Co-SMing

[Tynumber5]

I'm currently one of two Stage Managers for a college production of All My Sons. This is my first time being one of two Stage Managers and I'm little nervous about it. The other Stage Manager and I have talked about it but I still feel like I'm not as in the loop as I would be if I were the only Stage Manager or even if I was the ASM instead. It's just the two of us with no ASM. We figured that because both of us are at the same level in Stage Management it would be weird to have one of us as the SM and one of us as the ASM. I was wondering if anyone had a suggestions on how things tend to work with more than one SM.

Thanks guys!

[MatthewShiner]

Co-Anythings always requires very specific ground rules, and needs to be explain to everyone you work with.  It’s very difficult.  Do designers need to have every conversation with both of you?  Do you both need to be present at every conversation?

Screw it.  This situations rarely come out great.  There needs to be someone with whom the buck stops.

You say it would be weird having one of you ASM would be weird since you are both the same level.  I argue that would make it better for you to ASM.  I have assisted Stage Managers who were not as experience as I was - it just ended up that they were the SM, and they hired me because I had more experience.  The jobs are drastically different - why not just by the ASM? 

Hell, after 11 years of being PSM, I would love the change to be someone’s assistant - and not be the one in the hot seat.

[hbelden]

There's no shame in being an ASM, and there's no designation of experience level inherent in the title.  "Assistant" is really a misnomer, as Matt said, the jobs are so very different that there's no real rivalry between the two.  As a PSM, I would be thrilled to have an ASM with more experience than me.  We wouldn't both have to be in the rehearsal hall all the time, one of us could be doing shop visits or shift plots or something else very useful and still trust that the rehearsal was running smoothly.  Actually, I'd be thrilled to have an ASM at any level; usually I've only had PA's.

Think of the ASM as a Deck or Deputy stage manager, and you'll be fine.  With co-SMs, there's always a question of where a particular responsibility lies; with an ASM, you know exactly who to go to for any particular issue.

[BLee]

I've heard that argument before with students of the same "level" not wanting to ASM for one another. Problem is co-SMing will likely cause more problems for the show than not. One of the misconceptions that this discomfort stems from seems to be the assumption that as an ASM you are "assisting the SM". That is simply not true. You are assisting the show.

My mentor once described it to me this way (with my own flare): An SM is in effect running the show from the outside looking in. They are there to focus on the big picture to make sure the image is recognizable once the puzzle is put together. The ASM is considered an "assistant" because their job is focused on assisting the little pieces coming together. This is why shows are more likely to have multiple ASMs and only one SM. Only one person is necessary to watch the big picture, but lots of little pieces need lots of assistance to make to their place on time.

My advice is earn the extra ASM credit and offer to run the deck. If the "ASM" thing is still bothersome try saying you two are the Calling SM and the Deck SM. Since both of you can't call the show at the same time there must be some agreement worked out that puts one of you in the booth (or at a calling station) and the other running the backstage anyways.

[Adam]

I agree with matt and Hbelden. There has to be someone who is ultimately in control or has the authority to make decisions. With two of you it is going to get very confusing very quickly. Personally, I enjoy SMing and ASMing (or deck managing or deputy SMing, whatever you wanna call it.) equally, And a good or bad deck manager can make or break a production just like an SM can.

[Tynumber5]

The way we've been going at it is even though my title is Stage Manager, I'm acting as an ASM until tech week. I'm not sure exactly how tech week is going to work but there is no backstage crew. It's all one set with no changes and the only costume changes that happen are within act breaks where there will be an intermission and enough time for the actors to change.

The idea for the Co-SMing was by the other SM and the director. I personally don't mind being an ASM. I also don't mind acting as an ASM with a SM title. I was just wondering if there was any way for both of us to act as SM, or if I did have to act as ASM.

[lanersx39]

I stage manage with a community theatre. For my first two shows, I was a "co-stage manager". At first, I wasn't quite sure if it was possible, but my fellow stage manager and I turned into an amazing duo.
I feel like the trick is working the others strengths. I, personal, am more of a "people person", and better at communicating, while my partner has amazingly clever ideas, and is dreadfully organized. We basically split our duties. And when it comes to rehearsing, there was a good majority of the time where I was in the house, taking notes, next to the director, and he was in the booth, taking notes. We both wrote up rehearsal logs, and had separate "prompt scripts" but take time after each rehearsal to compile our information. We have a general rule of not addressing any major issues without the other, and to keep each other filled in.
I feel like it'll seem awkward at first, but if you're both willing, you'll eventually find a system that works perfectly. I'm currently working on several shows without my partner, and HATING IT!
Good luck, I hope that was helpful!