Shadowing: General Q&A

[Libby]

You don't usually buy a ticket for the show that you want to shadow, right?

Typically no. But only do this if you have confirmation that you are definitely shadowing. With the confirmation you should have what time to meet the SM at the stage door and the specifics.

[lightingtechevan]

Hi everyone!

I am new here and read this entire thread-it is great!

I asked someone who worked at Wicked about shadowing but he said since I am in high school I cannot shadow because of insurance reasons. I thought some people in this thread said they were in high school and still shadowed at shows.

So is this just the case for Wicked, or others shows too because I wanted to shadow at least one this summer? Any other shows I could try that may allow a high school student (I am a junior).

Thank you!

[MatthewShiner]

I think if you are under 18 there would be liability issues, especially on a show that is so technically complex.  I would have a problem with someone under 18 being backstage on a show, I would have someone under 18 just sit in the booth with me.

[lightingtechevan]

Thanks for the info Matt! I usually do lighting stuff and have been for 3 years now and I actually wanted to shadow some lighting techs from Broadway shows, like Wicked.

Do you think its possible to shadow a lighting person in the booth and if so, how could I try to arrange it?

Thank you so much!!

[MatthewShiner]

To be honest, it depends, on Broadway shows, where the lighting person is . . . and if there is room.  Space is so tight in most Broadway houses.

[bethanyb5]

My friend who is in the cast of Little Mermaid has offered to pass a letter on to her SM for me. What do I say in this letter? I don't want to be too long winded or too short. and writing is not one of my strong points.

[rpicket6]

I thoroughly believe in the benefits of Shadowing. 'nmno' mentioned karmic debt: I am a Senior in college, pursuing a Theatre degree with Stage Management concentration, and my senior comprehensive project this spring is Stage Managing our season closer: The Rocky Horror Show (I'm so excited!). While working an open house for my school, I met a high school senior who is interested in Stage Management, but is worried that she doesn't know what she's 'getting herself into.' I offered to let her shadow me throughout the entire process: from the audition process through performances. She is so pumped, and I am as well. I look forward to talking to her about her experience--I hope that she'll be able to help me grow from the experience just as much as I can help her.

[Mac Calder]

I asked someone who worked at Wicked about shadowing but he said since I am in high school I cannot shadow because of insurance reasons. I thought some people in this thread said they were in high school and still shadowed at shows.

Another issue with some of the more technical broadway shows is that some of their effects require the cast and crew to all sign non-disclosure agreements. I know I have been asked to sign some when taking a peek at a few shows that have toured over to Aus (Wicked was one). Maybe that is another reason they will not allow u18's to shadow.

But as Matt said, u18's on a show with that much automated scenery is a risk assessment nightmare... I would probably have second thoughts allowing a U18 to shadow as well (hell, I would have second thoughts allowing an adult with that many traveling set pieces)

[missliz]

My friend who is in the cast of Little Mermaid has offered to pass a letter on to her SM for me. What do I say in this letter? I don't want to be too long winded or too short. and writing is not one of my strong points.

Introduce yourself, explain your interest in theater, and why you want to shadow! Quick and painless. EX: "I'm a new stage manager and am very interested in seeing how a Broadway show runs!"

[MatthewShiner]

"I'm a new stage manager and am very interested in seeing how a Broadway show runs!"

I actually think that would turn me off I received a letter stating something generic like that, be more specific . . .  "I am a student stage manager, and interested to see a the specifics of running a large scale commercial show" - sounds better - even better do some research on what you find particularly interesting about that specific show.  I mean, you should have a basic understanding on how a Broadway show runs, I means - it's not that radically different then any other show - it just has more people, more money, more toys.  If you seem a bit more educated, it may open the doors up quicker - theatre is dangerous backstage, and if you come off naive and completely uneducated, I don't want you shadowing on deck.   

When I did two weeks of observing shows in New York, and 8 weekends in Las Vegas shadowing on shows - the way I presented it was, I was about to graduate and was I interested in exploring options for career goals. I used connections from school, co-workers, etc, to get me personal introductions, and then . . . as I cold-contacted other stage managers, I said, I have already set up observations on show X, Y and Z, and hoping that I could fill my time with shadowing on your show . . . it was pretty quick to fill up my dance card - I was in town for 14 days, I think I shadowed on 18 shows, and met stage managers form other shows.   I never used as a job search, I never dropped of my resume, never spoke to them like, "Hey, I am graduating in six months, hire me." I just honestly keep my eyes open, ears open, asked good questions, and used it as the tremendous learning opportunity it turned out to be.

Another side hit, I actually find it better to shadow on a show you have seen - - - it keeps you focusing on the backstage stuff, rather then the interesting onstage stuff.  It also allowed me to try to figure out how things happened backstage when I watched, and then see how close I was when I actually see it it.

[imrnthewicked]

I just went back through this post almost 3 years after I started it.   

I now AM a Stage Management major, and have shadowed on several shows- both Broadway tours and at theatres around my city, and so far have only been told "no" by one (Young Frankenstein- for insurance reasons). 

I've gone about it in a variety of ways... like writing a letter like I did the first time, e-mailing a producer's assistant at the theatre, setting it up through an alum of my school who was an ASM on the show, and even going right to the stage door and asking to speak to a stage manager (to set up shadowing at a later date).

It's great to be able to talk to people who are working SMs, finding out how they got started, and seeing how the job is different for different shows.  Also, now that I have some experience myself, it's easier to ask questions and follow what's going on.

[Laurend19]

I am a high school senior hoping to go into sm. I just found this thread and I am really interested in shadowing in Chicago somewhere. I looked on the broadway in chicago website, but had a hard time finding any emails. It doesn't have to be broadway, but that was just the first place I though of. Any ideas on who to contact and what is the best way to contact them???

[klcurrie]

I am a high school senior hoping to go into sm. I just found this thread and I am really interested in shadowing in Chicago somewhere. I looked on the broadway in chicago website, but had a hard time finding any emails. It doesn't have to be broadway, but that was just the first place I though of. Any ideas on who to contact and what is the best way to contact them???

Chicago has a rich community of regional theaters.  I would start by looking up the companies in town and finding one whose work you are interested in and then contacting their SMs by sending a letter or email to the theater.  If you can't find a SM's contact info, look for the production manager. 

[MusicTheatreSM]

I am a huge fan of leagueofchicagotheatre.org  There is a lot of information on this site, including a large list of Chicago theatres and general contact information. From this list, you can get the website for each theatre and find someone to talk to about a shadowing possibility.

[Captain KDarby]

Hey, I am a high school student living near Chicago. I might have missed this but is shadowing just for touring productions? Also, can you only shadow PSM's or can you shadow others?

Thanks!