Mentorship Program

[late_stranger]

I would LOVE an email mentorship. I'm a freshman in high school, and I got thrown head first into stage managing. I'm figuring it out as I go and loving it, but being able to ask questions of and get advice from an older student or even a professional would be such a help, and an amazing experience. It's true that the places of a stage manager is a lonely one sometimes.

[khey]

I would really be interested in the mentoring program.  I think it would be awesome for people like me, who are stepping into the professional world and looking for a place to start.  It would also really help with learning the ins and outs of the professional world, since it does differ from school.  It would really help with networking and experience as well! 

[jman255]

I would really be interested in the mentoring program.  I think it would be awesome for people like me, who are stepping into the professional world and looking for a place to start. It would also really help with learning the ins and outs of the professional world, since it does differ from school.  It would really help with networking and experience as well!

Amen to this! I am worried that my school didn't even begin to teach me what happens in the real world through classes and actual SMing.

[lanersx39]

I think this is an amazingg idea!
I started stage managing after being hit by a car, and not being able to perform for a year. During my first production, I realized how much I adored it, and how bossy I was. And, three years later, it is my main focus.

[mgberton]

I think this is a great idea. At SVSU, the program is very actor/director focused  - us SMs are left to pave our own way and it's difficult to figure out which paths to take and what would be most beneficial. I would be extremely interested in conversing with a graduate SM or an established SM in order to get advice and get on the right track.

[SMLois]

As someone who is primarily self trained, I would love to be a part of this program as a mentor.  I took a rough path without much guidance and would love to help others so that their road is not so rough. 

[albr0183]

I would take any mentorship, or give any I could get.  I am graduating this year from University of Minnesota, Morris with a BA in theatre arts.  Presumably, next year I will be in graduate school.  I did my senior project in Stage Management.  Unlike most here though, when I am done with grad school, I would much rather teach than pursue professional stage management.

[nerdfighter]

This is a super cool idea.  I am game!  I would love to have someone I can e-mail any question I may have to.  Sometimes, I am not super comfortable asking questions to my professors.  Also, I am curious about differences between Canada and the US, as I am interested in working in the states someday.

[nick_tochelli]

In the grand tradition of "I thought I did this on this site" (ie like when I thought I had introduced myself then forgot it was years ago and under another handle) I would be very happy to take part in this program as a mentor. I think this is a fantastic way to bridge the gap between graduation and establishing yourself as a pro in the field. Hurray!

[jrbucci]

I would love to get to know someone who is further along in the industry than me. I have the access to upperclassmen at my college, Point Park University, but I dont really have a good relationship with any professional SMs other than the ones that are employed by PPU. I would love to have someone who has been out there mentor me. Hopefully in a few years I could return the favor for someone in my position.

[MatthewShiner]

ADMIN NOTE: all three slots have been filled.  See below. - PSMK

For a couple of years we have discussed some sort of mentorship program on the SM Network.

Setting up and running an official mentorship program is huge undertaking, especially without any sort of experience to build upon.  Does an online mentorship program for stage management work?  What is the time commitment?  What sort expectations can one expect from the program?

Yet, many of us feel strongly that indeed a mentorship program is something that is important, especially in this field - that is truly an apprenticeship type career.  Although we can learn stage management from the class room, and we learn a lot by doing, we learn much from the generations above us - mentorship is part of the business.

Any sort of online mentorship is going to require a huge amount of personalization and customization.  Let’s be honest . . . just dealing with time zones is going to be a hassle,  now try to deal with trying to find an hour to chat during two overlapping tech weeks.  I am not sure a cookie cutter approach is going to work with this.  At best, I think we can set up a list of people who are interested in being mentors and people are interested in being mentees.  (And lastly people are interested in being manatees - which perhaps should be on a different internet board all together)

So, after some conversation, there is a feeling we just need to take a stab at it - and I am going to take the first step and I am officially volunteering myself to being a mentor . . . and this is what I am offering:

I am willing to take on up to three mentees.

One in early career (a couple of years out of college)
One in college
One in high school

I am willing to look over resume, offer career advice, talk about your current show, shoot the breeze about the lifestyle with the job - either in person or online - an hour a week, in person or on line.  We would have to be flexible, of course, give that I am in production, and I am hoping that you are in production as well.  This is not a substitution for classroom education or learning by doing.  This will not lead to my hiring you.  This will not lead to my being a recommendation for you.  But, it will lead to a personal relationship between two stage managers - which in itself can not be a bad thing.

You should probably look over my resume (located at http://www.stagemanager.net/stagemanager.net/Resume.html), and perhaps look over some of my post to get a sense of my attitude toward the job.  Basically, I have 12 years experience in top tier regional theatre, and have recently relocated to New York and finding my way, straddling NYC non-profit and the commercial world.  If you are interested, drop me a note about why you think the two of us would hit it off.  I doubt there will be a huge application process - if I feel like we will hit it off, and I think I can make our schedules work - then we will attempt this.  (If you are under 18, I may want to drop a line to your parents to make sure they know I am NOT an internet stalker . . . . )

Thoughts?  Ideas?  Comments?  Concerns?

After six months, there are couple people on the boards who will sort of "sit down and meet with us" and talk about what we think was good about we did, what we think we can do to improve it - and how we think we can roll it our on a bigger level - or if we even should roll it out.

If you want to respond to the idea as whole, respond on the board.

If you are interested in apply to be my mentee - private me.

ADMIN NOTE: Matthew did get the go ahead from both me and Bwoodbury before moving ahead on this. - PSMK

[loebtmc]

Would you also be willing to share your journey? As someone who transitioned (rather quickly) from university to small theater to large top-tier houses, I'd love to hear how you tackled the transitions and talked folks into taking you along!

[MatthewShiner]

AT THIS TIME I HAVE TAKEN ON THREE PEOPLE . . .

I will focus on them for the next couple of months, and report back to the admins, and discuss how to move forward on the program.

Thanks for your interest.