What to take backstage?

Question

so I am in a show and I dont know what to take backstage with me whilst i am not on and during the break? any ideas? plzz help! I am not thinking of stuff liek make-up, i got that. more like ipods and what not! lol. any ideas would be appreciated. thanks!

Answer 1

The big rule is to be totally silent backstage.  Even whispers and shifting around can often be heard in the house.

The traditional thing for many actors was playing gin rummy.  You can do it silently and it plays quickly or hands can be traded off when you have to go on.  Not so common any more with the advent of personal gamming devices, ipods and cell phones.



Listening to music on an ipod is not a good idea, your earphones will block you being able to hear what is going on onstage and you could miss your entrance!

Lots of actors bring cell phones or hand held games backstage.  Be sure to have the sound turned off!!!!!

Another common backstage activity is kniting.  You can do it by feel and it is silent unless you drop your needles.

I read backstage.  I can hear the lines that way and can put my book away with plenty of time to get ready for my entrance.

Answer 2

If there is a green room where you are presenting your production, you should take something silent like an iPod (unless you're wearing a body mic that will pick up the noise) or something else quiet to do. However, it is best if there is a television projection of what is going on onstage backstage then you should watch that. Most likely, the assistant stage manager will be watching from something like that and then you can watch something and know when to go back on.

Answer 3

honestly don't take nothing backstage...besides your costume and makeup..a lot of things can be heard in the audience while people mess with things backstage plus you need to listen for your cues. On top of that during break most the time your director will be giving advice for the next part or what not. So my advice take nothing back stage even if you have dressing rooms. You could take a book or a notepad if you wanted but nothing else would be good.

Answer 4

The worst thing to take is an ipod! Because acyually,today,i had rehearsals 4 my play Hairspray and I am playing Penny. My best friend Stephanie is playing Amber and she brought her ipod with her backstage and almost missed her scene! The only thing that u really need to bring with u is a cell phone so u can call ur parents asap incase something bad comes up like lets say u spill water on ur costume,or ur having ur period and u need more tampons,or u fall and sprain ur ankle,or ur costume comes loose! Thats all u really need. you'd be surprised on how quickly ur part will come on! I do these things all the time!

Answer 5

♪makeup

♪ ipod/mp3/dock

♪colouring books and crayons (no markers)

♪but honestly you shouldnt take anything besides an ipod and your makeup so you can use that time to get into character, ipods will help you just tune everything els out and music seems to put me in different moods for the song so i would reccomend that along with whatever you normally do to get in character

Answer 6

Well if you want to bring something(s) important to you, atleast put them in a bag, and when you put it down make sure you put it somewhere maybe no one will take it. Although you could risk losing things, this happend to me.

I put my stuff down for a split second to help someone, came back and it was gone! I was like wtf? Haha.

Becareful though! You never know what may happen.