I had an interesting interview a few weeks ago for a corporate event. The organization was doing an awards ceremony and needed someone to get the speakers and awardees on and off stage in an efficient manner. At the interview, I stressed my live theatre background, thinking that it was relevant to the task at hand. The woman interviewing me, however, kept asking about my other events experience, because, as she said, “Your theatre experience doesn’t count.”
Despite her being a thoroughly well educated woman, I have to take exception to her point of view. I realize that there are many misconceptions about work in the theatre. There are those who think that “putting on a play” is not work and requires no real skill. I’d like to set the record straight.
The modern theatre stage manager is a professional who not only juggles schedules and keeps a director happy (sometimes no small task), but one who also coordinates the electrical, sound, properties, set, costumes, and (often) projections or video departments. The stage manager facilitates communication among all these people, plus the actors. And the stage manager is the executive instrument in the technical running of each performance. And if it’s a musical or an opera, add the elements of music and dance to the mix. It’s not an easy job, although it can be a very rewarding one.
Quite honestly, corporate events are much easier. They generally have fewer elements, although they have the same need for communication and coordination. And those that are as complicated as a theatrical performance generally hire a theatre stage manager to run them. But it’s the same skill set, in either case. So, theatre experience is more than relevant to other kinds of events. (I’ll comment on theatre and weddings again some day.)
So, if you are thinking of hiring me and have doubts about the relevance of my theatre experience, just ask me how it is related. I will be happy to tell you.
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