Can anyone suggest a good book, (or website), that spells out in plain detail how to call a show in the most efficient and professional way?

 

Thanks, Dana

# of the top SM's handbook/guides are as BT suggested Ionazzi & also 'Guide to Stage Management'  & 'Stage Man Guide to Stage Management' Thomas A. Kelly. 'Stage Management' & 'Sternagement' by Lawrence Stern. Which are considered the fairly up to dare 'Bibles' on what it is all about. [All in your local currency, so easy for them to understand]

I'm afraid my book is out of print, mainly because it ended up in a municipal rubbish bin, this never seen the ink - but that's another story!

There is a some what universal method of actioning cues in theatre. As is generic in all the previous mentioned  SM books.

It is simple & recognised internationally. That being 'Stand By Cue ....' & 'Cue .... GO!'. The 'Gee Oh' word being the action operative one.

While it is basic, of course this comes down to personal preference & quirks in the delivery of the Stand By Cue information.

The object is 'keep It Simple Stupid' & elevates all possible confusion & misunderstandings that can arise easily.

The logistics is dependant on the number of elements in volved in one Cue, being executed at the same time.

The method I use if say I have Lighting, Audio, Fly's, staging Moves & Music happening at the same time. After having given the Stand By Cue info to each element operator. I just call "All on Stand By GO", rather than give a heap of drivel like LX23, SX15, Move 2 & Music 17  Cue Go!" , which on a heavy & tight cue musical, invariably the Cue has been missed before I get it out or totally just flumix those receiving it?

I'm so old I still use alphabetical cues for audio & sound effects, which these days is easier to numerical prefixes, because it is more compatable with Digital audio. as there will be more Lighting cues than any other normally, they are Numereical & become the bench mark for the 'running Sheet' & Net Form [WWW/W Sheet (who, Where, When, What & Why), which is the spine of the 'Show Calls'.

One thing I'm very strick on, is when I give a Stand By, all chatter on coms stops & I'll drop from  great hight on any one who starts rabbiting on durring the 'Silent running mode! [unless it it is an emergency].

I know quite a few years ago on one of the "Mouse' Productions, under the Big Top. The Aussie crew during tech rehearsal almost blew the whistle & walked, on the 'Everybody out!' signal. Because the American Disney Stage Manager could not grasp the basic principals of Theatre cue Calls & I'm sure his head was in a Film Studio. He didn't gave any Limes Cue GO's, only as  an off the cuff waffle in so many other ways, from "Hit Her" to "Get or Grab hem" & other colourfull dialogue. We had no Idea what he was on about? He was in the end dragged screaming back to basics, In fact he became loving known, by the Ocker Crew, as " Chooky-Man' by the end of the season. 

So it does happen in the so called best of purple circles!

Anyhow dana you could check out;- http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php