When you’re managing a show, concert, dance performance, or a recital, it’s your job to make sure everyone shows up on time. You have to take care of the performers and the lights and the sound production. You have to be everywhere at once, and if it’s your first time managing a performance, you might get overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to properly manage any performance. Whether you’re working with dancers or artists, the right management techniques will help your entire production flow smoothly. Here’s what you need to know.
First of all, always have a pre-determined schedule. A few months before the show, you should give everyone a copy of the schedule. This should include dates for ticket sales, times of rehearsals, and times of performances. The sooner you can provide this information to your students and performers, the more likely they are to make it to everything on time. Nothing is more frustrating than pouring your heart and soul into planning an event, only to have it struggle when performance day comes. Planning ahead of time will minimize any problems.
It’s also important that you check, double check, and triple check everything related to the performance venue. Do you have the caterer scheduled? Do you have a photographer? Do the performers know where the venue is? Are the lights scheduled to turn on? Do you have all of the necessary equipment for simultaneous translation? Make sure you have any vendors or employees scheduled ahead of time. This will enable you to plan to hire a backup provider if someone has to cancel at the last minute.
Finally, make sure you relax and stay calm. Something always goes wrong on opening night, but as long as you plan ahead and work with all of your performers, chances are that any problems will be minimal. Planning ahead and working hard to manage a performance means that you’ll be prepared for anything. Remember that although you might feel tense or anxious on opening night, this is the end result of all of your hard work. Try to take a breath and relax! This is your time to shine.