"I have to write an essay about why we need stage managers. Please tell me the reasons why you think they're needed and what makes a good one so that I can use these in my essay" ... BAD."I have to write an essay about why we need stage managers. The reasons that I think they are needed are, blah blah blah, and the things that make a stage manager great are, blah blah blah. Do you agree? What do you think?" ... GOOD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisa Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Yeah I can only hope people would be truthful. I mean if they would state what theatre they worked for that can always be googled or whether they do freelance work. But I decided on the topic today so all I'm doing now is just gathering as much information as possible. And as you said you don't really need a debate about it because they are needed, end of. It would just be intresting to get different people's views on why they are needed and what makes an extra good stage manager. I mean a lot can be googled but I want peoples own stories on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Have you thought of using some books and journals for your references? Published and peer reviewed sources will offer better references than google and web forums (Bloody 'ell I sound like my lecturers...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisa Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Oh I see. Well I'm only doing a survey on stage managers here. Like "Mr Smith who works as a stage manager for Theatre Royal says.. and so on".All the research on stage managers I'm doing myself all the information. I'm just interested in peoples views as stage managers, their own stories. The essay is going to be nothing about me. I will end it with my own conclusion and what I've learnt by doing stage managing at Uni but our lecture wanted us to ask professional stage managers or people who work in the theatre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Well work out what questions you actually want answered and ask them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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