How to Become a Stage Manager
Stage management is one of the more stable careers in the theater world. With the proper training and the right attitude, there is no reason why a stage manager can't develop a long-term, steady career. If you are comfortable behind the scenes, good with people, organized and not afraid of hard work and long hours, stage management could be right for you.
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Instructions
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Obtain a good education. There are many university theater programs located all over the United States and worldwide that offer degrees in stage management. While a degree is not required for a successful stage management career, universities are wonderful places to start your training. Opportunities for hands on experience and networking abound. Perhaps most importantly, university training gives the stage management student a well rounded education. First, the best stage managers have a solid background in all aspects of theater. Training in acting, lighting, sound, costuming, scene design and stagecraft, are offered as part of any good degree program. Furthermore, college courses in math, business, psychology, anthropology, history, art and many other subjects can help you to be a better stage manager. The more you know, the more insights you have to offer and the better you can manage your production. If college is not in the cards for you, educate yourself. Read everything that you can get your hands on about stage management and learn as much as you can about a variety of other subjects.
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Get hands-on training. In addition to classroom learning, you will need on the job training to improve your skills. Potential employers will not be immediately concerned about whether you have a degree or not, they will want to know what you can do. The only way to show what you are capable of is by building a resume of solid work experience. You needn't worry about where you get your experience, especially early on in your career. Take advantage of any opportunities that come your way whether they be through a university, community theater, opera house or some other place that needs a crew. Take on as many positions as you can handle. If you cannot obtain a stage management position, do anything else that needs done. Run a light board, help to build the set, work the box office. No job is to small, no job is a waste of time. Every job is a chance to increase your knowledge and skills and build up your resume. Paid positions are very scarce, so be prepared to work for free.
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Plan your career path. Once you have some experience and education under your belt, you will have to make some choices about the type of career and life that you want. Decide if you want to eventually head off to a big city like New York or Chicago or if you would be happier working in smaller regional markets. Generally, it is best to build up professional, post university experience in smaller areas before heading off to a large city where competition is fierce. You may need or want to join one of the unions, such as Actor's Equity or IATSE, depending upon your target market (see Resources below). Some theaters will employ only union members, others employ non union people exclusively. This decision to join a union is not to be taken lightly as it requires lifelong commitment, time and money. That being said, Equity membership is usually required for touring productions and employment at professional theaters, so it is worth exploring.
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Develop the skills necessary to succeed. Some skills cannot be taught in the classroom or be learned from reading a book. As a stage manager you will need to be organized, adaptable and able to think on your feet. There is often no time for discussion on how to fix a broken item or deal with a problem. If something goes wrong in the middle of a show, you cannot panic. You must make a decision and implement it quickly. Good stage managers are creative and excellent at fast fixes. Keep an arsenal of gaffe tape, super glue and safety pins. While still in the rehearsal phase, take some time to think about what could potentially go wrong and develop a plan of action. Have an actor that misses entrances and goes up on lines? Does the theater have electrical issues? Maybe there is a costume that looks just a little too delicate to make it through the whole run. How about a crew member that frequently falls asleep in the green room and misses his cue? You will never be able to anticipate every problem but you can try to be prepared with as many contingency plans as possible. Share your plans with the appropriate people so if something goes wrong, you can all act quickly.
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Every stage manager develops their own personal management style that works best for them but you must learn to walk the line between friend and boss. People do not respond well to having orders barked at them. On the flip side, a stage manger that has become overly involved in the cast and crews' personal lives may find that she has lost control of the show. Your role is not unlike that of a mother. Like children, your cast and crew need your support as well as discipline and guidance. You need to be understanding and sympathetic when personal issues arise with your actors and crew members, but at the same time you must keep everyone in line. Show them that you care, but that the show still must go on.
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Develop the attitude necessary to succeed. Theater people can be highly emotional and unpredictable. You must be the little oasis of calm and sanity when everyone else is freaking out. Learn to accept change gracefully and take bumps in the road in stride. The director may change her mind at the last minute about a key element of the production. You must be able to do your best to accommodate her ideas without complaint. She is relying on you to help make her ideas a reality. Finally, stage managers are the unsung heroes of the theater world. You will be working long shifts, often at odd hours. Your diet, sleep and personal relationships may have to be put on the back burner during crucial stages of the production process. People who need lots of recognition and approval for a job well done will be unhappy in this career. It is likely that no one will ever know how hard you worked or that it would have all fallen apart without you. If you have done your job well, it will seem to the audience as if you did nothing at all. If this bothers you, you may be happier in another career. If however, the thought of a conventional job makes you shudder, you enjoy meeting all kinds of people and learning new things, and you want your job to be different every day, stage management may be perfect for you.
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