Theatrical production managers, are you making these common mistakes?

2 Unrealistic expectations

Another common mistake that theatrical production managers can make is setting unrealistic expectations for themselves, the team, or the show. This can result in frustration, disappointment, burnout, or poor quality. For example, you might underestimate the time, money, or resources needed to complete a certain task or achieve a certain effect. Or you might overestimate the skills, availability, or commitment of your team members. Or you might have a vision that is too ambitious, complex, or impractical for the stage. To avoid this mistake, you should do your research and analysis before starting the production. You should also consult with experts, mentors, or peers who have experience in similar projects. Moreover, you should set SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) and adjust them as needed based on the feedback and results.

3 Poor delegation

As a theatrical production manager, you might be tempted to do everything yourself or micromanage every aspect of the show. However, this can be a mistake that can affect your productivity, efficiency, and creativity. It can also demotivate, overwhelm, or alienate your team members, who might feel that you don't trust them or value their contributions. To avoid this mistake, you should learn how to delegate effectively. You should identify the tasks that you can delegate and the ones that you need to do yourself. You should also choose the right people for each task based on their skills, interests, and availability. Furthermore, you should provide clear instructions, expectations, and deadlines for each task and offer support, guidance, and recognition when needed.

4 Neglecting health and safety

Theatrical production can be a stressful, demanding, and physically challenging activity. It can involve long hours, tight deadlines, heavy equipment, complex systems, and unpredictable situations. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the health and safety of yourself and your team members. A mistake that can compromise the health and safety of the production can have serious consequences, such as injuries, illnesses, lawsuits, or cancellations. To avoid this mistake, you should follow the health and safety regulations and guidelines applicable to your venue, industry, and project. You should also conduct risk assessments, inspections, and rehearsals to identify and eliminate any potential hazards or problems. Additionally, you should provide adequate training, equipment, and resources to your team members and encourage them to take breaks, rest, and seek help when needed.

5 Forgetting the audience

The ultimate goal of any theatrical production is to entertain, educate, or inspire the audience. However, sometimes theatrical production managers can forget this goal and focus too much on their own preferences, opinions, or assumptions. This can be a mistake that can alienate, confuse, or bore the audience, who might not share or understand your perspective, style, or message. To avoid this mistake, you should always keep the audience in mind when planning, executing, and evaluating your production. You should research and analyze your target audience, their demographics, preferences, expectations, and feedback. You should also design and deliver your production in a way that engages, connects, and satisfies your audience, while staying true to your artistic vision and values.

6 Ignoring evaluation

The last common mistake that theatrical production managers can make is ignoring the evaluation of their production. Evaluation is an important part of the production process, as it allows you to measure the outcomes, impacts, and lessons learned from your project. It can also help you improve your skills, knowledge, and performance for future projects. However, some theatrical production managers might neglect evaluation because they are too busy, tired, or satisfied with their production. To avoid this mistake, you should plan and conduct evaluation throughout and after your production. You should use various methods and sources of data, such as surveys, interviews, observations, reviews, and statistics, to collect and analyze feedback from your team members, stakeholders, and audience. You should also use the evaluation results to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your production and to make recommendations and action plans for improvement.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?