General Manager
What does a General Manager do?
What does a General Manager do?
A GENERAL MANAGER, also referred to as a GM, is hired to help strategize and plan the details of a production to make sure cost and schedules are kept in line and supports the PRODUCER’S vision. GMs supervise the show’s financial planning; oversee administrative operations, employee management/human resources, and labor relations; and negotiate contracts. There are GENERAL MANAGERS specifically for productions as well as GENERAL MANAGERS for venues.
Skills
Excel | Accounting | Contracts | Communications | Organization | Problem-Solving | Strategic Thinking | Project Management | Flexibility | Leadership | Detail-Oriented | Human Resources | Labor Relations
Pathways
Assistant General Manager | Company Manager | Finance | Management | Box Office | Internships | Fellowships
How to become a General Manager
How to become a General Manager
General managers usually gain their experience in higher education through taking finance classes, technical design, theatrical management, or arts administration. Some companies offer specific fellowships, mentor programs, apprenticeships, or shadowing programs for young theatre professionals looking to become general managers. The skills of a GM are specific to the organization or production where they end up working; therefore, it is rare to find a general management program at a university or college.
Union/Organization Affiliation
Resources
- Playbill’s Theatre Jobs: What Does a Broadway General Manager Do?
- Off-Broadway Alliance’s General Managers
- Get In Media’s General Manager
CTG’s Working in Theatre: Associate General Manager
ShowbizU: General Managers- Carl Pasbjerg, Frank Scardino & Tim Kashani
The Producer's Perspective Podcast Episode-Wendy Orshan