On the next tour I will...

I am spending April touring with the dance company Out Inner Space, working on their piece Vessel. My official title is Stage Manager, but on tour that job also includes production management duties like confirming schedule with upcoming venues and making sure everyone gets to their flights on time.

We are spending our first week at the Banff Centre doing a residency in the theatre to work out all the details of projections and lighting. I love working in Banff - they take really good care of you and the crew is awesome. In 2010 I did the Opera Stage Management workstudy program here, and I was back with the 605 Collective last February, so I have many good memories of "Banff Camp."And all the running around campus as an ASM means that I now know most of the shortcuts around campus.

It's only a few days into tour, but I find myself often saying "On the next tour I will [blank]." Some of the things are small and silly, but some are bigger. I wanted to make sure I remembered these, and maybe you will find some of them useful as well.

1. Schedule work around the dining room times while you are in Banff (we did this, but it's important).
2. Pack cube tabs. The hotel room will invariably have too few plugs for your phone, laptop, etc.
3. Bring flip flops so you don't have to walk to the pool in a house robe and combat boots (okay... this is mostly a note for me...)
4. Don't spend 8 hours sitting hunched over at a theatre production table. Ouch. Walk and stretch or come up with a better work position.
5. DO spend time chatting with the house crew, getting to know them better, and trading stories. I always learn so much from this, and I make lots of new friends!

Here's a good resource on tour planning from the Canada Council website. It's a good overview of some of the things to think about, but it forgets to mention that you should hire a Production Manager (cough cough): http://www.canadacouncil.ca/development/ontheroad/touringhandbook/

More updates from the road to come!