It may seem as though anyone could do the job of a property master. After all, it is all about sourcing a few items and making sure they are in the right place at the right time.
However, whilst it may seem that way, there is actually far more to the job than that and therefore whether you need someone to source stage props or film props, the right prop master can be very important.
For instance, on stage, certain objects may actually need to use forced perspective to achieve the desired effect. Whilst an inexperienced person may simply think finding a certain item will be enough, the right personnel will know that the stage props used will actually have to be larger or smaller than normal or even completely different to something that is authentic.
Authenticity is also something that prop masters will be well aware of. The difference between one item and the next can be huge. Even something as simple a knife may need a huge amount of consideration, whether as stage or movie props. Not only is it important to find an items that really would have been used in that exact time and place, but also one that would have been favoured or been able to be afforded by a specific character.
The property manager has a very important and very complicated job and their tasks are ones that really should not be overlooked. If you cannot afford the right one, there are also companies that can help and by simply explaining the items you need and some background about the setting and the characters, they can become your prop master for you, allowing your own runners to simply ensure that any prop is in the right place at the right time. Just make sure you have someone who can identify every prop needed and who knows how to use and store them in the right way.