Ask a Stage Manager (Interview)

Stage Managing would not be the first occupation that comes to mind when thinking of theatre. Usually it's the actors or actresses, the director, or sometimes "the backstage stuff." But while it's true that Stage Managing is one of the "lesser-known" jobs in theatre, it is one of the most crucial positions to hold. I worked as Assistant Stage Manager for a production of Anton Chekov's The Seagull this past March and it was a lot of work, but not compared to what my partner-in-crime had to do. Tyler was a Stage Manager worth looking up to. She was non-stop busy, but eternally cheerful with the cast and crew. She had a schedule, but kept things flexible for the director and was always around to help or offer an encouraging word.

As an assignment, I was directed to interview someone I considered a leader and was encouraged to choose someone from my field of study (Theatre). Of course, Tyler, or Tai as she is so lovingly called, immediately popped into my head! I didn't see it as much of an assignment though. Tai set such a great example for me and I felt very privileged that she was the first Stage Manager I got to work with so closely; So I was happy to talk to her about her views on leadership. We met in a back section of Regent University's library and began.

O: How long have you been Stage Managing?

T: I have been stage managing since high school, so nine years.

O: Being a stage manager doesn’t seem like much of a challenge for you, since I’ve worked with you before, but is it difficult to work with so many people?

T: Sometimes it is; I find it harder to work with kids because there’s always so many of them and they don’t listen to you. And then you have to deal with parents who think they know what’s best. But adults, I mean, you give adults candy and it becomes a lot easier.

O: So that’s your secret? Is candy? Candy does the trick.

T: Candy. It does.

O: How do you inspire your cast and crew during rehearsals or when showtime comes around?

T: I do try to keep positive because there are a lot of stresses with putting up a show. And if your Stage Manager is stressed, nobody’s going to be calm. So I always try to keep a level head. I try to be that person that people can go to because more than a Stage Manager, I want to be your friend. I want to be there to help you and, I mean, it’s my job, but also I want to go above and beyond that because we gotta depend on each other.

O: How do you encourage your followers, when you or the director or anyone is going through a difficult time?

T: I always encourage prayer because that’s the first thing we should be doing. And I always give my cast my phone number, not just because I need to know when they’re late, but in the event that they need somebody to talk to because technically the director doesn’t need to know about things that are happening in the cast’s life. That’s not really her or his area. But for me, if I know that [if someone's] dog just died then maybe we should call them a little later or maybe we should not work them so hard tonight [and] I’ll know how to approach the director to solve problems.

O: And I know this is a Christian campus [Regent University], but you said prayer is a good place to go to. Do you go to prayer even if the atmosphere is a secular one?

T: Yeah. If people don’t want to pray, I invite people to pray; I can’t force them to. If they don’t want to pray, that’s okay, but I’m still going to pray, even if I’m the only one. It’s still going help.

O: Following off of that, how has being a Christian shaped your leadership?

T: I found it a lot easier to be a leader when I know that the work I’m doing is what God wants me to do. Because sometimes you’re doing something that you love, but you also know that God is speaking to you on it. And that’s just a better push in the right direction because…I thought, “Maybe I don’t need to be a leader,” but I’m being called to be a leader and I’m surprisingly very fine with that.

O: What’s been your biggest accomplishment as a leader?

T: I think my best accomplishment is just knowing that I’ve touched so many lives. I still have cast members who text me or message me on occasion [saying], “hey, I hope you’re doing well. I still remember that show we did...five years ago.” And that’s cool [because] I love connecting with people and there’s something revitalizing about knowing that you were a good leader.

O: If I may ask, what was your biggest failure?

T: My biggest failure is usually me because, mentally, I think I’m prepared to deal with some things and so I try to keep a positive attitude, but sometimes I just don’t and it’s not conducive to the process; it’s not helpful. I let my own, personal bias and feelings get in the way of doing my job right and that’s always something [that’s] very rough because it’s not something that I can go to somebody else to fix. It’s something I have literally to fix myself and that’s really hard.

O: We’re always told in the theatre, you know, keep your personal baggage outside, but sometimes that’s really hard to do.

T: Yeah, especially as a Stage Manager, everybody’s ragging on you. The actors are, the director is, the tech is, I even get messages from the building manager…and it’s all at the same time because everybody thinks it’s a good time, but it’s never a good time. [laughs] So, I always have to make sure that I’m bettering myself because if I don’t better myself, I’m never going be able to grow and I’m never going to be the leader God designed me to be.

O: When you finally get to take the reins on a show, what do you find the easiest task to take care of and the most difficult?

T: I think the easiest is calling the cues. [laughs] I mean, because we’ve already been living with this show for a month or so; I already know where some definite cues are going to be. But…one of the hardest ones is making sure everybody’s on the same page because now you have tech that you’ve never met before. You have to be ready and you are literally this one dot in the middle of a forest of people who need things and everybody needs things from you.

O: All at once.

T: All at once. So being that constant, you’re constantly putting out all your energy and a lot of times, you don’t get it back. You’re giving and giving and giving and you don’t get it back from a lot of people, but you still feel revitalized and renewed because each and every day is a new day and you are constantly helping people and I love helping people, so, that’s part of the reason I really love this job.

O: As far as getting back from what you give, does that happen a lot? Like, for example, at the end of this show [The Seagull], you got a gift and everyone was just...very expressive of how grateful they were towards you and [the director] and myself for going through this whole process. Do you get that from other casts or crews and if you don’t, does that affect you in any way?

T: I’m definitely not used to being recognized as a Stage Manager. It’s a very thankless job. People are like, “oh, it looked great! Great job director,” but they usually don’t say, “you know, that light cue was called at the perfect time. Great job light op and Stage Manager.” They usually don’t realize Stage Managers exist, which is kind of okay because we’re…the backstage ninjas. We’re the puppet masters and so people aren’t supposed to see us; You pay no attention to the person behind the curtain, but I am very grateful when people do thank me because I don’t expect it. The directors always get gifts. It’s a director thing, but the Stage Manager? You don’t get gifts. So it’s always nice to be recognized because I’m trying really hard. It’s always nice to get that back.

O: Is there anyone who’s inspired you with their leadership abilities?

T: My dad’s a leader. He’s always been a leader. He was a leader in the military, he’s the pastor of a church, he’s leading his own radio show right now and he’s getting his own tv show. And so my dad has always inspired me. He’s always encouraged me to go above and beyond because of what’s stacked against me. He’s so inspirational.

O: What’s some advice you could give to anyone out there trying to be Stage Managers or become Stage Managers?

T: Don’t get discouraged. Starting off, it’s very hard, it’s very long hours, you feel like you’re doing your all and it’s not good enough, but you have the power to create life. If you weren’t there, the show wouldn’t go up. Just keep pushing through because Stage Managing, while it is a very thankless job, at the end of the day you feel so wonderful. It’s a long and wild ride, but it’s definitely worth it. Also, keep calm. If you saw your Stage Manager freaking out, would you not freak out? [laughs] So keeping that level head…but at the end of the day, you are touching people’s lives. Actors are touching people by their acting and you’re touching people by the work you do that nobody knows exists.

O: What’s the most important piece of advice you have for upcoming leaders, in general?

T: Stay positive. Leadership is not easy and it’s not something everybody’s called to. There’s a lot of people who lead who aren’t called to leadership and there’s a lot of people who follow who are called to leadership. So you can’t be worried and let yourself get in the way of you doing what you need to do. I never thought I’d be a leader, but Stage Managing, I love it and leading, I love it. You get to help so many people find out more about themselves and trying to find out more about yourself [is] not always the funnest thing, but it’s the best thing for you to grow.

~ Olivia