How Do Stage Managers Call the Show? (Part 1) | The (Almost) Complete Guide to Stage Management #19
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- Опубліковано 8 чер 2024
- When it comes to stage management, calling a show is one of the most commonly understood duties, but what does it actually take to call a good show? How do stage managers call cues? Let's talk about the concepts and theory behind how to call a show as a stage manager and how a stage manager calls cues, including breaking down warnings, standby's, and go's, cue lights, the ASM's role in calling the show, and more! This is part one of several, because calling the show is a big job!
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What’s your go-to method for calling cues??? Let me know! Don’t forget to subscribe! Plus, the Half Hour Call Store now features FREE SHIPPING on all domestic orders!! www.KentJamesCollins.com/store
I’ve always labeled Lights with numbers and Sound with Letters (and when I get more than Z, going to AA, BB, CC etc) which I am realizing is kind of luxury that my sound designers did that.
Thank you so much! I'm a shake n bake stage manager trying to learn as fast as I can... Much respect n admiration to all Stage Managers. I think I'll go back to spot light operator...lol
I'm a theater student in the Philippines and I got an exam in my stage management class tomorrow where we have to call a show and honestly this has been super helpful. Thank you so much and I hope to learn more from you and your videos!
I have stage managed an actual show twice, once I got to write part of the show and called the show. It was my first time stage managing for an actual show, It was one of the most stressful performances on opening night. Our director was sick he didn't teach me how to call during tech week so I was a mess the night before as I was trying to figure out what would work for my tech team on FT. I was also running lights closing night (love high school). I used a warning only for people and things going on stage and sound bc it wasn't programmed and they had to go through videos, standbys were only used for the same reasons. In short, it went well but I was never so stressed. The second show I staged managed I ended up on stage 2/3 nights and we didn't have an assistant stage manager. This was the worse show I have been a part of I am normally on tech (lights normally) we had our director running cues but I am not a huge fan of being on stage and our director was not ready to run anything.
I am waiting to find out if I got the stage manager position for a local theatre so I am toughing up on things I have never been taught so thank you
Wow! That sounds like it would teach you what’s important pretty quick. Those are great stories for interviews, too! Break a leg, I hope you get the gig at the local theatre!
Oh good luck to you, buddy! I know how you feel. I have absolutely no experience in theater whatsoever. Four weeks ago I was asked to fill in as stage manager for a friend who had a sick loved one. I was given virtually no instructions and was left to figure things out myself. I couldn't wait for my friend to return. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to and I got stuck with the position. They told me I will be calling cues this Saturday. I have absolutely no idea what that entails. It's a mess. I like film better. Less stressful.
Loved this video ❤
Yes finally getting this video! Your amazing Kent! Thank u!
Thank YOU for watching!!!
thanks for posting this in depth and very clear video!
Thank you for watching!!
Thank you so much for this! I am a stage manager in Germany preparing for the visit of a French guest performance. This video is brillant for learning crucial vocabularies since we will mainly communicalte in English. Thanks again!
So glad it was helpful! This is the USA standard of calling, UK is pretty different to my understanding. Thanks for watching!
Outstanding job! This is a must for anyone who wishes to enter into the crazy world of Stage Managing. I learned to call a show at an equity dinner theater - which ment nothing but musicals and quickly learned most of the tools you discussed.
Sounds like trial-by-fire for sure! Sometimes getting thrown into the deep end is the fastest way to learn. Thank you for watching!
Man I wish I had found you before today (1st complete run-through). But I'm glad I found you before opening night :O!!
You've got this!! Break legs!
Thanks for a great overview!
Glad it was helpful!
This is a great overview! I especially love the caution to be wise in placing standbys and warnings, vs. the black and white Warning-standby-Go sequence that the various old-school SM textbooks often teach.
That said, I do pull a "This is a two-minute Warning on the shift to Cliff's Apartment" or "This is a Five-Minute Warning on the end of the Act" for shows where I might not be completely confident in a crew whether it's no ASM backstage, short tech time, or a strangely-paced show. And if HMs aren't paying attention out in the lobby because they're busy stocking the bar for intermission :D
I have had ASMs actually call the GO on a cue before, such as a curtain in after a blackout once the cast cleared, but I imagine that's not common since it's always best to have one steady voice giving all the cues. I also know of a production where an ASM in the trap room cued "backstage" if you will automation cues shifting heights as pieces are loaded and unloaded on elevators but the actual moments where the elevators go up and down to the stage level for things the audience sees were all called by the calling SM. Similar to a deck carp calling moves of the dogs in the tracks to preset pieces but the SM cuing when the piece actually moves onstage.
Hard Agree on never bothering with the word "Cue" between the department and the identifier. Unless, like you said, it's "Standby on the Rail: Cue 1, the main curtain out; cue 2, the scrim out." Then of course there's the debate of do you call "Rail 1, Go" or "Curtain, Go."
Like you said: no methods are right, but flexibility is key.
Boy I miss calling cues
Oh hey, one suggestion: You've covered verbal cues and cue lights, but not Hand Signal cues. Also maybe discuss the thinking behind when/how ops/hands might take their own cues!
I've legitimately never used hand signal cues, except during a calling lab in college when I started sneezing uncontrollably mid-song XD
I've been pursuing stage management for 5 years now and the last time I called a show was sadly in summer of 2019. Since covid happened there hasn't been much gigs going on and idk if they'll even be back to how it used to be. But recently I've been doubting myself whether or not I am good at being a stage manager. I mean even before covid I was always nervous about stage managing professionally cuz I've seen all these professional SMs do soo well and there are times where I feel like Idk if I'm at that level of SMing. I only got to SM academic theatre in my life, I have SM a few concerts/events but the Light Designer was the one doing the cues cuz the client wanted him to do it since they knew eachother so well. There's been a lot thinking since lockdown happened, but I'm going to keep pursuing on with it and try not to compare myself to others. It just sucks cuz I wish I got to SM a professional theatre show once so I can really prove myself.
I just started at a local theater and my first shift is to be a Deck Manager. Thank you for the info and wish me luck😂
I use LX (“elecs”), but I’ve noticed that those who are newer to hearing a show call, thought I was saying “Alex”😂😅
I don’t change what the designer calls their cues (numbers vs letters). However I usually open up about my dyslexia and say that it’s easier for me to call full numbers (as opposed to .1/.5). They are usually open to accommodating me and we only use point cues if we need to add a cue after initial design.
That’s a great point! Do they usually skip numbers (like blocking notation) so they have room to add?
Count how many times "cue" was said
Do you have "limes" in the US?
Limes as in spotlights? We do (we don’t call them limes) but on bigger shows usually an electrician will call those cues!
@@HalfHourCall Yes! I have just finished a show that I was calling and the person in charge of the spotlight wouldn't respond to anything unless we called a cue for Limes. He got really confused if we called him spotlight.