Interested in being a stage manage for one of the PMC shows? Below is what we’re looking for.
A stage manager for a community magic show is essentially the invisible hand that keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Their core job is coordination — making sure every performer, prop, and technical element lands in the right place at the right time.
Before the show, they build the running order in collaboration with the producers, collect technical riders from each performer (music cues, lighting needs, table/chair setups, blackout requirements), and run tech rehearsals to iron out transitions. They also create a show bible — a document with every cue, prop note, and contingency plan.
During the show, they’re typically calling cues from the wings or a booth — coordinating with the lighting board op and sound op in real time, giving performers their “five minutes” warnings, and managing prop handoffs. For a magic show specifically, this includes keeping non-essential crew away from certain areas (to protect secrets), making sure reset props are struck and replaced between acts, and handling any misdirection setups that require backstage coordination.
Performer wrangling is a big part of it too — getting people to the wings on time, managing nervous energy, and being the calm center when something goes sideways.
Key traits for this role: unflappable temperament, discretion (magic secrets are real), strong communication, and the ability to make judgment calls fast when a performer runs long or a prop fails.
For a community show specifically, they often wear extra hats — handling volunteer crew, double-checking that borrowed or homemade props are show-ready, and bridging gaps that a professional production would have dedicated people for.