During performances the PSM is responsible for every aspect of the production from call times to clean up and lock up at the end of the night, and from backstage dressing rooms to the Box Office.
PSMs will be in constant contact with their crew and ensure that any issues are dealt with swiftly and quietly. There should be no performance notes given during performance days. The PSM should not allow any non-production staff into the dressing areas, booth, or on the stage (unless it is an audience participation portion of the show). The only personnel allowed in the booth during the show are the PSM, spot operator, and the board operators.
The Tech Crew will be called at minimum of 30 minutes prior to the Cast. The PSM will hold a meeting with the crew every night to reiterate rules and procedures, perform a radio check, and begin work according to the Shift Plot. Following all pre-Actor Call tasks, the stage will be cleared of all tech crew.
Tasks on the shift plot before Actor Call will include but not be limited to:
Actors will be called at minimum 30 minutes before the house is open. The PSM will ensure the Sound Board Operator runs all mic checks and the fight captain runs a complete fight call.
Once mic checks and fight calls are complete, the PSM will open the stage to the actors for warm ups. During this time, the house curtain will remain closed to obscure the stage from the public. PSMs should build in some time for the actors to “have the stage”. This will be a time for the actors to warm up, perform centering exercises, etc… During this time, there should be no calls on the stage, and tech crew should be done with pre-checks.
1 minute prior to House Open, actors will be cleared from the stage, main curtain will be closed (if applicable), and pre-show music/lighting will be set.
Prior to House Open, the PSM will communicate with the House Manager to ensure the house is not open too early or too late. Calls will begin to the crew and cast counting down the time to House Open. The call will be answered with a thank you by all who hear it. Example: Call:“20 minutes to House Open”, Answer: “Thank you, 20 minutes to house open”.
30 minutes prior to the beginning of the show, the House will be open. The PSM will check with the House Manager as the audience comes in. The House Manager will let the PSM know when they plan to close the doors.
At 5 minutes to curtain, the PSM should announce “5 to places” and flash the house lights 5 times. All crew should move to their positions at this time.
Once the House Manager has closed the house doors, the PSM will call “Places”. This will be repeated by the crew backstage and repeated by everyone who hears it with “Thank you, Places”, and all actors should move to their opening positions. The “places” call should happen 2 minutes to curtain, and the PSM should flash the house lights 2 times.
At curtain, PSM will fade out the house lights, lower the pre show music, and play the pre show announcement. If an understudy is in the show that night, the PSM will announce the understudy and role over the speakers.
The PSM will call all Booth Cues during the show. They will begin with a warning call followed by the execute call. Example: “Standby, SD Q 4 and LX Q 8”, “SD Q 4 and LX Q8, Go”. In the case that a PSM is distracted, dealing with an issue, or simply misses the cue, the board operators will be empowered to execute the cue without a PSM call.
For elaborate fight scenes, there may be a Foley Operator who will key in the appropriate sounds without the necessity of the PSM’s call. Otherwise, all other cues will be initiated by the PSM’s call.
During the show, all crew members will wear a radio, however the only people that should be using the radio are the PSM and the ASM, unless there is an emergency situation. The PSM should not be calling backstage cues, that should be handled by the ASM who runs the Deck Crew.
Once the first act ends, the PSM will call for the Intermission announcement. The Intermission should be 15 minutes.
In the case of a long line at the bathrooms, the PSM has the discretion to add time to intermission, but should ensure that the cast and crew are advised of the change in time, and that the change is annotated on the show report.
Calls will be given throughout intermission. At 5 minutes, the PSM will make the 5 minute warning call and flash the house lights 5 times. At this point, the Tech Crew will move to their positions for Act 2. At 2 minutes, the PSM will call for places, and flash the lights 2 times. At which time actors will move to their starting position for Act 2.
Once bows have been completed, and the audience has cleared the auditorium, the PSM will meet with the Tech Crew and receive their reports in order to compile the Show Report.
Once the Tech Crew huddle is over, the Crew will perform their post show responsibilities as they are labeled on the Shift Plot. The PSM will use the Space Checklist to ensure all required tasks are complete before the Theatre is locked up for the night. The Show Report and completed Space Checklist will be sent to the distribution list. Tasks on the Shift Plot for post show will include but not be limited to:
Once performances begin, the show is totally in the hands of the PSM and their running crew. The Director should give an opening and closing night speech, and may use their comp ticket to see the show again, but should NOT attend every show unless they purchase a ticket for every show. This is to ensure that the PSM does not feel like they have a babysitter.