#sm kit

Here is everything I like to have on me at all rehearsals and ESPECIALLY  tech week. I Because I’ve only done local theatre, I don’t have a very extravagant kit and supplies. I use the North Face Borealis Backpack for all my tech jobs. I really like this bag because all the different pockets and I can carry stuff in my hands while having it on my back and v easy for travel. Here we go!

Script     

Run sheets and call list, written down rehearsal schedule, basically any paper work needed atm, in a binder

Notebook with on going notes either to myself or the cast

Planner

Pens, Pencils, Sharpies, Orange and Green Highlighters(show up best under dim/no light)

Organizer tabs

Scissors, Box cutter  

Mic, Spike, Gaff, Duct, Painter’s, and Frog tape(this isn’t really necessary until tech, but i like to always have it on for emergencies.)

Batteries

Small Sewing Kit  

Bandaids and small emergency kit

Hair ties, Bobby pins, Saftey pins

Protein Bars, Trail Mix, any snacks

Nalgene Water bottle

V8 Energy drinks (if you haven’t tried these, they are the BEST thing to drink on the go. they are little 8-ounce cans with green tea energy and tastes like juice. I love these bc its a great alternative to coffee and not as hard core as caffeine pills)

Flannel/ Jacket

Tape Measure

Laptop

Chargers

Meds     

Attention SMblr! There is a company called Oriental Trading Company (link below). It is a party supply store that, among other things, sells personalized pencils with just enough characters to spell out “PLEASE RETURN TO STAGE MANAGER”. They come in many different color choices-I like purple-and come in multiple counts. The 24 count is $7.99 plus shipping (I think the total was $15). The erasers aren’t the best, but I use eraser tips anyway and they’re pretty cool to hand out to actors or designers who forget their pencils. 

A lot of colleges/universities offer Microsoft Office student discounts. Also, when you download MS Office, you’re allowed to download on more than one computer, so split the cost with a friend!

Apache Open Office is a free download for a compatible program.

Google Docs has some issues but can export their sheets to .xls and .pdf formats.

There are lots of options out there! 

Remember, kids: there’s no one right way to stage manage. SMing is all about making things work for your situation. You don’t HAVE to have Excel. You don’t HAVE to do anything except what is the best solution for you and your show.  

Also, stage managing is a job, and your expenses should either be covered by your employer or, worst case scenario, tax deductible. Keep track of your receipts- anything you buy for work is a business expense and can be deducted from your taxes. Which doesn’t help in the short run, but does help at the end of the year.

Here are 2 posts that may be helpful for our SM friends working on a budget: How to Stock Your SM Kit on a Budget and How to Find Free Samples for Your SM Kit.

Anybody else out in SMblr have any good tips for SMing on a budget?