Top Nine Things You Need to Understand or Have Done to Become a Professional Stage Manager:

9. Have swept a stage, focused a light, mended a costume

8. Know basic first aid

7. Understand that the ACTOR is the one putting her/himself in front of the audience and how vulnerable that makes them

6. Facilitate communication among creative people (and their egos)

5. Ability to put your ego in your back pocket

4. Love the ART of theatre, but be challenged by the work even when it isn’t art

3. Understand that knowledge is NOT power

2. Have a sense of humor

And the number one thing you need to understand or have done to become a Professional Stage Manager…………………………………………………

Know when your headset mic is on!!

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Top Six Things to Help Keep Your Stage Manager (and ultimately you) Happy:

6. Be on time. On time means ready to rehearse

5. Clean up your own trash at the end of the day

4. If you have a “challenge” with a costume, prop or set piece, ask nicely for help

3. Do not give notes to other actors. EVER.

2. Do not whine

And the number one thing to help keep your stage manager – and ultimately you – Happy:

…………………………………………..Bring her chocolate.

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1. It ain’t as bad as you think! It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad in private then get over it.
3. Avoid having an ego.
4. It can be done. The question is, how much time and resources will it take and is it that valuable to the production?
5. Be careful what you choose: you may get it.
6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can’t make someone else’s choices.
8. Check the small things.
9. Share Credit.
10. Remain calm and be kind always.
11. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

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