stage management

[lollypop]

hi im about to undergo my seccond attemp at stagemanageing for my dissertation. as part of my research I would apreciate it if you could fill in my Questionnaire

 

Thanks

Anna

 

 

1. How would you define the role of a good stage manager?

 

 

 

2. It could be said that the role of a stage manager is invaluable within a production process and the role can often be undervalued or not used in the correct way. Would you agree with this statement?

 

 

3. What would you say are the essential traits skills of a stage manager

 

 

 

4. Within the industry it could be said that a good stage manager is disliked by the company particularly by actors. Why do you think a stage manager is viewed this way?

 

 

 

5. Bond states that "…everyone in the company must establish a real bond of trust based on the belief that all those involved will deliver what is required to create a truly effective production... (Bond, 1997:60-61) So if this is how a good production team should operate how could the view expressed in question 4 be changed to achieve this?

 

 

6. What would you say are 'the dos and don'ts' of a stage management team?

 

 

7 stage mananaging can "... often [be] assumed that anyone can do the job reasonably well who has a mind to, without previous training or experience "(strern,1974:xi) what are your opinions to this statement?

[GridGirl]

Welcome to the Blue Room. You'll quickly find that we're not too hot on doing people's homework for them; you're much more likely to get positive responses if you post your views on the subject and then ask people to discuss what you think. I'm going to answer one of your questions, though - number 3; in my view, one of the most important skills a stage manager can have is to have excellent written English. If I had a stage manager send me a CV written as poorly as your opening sentence, I'm afraid it would go straight in the bin - written communication is such a major part of an SM's job that spelling and grammar are paramount. If you have trouble with spelling, download Firefox which has a built in spellchecker...

[lollypop]

Welcome to the Blue Room. You'll quickly find that we're not too hot on doing people's homework for them; you're much more likely to get positive responses if you post your views on the subject and then ask people to discuss what you think. I'm going to answer one of your questions, though - number 3; in my view, one of the most important skills a stage manager can have is to have excellent written English. If I had a stage manager send me a CV written as poorly as your opening sentence, I'm afraid it would go straight in the bin - written communication is such a major part of an SM's job that spelling and grammar are paramount. If you have trouble with spelling, download Firefox which has a built in spellchecker...

 

 

thanks for comment and I did spell check it. and I dnt want people doing my homework im reading around this but want to gain other peoples views and what they have learnt from their experiances

[Just Some Bloke]

thanks for comment and I did spell check it. and I dnt want people doing my homework im reading around this but want to gain other peoples views and what they have learnt from their experiances

Sorry, but you can't have spell checked "dnt" or "experiances" as those words don't exist.

 

Nevertheless, I'm going to pick one question to answer too.

 

Question 4: I'm afraid I disagree with your premise. Personally I've always found a good Stage Manager to be respected and liked by actors. The only disliked SM is one who doesn't do their job properly and the same would apply to anyone in any job.

 

I applaud the fact that you have obviously read up on this first and cite quotations from authors on the subject. I hope others will draw on their experiences and help further.

[bob_watts]

1. The role of a good stage manager is the same as the role of a bad stage manager its how the stage manager approaches this role that makes them good or bad.

 

2. I would agree that the statement could be said, from my experience however I would say that while there have been days when I have felt undervalued on the whole I don’t think this is the case.

 

3. Tact, diplomacy, organization, dedication, the list is endless really.

 

4. I do not agree with this statement at all, I'm sure there has been over the years the odd actor that has not liked me. I know there have been days when I have had to p**s off a whole company of actors for one reason or another (Usually due to things beyond my control) but a Stage Manager should be respected an appreciated within the Company if this isn’t the case I would venture to suggest it is the SM at fault not everyone else.

 

5. Not agreeing with the point in question 4 I find this hard to answer. Although I have found that good stage Managers have often done a bit of acting and that the most pleasant actors have often done some technical work, it’s about understanding the other person’s process and their job.

 

6. This is a very silly question the answers are literally endless.

 

7. I was 17 when I took my first SM job I had no formal training and my only experience was watching the in-house SM at a receiving venue, I don’t believe anyone could be a SM it takes skills and attributes that a lot of people don’t possess although I don’t think "formal" training is necessary, I am proof of that.

 

 

PS if you had checked your post for spelling and grammar you would have ended each question with a “?” and I am not a spelling expert but my spell checker doesn’t like

stagemanageing

or

stage mananaging

[lollypop]

hi thanks for the comments I’m sorry about the spelling and grammar I did spell check it, well my support tutor did the questions. I will make sure that I spell check it twice next time as well.

[Tecnical Bradders]

Hi

 

The best place for you to start would be in your unit guides for DSM or SM - if you were to look in the back of the units you will find a grading grid on what is expected of you (edexcel are very good at this) this will not give you the answers straight off they will need to be interopertated to answer your questions.

 

Another answer would be to look in your college library there will be many SM books that will help you understand the questions you asked. This way you will dissertation will be your own work and not everybody else's

 

Personally though I think a good stage manager should have respect of the actors but most importantantly the respect of the technicians, also I think they should have a whole round knowledge of the workings of theatre as they are the people to turn to if there are any issues

 

Hope this helps

 

Brad

 

 

 

 

 

[lollypop]

Hi

 

The best place for you to start would be in your unit guides for DSM or SM - if you were to look in the back of the units you will find a grading grid on what is expected of you (edexcel are very good at this) this will not give you the answers straight off they will need to be interopertated to answer your questions.

 

Another answer would be to look in your college library there will be many SM books that will help you understand the questions you asked. This way you will dissertation will be your own work and not everybody else's

 

Personally though I think a good stage manager should have respect of the actors but most importantantly the respect of the technicians, also I think they should have a whole round knowledge of the workings of theatre as they are the people to turn to if there are any issues

 

Hope this helps

 

 

Brad

 

 

 

 

[/size]

 

 

Hi thanks for the comments. I have been looking at books seem to have a big pile on my desk but I don’t seem to have as many as I would like. I don’t as such have a unit guide as I’m actually a drama student. My degree allows you to decide your own project for you dissertation so I decided to stage manage the second years. so I am not writing an essay as such I am actually doing it so I wanted to grasp other people experiences as well as what is said in a book.

 

I agree with your comment about a sm should be rounded in the theatre as I am myself also a technician and have work with sm from a performance and a technicians point of view. I feel it helps to work together if you have a understanding of others jobs. This prevents unnecessary pressure and arguments. Also I believe this helps when scheduling as you know how long things take and set reasonable deadlines.