2013 national stage management conference stage management association
TRANSCRIPT
2013 NATIONAL STAGE MANAGEMENT
CONFERENCESTAGE MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION
Stress and Mental Healthfor Stage Managers
Dr Deborah CharnockDr Carol Chapman
British Association for Performing Arts Medicine
British Association for Performing Arts Medicine
(BAPAM)
Dr Deborah CharnockInterim Chief Executive
Overview
• Medical charity formed in the 1980s
• Funded by Musicians’ Benevolent Fund, Musicians’ Union, Equity
• Provides free health assessments, advice and referral to performing artists and allied professionals
• London clinic and Regional locations
• Assessments by volunteer/subsidy rate specialists – doctors (GPs, surgeons, rheumatologists) and physiotherapists, but also voice therapist and psychologist
Additional Services & Activities
• Helpline
• Directory of Specialists and Practitioners
• Workshops and talks on Healthy Performance Practice
• Training for health professionals
• MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at UCL
• Student Advocate Scheme
• Research & Evaluation – including bursary fund
• Online dissemination, advocacy, and networking
BAPAM Review & Improvement Plan 2013
• Clinics or other model?
• London only or Regional?
• Paid or voluntary personnel?
• Free or charged to patients?
• Sufficiently Responsive?
• Impact?
www.bapam.org.uk
Stress and how to deal with it
Dr Carol ChapmanBAPAM
What is stress?
• The result of an imbalance between our resources and the demands made on them
• Like a bank account: in the black or in the red
Resources
• Physical health• Skills• Experience• Attitudes and beliefs• Personality• Social support• Coping methods / history• Socio-cultural contextual factors
Demands
• Emotional, social, physical and financial demands of everyday life
• Adjustments to situations eg changes, losses, separations, accidents and illnesses
• Work-life balance• Attitudes and expectations about self and
others• Values and goals
External and internal sources of pressure 1
EXTERNAL:Physical environment
e.g. noise, overcrowdingJob factors
e.g. tight deadlines, little controlSocial/cultural factors
e.g. competition, economic pressures
External and internal sources of pressure 2 INTERNAL:
Physical e.g. state of health, sleep
Behavioural e.g. inefficient work patterns,
procrastinationCognitive
e.g. perfectionism, negativityEmotional
e.g. won’t get help, others’ needs put first
Signs of stress 1
Physical:
Palpitations, chest pains, indigestion, breathlessness, nausea, muscle twitches, tiredness, aches and pains, skin irritations or rashes, frequent colds/flu, clenched fists or jaw, predisposition to rashes, fainting, recurrence of illnesses, constipation or diarrhoea, menstrual change, weight loss or gain.
Signs of stress 2
Emotional:
Swings in mood, increased worrying, feeling tense, feeling anxious, feeling guilty, becoming cynical, being drained, having no enthusiasm, feelings of helplessness, lack of self-esteem, feelings nervous/apprehensive, lack of concentration, loss of confidence, withdrawal into daydreams, increased anger, aggression, feelings of panic, feelings of frustration
Signs of Stress 3
Cognitive:
Can’t cope, negative thoughts, why bother?, can’t trust anyone, so what?, what’s the point?, I used to be confident, I can’t, I think I am going mad, I am crap, I’m useless, I should be able to deal with this, I can’t see a future, I can’t take the pressure.
Signs of Stress 4
Behavioural:
Poor work, accident proneness, overeating or loss of appetite, increased dependence on drugs, increased smoking, not looking after oneself, changes in sleep patterns, increased consumption of alcohol, too busy to relax, poor time management, impaired speech, irritability, withdrawal from supportive relationships, loss of interest in sex, avoiding certain situations
Summary
• Vulnerability factors: genes, parents, family, experiences, personality/temperament
• Immediate triggers: life events and situations, changes, losses, illnesses, conflicts, traumas, threats
• Maintaining factors: relationships, behaviour, beliefs, body states, future expectations/hopes
Stress and mental illness
• If your stress levels lead to extended and extensive symptoms of distress and anxiety, periods of absence from work, inability to cope with daily living, and serious problems in your relationships, go and see your GP as you may be suffering from depression or anxiety
• Your GP may prescribe medication or refer you for psychotherapy or further medical tests
• Effective treatments are available on the NHS and specialists like BAPAM offer a range of services
Strategies for coping with stress
• EMOTION-BASED – talking about/ expressing feelings, getting support e.g. exercise, meditation
• AVOIDANCE BASED – denial, pretence, e.g. boozing, bingeing
• PROBLEM-BASED – trying to sort it out e.g. getting help
• STRESS-CARRYING – taking emotions out on others e.g. shouting, blaming
Stress Management: a recent example
• Primary appraisal: how did you see the situation?
• Secondary appraisal: how well did you think you can cope? Could you think of what to do?
• Stress Response: in your body, your feelings,• Coping response: what did you do?• What happened? Did things get better/worse?
how did you then feel?
Stress busting goals
• Identify your difficult areas• Think about the changes you would like and
set goals for change - SMART ones• Develop strategies and techniques to achieve
your goals• Review and revise your plan
Reducing Stress 1
• Decide priorities in life and work and stick to them• Set achievable goals, both at home and at work• Decide which tasks can be delegated, done later or
dropped altogether• Make appointments with yourself to do essential jobs• Make time for eating, relaxing, having fun and for just
doing nothing, • Accept that everyone makes mistakes and that’s OK• Don’t rush, you’ll be more effective and waste less time
Reducing Stress 2
• Have clear transitions and rituals between work and home
• Healthy lifestyle factors: caffeine, diet / food, booze, smoking, drugs etc
• Sleep, exercise and fitness• Praise, treat and reward self for achieving
goals• Acknowledge others’ achievements and
compliment and praise them
Reducing Stress 3
• Recognise, identify and change stress promoting thinking patterns e.g. catastrophizing, personalizing, jumping to conclusions, ‘shoulds, musts and oughts’
• Balance your self-talk: reduce self-criticism• Identify and work to your strengths• Be prepared for tricky situations: anticipate
setbacks and obstacles
Reducing Stress 4
• Communicate clearly and directly especially when relationships are problematic
• Listen carefully to people, don’t interrupt• Be able to say no, and be willing to negotiate• Try different things / approaches /experiments• Don’t blame and shame, nag • Avoid mixed messages, sarcasm, passive
aggression• Find ways of dealing with anger: yours and theirs
Stress management: summary
Identify sources of stress• Reduce the demands • increase the ability to cope• Physical strategies e.g. diet, exercise, relaxation• Behavioural strategies e.g. leaving work on time,
social diary, delegating, time management• Thinking strategies e.g. countering negative
thoughts, increasing positives• Emotional e.g. acknowledging and expressing
feelings, being more assertive
Remember• No one is perfect, not even me!• Changing is difficult but it can be done• Stress management is about taking better care
of yourself and those you work and live with• While a degree of stress is inevitable, letting it
get you down isn’t. Stress can be empowering!• As you learn to cope better with stress, your
confidence and resourcefulness will grow
2013 National Stage Management
Census Review
Andy Rowley SMA
Ken Bennett HunterConsultant
Response Percent
Response Count
6.0% 4629.9% 22835.6% 27128.5% 217
35.9%
Over 5 years 64.1%Less than 5 years
1-5 years5-15 yearsOver 15 years
How long have you been working in stage management? (since your first paid stage management job)
Answer Options
Under 1 year
How long have you been working in stage management? (since your first paid stage management job)
Under 1 year
1-5 years
5-15 years
Over 15 years
2013 CENSUS
How long have you been working as a professional stage manager Less than five years 52.00% More than five years 48.00% Total 100
Less than five years
More than five years
2011 SURVEY
Response Percent
Response Count
82.8% 61714.1% 1053.1% 23
27
Permanent employee: full time contract without end dateCasual worker: daily/weekly contractsOther (please specify)
As a working professional stage manager, do you consider that your work is usually as:
Answer Options
Freelance: contracts with start and end date
As a working professional stage manager, do you consider that your work is usually as:
Freelance: contracts withstart and end date
Permanent employee: fulltime contract without enddate
Casual worker: daily/weeklycontracts
2013 CENSUS
2011 SURVEY
I am working…. (tick one only)
On a long-term contract for one employer 12.22% For one or two employers a year 23.33% For more than two employers a year 64.44%
Total on fixed term contracts 87.77%
On a long-term contract for one
employer
For one or two employers a year
For more than two employers a
year
Response Percent
Response Count
64.5% 46611.9% 8623.5% 170
Working part time/casualNot working (if you tick this box please go to Q12)
Considering the working week including Friday 15 February 2013 were you:
Answer Options
Working full time (show contract or at least 35hrs pw)
Considering the working week including Friday 15 February 2013 were you:
Working full time (showcontract or at least 35hrs pw)
Working part time/casual
Not working (if you tick thisbox please go to Q12)
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
90.4% 481
9.4% 503.4% 18
48
Teaching/trainingN/AOther work (please specify)
Considering the working week including Friday 15 February 2013, was this work (tick all that apply):
Answer Options
Professional stage management (on a professional show or event)
Considering the working week including Friday 15 February 2013, was this work (tick all that apply):
0.0%10.0%20.0%
30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%
80.0%90.0%
100.0%
Professional stagemanagement (on a
professional show orevent)
Teaching/training N/A
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
23.1% 10825.9% 12129.6% 13816.3% 765.1% 24
69Other (please specify)
DSMSMCSMCM
If stage management work, is this as:
Answer Options
ASM
If stage management work, is this as:
ASM
DSM
SM
CSM
CM
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
27.7% 13362.0% 298
10.4% 50
39
A show based in one theatreA site specific or other show (arena, pub or room not normally a theatre)Other (please specify)
If stage management work, was this for:
Answer Options
A touring show
If stage management work, was this for:
A touring show
A show based in one theatre
A site specific or other show(arena, pub or room notnormally a theatre)
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
54.3% 25823.2% 11017.7% 844.8% 23
42
Medium scaleStudio/small scaleFringeOther (please specify)
If stage management work was this show
Answer Options
Main house/No1 tour
If stage management work was this show
Main house/No1 tour
Medium scale
Studio/small scale
Fringe
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
65.2% 361
29.4% 163
4.9% 273.8% 212.3% 13
Below UK average pay (under £12.74 per hr - average UK full time pay: source BBC)Under minimum wage (under £6.19 per hr)Unpaid (voluntary/expenses)N/A
Considering all the hours that you expect to work in the week including Friday 15 February, do you consider your work to be (tick all that apply)
Answer Options
Full paid
Considering all the hours that you expect to work in the week including Friday 15 February, do you consider your work to be
(tick all that apply)
0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%
Full paid Under minimumwage (under £6.19
per hr)
N/A
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
57.6% 31928.9% 1606.9% 386.7% 37
NOUNSUREN/A
Considering the working week including Friday 15 February, was this work on an industry recognised contact? (eg ITC/Equity, TMA/Equity, BECTU, negotiated in-house
Answer Options
YES
Considering the working week including Friday 15 February, was this work on an industry recognised contact? (eg ITC/Equity,
TMA/Equity, BECTU, negotiated in-house agreement
YES
NO
UNSURE
N/A
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
3.2% 1846.7% 26144.5% 2493.6% 202.0% 11
43-70 hours15-43 hoursUnder 15 hoursDid not work
In the working week including Friday 15 February, how many hours will you have worked
Answer Options
More than 70
In the working week including Friday 15 February, how many hours will you have worked
More than 70
43-70 hours
15-43 hours
Under 15 hours
Did not work
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
24.3% 13515.9% 886.3% 351.4% 846.5% 25824.7% 137Buy out
Overtime paymentsSpecial payments (eg performance or in costume)BonusNone of these
For the work in the week including Friday 15 February, do you expect to receive (tick all that apply)
Answer Options
Touring allowance (eg subsistence)
For the work in the week including Friday 15 February, do you expect to receive (tick all that apply)
0.0%5.0%
10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%50.0%
Touringallowance
(egsubsistence)
Overtimepayments
Specialpayments
(egperformance
or incostume)
Bonus None ofthese
Buy out
2013 CENSUS
Answer Options
Answer Options
Response Count
615Under 4 5-12 13-20 21-28 29-36 37-44 45-5224.70% 35.10% 17.10% 10.20% 6.50% 2.60% 2.60%
Considering the year 16 February 2012 - 15 February 2013, how many weeks did you spend NOT working in stage management (eg 'resting', temporary stop-gap jobs)
Under 4
5-12
13-20
21-28
29-36
37-44
45-52
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
60.7% 38837.4% 2390.9% 62.3% 15
274
NOUNSUREN/ASpecify role(s)
Thinking about stage management contracts in the past year, in any were you fulfilling more than one role? (eg Acting ASM, SM/DSM, ASM/Costume, SM/tech,
Answer Options
YES
Thinking about stage management contracts in the past year, in any were you fulfilling more than one role? (eg Acting ASM,
SM/DSM, ASM/Costume, SM/tech, SM/musician/singer) (tick all that apply)
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
YES NO UNSURE N/A
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
11.1% 5650.4% 25415.1% 761.2% 624.2% 122
NOIn some casesUNSUREN/A
If you answered YES to the previous question, do you consider that you received extra pay for the additional role(s) (tick all that apply)
Answer Options
YES
If you answered YES to the previous question, do you consider that you received extra pay for the additional role(s) (tick all that
apply)
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
YES NO In some cases UNSURE N/A
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
29.0% 17710.3% 636.7% 4154.0% 330
NOUNSUREN/A
If you are working or have worked on low pay in the past year, do you think you will have gained experience or value to your career by doing the job
Answer Options
YES
If you are working or have worked on low pay in the past year, do you think you will have gained experience or value to your career
by doing the job
YES
NO
UNSURE
N/A
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
0.9% 645.6% 2925.5% 3532.5% 20810.9% 704.5% 29No view
Too manyAbout rightThere shouldnt be any except trainingShould not be any at all
Regardless of whether you personally received low pay, what do you think about the number of LOW PAY SM jobs available
Answer Options
Too few
Regardless of whether you personally received low pay, what do you think about the number of LOW PAY SM jobs available
Too few
Too many
About right
There shouldnt be anyexcept training
Should not be any at all
No view
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
0.3% 219.1% 1223.3% 2141.9% 26830.8% 1974.7% 30No view
Too manyAbout rightThere shouldnt be any except trainingShould not be any at all
Regardless of whether you personally have received no pay, what do you think about the number of NO PAY SM opportunities available
Answer Options
Too few
Regardless of whether you personally have received no pay, what do you think about the number of NO PAY SM opportunities
available
Too few
Too many
About right
There shouldnt be anyexcept training
Should not be any at all
No view
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
22.1% 14125.5% 16314.4% 9235.8% 2292.2% 14
MAYBE but complicated to arrangeUNLIKELYNO could not be sharedUNSURE
Thinking about the job you are doing on Friday 15 February, or the last job you did, do you think your job could be shared between more than one person
Answer Options
YES could be shared
Thinking about the job you are doing on Friday 15 February, or the last job you did, do you think your job could be shared
between more than one person
YES could be shared
MAYBE but complicated toarrange
UNLIKELY
NO could not be shared
UNSURE
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
7.5% 463.2% 200.2% 189.4% 551
13
YES Permanent contract (full time without end date)In a job shareN/AOther (please specify)
Are you a parent or other carer working in stage management (tick all that apply)
Answer Options
YES Freelance (full or part time)
Are you a parent or other carer working in stage management (tick all that apply)
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
YES Freelance (fullor part time)
YES Permanentcontract (full timewithout end date)
In a job share N/A
2013 CENSUS
0 1 2 3 4 5no view or N/A
4+5 2+3
4 6 27 78 164 334 15 498 105
3 10 34 78 175 321 7 496 112
7 19 42 107 173 271 8 444 149
0 1 2 3 4 5no view or N/A
4+5 2+3
6 25 37 127 193 223 11 416 164
9 23 48 112 203 217 8 420 160
11 29 60 146 212 153 12 365 206
Answer Options
How well do/did you feel the contribution of your team to the show was/is valued by: 0=not at all 5=excellently well
Do/did you feel your position is/was respected by: 0=not respected 5=very respected
How do/did you feel about communication between you and your line manager/production company by: 0=very bad 5=very good
How well do/did you feel the contribution of your team to the show was/is valued by: 0=not at all 5=excellently well
Do/did you feel your position is/was respected by: 0=not respected 5=very respected
How do/did you feel about communication between you and your line manager/production company by: 0=very bad 5=very good
your Production Company
Thinking about the job you are doing on Friday 15 February, or the last job you did, please select your answer from the drop down tables
Answer Options
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
7.2% 4620.2% 12816.2% 10325.2% 16050.6% 321
In 2012In 20113-5 years agoNONE
When have you taken any vocational training courses (courses when you are working - not full time education) (tick all that apply)
Answer Options
In 2013
When have you taken any vocational training courses (courses when you are working - not full time education) (tick all that apply)
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
In 2013 In 2012 In 2011 3-5 years ago NONE
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
14.3% 9125.0% 15918.7% 11924.3% 15530.6% 195
YES not sure whenYES if I could get funding helpCANT AFFORD time or moneyNO
Do you plan to take any vocational training courses (tick all that apply)
Answer Options
YES 2013
Do you plan to take any vocational training courses (tick all that apply)
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
YES 2013 YES not surewhen
YES if I couldget funding help
CANT AFFORDtime or money
NO
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
21.5% 13715.9% 10164.7% 412
YES over two years agoNO
Has any company you work for offered to pay, paid for any training for you, or contributed to the cost or provided training (tick all that apply)
Answer Options
YES in the past two years
Has any company you work for offered to pay, paid for any training for you, or contributed to the cost or provided training
(tick all that apply)
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
YES in the past two years YES over two years ago NO
2013 CENSUS
Response Percent
Response Count
5.3% 3444.8% 28528.9% 18415.1% 962.8% 183.0% 19Unsure
OptimisticNeither optimistic nor pessimisticPessimisticVery Pessimistic
Are you generally optimistic about the future of stage management (thinking particularly about job availability, pay, conditions)
Answer Options
Very optimistic
Are you generally optimistic about the future of stage management (thinking particularly about job availability, pay,
conditions)
Very optimistic
Optimistic
Neither optimistic norpessimistic
Pessimistic
Very Pessimistic
Unsure
2013 CENSUS
Response Count
261
In addition, the SMA is considering a new award as part of the 2013 National Stage Management Awards, for the: 'Best Stage Managed Show of 2012'. This can have been a theatre production, a site specific show, a premiere, a revivial etc. Which show would you nominate? (Any show other than those you have worked on)
Answer Options
2013 CENSUS
Response Count
152
Is there anything else you would like to add
Answer Options
2013 CENSUS
STAGE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
www.stagemanagementassociaiton.co.uk