The world has changed. A global pandemic, the rise of Black Lives Matter and social justice movements, and the intensifying climate crisis have altered how we live and work. This includes the theatrical industry. These changes, however, have been happening while theaters have been closed. It’s been an opportunity for us to reflect and look critically at our own industry. As live performance returns, it is crucial that theatre makers address how these issues affect our process of theatre making. We are re-opening in a new era, it’s not the world of 2019, this is 2021.

By Matthew Stern at Broadway Stage Management Symposium.

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Temaer: theater, avpro, professional, stage manager, health&safety

A decade ago, I left a job in management consulting with a “big 4” accounting firm and embarked on what would become my second career in the audiovisual (AV) industry. While I was planning on making a career change, going into the AV industry was in no way my targeted path. Other than appearing in a high-school play, earning a degree in electrical engineering and occasionally attending theatrical performances, I was neither had a theatre background nor the foundational knowledge that would have been helpful in preparing me for what lay before me. 

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Temaer: professional, production values, av

Face-to-face meetings at exhibitions have been impossible over the last 16 months or so, but with Integrated Systems Europe keen to find a way of restarting trade show engagement, it was fascinating to exhibit at the London show on 23-24 June 2021. It was not without its challenges, but it brought friends and colleagues together that had been physically separated for a long time.

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Temaer: tradeshows, professional, communication, covid19

Every time I attend a conference such as USITT, I am impressed by the number of students and newly minted graduates I encounter. Their excitement and optimism at being part of the theatre and entertainment world is inspiring. However, in the back of my mind is a consistently nagging question: While their university programs and internships are preparing them to be technically proficient, are they getting the benefit of good leadership that will in turn enable them to be successful in their fields? If you are a veteran and a “leader” who works with these individuals, this is where you come in.

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Temaer: professional, av, leadership

 

Have you thought about becoming a professional media server operator or user? Unsure of what technical skills you need to become one? In part 11 of our guide, Ian D. Johnson discusses characteristics when choosing media server software with the focus on his preferred system, Dataton WATCHOUT.

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Temaer: watchout, mediaserver, professional

During 2020, we experienced historical challenges that cannot be understated. A global pandemic, intense political division, a rising social justice movement, and the closing of theaters across the country, have made 2020 the most taxing and difficult year I have ever known. As I look back over the grueling months of shutdown, this cock-eyed optimist sees some positive takeaways. So here’s the top 10 lessons from 2020 about stage management and theatre. 

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Temaer: theater, avpro, professional, stage manager, covid-19

‘Production values’ is a term often used to describe the skillsets that are employed by creative teams in video and television production. During the COVID-19 pandemic, broadcasters have had to find new ways of engaging with the viewer. But have these always been as successful as they could have been, and can they learn a thing or two from the excellence that AV rental and staging companies provide? 

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Temaer: professional, communication, videoconference, covid19, broadcast, production values

When we start looking at “re-opening” our economy, there is a lot to unpack and figure out. When you look specifically at show business, it gets even more complicated. We work in an environment that requires close contact, touching, even kissing. We share tight quarters, eat, drink, and sometimes live together (anyone ever do a bus and truck tour?).

There are many front of house issues that need to be addressed, but as a stage manager, I’ve been ruminating on what adjustments we may need to make behind the curtain in order to re-open in a responsible and functional way which is no easy task!

The ten items below are food for thought. It's not a top ten list, but rather, ten ideas for how we can return to work in the theatre in the COVID era. I’m not a healthcare professional, but as a stage manager, these ten ideas are top of mind to care for our company and get the best show possible onstage every night.

Let’s dive in and see what COVID life backstage could look like:

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Temaer: theater, avpro, professional, stage manager, covid-19

Looking for inspiration? Take peek at these projection mapping applications which transform both the mundane and the magnificent, proving yet again that you can map just about anything!

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Temaer: projection, wow-factor, visitor experience, mapping, inspiration

Elisabeth Weidner, Soundgirls, highlights words of wisdom from the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg and their application for a sound designer. 

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Temaer: sound, audio, professional, communication