Our mission
A safer stage starts with honest conversations
Director Notes is a community-driven platform where theater professionals can share candid, anonymous feedback about the directors, choreographers, music directors, and stage managers they've worked with.
Why we exist
Theater is built on trust. Between directors and performers, between collaborators and creators. But for too long, the power dynamics of the industry have made it difficult to speak honestly about unsafe, unprepared, or exclusionary leadership.
Director Notes exists to change that. We believe every performer and crew member deserves to know what they're walking into before they join a production. By aggregating anonymous, structured reviews, we give the community the information it needs to make informed decisions, and give professionals a clear signal about what great leadership looks like.
We are not a callout platform. We are a community accountability tool built with care, nuance, and a deep respect for the complexity of creative collaboration.
How anonymity works
Every review on Director Notes is displayed without any identifying information. Here's exactly what we do and don't store:
Your name is never shown
Reviews appear publicly with no author name, username, or profile link. There is no way for a reader — or the reviewed professional — to trace a review back to you.
An account is required to submit
We require an account to prevent spam and ensure reviews come from real people in the industry. Your email is stored securely and is never visible to other users or to the professionals being reviewed.
We don't sell or share your data
Your account information is used solely to authenticate you and prevent abuse. We do not sell, share, or expose your personal information to any third party.
Reviews are linked to accounts internally
We maintain an internal link between reviews and accounts to enforce our community standards and remove abusive content. This link is never surfaced publicly.
Community standards
Director Notes is only as valuable as the quality of its reviews. We ask every contributor to follow these standards:
Be honest and specific
Vague reviews help no one. Describe what actually happened — what the rehearsals felt like, how notes were delivered, whether safety protocols were followed. Concrete details make reviews credible and useful.
Be fair
Rate based on your direct professional experience. Don't review someone you haven't worked with. Don't submit multiple reviews for the same production. One experience, one review.
No personal attacks
Critique professional behavior, not personal characteristics. Reviews that target someone's identity, appearance, or personal life will be removed. Focus on the working environment they created.
No defamation
Reviews must reflect your genuine experience. Do not fabricate incidents or exaggerate events. False reviews harm real people and undermine the credibility of the entire platform.
Protect third parties
Do not name other cast or crew members in your review. This platform is for reviewing the professional listed, not for airing grievances about colleagues.
One account per person
Creating multiple accounts to submit additional reviews is a violation of our terms and will result in removal of all associated reviews and accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Who can submit a review?
Anyone who has worked professionally with the person being reviewed: performers, crew, musicians, stage managers, designers, and other collaborators. You must create a free account to submit.
Can I review someone I haven't worked with?
No. Reviews must be based on direct professional experience. Submitting a review for someone you haven't worked with violates our community standards and may result in account suspension.
Can a professional request removal of a review?
Professionals can flag a review for moderation if they believe it violates our community standards. We review all flags carefully. We do not remove reviews simply because the subject disagrees with the assessment.
How are scores calculated?
Each professional's scores are a straight average of all submitted reviews across five categories: Overall, Inclusivity, Preparedness, Physical Safety, and Emotional Safety. Scores update in real time as new reviews are submitted.
Can I edit or delete my review after submitting?
Currently, reviews cannot be edited after submission. If you believe your review contains an error or needs to be removed, please contact us and we'll review the request.
Is Director Notes affiliated with any union or theater organization?
No. Director Notes is an independent community platform. We are not affiliated with Equity, any union, theater company, or industry organization.
How do I add a professional who isn't listed?
We're working on a community submission feature. For now, contact us with the professional's name, role, and organization and we'll add them to the database.
Ready to contribute?
Your experience matters. Every honest review makes the industry a little safer for the next person.