Backstage

The un-official guide to aspiring ASMs (don’t worry if you don’t know what ASM is-it’s all part of the training)

So, you always wanted to work in a theatre but you have never done it before and on top of that your studies are in International Politics. Don’t despair. There is a backstage door that will lead you to the magic theatre-land. Are you ready?

First of all, bear in mind that you have to start low. Don’t expect to walk into the National or the RSC and tell the people ‘I always thought that it would be great if someone would stage Macbeth using giant puppets’ and expect that they will bow in front of the grandeur of your vision and give you the job. As my friend Nicole (who actually is a theatre person) says: ‘If the National takes the time to throw my application into the Thames, I will be honoured.’

Then, try to make yourself useful. Volunteer to go for prop shopping-the director/producer/designer will love you. Of course, that means that you have to spend lots of mornings in malls, looking for all sorts of weird things that you actually don’t know how to describe to the sales persons. So, you’ll find yourself asking for fake brains, baby dolls to look 6 months old, metal first aid boxes that do not exist anymore and other stuff like the above. This is not the tricky part though. To be considered successful you must keep the budget to the minimum, so before actually buying anything, it is highly advisable to have done good research.

Sewing and mending will give you a great advantage. There is nothing more useful backstage than a person who can sew a button, mend a hole in a costume and know how to clean fake blood stains. You will be the hero of the show and slowly your services will become essential and you irreplaceable.

Keep always your patience, be polite, smile and act as a calming force in the craze of the dressing rooms. Volunteer to help actors with costumes or quick changes but do not get in their feet, especially when they are getting into character.

Keep things in order, develop a routine and save time. Nothing could be more reassuring than a person backstage who seems to make everyone else’s job a bit easier. Usually people appreciate this and will want to work with you again.

Hang out with the cast and the producers. Keep in touch and don’t be ashamed to ask them to recommend you to other theatre people. Theatre is one of the jobs that need connections, so the sooner you make them, the better for your career.

Remember that in the beginning you’ll probably need to volunteer a lot, so don’t expect to make money. Although it is good for other people to know that your time is valuable and your services worthwhile, it takes time to move from ‘services’ to a friend to professional services. But as we mentioned before, patience is a virtue.

So, if you still think that this is what you want to do, go for it. Theatre needs you.
ASM=Assistant Stage Manager will probably be your first official post.