PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE

INTERCOM and PAGING ETIQUETTE

Professional and courteous announcements to the company over paging and intercom systems are essential to any production, and set the tone for a disciplined backstage environment. All public announcements or tests of paging equipment will begin with the phrase, “CAST AND CREW”, and will end with, “THANK YOU”.

Stage Management calls will be given clearly, concisely, and repeated once. An example would be: “CAST AND CREW, THIS IS YOUR HALF HOUR CALL. THIS IS YOUR HALF HOUR CALL. THANK YOU.”

Production students testing the paging system will follow the same guidelines, informing the backstage that they are testing the system.

At no time will non – show music be played through the paging system, unless cleared beforehand by Faculty and Staff.

HEADSET ETIQUETTE

It is crucial that all headset communication be carried out in a businesslike and professional manner. The following rules will apply at the School:

• During rehearsal and performance conditions, the STAGE MANAGER is in complete control of headset communication

• Prior to the first rehearsal to employ headsets, the STAGE MANAGER will call a meeting of all operators, and will lay out their interpretation of this policy: the interpretation will be dependent upon each STAGE MANAGER’S work style, comfort level with the job, and the number of cues in the show

• All operators are to be on headset at the 5 MINUTE CALL

• The STAGE MANAGER will do a roll call once he/she comes on headset

• All cues given by the STAGE MANAGER during rehearsals and performances will be preceded by a STAND-BY, to which each operator will respond with an acknowledgement, if requested by the Stage Manager

• All cues will be executed on the word GO, as in Q # 2, GO; Go’s always happen at the end of a sentence

• Operators will not proceed with any cue until the word GO is heard: a cue taken without a GO is “operator error”

• It is the STAGE MANAGER’S responsibility to ensure that there is a STAND-BY and GO for each cue: a missed cue owing to no word GO is “Stage Management error”

• There will be no non-show chatter on the headset UNLESS sanctioned by the STAGE MANAGER

• There will be absolutely no talking by anyone other than the STAGE MANAGER between STAND – BYs/acknowledgements and GOs

• Subjects forbidden on the headset, and which will result in discipline, include:
• Sexist or racist comments, even when said in jest
• Comments of a sexual nature, including jokes
• Comments of an insubordination nature (anger or questioning of authority)
• Comments on the physical condition or artistic abilities of the performers
• Comments having to do with any company member’s technical or professional abilities

Phone Etiquette

• All students are responsible for answering the phone
• Speak to all people in a professional and polite manner
• Respond courteously to any questions, comments or concerns they may have