Faringdon Arts Festival 2010 – with a tint of Lord Berners
Stage Management Role Overview
Before the event
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Contact ALL artists with a tick list
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What instruments do you have?
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Are they willing to share (eg bass and/or guitar amps, drum kit). This may not happen, but it is good to know up front. If it does happen, ensure artists are told before the day.
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What PA connections will be required (DI etc), instrument mic’s etc – and how much of that will they bring with them?
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How many vocal mic’s are required?
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Are any overhead “wide area” mics required? (eg - for a choir)
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Identify any complex requirements such as mic’ing of drum kits etc.
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Any other special requirements? Lighting will be provided and artists should not be permitted to bring their own.
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Ensure artists know what time they are on and to contact you at the stage at least 30 minutes before this time. They will need to go on stage to set up 15 minutes before they start. There is unlikely to be time for a full sound check, just individual instruments/mic’s. Ensure this is understood before the day.
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Note that headline acts may demand more setup time.
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Liaise with Sound man to agree overall provision of PA system – ie, what power levels will be available? The sound system should include “interval music” provision, driven from the sound desk.
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Identify the sound desk location – it must be secure, under cover, and protected from outside interference.
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Liaise with Sound man to ensure all artist requirements are understood and catered for. Feed back any issues to sound man and/or artists and ensure issues are resolved and resolution agreed.
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Liaise with sound man and management team to ensure that enough power is available to the stage. Power supply should be earthed, protected and properly tested by a qualified electrician. In addition to the main supply, provide multiple power points at back and front of the stage.
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Ensure you have a mobile phone number for all artists and that they have YOUR number.
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Ensure you and the sound man have each others mobile numbers. This may avoid a lot of running between stage and sound desk.
Start of day
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Work with sound man to build the stage. Warning – first build once the stage is available can take up to 4 hours, so don’t underestimate the amount of time and effort required. Some of this will need to be repeated each day needing up to 2 hours each morning.
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Provide a covered back stage area for collect and build/dismantle of kit. If you are using a truck as stage, leave one end “curtained” for this. Alternatively, under the old town hall is at least sheltered but NOT secure.
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Provide protected power to back and front of stage (lots of it!). Sound man may be providing this.
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Cables taped down where possible (safety)
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Avoid running power or lighting cables too close to signal cables
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PA speakers should be stacked and secured
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Any “standard kit” built and in place if available (eg default shared drum kit , bass/guitar amps etc). Ensure these can be easily moved out of the way if necessary
Before each artists performance
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Work with the artist to get all equipment into the back stage area prior to going on stage.
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Work with the artist to get all equipment loaded onto stage, positioned and powered but only once the stage is clear and you are ready for them!
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Work with the sound man to ensure all connections etc are as required. For example, all DI connections for acoustic instruments are complete, mic or DI of amplifiers to PA is done.
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Work with sound man and artists to ensure mic levels are OK
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Ensure monitor rollback volumes and mix are as required by the artist. The sound man will worry about front of house sound.
During each performance
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Work with sound man and artist to ensure all is OK ongoing, particularly at the start of a set where quick changes may be required. Adjust volumes with sound man as appropriate.
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Work with next artist.
After each performance
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Artists must clear the stage immediately of all their own equipment. This is their job with your help. The time for a chat with the audience and admirers is after the stage is clear! Simple things such as a drummer dismantling his kit on stage rather than taking it off in assembled units can lose you a lot of time.
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Stage manager should then reinstate basic setup, possibly modified as required by next artist who should be ready to get started on their setup.
End of day
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Clear the stage of all kit and cables except anything that can be safely left.
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Clear all rubbish off the stage.
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Lock the stage (truck) if possible.
Safety & manageability
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Keep the stage and stage wiring as tidy as possible. If necessary, relay cables between acts.
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Remember to keep the stage safe. Do not allow unauthorized people on stage or artists to operate in dangerous positions. (This sounds obvious, but some people are really stupid)
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Keep stairs/steps to the stage clear at all times.
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Beware of lifting heavy kit unaided. Assist artists but don’t lift their gear for them.
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Remember that musical instruments and equipment are valuable so beware of anyone who looks suspicious.
