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A popular topic in stage management social media this week has been SM Kits: not necessarily the individual tools (see our very first blog post!), but the containers themselves.
First, there is an ongoing debate about whether producers should provide all equipment: why must the stage manager stock everyday items, particularly consumables? My take is that, unless I have willingly taken on an under-resourced production, the producer should either provide regular equipment – tape measures, first aid supplies, door stops, reams of paper, etc. – or pay me a fee for me to bring all the equipment. Personally, I don’t mind placing an order for spike/gaff/glow tape, particularly if it is a one-off project where I get to keep the unused consumables on the company dime. But this is a discussion to be had with the production manager or producer.
But even if the producer provides some equipment, I still will want to bring my personal tricks of the trade, and that means using a SM Kit. There is a joke that the SM Kit is like the shell of a hermit crab: you can tell how long a stage manager has worked based on the size of her/his kit. But I know plenty of veteran stage managers who downsized their kits when they entered a resident position, much like an older couple might downsize from a house to a condo. The size and type of kit is often based on three factors:
1. How often do you need to move it?
2. How far do you need to move it?
3. How equipped is the space?
Many stage managers start with a tackle box but soon lament having to haul it around every day. Some SMs who need to carry their kits on public transit switch to a backpack for mobility (and fewer questions about where they are going fishing). I have a smaller kit if I need to bring it with me every day and a larger kit if I can park it in the rehearsal hall or in a storage cabinet. Many SMs quickly upgrade to a wheeled kit, whether it be luggage or a rolling toolkit.
Also consider whether the kit itself can serve a secondary purpose. When ASMing, I bring a sturdy kit that I can use as a step if I need to reach up or even as a makeshift bench. As an ASM, I don’t sit while there are actors backstage: I want to be mobile and approachable. I will sit in the green room prior to the performance, but once backstage, I stand if there are actors present. So having a kit that doubles as a low bench gives me a nice break during full-company scenes.
One last consideration when selecting a kit is whether it can be locked. How secure is your space? How valuable are the contents of your kit? Or, simply, do you want to prevent a nosy cast member from scavenging through your kit? Find an option that can be quickly opened during an emergency but gives you confidence overnight.
Have a kit you like? Post about it in the comments.