stage_jonty Posted November 16, 2005 Share Posted November 16, 2005 I'm a budding Stage Manager, and I have a particular interst in DSMing. I am involved in School Productions & their smaller shows as you might exect. Also, I've worked in one of the main theatres near me, I had great fun there. However, I am considering getting a Degree in Stage Management, as I think this will help me develop a broad understanding of all aspects of theatre. I'm aware that practical experience is just as (if not more) important, so does anyone know what I can do to deepen my interest (exc. joining AMDRAMS etc). Are there any courses people know of that take place in School holidays or anything. Thanks in Advanced, Stage_jonty(I'm 16 by the way) PS is experience at anywhere such as the BBC valuable or not??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted November 16, 2005 Share Posted November 16, 2005 BBC experience is always valuable. Why exclude the amdrams? NODA run summer schools, and to be honest it is one of the few areas where keenness is not a disadvantage when coupled to age. The pro route - with or without a degree seems to still follow the asm-dsm-sm route. The snag is that some very exerienced asms can't get much further as they are so damn useful doing asm duties. A friend of mine is by nature very picky on props - he has developed his technique over many years and is always in the right place at the right time with whatever prop is needed. he can source, make or repair virtually anything and is totally reliable. He never gets the dsm jobs because everybody knows what a great asm he is. Another friend, a stage management graduate has pretty well decided to give it up because after 1 year of asm'ing - she hasn't managed to get a dsm job. She thinks this unfair - she has a degree! I've come to the conclusion over the years that there are good all-rounders, and there are people who just fit one role so well, they become excellent. I don't think I'm excellent at anything, just competent in lots of areas. Plenty of people are better in many areas (thankfully, not all). As somebody who is keen - what I'd do is try everything you can till you find out 1. where your limits are, and 2. where your strengths are. You need to know them. One thing - in this industry communications is vital - if you read the blue-room you'll find repeated comment on poor grammar, text talk etc etc. The skill is using what is appropriate to the people you communicate with. It doesn't matter if you use text talk to people who expect it, but don't be surprised when others really get upset. The same thing applies when you work with people. You need to develop the skill of sizing people up very quickly. I go into places I've never been to before and sometimes need things above and beyond what is standard. Getting the comms wrong is not going to be a good thing to promote this. Get it right and everything is so much easier. This communication needs practice, and, as far as I can see is not always taught or even noticed at uni - judging by how I get talked to sometimes! Many stage managers have come into the industry via the amateur route - remember we use amateur as in not paid, not amateurish which is a totally different thing. Fair enough some societies are a bit up their own a*ses - but others are great fun to be around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattCasson Posted November 19, 2005 Share Posted November 19, 2005 Hi, I know alot of people exclude Amdram, but its somewhere where you can pic up lots of good skills, without it costing you a penny normally. Some Amdram groups are quite big and often very professional and not just a bunch of people who think they can act but some geniunly nice ppl who will be willing to help you Im sure. Also depending on where you live looking around I'm sure youll find that theatres are always wanting casuals to help with get ins and get outs, great way to get to know ppl and get a bit of experience in. Cheers Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bright spark Posted November 19, 2005 Share Posted November 19, 2005 Amdram is one way of doing it. My old amdram group did not have a DSM, has anyone else experienced this?? Is it the 'in thing' for amdrams to do??? Have you actually been offered the BBC work experience?? From what I have heard, its quite hard for people to get it. BBC would be invalauble though, I expect its a different way of working, compared to a theatre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stage_jonty Posted November 22, 2005 Author Share Posted November 22, 2005 Amdram is one way of doing it... Well no, I haven't been offered a place, but I might reply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenWall Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 Amdram is one way of doing it... I have never had a proper DSM calling the show whilst working in amdram. People shouting the GO down cans or alike but I can honestly say I have never seen a fully marked up 'book' in the corner! Now I am at uni and on work placements on west end shows it really does make me wonder how amdram productions ever do come together- but that's the fun bit Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 It depends so much on the society - some are really on the ball and totally professional, others are...... well, not. An awful lot depends on their history and aims. There are a few where the SM is pi**ed from start to finish, and just about knows what is going on, others where the dsm takes the cans off because people keep speaking in his ear, and others where you'd steal every one of their crew and give 'em a job. Sometimes the opposite happens and they realise they need skills and call in someone who does know how to run a show. Certainly there is still the gloss on the performers, and despite all their public comments about how valuable the backstage team are - few people even know their names. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac.calder Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 Amen to that. I have had fairly good luck when it comes to the Amdram societies I have worked with in various capacities, but there are still companies who really do not understand the role of many back stage crew - especially those with "manager" in their title. One company for example, treated the SM as litteraly the manager of the stage (sweeping, moping, putting up the rails before pit goes down, removing when pit goes up etc), and the person who cued the show was the technical director... I was a bit "wtf?" when I saw that, and had a great deal of fun setting them straight on a stage managers duties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigus Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 Getting a degree in Stage Management is all well and good particuarly if you get a place at a college which has a wide ranging course i.e. covers all aspects of technical theatre. I personally turned down places on courses which were specifc to Stage Management for a course that covered 'a bit of everything' and then gives you the opportunity to specialise at a later date. I'm having a great time on my course however you have to be realistic even if you graduate at the top of your class it is unlikely (but not impossible) that you will get a job as a SM / DSM straight away particuarly with larger companies. Whether you have a degree or not you are still going to have to work your way up the ladder so to speak. Having experience in different areas such as electrics or technical stage management will make you more attractive to employers as stage managers working with smaller touring companies are othen required to do relights or operate sound etc Hope this helps Mike :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james3mc Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 I have never had a proper DSM calling the show whilst working in amdram. People shouting the GO down cans or alike but I can honestly say I have never seen a fully marked up 'book' in the corner! ........ Argh......I was taken aghast. We have the most wonderful DSM who takes a very professional approach. We call a 'book marking' meeting a couple of weeks before the show attended by Director, Lighting Designer, Stage Manager, DSM and Props Manager. We go through the book, marking up all the LX, SFX (if any), props cues, projection cues, pyro cues - whatever. It means that our DSM (have I mentioned that she's wonderful and no you can't have her) can then run a very tight ship - to time with everyone cued properly. I'm sure there are other ways of working of course...... James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.