Basic Stage Manager Tools - Office Supplies & Extras

Continuing my series on Stage Managing, I'll wrap it here after writing on Stage Managing 101, Basic SM Duties, Basic SM Tools - Clothes, and Basic SM Tools - Fix-It Shop.

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In your handy-dandy rolling briefcase, you will have a myriad of tools both traditional "fix-it" type tools as well as a plethora of office supplies.

Note: The "rolling" briefcase is to save your back. You can carry a bag, but during the rehearsal process, you will find yourself responsible for toting more and more items. Once you're in the theatre, enjoying the run of the show, you may not need a large bag because you should be able to keep everything you need at the theatre.

Office Supplies:

If you have a desk at home, look around at what you have and just assume you’ll need all of that (and then some) to Stage Manage.

Stopwatch

• The single most important item a Stage Manager must have at all times is a stopwatch. While there are times the script will be left at the SM booth or at the rehearsal site, the SM stopwatch should be on the SM's person at all times from arriving at rehearsal (if not earlier) to the end of rehearsal or the performance.
• The SM calls the beginnings and ends of all rehearsals and breaks. The backstage calls for "half hour," "15," and "places" all come from the SM's stopwatch. The ASM, and anyone who works on the show based on the time, should match their watches to the SM's. It is highly unprofessional for an ASM or stagehand to contradict an SM over the headset, arguing about what time it is (i.e., a minute early or late, etc.). Better to synchronize watches by the SM stopwatch beforehand.

Binder (with zipper)

• Known as "The Bible," the Stage Manager's script is the most important item to the show overall. Everything that happens in rehearsal as well as on stage, backstage, and in the tech booth begins and ends with the the Bible.
• I prefer a binder with a zipper which range in price on the low-end around $20 upwards to the hundreds of dollars (if covered with luxury animal skin). As you go through the rehearsal process, you will want your most needed items at your fingertips: script, personal pencils and pens, sticky notes, hi-liters, etc. Using a zip binder keeps your mobile office together and easily portable.

Permanent Markers

• Using a marker, tag everything that is yours as “STAGE MANAGER.” Don’t use your name. The title should put enough fear into people’s hearts to ensure they bring your stuff back. If possible, have the actor bring their book, prop, or whatever needs minor surgery to you and let them sit down and take care of it so they don’t wander off with your tools.
• If you’re paying for your own supplies (i.e., the Producer doesn’t reimburse you for expenses), get your SM supplies whenever you can. The best time to buy them is August and September when many stores offer “back to school” savings. If you’re not going to SM until March, you might want to jump on the school supply band wagon.

#2 pencils

• Leave a handful on the Director’s table that the actors can come up and use whenever they need to or if they break the tip of their current pencil. This allows blocking rehearsals to keep moving rather than stopping while the actor re-sharpens.

NON-electric sharpener

• Sure it takes longer, but you don’t want to see the veins pop out on the Director’s forehead because his rehearsal was rudely interrupted by the WHIRZZZZZZ of an electric pencil sharpener.
• Sharpening pencils outside of rehearsal is a great job for the ASM, a P.A., or other type of intern. (For that, an electric sharpener is okay.)

Hi-liters

• You may want to use hi-liters to color-block your notes or your script for easy reference. For instance, yellow for "warning" calls and green for "go" calls. Or color prop cues "purple," or cues based on the backstage ASM's confirmation of a quick costume change in pink, or unusual cues in orange, etc.
• Some SM's may not want to hi-lite anything. More power to them. As a left and right-brained person, I like the visual reminders of my logical duties.

• Sticky notes are great for quick messages for actors or even sliding a note, "Break?" to a director. Along with the color-coding of the hi-liters, you may want to color-code sticky notes for reminders and notes to others or yourself. Sticky tabs can be used to subdivide the script into scenes or songs (if a musical or opera).
• Actors may also need your sticky notes of sticky tabs, but make sure to keep your personal supplies needed for your job separate from the supplies you make available to the actors.

• For quick fixes during the rehearsal process or when the Wardrobe Mistress isn't required at rehearsal. But remember SMs: You are merely providing the sewing kit. It is NOT your job to actually repair their clothes, costumes or personal props.

Other items you might want to have include liquid paper ("white out"), notebook paper, paper for signs, etc. The reports and official forms you need to have depend on the kind of show you're doing. You may want to post a rehearsal schedule by month, week, or day. You may need to have a sign-in/out sheet. As an Equity SM, you'll get all your official report forms from Equity.

Extras

While everyone else gets their allotted breaks, often time the SM is taking care of problems during "breaks." In a way, your job is to take care of everyone else, to make sure they have what they need and ensure things happen on time. But almost no one thinks to make sure you have what you need. Take care of yourself by having a stash of water (NOT caffienated drinks), protein-rich snacks, and fresh fruit. And be sure to write STAGE MANAGER on your water bottles.

You may also want to have on hand some items for the cast and crew that are hopefully provided by the producer: breathsavers, hand sanitizer, Tums, and mild pain reliever.

NOTE:

• Cough drops and mints can cause a surge of acid reflux as well as irritate the mouth and throat. Throat spray is also bad because it numbs pain giving the vocalist a false sense of usability which can cause further damage to the larynx and vocal folds.
• For a mild pain reliever, have acetametaphine or naproxen available in the First Aid kit. Do NOT give out aspirin or ibuprofen as they are known to cause problems with the voice due to their blood-thinning properties (this goes for actors AND singers).
• Separate your personal supplies from the grab-all bits for the cast or crew. The actors especially will be attracted to items that are shiny and colorful.

Dear Actors - TOUGH LOVE:

The Stage Manager is responsible for the running of the show. The Stage Manager is NOT:

• your mama
• your babysitter
• your personal vending machine
• your doctor or pharmacist

If you need snacks to tide you over till a food break, or candies to keep your blood sugar stable, or regularly need Tums or a pain reliever, THEN YOU BRING THEM. Anyone who asks the Stage Manager for any of the above items is an unprepared greenhorn who is disrespecting the role the Stage Manager plays in realizing the Director's vision and the Producer's investment. Bring your OWN snacks and medications.

trish