Stage Manager's Guide

Stage Manager's Guide

Marcus Neiman & The Sounds of Sousa Band

This guide has been prepared to outline the minimum staging requirements for Marcus Neiman & The Sounds of Sousa Band.

As stage manager, your expertise and experience is essential to make our upcoming performance and enjoyable and entertaining one for our audience and to give the ensemble a professional atmosphere in which to perform.

We realize that not all venues, and thus all concert sites, will meet every criterion.Thus, we will work with you to develop alternatives when necessary.

If you have any problems or challenges, please feel free to contact the concert sponsor (they also have a copy of this guide), or the band manager.

Technical Requirements

1.	Size of Performance Area	20' width by 20' depth (minimum)
2.	Grid Height	12'
3.	Stage Floor	Hard Surface (preferably wood) - The stage should be cleared and cleaned (prior) to the arrival of the band to avoid conflicts with the band's set-up crew.
4.	Masking	Full curtain or existing
5.	Lighting	Lighting Engineer - The light operator should meet with band performance coordinator approximately two hours prior to the concert to discuss lighting requirements. Stage lights - White overhead lighting should be bright enough to read newspaper-sized print without difficulty. Lighting intensity should be equal on all parts of the stage. If light is insufficient, colored gels or bulbs should be replaced with standard clear or white prior to the band's arrival. Footlights are not needed. Spotlights - Follow spots will be used if they are available. Their use will be discussed with the lightening engineer when the band arrives for set-up. The band will not provide follow spots or spot operators. House-lights - House lights should be dimmed during performance. Cues will be discussed during set-up. Operators music be provided for all parts of the lighting system.
6.	Equipment	Chairs - The bands needs the number of chairs required in contract, plus three. Chairs should be without arms. Symphony shell - May be used if available
7.	Sound System	The band does not provide a sound system. The band will require an announcer and soloist microphone. Any other amplification will be discussed during set-up.
8.	Electrical Requirement	1-3 prong outlet
9.	Temperture Requirement	65 - 75 deg F (for inside concert), band will not perform outside if temperature is below 65 or above 80F.
10.	Dressing / Storage	Secure area for storage of instrument cases and coats should be available close to performance stage area.Dressing area for men and women with drinking water. A pitcher of ice water should be made available for the conductor prior to the beginning of each program half and at the end of the concert.
11.	Set up time	1 hour setup and 30 minute take down. If on site rehearsal, 2 hour rehearsal with at least 2 hours between end of rehearsal and beginning of performance.
12.	Performance Time	90 minute program (with one 15-minute intermission)

Additional considerations:

Stage cleaning - stage area shoul dbe cleaned and cleared (prior) to the arrival of the ensemble to avoid conflicts with the ensemble's set-up crew.

Shell - may be used if available. Please check with the band manager prior to the performance day.

Lighting & Sound Requirements:

Stage Lighting - lighting engineer should meet with ensemble performance coordinator prior to the performance. It is recommended that a meeting be st up prior to our arrival. White overhead lighting should be bright enough to read newspaper-sized print without difficulty. Lighting intensity should be equal on all parts of the stage. If light is insufficient, colored gels or bulbs should be replaced with standard clear or white prior to the ensemble's arrival. Footlights are not needed.

Spotlights - Follow spots will be used if they are available. Their use will be discussed with the band manager when the ensemble arrives for set-up. The ensemble will not provide follow spots or spot operators.

House-lights - House hlights should be dimmed during the performance. Cues will be discussed during set-up.

Please note - operators must be provided for all parts of the lighting system.

Audio system - The Sounds of Sousa Band does not carry it's own audio system. Normally, our needs are minimal: a narrator's nicrophone and a "solo" microphone that can be used by both our vocal and instrumental soloists. If you normally amplify large ensembles in your hall, a meeting should be set upon our arrival to discuss your system and our needs.

Dressing, warm-up, storage rooms, and restrooms - The conductor should be provided with a separate dressing room when ever possible. Separate changing facillities are needed for men and women. These rooms should have chairs, clothing racks and hooks from which to hang costumes, and full-length mirrors. Windows shoul dhave working shades or blinds, and windows in doors should be masked over or blocked. Please make signs: "men" and "women." and place them accordingly.

A storage area, out of hearing range of the stage, for musicians to warm-up their instruments and use as a storage area, should be provided. The dressing rooms and storage areas must be locked when not occupied by the ensemble members, and the Sounds of Sousa band manager should be provided with a key. One men's and one women's restaurant should be provided or marked for use only by the musicians.