Dealing with frustrated performers during technical mishaps. Are you able to maintain your professionalism?

Technical mishaps unfortunately happen to everyone. They cause confusion and undermine confidence. I've found an effective method to regain the trust of the team is to make sure everyone understands what happened, why it happened and what is being done to make sure it doesn't happen again. This calm, clear communication will serve to replace the fear that comes with 'not knowing' with common knowledge and understanding. The entire cast & crew will feel informed & respected. This will put an end to rampant speculation and fearful chatter. Tell everyone what happened take a quick break then get back to work with a unified team. Make sure to respectfully answer questions and address concerns.

Los artistas y los técnicos deben aprender a convivir, entender que cada ensayo tiene una particularidad y prioridad. Si es un ensayo técnico, el foco no esta1 puesto en los artistas y viceversa. En mi experiencia funciona siempre aclararlo a todo el equipo antes de esos tipos de ensayos, para evitar que los artistas se sientan que no se loes presta atención y generar climas incómodos. Es verdad que los artistas deberían saberlo, pero no siempre sucede. Entonces mi mejor opción es recordarlo antes de empezar.

Cuando lidiamos con artistas frustrados durante percances técnicos, nuestra prioridad es mantener la calma y el profesionalismo. Primero, escuchamos sus preocupaciones con empatía para entender la fuente de la frustración. Luego, les ofrecemos soluciones prácticas y mantenemos una comunicación abierta sobre los pasos que estamos tomando para resolver los problemas. Reconocemos su esfuerzo y les aseguramos que estamos comprometidos en hacer que todo funcione de la mejor manera posible. Al mantener una actitud positiva y centrada en la resolución, logramos transformar el desafío en una oportunidad para fortalecer la colaboración.

Absolutely! Maintaining professionalism during technical mishaps is crucial, especially when dealing with frustrated performers. Here are some tips that can help: *Stay Calm and Composed: Your calm demeanor can help soothe the performers’ frustration. *Acknowledge the Issue: Validate their feelings by acknowledging the problem and expressing empathy. *Communicate Clearly: Keep them informed about what’s happening and what steps are being taken to resolve the issue. *Offer Solutions: If possible, provide immediate solutions or alternatives to minimize disruption. *Stay Positive: Encourage a positive outlook and reassure them that the issue will be resolved.

It's important to put yourself in the performers' shoes in these moments. They are feeling vulnerable and powerless, most likely still working through nerves regarding their own performances, and eager to channel their tension and uneasiness on any target that presents itself. So when the lights lose power or a set piece breaks, as directors or stage managers, we can demonstrate level-headedness, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, while clearly delegating tasks in order to solve the technical issue as swiftly and safely as possible. But we also need to wear our coach/therapist hats and demonstrate to performers we're listening to their concerns and we care for them, even in this moment of high tension.

Si le problème n'est pas urgent et dangereux, effectivement, se poser, prendre un café, réfléchir, visualiser d'où vient le problème et comment le résoudre, faire des plans pourquoi pas, en discuter avec vos collaborateurs, réfléchir à voix haute aide souvent à trouver une solution ! Si le problème par contre est urgent et dangereux, mettre les gens en sécurité est la priorité avant de régler le problème !

Steel the foundations of your stability with girders as if you were a drilling platform in the North Sea. That is the image and feel that a troubled performer will be happy to move towards. Matching chaos with chaos generally is counterproductive so clarity, knowledge of the character involved. Match your own inwardly gaze with their outwardly needs in order to stabilize and move to the next step of the character's path and cues for the rest of the cast if there is one. This approach, for me at least, took years of psychiatric care of an intensely brilliant man that helped me towards defeating my own self- and often family-implanted insecurities and thereby giving me that strong foundation to lend to talent!

Escuchar a los artistas o a cualquiera de nuestros compañeros es esencial para generar un lazo de comunicación y vinculación. No soy d elas personas que creen que debemos estar todos de acuerdo en todo, pero si al menos de escucharnos y con respeto llegar a un punto de acuerdo. También es importante que los artistas entiendan que hay un equipo tecnico y creativo trabajando para potenciar todo en todo momento.

We all have been there. Everyone is tired and excited. Emotions are high but everyone is there for a reason. They all love what they do.

Comme souvent, l'écoute est le meilleur remède. L'artiste en s'exprimant et en partageant ses soucis, questionnements, trouvera sans doute de par lui-même les réponses/solutions. Ecouter n'est pas conseiller!

Actors throw tantrums all the time. What's important is to clearly communicate with them about the issues at hand so that they also remain in the loop. It is important for the cast to understand that the background staff is there to make them look good while performing. Nobody causes trouble for fun, mishaps happen and clear communication is the only viable way to go through it. Inconveniences are bound to arise when there is a mismatch in expectations and reality, so it the duty of the director to keep that in check.

La communication permet d'éclairer, d'éclaircir les choses ! En général, il est bon de redire, différemment, les mêmes choses et s'assurer que l'interlocuteur a bien compris, saisi ce que vous avez dit ! Si il y a plusieurs personnes, prendre le temps de vérifier que chacun a bien enregistrer la communication. Fuyez le "je l'ai dit, ça suffit" !

Technical Rehearsals are designed to focus on the tech of the show and issues are bound to arise during this time. Communicating what is going on is key. There is no reason to leave actors in the dark about what is going on behind the scenes. Giving clear details and information helps them know exactly what is happening, therefore reducing the stress of the "unknown". During these "breaks", actors can work on lines (if they are able) to fill the space while they wait for the technical issues to be resolved.

Résolution des problèmes, effectivement en groupe cela peut être efficace... mais pas toujours! Parfois,par expérience, l'on sait que le problème surtout si il est technique et complexe, ne pourra être résolu en participation... mais pas non plus en précipitation ! Le temps est toujours notre meilleur allié...

Una vez en el Festival que organizo se presentó el inconveniente siguiente: Entró alguien a la función que no estaba acostumbrado a ver teatro, era una función de teatro al que asistieron muchas personas, el señor quería buscar a su pequeño hijo que estaba en el teatro y, en vez de llamarlo en voz baja, lo llamaba alzando la voz, gritando, evidentemente interrumpió por varios segundos hasta que fue persuadido y sacado de la sala, a la brevedad posible.

Los percances en el teatro suceden porque es en vivo. La tarea de todo el equipo, artistas y tecnicos, es tratar de evitarlos, pero pueden suceder. Lo importante es tratar de llevar adelante el show con tranquilidad. Muchas veces sucede que algo que salió diferente el público no lo nota porque solo los que estamos dentro lo sabemos. Entonces si bien, mejor que no haya errores, dependerá de lo sucedido las medidas que haya que tomar y evaluar para que no suceda nuevamente.

Rassurer, oui, les problèmes techniques inhérents au monde du spectacle ne remettent pas en cause les capacités des intervenants, mais être honnête si le problème est dû à une "faute" (étourderie, distraction...)

One of the things I’ve found that helps that I also use in health coaching is affirming their abilities and recalling a recent time where they’ve gotten through something similar successfully. Performers are often suffering from a lack of confidence at all times, especially during an issue, and reassuring them using positive psychology is not only healthy for them but it also takes the burden off of you to get too emotionally invested or personal. By asking questions and not relaying personal stories to them you don’t get sucked into the emotional space they are in and can then move them through it more quickly.

Maintenir la relation de respect des artistes envers les technicien.ne.s. Certain.e.s artistes, souvent en début de carrière, n'ont pas complètement réalisé l'importance des personnes gérant l'aspect technique du spectacle. C'est donc important de leur rappeler le respect envers leurs collègues de la sphère techniques et aussi qui faut faire confiance à leur professionnalisme. Les technicien.ne.s ont la responsabilité de 50%, voire souvent plus, du bon déroulement de la prestation. C'est une donnée à ne pas oublier.