Steph Burgess,
The key to being a good stage manager is ... Wait a moment while I go and ask one for you. I think (says she who is still learning the art) that a good sense of humour is fairly vital. After that I guess some mental agility, the willingness to commit (or be committed, post-show), a love of the arts and the arts community, whatever stress-reduction techniques you happen to favour and most importantly, a completely wonderful, reliable, hard-working, self-sacrificing crew!
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My most embarrassing experience crewing a show was being completely and comprehensively beaten by a group of techs in a little wing-to-wing competition we were engaged in during the local production of Cats in 2012. I had a team of dancers on my side of the stage, primed for victory, when the opposing team entered the arena completely covered in glow sticks. We were outperformed from the very start. Humiliating, but a valuable life lesson learned – never bet against the techs.
My proudest moment crewing a show was ... Actually, it was/is/will always be the moment when I ask some of the wonderful people who often crew a show with me to do so again, and they say yes. I know that they are giving up their normal lives for a decent slab of time and I'm always honoured and humbled by their generosity.
I like kayaking because it's a lovely escape and great a workout all at once … and anything that connects me to the water (particularly salt water) is always going to rate very highly for me. Stress-reduction 101. It's also a particularly great way to view one of Canberra's spectacular summer sunsets across Lake Burley Griffin.
My favourite place to go bushwalking is anywhere! The hills around the Lanyon Valley are my local go-to, but whenever I'm away from home (for work or pleasure), finding a reason to lace up my shoes and follow a trail to wherever is never very difficult. I think sometimes not having a destination in mind is better, too – just purposeless wandering, not to get somewhere, or achieve a goal, but just because.
The link between financial management and stage management is ... being able to think creatively? And perhaps recognising that you don't need the spotlight in order to make a difference.
