1. Stage Manager

2. You gotta know stuff Stage directions THE PLAY The set
All technical elements
Organization

3. The Anatomy of a Good SM The Practical Application Qualities Spirit
Organized
Personality
Drive
Follow- Through
Demeanor
Motivation
Efficiency
Attitude
Innate Stimulus
Effectiveness
Approach
Soul
=PAPERWORK
=PEOPLE SKILLS
=PASSION

4. Your entire job is to keep the director/actors/technicians organized
Your word is law!!

5. The prompt book- The SM Bible
Script
Blocking
Tech cues
Calendar
Conflict sheets
Contact information

6. Prompt Book

7. SCRIPT
A copy of the script with LOTS of room in the margins and blank pages on the other side. Legally, they have to be cut outs of a real script.
Your scripts holds all blocking notation, tech cues, and tech notes.
If a director mentions it at rehearsal, it goes in the script.
ALL CUES WILL BE CALLED FROM THE SM SCRIPT!!!!

8. Any movement that the actor makes on stage
What is blocking?
Any movement that the actor makes on stage

9. Blocking Notation
“Blocking is the noting and recording of all the movement, action, and business in the show, as set and agreed on by the director and actors.”
--Larry Fazio,
Stage Manager:
The Professional Experience

10. Stage Direction Blocking NotationUR UC UL R C L DR DC DL

11. Action Notations In - enter Xit - exit X - cross 8 - step ↓- sit, down
↑- stand
○- to circle
∩ - to semi - circle
- counter
- kiss
- pancake (hug)
k - kneel
j- jump
( > - face (ind. dir.)
o/ - open
/c - close

12. Things - stairs - chair - bench - spade T - trunk - door - cart
- cabinet
- picture frame
- bed
- curtain
- stairs
- chair
- bench
- spade
T - trunk

13. Character Notation EACH AND EVERY TIME!!!B H M A J L ML AM MB Ma F
WHAT initials you use is less important as being sure to use the SAME AC
abbreviations
EACH AND EVERY TIME!!!

14. The Blocking Page Stage Diagram Area for Blocking Notation
Props that need to be Preset
Area for Blocking Notation
Costumes that need to be Preset

15. Tips and Tricks
Unless specifically requested by director, keep only the current version of staging in the prompt book. Invest in a good eraser (I like the Pink Pearl).
Say the staging in your mind in a complete sentence as you translate the staging into blocking notation. So,
Allina crosses downstage right and sits on the cube.
All X DR ↓

16. Tips and Tricks
Video!!!
Pictures

17. Your Turn Watch the following clip . . .
Your task is to notate the blocking from your perspective to the best of your ability.

18. How did you do?

19. Giving Line--- Actor’s have to get “off book.”
“Prompting, being on book, cueing the actors, following the script once the blocking has been set and the actors are somewhat confident about knowing their lines and blocking, they will go off book and expect the SM to be on book, follow the script, and feed them a line or piece of blocking should they forget.”

20. Being on Book
Once the “off-book” date has come and gone, it is very helpful to have a student, the SM, follow along with the script while the actors recite their lines and act out the previously set blocking. The following will help the SM be better prepared to be “on-book.”
Look at the prompt book. Trust that the director is watching the stage.

21. Prep the Actors
Actors need to be told before the first “off-book” rehearsal that there is a procedure for calling “line.”
When you forget your line you must say “line” so the SM will know to give you your next line.
The SM will give you your line, a sentence or two, until you pick up the dialogue.
If you forget another line, simply call “line” again.

22. People get confused if they get line cues from several people.
ONE VOICE
People get confused if they get line cues from several people.
Actor has to say “Line”.
Actors have a tendency to pause when they “act”
Voice has to be confident, LOUD, and articulated.

23. ONE PLACE
Always sit in the same place. Actors have a hard time if there isn’t consistency.

24. PRACTICE BEING ON BOOK TAKES PRACTICE!
You have to find the rhythm of your stage management technique.
Be patient! Actors are slow sometimes.

25. LINE NOTES
At some point, actors are not allowed to all for “LINE” anymore.
Note when they mess up.
Make your own line notes
form to make you feel comfortable.
Single of Typed out is fine.

26. YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF ACTORS DOING THEIR JOB
YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF ACTORS DOING THEIR JOB!!! THEY HAVE TO LEARN THEIR OWN LINES. IF THEY DON’T LEARN THEM, THEY GET FIRED.

27. Rehearsal Notes SM is the communication bridge.
Has notes for all areas-
2. Set, lights, sound, costumes,
Makeup, Actors, props, director, etc.
3. Put who is called when and if they
Are late or on time.
4. Put on callboard/website for
Everyone to view.

28. Adding Tech Several weeks before show, a SM job changes.
All tech gets added to the mix.
All tech groups should already have all of their stuff together BEFORE everyone gets to rehearsal.
SM IS THE BOSS!!!!

29. DRY TECH
Technical rehearsal for TECH ONLY!!! Makeup and Costumes are normally excluded.
All cues will be set at this time. Light cues, sound cues, prop cues, stage cues, etc.
Depending on the company will depend if they are all at once or individual times.
PATIENCE IS KEY!!!!
SM IS THE BOSS!!!!! The director should ONLY have to talk to the SM!

30. WET TECH
A cue to cue technical rehearsal that adds the actors. Makeup and Actors are normally excluded.
The entire show is run from one technical cue to the next technical cue. Some sections of the play may be skipped if tech does not happen.
MANY TECH ELEMENTS WILL BE DONE SEVERAL TIMES.
PATIENCE IS KEY!!
SM IS THE BOSS!!! SM tells the company where to start/stop during a show. Director should ONLY have to talk to the SM.

31. Dress Rehearsal This is a run of the show with FULL TECH.
If an orchestra is involved, they are typically added at this time.
On Broadway, these are often extended into PREVIEWS where a paying audience is added before the show is “OPEN READY.”

32. ALL THAT SHOULD BE SAID ON HEADSET IS ____READY_____GO.
CALLING CUES
SM must be able to talk to all operating technicians.
Headsets are used to connect all technicians.
SM calls all cues from their prompt book.
ALL THAT SHOULD BE SAID ON HEADSET IS ____READY_____GO.

33. Headset etiquette
talk should be kept to a minimum—you shouldn’t say anything on headset that you wouldn’t be willing to share with a large audience. \
If a crew member must of off headset, always tell the stage manager if you are going off headset, and find someone to take your place in your absence.
If a “Warning” or “Ready” is called, the pertinent person should respond with “Warned” or “Ready”.
If the stage manager is in “Warning” or Standby” no one should talk except for the stage manager. If something important has come to your attention, wait until the stage manager has said “Go” to speak (unless in case of emergency).
Except for the stage manager, keep your microphone turned off if you know you won’t be speaking for long periods of time. Try not to cough, sneeze or yell into the microphone.
The only time the work “Go” should be used on headset is if the stage manager is calling a cue.

34. Labeling your prompt book for calling cues
Be consistent and organized.
Visually, all cues written in your book should be only on either the left margin or in the right margin.
Mark a warning (ready) and a go for each cue. I like to color coordinate them. If several happen right after each other, warn all at once.
Be specific. - some cues are called on a specific word, beat, or other cue. Make sure you have them.
Mark visual cues and remind operator when they are visual.

36. PRACTICE CALLING CUES BEFORE IT IS TIME TO DO SO!!!

37. Calling Time
SM is in charge of informing everyone in 15 min increments of time.
EX: 30 til warmups Required response from all: Thank you 30
PLACES is ALWAYS 5 minutes before the start of a show.

38. Creating a rehearsal schedule
Here, the director creates the schedule.
CONFLICTS STINK!!! Professionally, they don’t exist.
Everyone has to know where they have to be, when they have to be…
HOURS UPON HOURS GO INTO CREATING A CALENDAR!!! IT HAS TO BE FOLLOWED!!!
Sign in sheets are super helpful.

39. LOTS AND LOTS OF TIME AND EFFORT GOES INTO BEING A STAGE MANAGER.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT OUT POSITIONS IN THE TECHNICAL WORLD.
$$$$!!!