During the first term I was on the course I had to do an essay into Assistant Stage Management and Deputy Stage Management plus other Roles. I decided that I should include the research I did into the role of an ASM in my Blog as a way of showing what I should be doing during this process. This is then also a guide for me to complete my role/job the way it should be.
ASM’s (Assistant Stage Managers) and DSM’s (Deputy Stage Managers) come under the stage management team along with the PM, SM and CSM, Most ASM’s will have the role of a DSM at some point in the career in the theatre industry and All DSM’s will have been ASM’s before becoming a deputy stage manager, some students come out of university or college looking to become a DSM and they will have had to of done a lot of work experience to become one, because one of the main skills of being a DSM is knowledge of how a theatre works and runs.
Analysis of the Roles, Functions and Skills needed and used by a ASM (Assistant Stage Manager):
An ASM is a member of the stage management team, and is usually a stage hand that will have knowledge and experience of all aspects of a theatre but they will also usually have one area that they specialize in be it lighting or Sound etc… The ASM’s assist the SM (Stage Manager) and the DSM (Deputy Stage Manager) during the whole production process of a show and on help with the performances in many different ways. The roles of an ASM usually vary depending on the Size of the show, the budget, amount of staff and what the show is about.
ASM are used on larger scale show, touring shows and small scale theatre companies but their roles will vary depending on which one they work on due to many factors, there are advantages and disadvantages to work on any type of show as a ASM.
Assistant stage managers usually have a wide range of roles and responsibilities when it come to a production and this is because they will have skills in all areas of the theatre and thus can help out with all aspects of it, the typical sort of roles they would do is assist the set designer and construction team in the building and painting of the set as long as moving scenery that will be used during the performance, then on the nights of the performance will take cues from the DSM and SM and move scenery on, off and around the stage during the performances and these will be called stage cues in the DSM’s “book”.
So for example theatre companies like The National Youth Theatre will have a lot more ASM’s for stage productions compared to The RSC because the National Youth Theatre do productions and projects with a lot of technical aspects to them whereas The RSC tend to have a permanent set for most of their productions and just have actors bring on the props they need, so then the ASM or ASM’s would be responsible for those props getting to the right actors and to make sure they are maintained and kept in good condition. The for small local theatre companies like Rare Productions and The LLTC they will only have 1 or maybe 2 ASM’s so then they will be doing a lot of work during the production process and on shows because they have a smaller budget to pay for lots of staff so then usually the ASM will double up doing Lighting or Sound and maybe even costume depending on size and nature of the show.
When theatre companies choose to dance shows like The National Ballet School in London there tends to be a lot less props or staging for this production, so ASM’s would usually help out with costumes or costume changes during the shows, or they might be doing onstage lighting or sound duties during the performance or just generally looking after the cast and dancers. Then you get dance shows like Chicago in which there is a lot of set and props used so then there will be a lot of ASM’s doing different roles all co-ordinated by the stage manager.
Advantages and Disadvantages of being a ASM (Assistant Stage Manager):
Advantages:
- Great theatrical work experience and you will learn skills and gain more knowledge of how a theatre works and you will be able to specialise at a skill if you get work in a large scale theatre company.
- If you get work in a small theatre company and you love to work hard then the job of an ASM is great here because you will be in charge of many different roles and responsibilities during production and on the actual shows.
- Being a ASM can lead to you getting a job as a DSM or being able to go off an specialize in one field e.g. Lighting.
Disadvantages:
- Depending on the size of the production job you are doing you might only have a small role or maybe loads so it could be a bit boring or too intense for some people to handle or like.
- ASM’s work a lot of hours and need lots of work experience in theatres and will have to work long hours to get this work experience.
- If you’re a ASM on a touring company you will be travelling a lot and be away from home for periods of time, also you will be on the road a lot.
In conclusion of the roles of a ASM (Assistant Stage Manager) it really depends on many factors to what they do or what skills they need, most ASM’s have lots of overall skill in every department because they would of started in smaller theatre companies have to do multiple roles but then when they get into larger scale productions then they will be given a specific role to fulfill Also ASM roles depend on the genre of show they are working on so roles will vary if you’re doing a musical or stage show to if you were doing a ballet.
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