Should I be a stage manager?

Do you love theatre, concerts, or anything on stage?

In high school, I fell in love with theatre. Not the spotlight, but the action behind the scenes. That’s why I chose to major in stage management in college.

If you’d rather run the show than be in it, stage management might be for you. Every performance needs someone to coordinate the chaos. That’s the magic of a stage manager!

Stage managers wear many hats and take on several different roles in the process of a show's production. They are involved from the beginning to the end, doing things such as:

• Coordinate all the different teams that make a show possible (lighting, set design, actors, etc.)

• Organize all the administrative tasks needed to keep the show running

• Manage the logistics of a show from start to finish (rehearsals, calling cues, etc.)

• Collaborate with directors

A day in the life depends on the phase of your project.

1. Pre-production — Read scripts for cues, create rehearsal schedules, and coordinate with designers.

2. Rehearsals — Keep things on schedule, communicate changes, track props and costumes, and take director notes.

3. Tech and performance — Call show cues, run the show, and maintain the director's vision.

4. Administrative duties — Write performance reports, maintain contact sheets, and act as a liaison between the show's teams.

Photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash

Most stage managers have a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Stage Management or Stage Technologies.

Many stage management jobs require a degree, but some may also hire someone who has enough experience in the field to make up for not having a degree.

Either way, you'll need plenty of experience to work your way up to managing major productions. Start small with local stage productions and/or by becoming an assistant stage manager.

There are many different industries that need stage managers. Wherever there's a performance, there's likely a stage manager! To check your local openings, try a job board website such as Indeed or LinkedIn.

• Concert venues

• Theatre productions

• Cruise ships

• Theme Parks

• Dance troupes

To check your local openings, try a job board website such as Indeed or LinkedIn.

The average annual salary for stage managers in Canada ranges from $54k - $90K (CAD).

The average annual salary for stage managers in the United States ranges from $65k - $115k (USD).

1. You're very organized.

2. You're cool under pressure.

3. You're a strong leader.

4. You have a passion for performance and the arts.

1. You get bored of the same routine.

2. You get easily stressed from high-pressure situations.

3. You're uncomfortable with leadership roles.

4. You have a hard time staying organized.

Ready to become a stage manager?