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Erin Joy Swank - Stage Manager
Putting the puzzle pieces of productions together
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Tag: Assistant Stage Manager

For the Love of Spike Sticks

October 30, 2024 cue2go
A spike stick is pictured, with 19 colors of spike tape rolled around a dowel. The dowel has a hole drilled towards one end, with black tieline laced through and tied in a knot as a loop. Above and to the left is a single roll of yellow spike tape.

I’ll admit it. A spike stick is one of my absolute FAVORITE stage management tools.

You can have rolls of spike tape hanging on a piece of tie line near the edge of the stage during tech, or wear them proudly like fashionista bracelets, but a spike stick with multiple colors is slick and clean, and takes up way less space.

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Filed under: Assistant Stage Manager, Real Life SM Stories, SM Tips, Taping the Set

Hands Free Cue Sheets

February 24, 2024 cue2go
6 people have their arms in a circle, fists to center, showing off paperwork inside the type of sleeves used for quarterbacks

Have you had a scene shift or cueing sequence where it really wasn’t ideal to hold your cue sheet? Or…

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Filed under: Assistant Stage Manager, Calling Cues, Real Life SM Stories, SM Tips, Stage Management Paperwork, Technology in Stage Management

Tip: Temporary Prop Table Layout

August 14, 2022 cue2go

I recently finished working at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, where the theatres are used by multiple shows, with morning children’s shows…

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Filed under: Assistant Stage Manager, Real Life SM Stories, SM Tips

To SM or ASM, that is the question

July 26, 2018 cue2go

Not too long ago, I was talking to one of my frequent bosses and mentioned that I was applying to…

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Filed under: Assistant Stage Manager, Helpful Links, Real Life SM Stories, SM Tips

Tagged Topics

Adventures with Eeyore AEA AGMA Assistant Stage Manager Calling Cues Care and Feeding of Stage Managers Cirque COVID Return to Work Guidelines Dance Eeyore and Erin Finances for SMs Going as Green as Possible Helpful Links Musical Theatre My Philosophy (or two) Navigating Unemployment Nutcracker Opera Opera Stage Management 101 Pop Culture References Production Publicity Production Reviews Real Life SM Stories Recorded Events Shindig - Virtual Platform SM Tips Stage Combat Stage Management Books Stage Management History Stage Management Humor Stage Management Paperwork Taping the Set Technology in Stage Management Thoughts on Articles Read Training/Certifications/Courses Virtual Events

Recent Posts

  • Using a scale rule to measure points
    Using an Architect’s Scale RulerMarch 16, 2025
  • Two-tape triangulation theory is shown, using a 3-4-5 right triangle on graph paper
    Two-Tape Triangulation Tape Out Method – Part One: Measuring the PointsMarch 2, 2025
  • White gaff tape is layered around a plastic hotel key for storage. The end of the tape is loose in someone's hand, and a roll of the same gaff sits in the background, all on a green velvet background.
    Portable Gaff Tape HackFebruary 28, 2025
  • A spike stick is pictured, with 19 colors of spike tape rolled around a dowel. The dowel has a hole drilled towards one end, with black tieline laced through and tied in a knot as a loop. Above and to the left is a single roll of yellow spike tape.
    For the Love of Spike SticksOctober 30, 2024
  • Two theatrical groundplans are shown with a transparent overlay of the rehearsal hall dimensions, giving alternate layouts
    Taping Out the Set: How to Decide Orientation in the Rehearsal HallSeptember 25, 2024
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