Backstage Etiquette

Backstage Etiquette tips from a Pro below! 👇
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✨ Take the space you need without negatively impacting the space of others. 👉🏼 You don’t need to make yourself small, take up the space you need. AND, don’t spread out in a way that takes away from or impedes on the space of others who are near you. Backstage is a shared space, remember kids, sharing is caring.
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✨ Come prepared with your own stuff. 👉🏼 Everyone has a moment of “shit I ran out of xyz”. It’s okay to need to borrow something from time to time. BUT. It’s important to have your own stuff. No one wants to babysit and provide for a consistently underprepared performer.
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✨ Be yourself, and maintain your professionalism. 👉🏼 We’re all artists here, which means we all have personality. Share that personality! Let others get to know you! AND this is still a professional working space that we should be mindful in.
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✨ Be mindful of where you spray products. 👉🏼 Hairspray, pasty glue, perfume should be used carefully. Backstage is usually pretty small and not well ventilated. Particulates from sprays easily get all over the place. No one wants pasty glue getting on their stuff. If you MUST use sprays, try to find an isolated area and aim your spray directly onto the surface you’re aiming for.
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✨ Watch your mouth and your attitude. 👉🏼 Cursing, dirty jokes, and venting about life are all natural backstage behaviors. It’s a fine line between those things and shit talking and having a bad attitude. It’s okay if you had a bad day, but check your attitude at the door and pay attention to what you say. This could be the very thing that costs you gigs or gets you gigs.
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✨ Say hello to everyone, introduce yourself. 👉🏼 these are your coworkers for the night and they deserve to be acknowledged. Who knows, you might make a new friend!
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✨ Be mindful with backstage photos, get consent or wait till others are out of frame. 👉🏼 Backstage is private from the public for a gaggle of reasons, don’t disrespect the privacy of your cast mates getting dressed with mindless photo and video that they didn’t consent to.
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Whether you’re new to performing or a seasoned professional, these things are ALWAYS good to keep in mind when backstage. Take care of yourself, take care of your space, and take care of those around you. This will help keep the dressing room vibes high, and your bookings looking good.