Stage Management Course

Lesson 1 • Core Duties During the Show

Defines real-time responsibilities: cueing, monitoring, and problem-solving during live performance. Establishes the floor manager as the primary on-stage authority.

Lesson 2 • The Production Hierarchy Explained

Maps the chain of command from producer to crew, locating the floor manager's position precisely. Provides the structural context needed for every subsequent chapter.

Lesson 3 • Professional Standards and Ethics

Introduces conduct expectations, confidentiality, and impartiality when managing diverse crews. Grounds professional behaviour in industry norms from the outset.

Lesson 4 • Core Duties Before the Show

Covers pre-show responsibilities including briefings, set checks, and crew coordination. Connects preparation habits to smooth show execution.

Lesson 1 • Cue Notation and Script Marking

Teaches standard methods for marking cues in a prompt script and calling them accurately. Consistent notation prevents miscommunication during technical rehearsals.

Lesson 2 • Communication Device Terminology

Defines terms for headset systems, intercom channels, and radio protocols used backstage. Fluency here directly supports the communication skills taught in Chapter 4.

Lesson 3 • Stage Geography and Orientation

Defines all standard stage directions, zones, and sightlines from the performer's perspective. Accurate spatial language is foundational to every cue and instruction.

Lesson 4 • Lighting and Sound Vocabulary

Introduces key terms for lighting lanterns, sound systems, and their operational states. Allows the floor manager to relay technical notes accurately to department heads.

Lesson 1 • Hazard Identification on the Stage Floor

Trains systematic observation of physical, electrical, and environmental hazards specific to stage environments. Builds the perceptual habits that underpin every safety check.

Lesson 2 • Conducting a Stage Risk Assessment

Applies a structured risk-assessment process to real stage scenarios, including likelihood and severity scoring. Produces written assessments that satisfy venue and production requirements.

Lesson 3 • Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Practices

Identifies appropriate PPE for stage tasks and enforces safe manual-handling techniques. Reduces injury frequency by embedding protective habits into daily routines.

Lesson 4 • Emergency Procedures and Evacuation

Covers fire, medical, and security emergency protocols specific to occupied performance spaces. Prepares the floor manager to lead calm, effective evacuations under pressure.

Lesson 1 • Communication Breakdown and Recovery

Prepares students for headset failure, radio interference, and signal loss during live theatrical performance. Contingency protocols prevent communication failures from stopping a show.

Lesson 2 • Radio Communication Protocols

Teaches licensed and licence-exempt radio use, call-sign discipline, and secure channel management. Ensures backstage radio traffic remains clear and professional.

Lesson 3 • Coordinating Multiple Departments Simultaneously

Trains the floor manager to manage concurrent cue streams across lighting, sound, and automation. Builds the multitasking capacity required in complex productions.

Lesson 4 • Headset and Intercom System Operation

Covers hardware setup, channel assignment, and basic troubleshooting of wired and wireless intercom systems. Operational confidence here is prerequisite to all live cueing work.

Lesson 1 • Briefing and Rehearsing Crew for Changes

Develops techniques for delivering clear change briefings and running focused crew rehearsals. Effective briefings translate written plans into reliable physical execution.

Lesson 2 • Designing a Scene Change Plan

Covers the creation of written change plots, crew assignments, and traffic-flow diagrams for the stage floor. A clear plan reduces rehearsal time and crew confusion.

Lesson 3 • Executing Changes During Technical Rehearsals

Applies planning skills in the technical rehearsal environment, where changes are refined under director feedback. Students learn to adapt plans quickly without losing crew confidence.

Lesson 4 • Optimising Changes for Performance

Focuses on speed, silence, and precision refinement once changes are locked for performance. Continuous improvement habits keep the show running at its best.

Lesson 1 • Understanding Performer Needs Backstage

Explores the physical and psychological demands performers face and how the floor manager can support them. Empathy here directly improves backstage atmosphere and performance quality.

Lesson 2 • Managing Performer Positions and Entrances

Covers tracking performer locations, managing wing traffic, and ensuring on-time entrances. Precise position management prevents missed cues and stage collisions.

Lesson 3 • Working with Child and Vulnerable Performers

Addresses safeguarding obligations, supervision ratios, and communication adjustments for young or vulnerable cast members. Compliance with safeguarding standards is non-negotiable.

Lesson 4 • Managing Performer Incidents During Performance

Prepares students to respond to injury, illness, or behavioural issues affecting performers mid-show. Calm, decisive action protects both the performer and the production.

Lesson 1 • Note-Taking and Technical Rehearsal Documentation

Trains systematic note-taking during tech, including change notes, safety flags, and outstanding items. Accurate documentation ensures nothing is lost between rehearsal sessions.

Lesson 2 • Preparing the Stage for Technical Rehearsals

Covers the pre-tech checklist: set dressing, prop placement, spiking, and safety checks. Thorough preparation prevents costly stops during limited rehearsal time.

Lesson 3 • Managing Crew Fatigue and Focus in Long Techs

Addresses the human factors of extended technical rehearsals, including break scheduling and morale management. Sustained crew performance depends on proactive fatigue management.

Lesson 4 • Technical Rehearsal Types and Objectives

Distinguishes dry tech, wet tech, stagger-through, and dress rehearsal formats and their specific goals. Understanding each format allows the floor manager to prepare appropriately.

Lesson 1 • Post-Incident Review and Learning

Establishes a structured review process for analysing what went wrong and improving future responses. Systematic learning from incidents is the hallmark of a professional floor manager.

Lesson 2 • Common Live Performance Problems

Catalogues the most frequent technical, human, and environmental problems encountered during live shows. Pattern recognition accelerates response time when problems occur.

Lesson 3 • Rapid Assessment and Prioritisation

Teaches a fast triage framework for evaluating problem severity, safety impact, and show continuity. Prioritisation prevents minor issues from escalating into show-stopping crises.

Lesson 4 • Decision-Making Frameworks for the Stage

Introduces structured decision models adapted for the time-compressed environment of live performance. Frameworks reduce cognitive load and improve decision quality under stress.