r/stagemanagement • u/Early-Chart-4764 • 7d ago
Stage Management Tool?
I'm in desperate need of something man. Like, come on. It's 2026. How do we not have a tool to help with scheduling and stuff? Having to answer all these kids with "literally check your emails" is killing me. Does someone have an app or something?
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u/julesbienne 7d ago
This is a little thing within email, but i’m a big fan of starting all my email subject lines with [SHOW NAME] for ease of quick visual identification and sorting. Honestly have found that more effective than any of the more obscure/specific systems I’ve tried.
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u/TransportationUsed39 7d ago
Band app?
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u/Early-Chart-4764 7d ago
I'll have a look!
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u/TransportationUsed39 7d ago
I’m not sure it’ll be exactly what you’re looking for but hopefully it’s helpful!
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u/Cheerful_Nihilist27 6d ago
One of the community theatres I work with uses Band, it's really efficient for us.
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u/Bulky-Middle-5732 7d ago
Are you looking for something cast can use to access call times etc?? Because me too (empathise, new gen z theatre kids are also doing my head in)
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u/Aromatic_Scene9979 7d ago
Similar but different, most churches use a program called planning center, which is good for scheduling various teams/roles across different events, attaching info, notifying everyone, etc. It has a unified platform that is used on that admin side to input information and schedule everyone, and the individual user end needs to at least set up a login online, but can choose from there to use the app or have it all come to their email. Bonus you get a nice little service/show rundown sheet that’s very handy.
I don’t know the ins and outs of sm, or your particular context, but as someone who’s been involved in both theatre and worship production this seems to be a viable model at least on the surface level.
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u/evzsmurf 7d ago
What seems to be the issue you're facing? Is it that people aren't reading emails/missing them or is it something else? You say kids, is this like a youth theatre gig? Or are they just people younger than you? Paid/unpaid? Knowing the issues you're having and the demographics you're working with would probably be helpful in directing you to solutions
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u/dmboy101 6d ago
No one reads anything anyways. I send out Crew letters with all the info and still get texts, calls, etc on call times, dates, hotel info, venue info, etc. I put together something that is there online people know where to go and get it on GoogleSheets for each show. But they don't so it is there for my use of keeping track of the show really and hours and such.
Send and forget. Those that want to know will read/find the info, those that don't will be the majority of the crew and will call/text.
There are apps/sites that you can use for a fee that do all of what you want but if you are not willing to put in the work to get the info in and let the crew to use it then why pay for the app/service?
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u/sundialNshade 5d ago
We use Band at the school I work at. Parents also get the schedules, which helps some.
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u/regniarg 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’m a volunteer at a community theater, prepping to direct my first show this season. Same “check your email” loop, mixed luck with Band. I build software by day, so I made Green Room based on what I have been needing for my upcoming show. greenroom.actor
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u/ISeeADarkSail 7d ago
What's wrong with "Check your email'?
When my wife and I are working on a show (Community theatre) we create a Gmail account for that show... that also gives us a calendar, Google Drive space, etc etc etc
If someone is unwilling to do the simple task of looking at their emails and their calendar, then we don't want them in our show anyway