To be an effective Stage Manager, these 11 skills are the most important:
- Clear communication
- Flexibility or adaptability
- Remaining calm under pressure
- Passion for technical theatre
- Patience
- Problem solving
- Leadership and Management
- Basic terminology and technical knowledge
- Self Motivation
- Time management
- Organization
These skills are things all great Stage Managers have in common, and are skills every SM should strive to improve at. Read on to see why each of these skills are so important for a stage manager.
Why is Communication important for a Stage Manager?
Clear concise and friendly communication is by far the most important skill in a Stage Manager’s skillset. The SM is the central communicator of every production coordinating between every department and person on a production. The SM runs rehearsals, tech, and performances working closely with every member of the production team in the process. They also communicate notes to department heads, rehearse understudies, train crew members, call cues to board operators, and work with front of house staff to make each and every production come to life.
Why do Stage Managers need to be Adaptable?
Because of the nature of live theatre and the fact that no two performances will ever be the exact same, and the Stage Manager must be able to adapt. One simple way to word this is that I have never seen any two SM call stations set up exactly the same way. Sometimes the production requires you call the show from front of house in the booth, while other times you are backstage calling the show from a platform in the air. Some productions use cue lights for some cues, others use only verbal cues. Some shows are one person on stage, while others are casts of 25. No two productions will run the same way, and adapting your skills for each new production is one of the most fun parts.
Why Do Stage Managers need to remain calm under pressure?
During every production, there will be something that doesn’t go according to plan. Whether a technical element fails, or an actor skips an entire page of dialogue, the Stage Manager needs to be calm and find a solution to keep the show moving. This skill needs to transfer into non-performance related interactions as well. If the leader is calm and collected, the rest of the cast and crew will have faith in you to lead them. If the Stage Manager is visibly stressed at the smallest inconvenience, the rest of the company will be unsettled and often lose trust in the Stage Manager. Remaining calm on the outside can defuse even the worst of situations.
I think this indeed article does a good job describing why Staying calm can be important, though some of the tips are hard to practice in a rehearsal space, so find your own methods to keep calm when the going gets tough.
Why Do Stage Managers need Passion for Theatre
Stage management is one of the most demanding jobs theatre both in time commitment, and in stress levels. If you aren’t in love with stage management, or at least technical theatre, it can burn you out quickly. Stage Managers work 60-70 hour weeks, deal with difficult personalities, and are responsible for the safety of everyone involved during a performance. That level of stress and commitment will quickly burn out those who aren’t truly passionate about the job.
Why do Stage Managers need patience?
Stage Managers often deal with very difficult personalities both on stage and off. Passionate designers and actors can get in disputes with their coworkers and the Stage Manager will often fall in the middle of the two people at odds. Knowing how to listen, calm others down, and repair a working relationship is a challenge that can test even the most seasoned managers. Learning to stay patient with the few difficult designers and actors will make the difference between an enjoyable process and a miserable one.
What problem solving do Stage Managers do?
When a problem arises during a performance, the Stage Manager will usually be the first one notified. Quick problem solving and troubleshooting is the most important skill for a stage manager to have when these problems occur. Learning the complete track of the show means you will know when and where the actor with the broken prop will exit stage next, and where the backup prop is to swap in. If a technical issue occurs and the main scenic element isn’t able to make it on stage, knowing what the backup solution is and quickly communicating that plan to everyone involved is what makes a good SM stand out.
Why is Leadership skill a necessity for stage managers?
The Stage Manager is the Leader of a production, guiding it from the first rehearsal through closing. Being a confident, level headed, and clear authority figure helps everyone respect your position. Being consistent, reliable, and hard working builds trust within the company that they can rely on you to solve problems for them and that you have their best interests in mind.
Why do stage managers need to know Technical terminology?
Part of communication effectively is knowing the terminology for each department you are talking to. Knowing the name for every piece of equipment involved in a production, as well as their basic functions and major parts will help clearly communicate problems to technical staff. being able to specify exactly which part of a technical element is causing a traffic problem backstage can save an extra few minutes of questions as they already have the answers. Sometimes on tours a Stage Manager is responsible for running light focus, so knowing basic lighting terminology and skills can help save everyone time and stress.
why do stage managers need to be Self motivated?
Stage Managers have a large amount of work to do for a production, most of which no one will see. Knowing that the materials you create for yourself are there for emergency situations can be difficult to work on. When the situation comes up that the documents you created are necessary to keep the production running, you will finally see your efforts pay off. Working 60-70 hours a week and creating documents that might not be seen or used can be difficult to get motivated about.
Why do stage managers need time management skills?
Time management is another important skill for stage managers. Knowing how to effectively use the limited time of everyone involved and prioritizing the most important elements greatly improves the quality of a production. Planning ahead and knowing how to shift from one plan to the next with ease limits wasted time. Knowing how much time to plan to accomplish tasks so that schedules don’t need to shift often can help everyone stay relaxed knowing their time is being used wisely.
Why do stage managers need to be organized?
As one of the most commonly listed skills for a stage manager, I think organization is important. Disorganized people will typically find themselves overwhelmed quickly while trying to keep up with the many other responsibilities that come with the job. For more on all of the responsibilities of a Stage Manager, read my article What does a Stage Manager do?
I hope you’ve found these 11 skills every Stage Manager needs helpful, but there are plenty more that could make this list. Leave a comment below on what skills you think are most important!
