Circle Roles: MC and Stage Manager

Spark monthly circles are open and creative events. Each month we have an MC and a stage manager to facilitate our ritual. These roles are rotated among the members of our community. Let a member of the core know if you're interested in MCing a future ritual.

MC Responsibilities

The MC (Mistress/Master of Ceremonies) is the magical guide for Spark's monthly ritual. This person leads our journey into sacred space and manages the energy of the evening. In particular, the MC is expected to do the following:

  • Announce the ritual in advance

    Send a message to the Spark email list a week or so before the ritual to remind people and generate excitement. Recruit help as needed and inform the community if you're planning to do something new (see ritual format).

  • Assign roles

    Depending on the ritual you've decided to create, select direction callers, altar builders, smudgers, a heartbeat drummer, and any other musicians you need. Work with the stage manager to ensure that a door person, orientation leader, and chief welcomer have been selected as well.

  • Ensure that newcomers feel included

    When assigning roles, try to find a balance between relying on regulars and incorporating newcomers. Throughout the evening, keep an eye on what's happening and try to ensure that new people are being engaged in the ritual.

  • Select an opening chant

    It is generally a good idea to kick-start the ritual with a pre-selected chant, which has been taught to a few people and, if you wish, shared with an opening drummer.

  • Guide the opening and closing rituals

    Tap into the energy and find the right moment to start and the right moment to end. For full details, see the schedule below.

  • Mind the vibe

    While everyone is empowered to influence the energy of the circle, the MC in particular is expected to keep things on track. Throughout the evening, monitor what is happening in the circle. Help the ritual find a balance between meeting the needs of the individual and the needs of the community. Ensure that there is room for personal expression and support for each person's process, yet try not to let one person's needs take over. Stay in communication with the drummers and feel free to make requests of other participants as needed. Try to do all of this as unobtrusively as possible.

  • Choose a theme if desired

    Sometimes the MC leads us through the familiar ritual format, and sometimes the MC decides to try something new. It's completely up to you!

Ritual Format

While the MC has the freedom to experiment with the format of the ritual, there is a general approach that we've come to trust at Spark. Following that approach, the MC guides us through the following steps:

  • At 6:45pm, the MC announces the beginning of our silent time and often suggests that participants reflect on a particular intention for the evening.
  • At 7pm, we begin with a heartbeat drum, often accompanied by one other instrument (flute, dulcimer, etc.).
  • At this time, participants are smudged before entering the space.
  • Most people start moving in the circle, focusing their energy and modeling appropriate behavior for newcomers.
  • When the energy feels right, the MC encourages people to circle up by holding hands.
  • The MC welcomes everyone.
  • We chant "Om" three times.
  • We speak our names into the circle, one at a time.
  • We ask "Who is here for the first time?" and heartily welcome newcomers.
  • We call the directions, starting in the east (air, fire, water, earth, spirit).
  • We sing an opening chant.
  • And away we go! The MC minds the energy for the next two hours, subtly guiding it as needed.
  • Shortly after 9pm, the MC starts watching for the right moment to end the ritual.
  • Then, when the energy feels right, the MC once again encourages people to circle up by holding hands.
  • We release the directions in reverse order (spirit, earth, water, fire, air).
  • We chant "Om" three times.
  • We speak our names into the circle, one at a time.
  • The MC encourages people to ground their energy.

 

Stage Manager Responsibilities

The job of the stage manager is to keep Spark's monthly events on schedule. In particular, this person is expected to do the following:

  • Arrive by 4:45pm and stay until at least 10:15pm

  • Supervise setup and cleanup

    Manage the process and delegate as needed to ensure everything is done on time. Please do not get bogged down in the details of doing too much yourself. The boxes of Spark stuff are in the basement under the hall. Borrow the basement key from the hall staff before setup and make sure it's returned at the end of the evening.

  • Give appropriate (and audible) reminders of the schedule

    Publicly announce important transitions during the day. Give subtle signals to the drum class leader, the MC, and the orientation leader at appropriate intervals as well. (See schedule.)
  • Work collaboratively with other leaders
    Coordinate with the MC as needed so you are aware of who is responsible for altars and any other special needs during set-up. Ensure that a door person, orientation leader, and chief welcomer have been selected from among the experienced people who are present that month and feeling up to the task. 

  • Protect our efforts to create sacred space

    Politely prevent people from disrupting the energy in the room by ensuring that there are clear delineations in the day (i.e., setup is separate from the potluck, cleanup is separate from the afterglow, etc.).

  • Troubleshoot as needed

    For example, assign someone to improvise an altar from available materials, if necessary.

Schedule

It is the stage manager's job to do the following and keep us as close as possible to our intended schedule:

  • 4:45pm - Arrive and ensure that the doors are open.
  • 5:00pm - Ensure that the drum class ends on time, the rope lights are laid down for the circle, and tables are set up for the potluck. Encourage people to put food in the appropriate place.
  • 5:15pm - Ensure that set-up is done and the potluck begins with a blessing.
  • 6:00pm - Ensure that potluck cleanup begins and that altars are being built.
  • 6:30pm - Ensure that set-up is complete and that orientation begins on time. Potluck cleanup should be completed in the next 15 minutes as well.
  • 6:45pm - Ensure that orientation ends and the silent time for personal preparation begins.
  • 7:00pm - Ensure that the MC starts the ritual.
  • 7:00 - 9:00pm - Relax and have fun!
  • 9:15pm - Ensure that the MC is aware of the time and watching for the right moment to end the ritual.
  • 9:30pm - Watch the clock during announcements to make sure they don't take more than 15 minutes.
  • 9:45pm - Ensure that announcements end. Begin cleanup and supervise the process.
  • 10:15pm - Ensure that cleanup ends on time. Remind people of the policy for afterglow ("you can stay until the last core person needs to go home").