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Pro Sound Web: The term “bedside manner” is usually associated with doctors, but I think it’s equally appropriate for any situation where customers are being served in perhaps a technical way and communication between parties is essential.
I think this is an invaluable skill. I struggle with this a lot. Bedside manner can be boiled down to merely having the skill to get people to trust you earnestly rapidly. I don't like the idea of practicing through role- playing. I know a lot of people who think that they have excellent bedside manner but are in fact coming off either condescending or insincere. I thinking coming off as fake is worse that not being able to connect right away. I think if you come prepared and are sincere you will develop a bedside manner through experience.
I agree that having "bedside manner" is an invaluable skill to have. Often, as people who work "behind the scenes," many people working in theatre are not used to this type of interaction with customers. Perhaps they are used to interaction with producers and directors, but most are not used to interacting with audience members. I think the audience is the key concern for practitioners in theatre having effective bedside manner. Just last night, as the audience was waiting in the unheated first floor of Studio 201, the box office staff needed to have good bedside manner and keep the patrons happy and patient. For people that will have any potential whatsoever to come in contact with an audience, honing these types of skills is a good idea.
I agree with Jess that this is a skill that theatre people need to have in order to interact wit audience members, but I think that it goes beyond that. We should all show impeccable bedside manner when working with fellow collaborators and colleagues, not just the people paying for tickets. I want clients to trust me just as much as I want my coworkers to. Theatre is a highly collaborative industry, and it's important for all involved to be aware of the needs and priorities of other departments in order for a whole production to run smoothly. As a stage manager, good bedside manner is invaluable everyday, no matter what the interaction or context is.
3 comments:
I think this is an invaluable skill. I struggle with this a lot. Bedside manner can be boiled down to merely having the skill to get people to trust you earnestly rapidly. I don't like the idea of practicing through role- playing. I know a lot of people who think that they have excellent bedside manner but are in fact coming off either condescending or insincere. I thinking coming off as fake is worse that not being able to connect right away. I think if you come prepared and are sincere you will develop a bedside manner through experience.
I agree that having "bedside manner" is an invaluable skill to have. Often, as people who work "behind the scenes," many people working in theatre are not used to this type of interaction with customers. Perhaps they are used to interaction with producers and directors, but most are not used to interacting with audience members. I think the audience is the key concern for practitioners in theatre having effective bedside manner. Just last night, as the audience was waiting in the unheated first floor of Studio 201, the box office staff needed to have good bedside manner and keep the patrons happy and patient. For people that will have any potential whatsoever to come in contact with an audience, honing these types of skills is a good idea.
I agree with Jess that this is a skill that theatre people need to have in order to interact wit audience members, but I think that it goes beyond that. We should all show impeccable bedside manner when working with fellow collaborators and colleagues, not just the people paying for tickets. I want clients to trust me just as much as I want my coworkers to. Theatre is a highly collaborative industry, and it's important for all involved to be aware of the needs and priorities of other departments in order for a whole production to run smoothly. As a stage manager, good bedside manner is invaluable everyday, no matter what the interaction or context is.
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