Stage Manager Careers

Work Environment:

Stage managers ensure that live stage shows go well. Being a stage manager, you'd arrange all technical and practical aspects of shows and rehearsals, and ensure that all performers and crew are in correct position at correct time.

Generally, you'd be assisted by assistant/deputy stage managers. Though, in small productions you may work alone. You and your crew will be accountable for:

• coordinating with font house staff and theater managers
• arranging rehearsals
• maintaining prompt-copy of screenplay, which notes down changes in script, positions of performers, and sound, props and lighting required for every scene

• working with team members to plan out lighting, sound, wardrobe, scene changes and set design
• prompting technical team for lighting and sound effects
• overseeing get in and get out while equipment and set are installed before performance and removed after that
• organizing set dressing and props and handling props budget
• providing cues for performers/entertainers on stage

Qualification, Education and Experience:

To be a stage manager, you'd necessitate high standard of experience and knowledge in theater practice. You can get into this work after getting training as a performer/actor, or progressing through backstage-work. Though, it's common to hold drama school/university qualifications into stage management.

Related qualifications into technical theater and stage management comprise:

• diplomas and degrees through drama school: for details regarding certified courses, check the website of NCDT (National-Council for Drama-Training)
• degrees into stage management, theater practice or theater arts
• BTEC: HND into Performing Arts

Backstage work-experience is essential while finding out salaried work. You could gain related experience by functioning as a stagehand within regional theater venues, or by community/student theater.

Generally, you'd begin as an ASM (assistant stage-manager) before advancing to DSM (deputy stage-manger) and stage manager.

Training Details:

You'd improve your abilities at the work.

You might discover it helpful to accomplish short training courses into production management, health and safety, and technical fields. The Association of British-Theater Technicians and Stage Management-Association both provide various short training courses to associates. For further details, check their sites.

Skills and knowledge:

• understanding of health and safety measures
• outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• excellent budget management and IT abilities
• outstanding leadership, planning and organizational abilities
• concentration to details
• confidence and managerial skills
• tact and patience
• interest into performing arts and theater
• calmness under-pressure
• capability to do multitasking

Salary and Other Benefits:

• Initial remunerations for deputies and assistants may be about £17,000 to £25,000 for a year.
• By experience income can get to £42,000 or above, based on available budget and your reputation.

Working Conditions:

Hours of working could be unsocial and long. Generally, rehearsals and meetings happen during daytime, although throughout performances you'd work in evenings.

You may voyage to various venues while on tour, or be based at one-location.

Different Opportunities:

You can discover work chances within cruise ships, concert production firms, holiday-camps, theater companies, corporate programs and theme parks. You can work on contract and freelance basis.

For this work competition is tough. Though, there are more openings within technical theater and stage management that into performing.

Few openings are publicized by trade publications. Though, it's common to get job by contacts and networking.

If experienced you can be a theater producer, run a theater company, or advance to TV-production as a floor-manager.

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