Assistant Stage Manager

[Delta40]

I've just been given the task of ASM on a play my former lecturer is producing. It's exciting but I have little to do with theatre. Has anyone else entered this realm and would they like to share their experiences and offer up any tips which might help me?

many thanks

[MystyrMystyry]

Only acting for me - but a close friend was a dramaturge, and enjoyed running around and drinking coffee all day to keep up with the behind the scenes 'dramas' - it suited her high-strung personality though

[Jassy Melson]

Being an ASM is a great way to learn about the behind-the-scenes drama and work that takes place with every dramatic production. The stagecraft course I took in college involved working as an ASM for a production of Macbeth. I learned more about the work involved in producing a play with that one course than I learned in acting in a dozen plays.

The best tip I can give you is to keep your eyes, ears and mind open to every problem that occurs, and try to help solve the problem, and watch and learn how the stage manager handles it.