Backstage's topics - tribe.net

contacting TV & Talk Shows Booking

SierraNightTide — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:12:17 GMT

How do I find the contact information for shows such as

The View
Oprah
Jay Leno
Jimmy Kimel
Carson

posted in Backstage - 3 replies

Butt out of my Theatre?!

stardustsweeper — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:49:27 GMT

My current show of "Candida" at A.C.T. has me a bit sad today.
Apparently there is a law "in the air" regarding smoking on stage.
AKA "no depiction of smoking on stage"
It appears that we have gone to some medieval world where we cannot have what some people consider unpleasant to be allowed into our theatres.

A character in Shaw’s play, Lexy, has a moment musing about the lovely Candida to a secretary. He lights a cigarette and gazes deeply into a frame photo of the women as he reclines in Candida’s husband’s chair.

I saw the moment and loved it. Eeeeeh! Nope can’t have that. Might have to reblock it by the time it hits the stage.

Having seen the moment I’m sad -- no-- ercked at having lost it.
I weep for the lose of it and so many other moments.
Yes, cigarettes are a bother on stage.
The fake smoke, the fact that they break, Wa-wah.
Not enough golden lining!

Anyone else heard of this trash?

www.denverpost.com/ci_4595891
media.www.dailyvidette.com/medi...shtml

It’s already in places outside of the US as well

And because I refuse to end on such a blah note. (Happy-happy)

Sweeney Todd has been extended for two more weeks.
So you can come and see mass murder….just no one smoking…

posted in Backstage - 16 replies

black light use in theater

duckietime — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:39:25 GMT

So I'm working on a show at my small non-profit theater. And we are wanting to incorporate black lights into the show. However, we have not much of a budget to work with and was wondering if anyone had any ideas on making this happen. The costume and set designer wants to use black light paint on the back drop and costumes. So we would need enough light to get the effect.

I'd appreciate any ideas that anyone has.

Thanks!
Patti

posted in Backstage - 5 replies

Freelancer needed 4/18/2008, 4/20/2008, Southern VA Area

threadclimber — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:02:36 GMT

The company I work for is looking for a freelancer to work two four hour calls in Goshen, VA .

Friday 04/18/2008 11:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday 04/20/2008 11:30am - 3:30pm

It's a pretty cake gig. We just need one person to help our lead to set up a small lighting rig. The rig will include a stage wash and some technobeams on a truss supported with crank stands.

Message me privately if you are interested. I'll need a resume.

posted in Backstage - 1 reply

sound guy jokes

badgerman — Thu, 11 May 2006 06:18:07 GMT

Q. whats the difference between a sound guy and god?
A. god dosent think hes a sound guy.

Q. what do you call a basement full of sound guys?
A. a wine cellar.

Q. what a sound guy use for birth control?
A. his personality.

thank you all be here all week. please try the liver

posted in Backstage - 16 replies

Shadow Projecting from behind a Screen

Carlie — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:51:17 GMT

Hi, I'd like to design a very simple set for an original Australian play and I'd like to use slide or digital images. I've no clue about projectors but I'd heard that instead of projecting onto the stage from where the audience sits (projector is noisy and images are usually blurry), I can do it from behind a screen, and effectively backstage. This will create a shadow projection and hopefully not interfere with the actors on stage. Is this info correct, and if so, can anyone suggest what kind of equipment I'll need? Type of screen/ projector etc.? Cheers!

posted in Backstage - 2 replies

New SF Theatre Space in the Throbbing Theatre District! Great for classes, film screenings, film/photo shoots/rehearsals/parties,auditions

ty-techslave — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:41:39 GMT

55 seat theatre with 20'x12' stage. Sound Proofed with Piano. Projector.

Great for classes, rehearsals, or productions, auditions, film/photo shoots, private parties.

5 blocks off Bart in the exciting theatre district.

Full theatre lighting system with 16 channel light board, 12 channel Mackie sound board and excellent sound system, 5 disc cd changer, dvd player, dual cassette player, projector, microphones, mic stands, piano, comfortable seats, dressing room with mirrors and lights, large stage with 3 possible entrances.

Email for booking and rates

Check out the website calendar for open booking dates and map of the area.
http://www.stagewerx.org

contact us at
heyyouguys@stagewerx.org
533 Sutter st. at Powell San Francisco California 94102

burners can own theatres too!

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Holiday Stuff

Doctor_Who — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 19:31:53 GMT

Hey folks, I'm not one for being PC, and I'd like to address the diversity of my Tribe in alphabetical order .

Have a Happy and/or Merry:
Christmas
Hanukkah
Kwanzaa
Las Posadas
Ramadan
Solstice

Your Mod,
Dr.

posted in Backstage - 3 replies

backstage SPAM policy

Doctor_Who — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:45:09 GMT

Due to recent incidents on other tribes I moderate I've decided to spread the NO SPAM policy to all of them. It's very complicated and a long read but it goes like this:

Don't SPAM!

If you wanna advert your business or product use a listing and add this tribe to it. I am willing to make concessions on this policy if whatever is directly related to the topic of the tribe. But blatant spamming, no.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Projector Rental

marcy — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:47:34 GMT

We have the following available for immediate long term rental:

(3) Eiki LC-SX6 1400x1050 5800lm LCD projectors with mounts
(3) .8 Lenses
(3) Watchout Shuttle Display Computers

Complete Watchout Projection Control systems are available as well.

Please let us know if you need anything.

Personal Creations, Inc.
12336 Marshall Street
Studio Suite 1A
Culver City, CA 90230

www.personalcreations.net

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

DOUBLE EDGE THEATRE - International physical theatre school

Adam — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 02:37:48 GMT

DOUBLE EDGE THEATRE - International physical theatre school

In Western Massachusetts a truly original physical theatre set on a 105 acre farm land. Circus, fire arts, stilt walking, object work and improvisation. All actors combine performing or training with technical skills. The actors run the lights, the sound, the costumes, the scene changes. Check it out:

www.doubleedgetheatre.org or tribes.tribe.net/doubleedge

Why not come and train?

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Projector help

duckietime — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 00:43:13 GMT

Hi everyone,

I work at a small non profit theater and we are looking into purchasing a projector. Unortunately I know nothing about projectors and we want to use it for multiple purposes.

We are wanting to use it for projection straight from a computer/laptop (such as powerpoint presentations, etc.) and also be able to use it for showing DVD's either from a DVD player or from a laptop. I'm not sure if the source makes a difference or if projectors are pretty much compatible with everything.

I also know nothing about quality or all of the terminology used. How do I know how large it magnifies....etc.

If anyone has any ideas or advice on what I should be looking for, I would greatly, greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

posted in Backstage - 5 replies

Multimeter Suggestions

threadclimber — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 01:52:48 GMT

Hey Everyone,

The time has come for me to purchase my own multi meter. I just picked up a great, steady, LD gig and I'm going to need to make the investment. Ther are quite a few options out there and I'm not sure what to buy.

I'm looking to spend under $200, but I want one that will be reliable. A clamp would be nice, but not neccesary. Any suggestions?

posted in Backstage - 2 replies

Holiday Greetings

Doctor_Who — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 23:30:46 GMT

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an
environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender
neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable
traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your
choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others,
or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all and a fiscally
successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset
of the generally accepted calendar year 2000, but not without due respect for the
calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make
America great (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country
or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the
race, creed, color, age, physical disability, religious faith, choice of computer platform,
or sexual preference of the wishee.

Legal Disclaimer: By accepting this agreement, you are accepting these terms.

This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no
alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually
implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by
law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher.

This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good
tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting,
whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance
of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Sincerely,
The Dr.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

a place to trade

grinn — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:20:23 GMT

I personally have wasted too much time as an actor not acting, a writer not writing, a musician not playing, a performer not perfroming, etc. etc. etc. - We may somertimes have to make our money doing other things but there's no reason we have to ever turn our backs on what we love and what we do best. You've got a play? We've got the actors! You need an accompianist? When? Let's use this site to our best advantage. For anyone who want's to sell a script, start a company, make a movie, play in a band, direct a play, welcome...you've got a stage, he's got a light, I've got some chairs... It's Showtime!!!

tribes.tribe.net/showtime

posted in Backstage - 1 reply

Bench Focus Issues

jbrinke — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 03:04:21 GMT

I'm not much of a newbie to the land of bench focusing, however after spending the last two weeks doing nothing but cleaning and benching for a few theaters around town I have a couple of questions...
First - is there someway to find the optimal distance for focusing - should the beam be a certain size, does it vary by unit. I'm just not sure.
Second - on several of the Source 4 units, I would center the lamp, tighten the ring, and begin to run from peak to flat, however, with each twist of the flatness knob, the lamp would get closer to the 6 o'clock position of the circle. Some of these I was able to take the cap out, work it into position, and re-insert it into the unit with some success... it was as if the base of the lamp had an angle to it. Is this common in the S4's (or other units that I haven't run into?) and is there anything that can be done about it (some I was able to fix, some I couldn't - just didn't have the time to futz with each one)
Third - lamps, I spend several days fighting with a Shakespeare Inventory (which really left me wishing for the 360Q screw bases... I'm not sure Altman could have made a worse unit if they'd tried... but I digress) this inventory was split between lamps, some with FLK's and some with GLA's
While the GLA's fit, they were significantly harder to align, and still not pretty when done, is it possible that while the GLA fits in the Shakespeare's the optics aren't set up for it? - same deal with the new compact filament HPL's from USHIO - the smaller lamp is nice, but i'm not sure the center of the lamp is able to reach the focal point of the source 4 reflector...

any thoughts?

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Leprechaun Papers

Doctor_Who — Wed, 17 May 2006 18:01:36 GMT

I've tried googling Leprechaun and I havent been able to come up with a parent company or even an officlal website.

Anyways one of my clients has one of these awfull systems, to include pole dimmers and what loosely resembles a lighting controller. As is typical with this board, it's developed a gremlin and I need the supporting documents to figure out what is going on [and if its not just better to put a hammer through it].

I'm looking for Operator Manuals and wiring schematics for both the controller and the dimmers, if available. If anyone can point me in the right direction, you would have my sincerest gratitude.

posted in Backstage - 2 replies

video projection for live performance

slash — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 21:34:17 GMT

I am on-staff as a technician at a bay area theatre. Many directors want to use video projection in their shows, and I inherited the theatre's existing method for running projection during performances: straight off of Final Cut Pro into a projector. My problem is this: I find Final Cut to be a clumsy and error-prone way to run projection for shows, particularly as I turn over the running of shows to overhire board ops of varying experience and aptitude. Does anyone have an idea as to the best (perhaps standard) way of running video projection for live theatre? I thought of burning shows to a DVD with chapters as individual cues. Is this the best there is?

posted in Backstage - 1 reply

Check it out

donnie — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 22:06:38 GMT

this is a link to the website of the theatre company that I am the stage carpenter for. We are currently in the process of opening a new theatre in calgary, alberta. the space is currently being renovated. it was an old vaudeville house that was also a movie theatre and an indoor driving range. we are turning the space into a black box theatre with 8 different audience configurations and a motorized grid. soon i will post some pictures of the process, but here is an animated rendering of what the space will look like when it's done....

www.theatrejunction.com

posted in Backstage - 1 reply

New Theatre Group in Los Angeles

JoeBorfo — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 01:30:16 GMT

We are a new theatre group based in Los Angeles.

Our Mission: To develop a dynamic & provocative space where energies come together to create theatre.

Our Vision: TBA

Membership: We believe that anyone who is passionate about doing theatre in an ensemble should be able to join and can remain a member if she or he has; a. Introduced themselves on the message list, b. Met with us (see calendar for meetings), and c. Put in their share of effort to achieve our goals.

We request that we all express ideas freely while respecting each other in this forum. We request that you contribute by always pursuing your passion.

Join at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/boardsnpassion/

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Best Wishes

Doctor_Who — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 10:21:40 GMT

My best wishes to everyone on the New Year.

May your celebration be fun and safe and filled with friends and family.

May your heart be filled with joy and may you find happiness and keep it as a constant companion.

For those of you who must work, my thoughts are with you. I have been there so many times before.

Folks please dont drive under the influence of anything. Being in jail or worse, injured or dead, by your own or someone elses carelessness is a horrible way to start the year.

If your in DC, MD or VA PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take advantage of the free cab rides that are being offerred. My volunteer firehouse just recently lost a member due to someones poor judgement.

WRAP's 2005 Holiday SoberRide service will be offered from 8:00 pm to 4:00 am from Friday, December 9, 2005 through Sunday, January 1, 2006. To receive a free cab ride home (up to a $50.00 fare), please call 800-200-8294 (TAXI) or #8294 (TAXI) on your Cingular telephone. Please refer to the SoberRide information listed below for important details concerning this program. You must be 21 or older to use the SoberRide service.

Please note: At this time the SoberRide line is only able to accept calls from cell phones with a DC, Maryland, or Virginia area code number and any local landline or pay phone.

General SoberRide Information

WRAP's SoberRide, called one of the nation's most successful free cab ride programs for would-be impaired drivers (WTOP-AM, 12/30/00), has helped to ensure greater Washington, DC residents have a safe way home on high-risk holidays.

Currently, SoberRide operates during the December/January holiday
season, St. Patrick's Day, Independence Day and Halloween.

WRAP's SoberRide provides a free cab ride home up to a $50 fare.
Callers are financially responsible for anything over $50.

You must be 21 or older to use the SoberRide service. All calls must originate in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland; the Cities of Rockville, Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt and Takoma Park in Maryland; the District of Columbia; Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Eastern Loudoun Counties in Virginia; and the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas and Manassas Park in Virginia.

You cannot reserve a SoberRide or schedule a pickup in advance. To receive a ride, you must call 1-800-200-8294 (TAXI) or #8294 (TAXI) on your Cingular telephone during the program hours. A SoberRide call operator will direct your request to the correct participating cab company. Please note: At this time the SoberRide line is only able to accept calls from cell phones with a DC, Maryland, or Virginia area code number and any local landline or pay phone.

Participating Taxi Companies:
Alexandria Yellow Cab (Alexandria)
Barwood, Inc. (Montgomery County)
Fairfax Yellow Cab (Fairfax County)
Loudoun Yellow Cab (Eastern Loudoun County)
Manassas Cab Company (Prince William County)
Red Top Cab Company (Arlington County)
Silver Cab of Prince George's County (Prince George's County)
Taxi Transportation Services (DC) includes:

* District Cab
* Liberty Cab
* Consolidated Cab
* American Cab
* Premium Cab
* Washington Cab
* Independent Cab
* Comfort Cab

Yellow Cab of Prince William County (Prince William County)

When waiting for a SoberRide, please watch for a cab from the participating taxi company in the area from which you are calling.

WRAP
1420 Spring Hill Road, Suite 250, McLean, VA 22102
TEL. 703.893.0461 FAX 703.893.0465
Email: wrap@wrap.org

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Fame or Fortune?

Doctor_Who — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 06:45:16 GMT

Working in the entertainment industry, can be rewarding sometimes. Other times its a lot of boring labor work that is combined with odd long hours and schedules that can potentially go for weeks without any actual 'leisure-time' or 'days off'.

But I'm not one to complain, because I actually love it. Love it in a kind of way that if i had won the lottery or something and didnt have need to actually work for a living, I would actually still do it.

I dont work on the glamorous side of the camera. My credits when they are listed are usually buried deep. Usually with some kind of ominous title that doesnt mean anything to someone who isnt in the industry. Also usually written in a font so small and scrolled by so quickly that you usually need a DVD players ability to pause frame by frame so you dont miss it.

The advantage to being on the backstage or produciton side of things is that I dont need an agent to get booked. While typecasting is something I strive against, it is also easy to become complacent after getting a few good references or a few good long term gigs. I work more often than most "talent" and I dont constantly have to strive for a gig bigger than the last one lest I be forgotten.

The downside to this whole thing is that the money, no matter how sweet initially is never enough in the end. I'm only as good as my last gig. Politics are rampant in the industry and being "blacklisted" is almost always a career ender (well unless you dont mind not making good money).

I was asked while I was in high school, why I prefered to be a stagehand over being an actor. I mean when it came to the production, it was the actors who got all the praise when a show goes well. Normally the only time the tech crew got noticed was when we made errors. Which if you havent ever teched a show, imagine making a mistake that is obvious to yourself, the rest of the crew and actors and even the audience. You really do feel about 2 inches tall!

I dont think I could have formulated a sensible answer to why I prefer tech to acting back then. But I think I can now. Having done thousands of shows by this point in my career.

The difference is that an actor, especially one with great talent can make you believe that they know what they are doing. Given enough skill and talent you never loose the illusion and you actually form a emotional response to what you are seeing. A tech on the other hand, strives to be unseen and unnoticed. Is charged with making fantasy into reality and spends their life making you believe that incredibly complicated sequences can happen with little to no visible effort.

While an actor can make a career playing the same part over and over in dozens of movies, a tech has to play it different everytime. Act like you know what you are doing, or actually know what your doing. Well for me the choice was clear.

Whats even better is that the better I get at what I do, the more money i am making. *knock on wood* This will continue. I know well what happens when you get too cocky in this business. Now I may not be pulling of $20 million every movie or show that I do, but on the other hand I dont have to worry about nosey papparazzi and plastic surgery and maintaining appearances. And pretty much as long as I do a good job on my gigs and here is work to be had I work.

So thats it. Given the choice between Fame and Fortune. I choose Fortune. I've never been big on Fame, I guess if I had actually gave a damn I would 've been one of the "popular kids" in school. Fame has never appealled to me at all. Usually with Fame comes the task of everyone and their mother being versed and aware of your personal life....calll me crazy, but I like a little privacy.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

BadgerBadgerBadgerBadger BadgerBadger Mushroom....Mushroom..

Doctor_Who — Sat, 26 Feb 2005 08:04:51 GMT

BadgerBadgerBadgerBadger BadgerBadger Mushroom....Mushroom..

http://www.starterupsteve.com/swf/badger.html

Nothing to do with anything, but a much needed dose of sillyness after a long day in the theatre!

posted in Backstage - 2 replies

Looking for sources for Hollywood style props & backgrounds

lulubelle — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 05:55:45 GMT

Howdy!

New to this tribe, and looking for some leads & sources. I am helping organize the grand opening party for an Arts non-profit in San Francisco. Workspace Limited offers low-cost studio space to artists, performers & craftspeople. For info on the foundation, please go here:http://www.workspacelimited.org/

We will be having a large fundraising party on October 14. The theme of the party will be that of an old-style, glamorous Hollywood Premiere. We are looking for props, sets & backgrounds to decorate our huge, 20,000+ sq. ft. facility.

Any sources to low cost or free sources for props with the Hollywood theme would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Dark theatre

Doctor_Who — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 07:33:46 GMT

Well I've been on a 3 week vacation from the theatre. Or at least thats what I call it when we have no gigs in and backpay coming in for 3 weeks.

I thought I would get a little stir crazy, but honestly. I was just able to get some stuff done that I had been putting off.

Now I'm getting back into the swing of things. Me and my coworkers are doing some 3 seasons overdue benching of the lighting instuments. Which considering how absolutly wrechedly humid it is in this area and the fact that some of our instruments are older than myself. Lets just say none of us are lacking iron (oxide) in our diets now!

We have worked our way through the fair majority of the insturments. Why as I'm am speaking right now I can feel the fiberglass insulation shards stuck inbetween my fingers getting irritated.

My job the past week has been socket replacement and upgrading our stage plugs from the old bakelite type to these nifty plastic ones with clear inspection panels.

Also have been putting out written request for price quotes on a new Allen and Heath GL3800A or B in a nice 40 channel.

Next week I'm taking the ETC up to BSL which for everybody who has been in the business for a while actually calls Baltimore Stage Lighting. *CHRIST* like we need more alphabet soup here in the DC area. The ETC is do for service. Its acting wonky on some sliders.

Oh yeah I also get to troubleshoot my sound systemn, which has developed some really nasty hums and buzzes in it. I think/hope the fair majority of it is from my old battle axe of a 20 year old Yamaha 38 channel. The matrix is completly useless, and I've lost a fair majority of the master aux controls and group outs. This console has left me high and dry so many times. I'd love to take it out back and put a shot thru it and put it out of its misery.

All in all I'm well rested and looking forward to getting some majorly long overdue maintenance completed. This is a break from the norm, when I fix things as they break as necessary.

I'm not really super excited about this seasons lineup. I am however super excited that some of the things that really detract from what we do as artist are being repaired or replaced.

For instance our long dryrotted and patched scrim is being replaced.... rewind did you say patched scrim. YUP, big old duvetyn patches. It made me sick everytime a client insisted we used that damned thing.

Finally our house lights systemn is being repaired. Our building having been standing since the days when art deco was muy hip has had several patchwork quilt architectual lighting systemns. Our wiring is like and archeolgical dig through the electrical code.

So hopefully we can keep the energy flow up through the end of the month. Getting done early means another short vacation before we get back to humping 250 shows a year through the doors.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Tribe "upgrades"

Doctor_Who — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 06:59:06 GMT

I'm sure by now all of you have noticed that tribe is now "intergrating" intergrating ads all over the place here in tribe. Amongts the biggest things are every third post in a thread is an ad now as well as the banner ads on the sides of the pages and etc... ad naseum.

I'm sure you all enjoy the posting and information and squabbles that happen here on tribe. So please hear me out as I make this suggestion, and this is coming from someone who really hates ads and stuff but realizes these are nearly as bad as the balloon pop screen dominating ads on MSN and some others sites... but I digress.

I wanted to make a heartfelt appeal to everyone who enjoys tribe and doesnt want to see any more ads popping up in wierd spots. I really do enjoy a clean 'google-like' interface. So please please please take a moment to click on a few of the ads when you get the opportunity.

It helps make tribe a little money to keep this thing going and I really dont want to see anymore ads invading this thing. I'm not with the tribe crew or anything so silly, but I am the moderator of this tribe, so I cant exactly get in trouble for asking you to help keep it going. It only takes a moment of your time, and it prevents us from having to pay membership dues to keep the information flowing.

I apologize from interrupting the regularly scheduled programming and now return you to the show already in progress.

posted in Backstage - 2 replies

Software For Light Design

GuitarDude — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 15:14:48 GMT

Hi everyone. I play lead guitar in a cover band called Phat Bastard (www.getphat.com) based out of Phoenix, Az. I have been painfully putting together a light show for us and we play different size bars, so we need some flexibility. Does anyone know of a software package that shows you lights as you place them (around drums, stage, etc) and that would give you some template ideas or something like that? Like a lighting theme or similiar?

Most of the software packages that I have found either do one of two things. (1) - Design the light show for programattic reasons (to hook up with DMX controllers and run the show). or (2) - Design light show with 3d rendering or information of the sort.

I really am not looking for either one of these. I just would like to be able to put something together for layout or as if you were looking towards the stage. Almost like a Visio template if you will.

Anyways, I'm not sure that I'm explaining this correctly, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx, Bruce

posted in Backstage - 4 replies

New tribe if anyone is interested

Craig_F — Sat, 09 Jul 2005 01:25:26 GMT

Performing Arts Proffesionals
http://tribes.tribe.net/performing_arts_pro

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Need help with Lighting Design for Burning Man Project!

Gatito/Michael — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 01:36:29 GMT

MindWeave is designed to be a State Eliciting Space. To create an experience of clarity and insight by combining elements of architecture/sculpture, lighting design, visual art, and sound compositions...check out the MindWeave Tribe!

We are creating this art instillation for BurningMan 2005. It is essentially a 15 foot woven 3/8 dome shape. It will be constructed with woven willow and will be permaeble to light. (Imagine a loosely woven twig basket turned over!) I want to light the interior space and the exterior surface independently. I want to program through slow color transitions independently at the same rate; ie. the inside is red, the outside is blue...slowly changing through the spectrum.

My original idea was to find a CHEAP 3-4 channel programmer and cluster MR16 24-32 ( www.superbrightleds.com) LED lamps in threes( Red, Blue, Green) Total interior
RGB trios four on a channel, total exterior RGB trios eight on two channels. I am realizing that LEDS my be too expensive and unnecesary.

It is starting to look like I may be able to create the same effect with less cost using some kind of stage lighting. My budget is around $1000.00 and I have about 1500 watts of gennie power for the lighting. HELP!!!

By the way, my technical skills are shit and will be looking for ease in assembly and programming.

Thanks for your help!!

dr.m

posted in Backstage - 7 replies

Resumes Now Being Accepted

deborahpaulino — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 17:07:38 GMT

Resumes Now Being Accepted

A National Arts and Media job referral service and classifieds is updating its resume library.

Now accepting for free inclusion, resumes from talent, crew, designers, authors, staff, and management in the areas of music, film, theater, events, digital media, radio, tv, and the performing arts.

Resume inclusion is free, plus you will receive our free newsletter with industry news and career tips. Community of nearly 18 000 registered arts and media businesses, organizations, and professionals.

To list your resume please go to http://www.gigdirectory.net and click Sign Up in the left column, click Posting Instructions for important guidelines. Once in your account click Home for members notes and important use friendly tips.

Thank you

Resume Library

http://www.gigdirectory.net

posted in Backstage - 1 reply

War Stories

Doctor_Who — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 16:08:01 GMT

War Stories we all have them. Well heres one that made me chuckle pretty good because its something that I could see happening to me (even though this particualar story didnt, or should I say hasnt yet).

Enjoy!

Friendly Fire
by Dennis Potter

As the technical manager of a mid-sized community theatre, one of my duties is to review all proposed special effects for safety. About a year ago I was presented with a situation that reminded me to expect the unexpected.

A local organization that provides an educational alternative for “at-risk” high school students rented our theatre to present an anti-gang themed play created by their students for presentation to other local high school students. The director of the group called me to ask permission to use a pistol in a fight scene. After a brief conversation about rules regarding firearms, I asked him to drop by with the gun so I could check it out.

The director arrived the day before their load-in and proudly presented me with a shoebox. I opened the box to find a fully functional, fully loaded .45 semi-automatic pistol. He had also conveniently brought along the blanks they would be using, mixed loose in the shoebox with more live ammunition! I politely reminded him that for approval, all stage guns were required to have a solid barrel or no firing pin and live ammunition was never allowed in the theatre. I told him that this gun was not acceptable unless the firing pin was removed, and to never mix live and blank ammunition. He apologized for the live rounds and said the gun wasn’t his and he couldn’t get permission from the owner for the modification. Considering the director’s proven inability to obtain a safe stage prop, I suggested they use a small starter pistol we had. The director wanted the look of a larger gun, so we settled on a full-sized toy gun painted black, with sound effects through the P.A. system. They brought the prop gun for their first rehearsal, ran the sound cue and it all worked out fine. My job was done… or so I thought.

During the afternoon of the second rehearsal I got a call from our office receptionist. A police officer was in the office telling us to evacuate the building due to a SWAT situation. I went to the stage to round everyone up and we discovered that two of the cast members were missing. They were last seen 20 minutes ago heading to our loading dock. I carefully opened the back door to an amazing sight—multiple police cruisers, eight SWAT Team officers, the business end of way too many M-16s and the missing cast members spread-eagle on the pavement.

The two actors had taken the toy gun from the prop table and gone out behind the building to rehearse their fight scene choreography, which must have been a bit too realistic for someone in the building across the street. They both could have been shot over a toy squirt gun. We sent their stage manager back for retraining and amended our rules about prop weapons: “They are to be locked up at all times when not actually on-stage.”

http://www.fohonline.com/issue/?di=0505&fi=nightmare.txt

posted in Backstage - 1 reply

Burning Man

firefirefire — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 02:14:01 GMT

Burning Man in search…

Burning Man, the Black Rock Desert arts festival, seeks volunteers to source, manage, and operate sound, for the stage of the fabulous Center Camp Café

The Center Camp Café, at 38,000 sq ft, is the largest structure on the playa (desert), It embodies the spirit of the event as the community center providing 24hrs of education, art, refreshments, performance and of course shade!

Our stage is dedicated to allowing event participants to express themselves through spoken word, live music, lectures, performance art, circus and dance.

We offer all levels of participation from a series of 4 hour shifts during the event to year round involvement of planning and working at Burning Man related events in the Bay Area.

The Café Sound Team is composed of members with diverse levels of experience and we welcome responses from all who are interested

Come participate in the most FUN ‘theme camp’ at Burning Man!

Please DO NOT reply to this posting!
Contact our Volunteer Coordinator marie(at)burningman(dot)com with any questions you may have.

posted in Backstage - 1 reply

Call for Entries

Doctor_Who — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 10:44:30 GMT

So I posted a whole lot of stuff in the Listing and Events section of this tribe. A plethora of Call for Entries stuff, some art grants and some local stuff that I am involved in.

If you want to see what my show calender through the rest of the year looks like check out the events section. Some decent stuff on the lineup.

I've got some new stories to tell, I am wrapping up our most recent rental catatrophie its entitled "the secret garden". yes thats right another of my favourite shows is being butchered by lack of artist talent and uncooperative ppl.

I have some new juicy stories. Especially about the orchestra that is sitting in the house and how the audience cannot hear the players over the ochestra. But I cant break with tradition I have to wait until the show closes before I go into details. Lest I jinx myself into yet more problems.

But till then, check out my listings. They expire 13 APR and they will be replaced by the next batch so if you see something that catches your eye, please copy and paste it to your computer. I dont keep records of this stuff. It'll save me the trouble of telling your that I dont remember later.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Talent, Staff, and Crew Call - National

deborahpaulino — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 08:01:49 GMT

Talent, Staff, and Crew Call - National

NO EMAIL REPLY - PLEASE READ NOTICE BELOW

Gigdirectory.net is an online job referral service, resume library, community, and classifieds for the arts and media industries. In 2004 Gigdirectory.net received over 15 000 new registered users and served over 1 million page views, establishing itself as a highly active resource. In 2005 the focus is on contacting employers and forming a talent, staff, and crew pool worthy of national exposure.

Professional and intern resumes are being accepted for FREE inclusion in the Gigdirectory.net classifieds resume libraries. All arts and media talent, staff, crew, management, and design personnel in all areas of film, theater, music, live production, radio, digital media, fine arts, literary, and television.

To post your resume on http://www.gigdirectory.net for free....
1) Go to http://www.gigdirectory.net
2) Click Sign Up - left column - and register a new account.
3) Click Home and read posting instructions and user friendly site tips.

* Please review the Classifieds categories before posting *, and follow the posting instructions *; it makes the site more user friendly for everyone, plus others can find your notice in a search.

You Can Post Images (head shots, art samples, logos etc). All images should be clear, professional looking, and no more than 64 k each.

No Adult Industry talent notices, images, or resumes please. Gigdirectory.net does not have an over 18 rating and does have minors and parents viewing... Thank you for your respect.

If you get stuck please use the Help/FAQ link in the left column.

Please Note: Gigdirectory does have some areas and services that are subscription, but they do not affect your ability to post in the Classifieds for free. If you are curious you can view lists of grants, opportunities, events and other useful information through the Classifieds for free, and you can post your own shows, business ads, and workshops for for free.

PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL YOUR RESUME OR NOTICE - IT WILL BE DELETED - POST YOUR RESUME YOURSELF ON GIGDIRECTORY.NET - WE DO NOT ACCEPT RESUMES OR NOTICES SENT BY EMAIL - POSTING YOUR RESUME YOURSELF IS FREE ON HTTP://WWW.GIGDIRECTORY.NET

==================

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Carefull

Doctor_Who — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 07:52:10 GMT

Ok I wanted to share a website of one of my friends with you. Set design at its best.

I've worked with this company for many years and I must say I am never failed to be amazed by the designs they come up with.

Please take a moment to check them out. They've worked LED lights into their sets now and the work is just incredible.

http://www.cyber-quest.net/

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Hey c'mere!

Doctor_Who — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 07:49:21 GMT

Alright its been a while since I've posted any of my own words here, and but really I've been a little busy lately.

The theatre is a mess, well not literally, but things have been piling up faster than I can keep my thumb on them. I currently have an inventory of 30 year old altman leikos (6x9, 6x12, and 6x16) that need to be seriously benched, cleaned and in some cases pulling the shutters out (anyone familiar with old altman lights will realize how much a process this is) and hammering them from rose petal shaped to somewhat flat. Also pulling the bakelite (think I'm kidding, I'll send you one) stage plugs off of them and replacing them with some nice new fancy stage plugs with clear plastic inspection ports.

My sound board, my poor yamaha its seen better days. my sound systemn is like the millineum falcon from star wars. A little bit of this a little bit of that, a mish mash of consumer electronics and pro sound. Think your worst nightmare and multiply it.

But I got a cool compliment from one of our rental clients.... he started by introducing himself as a Studio audio engineer and that if I "need any help, contact me". *hrumph* *rolls eyes* Nothing against studio engineers, but this aint no stinking studio. I have to do it live and right the first time. It takes all of my knowledge just to keep it sounding good for the variety of (non) performers that grace my mics with American Idol like prowess. But I have digressed into my world of grumbling and subverted cockyness.

At the end of the show he left his card with the house manager. Evidently with the intent of hiring me to do some studio recording sesssion or something. The card somehow fell into the circular file. I'm not real big on rap/hip-hop recording. Honestly if I am going to be bored at least its in short doses of primadonaism and not 8 hours in somebodies basement recording studio. I appreciate the compliment nonetheless.

The show season has been going pretty good so far. But of course now that I have said that just a few short hours from my next show I have completly jinxed myself. For the first time in a couple years we have been selling out on the regular with our shows. Meaning me may potentially turn a profit... ok well thats a little optomistic.

Sometimes I do wish I could issue liscenses for artistic freedom. Do it like a drivers liscense if you take to much freedom and break to far away from convention and really screw up badly I can just revoke your artistic license and kick you out.

I'm trying to court some tv network to come in and do a reality tv show about my theatre. I understand that its community theatre and all, but some of this stuff is so bad its entertaining. Especially from the "Mystery Science 3000" comments that we have over the clear-coms.

I suppose I could keep rambling on endlessly about my adventures in theatre, but I do have to get a couple hours of sleep before I go in for this AM show. I dont want to be too well rested, its harder to fall asleep at the console that way. If you've never seen someone both mix sound and sleep at the same time, you've never seen me on the console during a routine mourning [sic] show.

"Entertainment for the massess..."

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

National Collegiate Design Competition "eyeondesign"

Doctor_Who — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 07:20:16 GMT

Arena Stage is proud to introduce:

eyeondesign

National Collegiate Design Competition

set design - costume design - sound design - lighting design

Arena Stage has received national attention for both its high production quality and its commitment to training and nurturing the next generation of theater artists. Arena Stage now invites collegiate designers to share in this tradition of excellence. College or graduate students are invited to submit their set, costume, sound or lighting designs for a designated Arena Stage production. Each submission will be evaluated by Arena Stage artists and designers, who will provide constructive feedback.

The 2004/05 Selected Production:

Anna Christie by Eugene O’Neill, directed by Molly Smith.

Deadline: April 1, 2005

Awards in each design category: $250

For submission requirements and additional information:

please see www.arenastage.org or e-mail education@arenastage.org

Washington Drama Society, Inc.

Community Engagement

1101 Sixth Street SW

Washington, DC 20024

www.arenastage.org

202-234-5782

molly smith, artistic director

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Hunter S. Thompson

Doctor_Who — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 10:30:19 GMT

"We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a saltshaker half-full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of uppers, downers, laughers, screamers... Also, a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of beer, a pint of raw ether, and two dozen amyls. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can. The only thing that really worried me was the ether. There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge, and I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff pretty soon."

Just a quick note to those fans of his work. Not really anything to do with theatre, but the man has made me smile.

The end of fear and loathing

From Brian Todd
CNN
Monday, February 21, 2005 Posted: 5:56 PM EST (2256 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The scene is messy and awkward, the tape is old and damaged and the subject is brilliant, but almost incoherent.

During a book signing in June 1997, Hunter S. Thompson was asked to define "gonzo journalism," the term he inspired.

"Just a word that popped up at the time... It's a fraud. It's a sham ... I've lied the whole time. It makes me ... sick." Thompson said.

He straightened up, smiled, took a drink and moved on.

Thompson made a career out of that sort of thing.

From riding with the Hell's Angels to covering a presidential campaign -- and writing defining books about both -- Thompson, along with authors like Tom Wolfe, chronicled American counter culture by throwing himself into it.

Journalists who knew him say it never bothered them that he made himself an essential character in his stories. Writing for Rolling Stone magazine gave him that license.

CNN's Bruce Morton traveled occasionally with Thompson during the 1972 presidential campaign.

"He was doing this gonzo journalism, which meant 'it's the way I see it -- and if the facts get in the way, well, we'll get rid of the facts ... ' He had a lot of fun with it and he'd liven up the bus or the airplane and we were always kind of glad to see him I think," says Morton.

From that campaign came Thompson's book "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72," which marked the beginning of a legendary hatred of Richard Nixon. The feeling was reportedly mutual.

But his best-known work came earlier.

In "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," Thompson wrote darkly of how the optimism of the 1960s slid into the casual desperation of drug and alcohol use in the '70s.

Those who knew him say he lived that story as well.

Stephen Nemeth produced the 1998 film version of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."

"He didn't hide it," says Nemeth. "He lived hard and he used it in his work. And frankly it made who he was more authentic."

When asked where he stood compared to the great American writers, Thompson said, "That really is for others to judge ... I could sit here and shout 'I am the man! You know, I am the man.' No. How do I fit in? I should more properly ask you that."

Police say Thompson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home near Aspen, Colorado. His motive is a mystery. A statement issued by his son simply asks that friends and admirers respect the family's privacy.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/21/hunter.thompson/index.html

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Ossie Davis - R.I.P.

jve — Sat, 05 Feb 2005 22:00:11 GMT

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/05/MNGC2B6F6A1.DTL

posted in Backstage - 1 reply

Full time job opening in San Francisco: Scenic Designer/Carpenter/Painter

Jeckle — Mon, 24 Jan 2005 20:18:40 GMT

The New Conservatory Theatre Center, a not-for-profit organization, seeks versatile Theatre Scenic Artisan/Designer: Duties include scenic design, construction and painting. Prop and costume design a plus. Must be able to execute, and understand technical blueprints. The TA is part of a 3 person in-house Technical Team that also shares maintenance of theatre facilities, all shops, lobby, theatres, dressing rooms, etc.; pre-show tech supervision duties; ongoing production maintenance; production load-in and strike; supervise stage managers; guest designer support services; and youth programs tech support.

Qualifications: B.A in theatre arts preferred. Able to work with diverse artistic, ethnic, youth, and LGBT communities; ability to lift 50 lbs; have a valid CA drivers license.

F/T 26.5 - 28.3K with benefits. Resumes with cover letter to: Jackie Jordan, Operations Manager, NCTC, 25 Van Ness LL, SF, CA 94102. Or e-mail jackie@nctcsf.org. No phone calls please.

The New Conservatory Theatre Center’s mission is to champion innovative, high quality, theatre experiences for youth, adults, and artists to effect personal and societal growth, enlightenment and change. We provide theatre training to empower youth to express themselves, celebrate difference, and gain self-esteem. Our vision is to develop and produce performances to educate youth and those who guide them with particular focus on challenging issues, new ideas, and making choices to positively impact their lives; as well as developing and producing gay theatre that gives voice to, entertains, and promotes exploration in order to celebrate diversity and foster communication. [www.nctcsf.org]

posted in Backstage - 2 replies

No longer holy.

Doctor_Who — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 06:20:03 GMT

Well I havent put an updates in here recenetly, so I should tell y'all about some of the developments at the theatre.

Currently we are in the new season. I wish I could say it started with a bang, but it really hasnt. We wrapped up the holiday season last year with two different production of "A christmas carol" (one a rental and the other produced by a touring group) neither was incredibly spectacular, although I must say I'm still laughing about the child actor who played tiny tim.

He was a brat & he puked all over the set and the other brat who was playing his mother and I got it on DVD!

After the close of the carols I was looking forward to a week off and a week of badly needed maintenance. Well there is no rest for the weary 1 day into my vacation I got a call from my boss who told me that some of the equipment that we ordered a back at the end of October had finally arrived.

I'm pretty excited. We ordered a couple new sub cabinets and amps for our monitor systemn, and I got to go in an play with, I mean unpack them and make sure they where not damaged in shipping.

Besides that I spent some time servicing equipment, benching lights and changing out our old bakelite stage pin connectors for new fangaled clear inspection port plastic stage pin connectors. Something that has been an ongoing project for the past couple years.

I added our new season to the listings and events sections of this tribe, so you guys can get an idea of some of the shows that are going to be coming through in the next couple months.

It seems the gremlins have been at it overtime in the past month or so. I'm down to a single 24 channell snake, my sound board is on its last toe (it ran out of legs of couple years ago) and the ETC board desperatly needs to go out and get serviced. I guess we have chewed up a good portion of the budget for equipment already, but I am hoping that I can put enough pressure on the front office to give me some more of our budget so we can get these pressing issues resolved.

Until then I'm going to be holding things together with gaff tape and tie line. I've got a couple new stories to share with you guys, but I need to goto bed, I've got to be up in a few short hours to finish up this shitty light design that was sent to me today for tommorrows show. I swear some days I really do feel more like a carny (carnival worker grunt) than a theatre technician.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

ARTIST HOUSING

Doctor_Who — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:31:25 GMT

The Mount Rainier Artist lofts now leasing
3301 Rhode Island Avenue, Mount Rainer, MD. Units ranging in size from 800-1400 square feet; rents $600-800 per month with income cap requirement. For information contact Theresa Hammonds at Edgewood Property Management at 301-927-3586. For information on commercial leasing call Angela Blocker at Gateway CDC, 301-864-3860 x3.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

ARTS ACTIVITIES

Doctor_Who — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:30:07 GMT

Flex your art love muscle and take a date to see someone elses stuff!

# Marlboro Gallery: VIVA CUBA!
The Art and Architecture of Havana: An Exhibition of Images by Prince George's Community College ART 195 Travel Study Students 2004. January 18-February 11, 2005. Reception January 29, from 6-8:30 pm. Featuring artists Ann Krumrein, Aaron McDaniel, Sally Oldham, Ted Oldham, and Valerie Watson with selected Cuban artists. Marlboro Gallery at Prince George's Community College, 301 Largo Rd., Largo, Maryland. Gallery hours: Monday-Thursday 9 am-8 pm and Friday 9 am-3 pm. Phone 301-322-0965.

# Arts and Cultural Heritage Division Gallery: Charlotte RainesSelected works from the Embroidered Paintings Series and the Maryland Paintings Series. January 13-March 31, 2005. Reception: February 17 from 12-1:00 pm Arts and Cultural Heritage Division, 6611 Kenilworth Ave., #200, Riverdale, Maryland. Gallery hours Monday-Friday from 9 am-4:30 pm. For information call 301-454-1450, TTY301-454-1472.

# Montpelier Cultural Arts Center: One Man's FamilyAn exhibition of art works by four generations of the La Roche Family. The family is distinguished by the fact that so many are artists. Each is multitalented with expertise in several art forms in the visual, performing, and literary arts. January 7-26, 2005. Reception January 7 from 7-9 pm Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, 12826 Laurel-Bowie Road, Laurel, Maryland. For more information call 301-953-1993, TTY 301-490-2329. Gallery hours: 10 am-5pm, Sunday -Saturday.

# A NEW DAY: Most Recent Works by Artists in Prince Georges CountyNovember 18-January 14, 2005. Arts Harmony Hall Regional Center's Main Gallery. Gallery Hours: Mondays-Thursdays, 9 am-9 pm. Fridays, 9 am-5 pm; Saturdays, 10 am-4 pm 10701 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744. Phone 301-203-6070, TTY 301-203-3803.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS

Doctor_Who — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:27:32 GMT

This is a continuation of my "Call For Artists" post. I just broke it up into different sections so it's not so overwhelming.

AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS

# The Taunt Fellowship, the Lillian Fellowship and the Lincoln Fellowship:
The Archie Bray Foundation for the ceramic arts in Helena, Montana announces the continuation of three fellowship opportunities for the 2005 season. Each fellowship awards $5000 and a one-year residency at the Archie Bray Foundation to a ceramic artist that demonstrates merit and exceptional promise. For more information and application call 406-443-3502 or go to www.archiebray.org. The Archie Bray Foundation, 2915 Country Club Avenue, Helena, MT 59602. Application deadline February 1, 2005.

# Henry Hering Medal: Art and Architecture Award
Seeking nominations for the Henry Hering Award, presented for outstanding collaboration between architect, building owners, and sculptors. The use of figurative or realist sculpture is of greatest interest. National Sculpture Society, 237 Park Ave., New York, NY 10017, www.nationalsculpture.org. Application deadline January 10, 2005.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Call for Artist

Doctor_Who — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:24:31 GMT

Sorry it's been a little slow here recently. I've been really lazy on the computer, mainly work, sleep and check emails.

But I figure I should try to keep with the mission statement for this tribe and I decided to post some possibilities for exhibition, grants or even payment for artist and the art that you guys make.

So I am going to happhazardly drop the information in this post. If you want the pretty listing with the pictures, nice format & everything then you should check out my listings located below the topics section here in the backstage tribe, or you are welcome to come browse my personal profile here on tribe where ALL of my listings reside.

Some of this stuff is local to the DC metro region, some of it is NY related etc....etc....I realize that we all cant live in the same state. So I have attempted to mix it up with the limited information that I have access to and quite honestly I've been feeling a little lazy about updating. So help me out ppl if you have topics or listings or whatever to contribute! This tribe is open to pretty much anything....well with the exception of blatant ignorance.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALL FOR ARTISTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Raise the Roof: Recreating Home in Prince George's County
Raise the Roof, a design and sculpture competition sponsored by The Maryland -National Park and planning Commission, is seeking creative and innovative house designs that can be developed into works of art; designs from the very practical to the very playful will be considered. All artists, architects, designers, engineers, homebuilders, families, and students of all ages are encouraged to enter. A panel will select winning designs to be built as sculptures for public art exhibition to be displayed throughout Prince George's County. Selected artists who are sole proprietors will be eligible to receive honoraria to construct their designs into 3-D house sculptures. At completion of the program, the sculptures will be auctioned with proceeds, net expenses, benefiting the Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP), a non-profit builder of low-income housing in Prince George's County, and M-NCPPC youth art programs. For prospectus and more information, contact 301-454-1472 or go to www.pgparks.com. Other questions can be directed to public.affairs@pgparks.com.

# Homo Museum-Heroes and Moments: Exit Art call for entries
Exit Art, a nonprofit cultural space in New York City, seeks project proposals for its 2005 spring show, Homo Museum. Homo Museum is an imaginary national art museum dedicated to the presentation and historicizing of art specifically by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Artists (LGBT). LGBT artists should choose a historical moment or person in the LGBT community that has influenced local, national or global culture and create a conceptual portrait or work of that person, event or place. Proposals may be for work in any medium. Submit a one page description of your project idea; a sketch of the proposed project; a resume; and documentation of your previous work. 10-20 slides or images on CD, or a 3-5 minute VHS, NTSC video or DVD. Include a SASE for the return of work. Exit Art is not responsible for returning works submitted without a SASE. Homo Museum, Exit Art, 475 Tenth Ave., New York, NY 10018. Proposal deadline February 1, 2005.

# African Art Expo & Sale: Lake Arbor Community Center
Venders needed for the Lake Arbor Community Center African Art Expo. February 26 from 10 am-6 pm and February 27 from 12-6pm. Booth rentals: $100 for both days, $75 for one day. For information contact Lake Arbor Community Center, 10100 Lake Arbor Way, Mitchellville, MD 20721. 301-333-6561, TTY 301-218-6768.

# Main Line Art Center: Art Endures
A Regional Juried Exhibition exploring the enduring spirit of mortality in conjunction with the "End of Life Issues," a conference at the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Center for medical education at the Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood, PA. All Media. Open to artists in PA, DE, NJ, MD, DC. Juried by slides or CD with cash awards. For application: Art Endures, Main Line Art Center, Old Buck Rd. & Lancaster Ave. Haverford, PA 19041 or download at www.mainlineart.org. Deadline January 17, 2005.

# Newspace Gallery:...and death
An exhibition that will explore diverse perceptions and representations of the death experience. Open to all media and artists. Curated by Pawel Wojtasik and Susan Classen-Sullivan. No fees. Show dates March 10-April 7. Send slides or CD, resume and statement to: Newspace Gallery, Manchester Community College, Manchester, CT 06040. For more information: 860-512-2693 or email sclassen-sullivan@mcc.commnet.edu. Application Deadline February 1.

# Gormley Gallery/College of Notre Dame of Maryland: 16th National Drawing & Print Competitive Exhibition
A minimum of $1500 available in purchase awards. Drawing and prints (not photography) in any medium are eligible. A non-refundable entry fee of $30 entitles the artist to submit up to three slides. For prospectus www.ndm.edu/gormleygallery or SASE National Drawing and Print Competitive Exhibition, Attn: Geoff Delanoy. College of Notre Dame of Maryland, 4701 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Deadline February 25, 2005.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Back to the front

threadclimber — Thu, 02 Dec 2004 14:23:11 GMT

Hi Everyone...

My name's Phil and since 2002 I've been enjoying a full time gig with a small entertainment company, largely basing it's clientel on wedding and barmitzvahs. Who am I kidding? That would be about 80% bar mitzvahs.

This year I got fed up with American DJ lighting rigs, Music Video Karaoke, dipping 12 year olds' hands in wax, and an unending list of party planners willing to treat you like an servant. Mostly I'm fed up with the small time, cookie cutter mentality of the Bar Mitzvah business.

I long to be back where the action is. I want to work with Hi tech gear again, at hot events. So I have the remaining amount of hours I need to padd my check at least until march. That gives them the opportunity to find a decent replacement. More importantly it gives ME the time to rebuild relationships with old crews and build relationships with new ones.

So, I live in Baltimore. I have a home in philly. I lived outside of DC for six years. So that's three towns as far as I'm concerned. I've got My multi tool, My C-wrench, my black cargos, and my pride.

Any tips? Any leads on crews? Any body willing to give a former stage hand a chance?

posted in Backstage - 2 replies

darkness and the 2nd day

Doctor_Who — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 06:45:16 GMT

So as it goes in theatre, you cant have too many good shows in a row b4 somebody has to come in and really make you wonder why you dont work a regular desk job like everyone else.

As is the case currently, but I'll give you a little history of my show schedule b4 I meander into my latest adventure.

My theatre has decided to do a promotion that we call "Saturday Morning and the Movies". Which basically entails a short 30 min show of some local artist (ie last saturday we had a good entertainer who did an interactive show with kids and teaching them how to play african and latin drums) for about 30 mins then we show a feature length movie. Last weeks movie was The Lion King II Simbas Brothel.

Nice attendance, far more ppl than I expected, we sold a little over 170 seats....which is excellent for something too early to be technically considered a matinee on a saturday.

That coupled with a good political play I worked the night before at a different theatre (actually a lab). I was feeling pretty jazzed. I spent the weekend hanging lights for the next big show we are producing and doing my ongoing task of benching lights and sweeping the neverending dust out of nooks and corners.

Well that all took a turn for the worst tonight. I was suppossed to be focusing lights for the current rentals tech rehearsal. I met the lighting designer and I hopped in the genie lift to get started....as I mentioned previously I'm not a real chatty guy when I'm working. Normally because I'm pretty focused on the task at hand. We can be friends later when you are buying me long islands and telling me stories that I'm not interested in.

Well as fate would have it I start focusing lights with some guy who doesnt even know the names of the instruments, much less what they are used for....*why me*....well it turns out that their set (typical box wall flat style) only uses about half of our stage depth wise, which puts most of the set within extreme range of the beam port....beam port you know that cove in the ceiling that is used for front light prior to the first electric.

Well first he has me focusing the lights in the beam port so that a majority of the light is hitting the set walls, instead of providing the necesseary element of front light....then he has me hard focus the lights...with no diffusion?!?! so now I can pick out the individual lights just by looking at the set. Well this coupled with a horrible spill light shadow from the proscenium curtains...I felt my head start to throb.

Now I'm in the genie lift on stage. I've got a total of 12 Par 64 cans, a variety of frenels and 8 lekos sitting on the first electric of those I used a grand total of 6 Par 64's to illuminate the rear walls of the set?!?!?

So now I have both circles, a proscenium curtain shadow and ladies and gentleman wayyyyyy to much light and shadows on the set. All this from these wierd lighting angles that he insisted that I do....now he comes to me at the end of the night as ask me if I can fix it for him tommorrow?

Honestly I understand why postal workers go crazy now.

So guess what I'm doing tommorrow.

Well to add insult to injury, as this group was practicing there curtain call. Yes that right folks curtain call. They havent said word one of rehearsal of lines and they are already patting themselves on the back. Well during this fiasco of curtain opening and closing along the traveller one of the support chains popped off and the curtain now dragging its own weight decided that it would look better in 3 pieces instead of two....

Bwahahaha...dude the tech supervisors have been begging for new stuff for years. Our main is so dry rotted its committing suicide. Well I cant do to much about it except patch it and hope that it holds up until we can put some bids in for a new main. Hopefully the Huns up in the front office will let go of the idea of purchasing a $8000.00 (yes 8 THOUSAND DOLLAR) popcorn machine...and spend that money on tech stuff.

I have more stories about the misappropriation of our tech budget but I'll save that for another time.

lets just say that the next 2 weeks will be a cakewalk, just as soon as I put my headphones on and ignore these ppl and do what I know is best.

posted in Backstage - 4 replies

san francisco

ty-techslave — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 20:21:50 GMT

hey all

i'm out here in the bay. i dig reading your posts doctor. i co-own a theatre and the rentals we get sound a whole hell of a lot like yours.

i'm interested in your specs. and rates at your theatre. just for my own information.

we have a small 49 seat theatre (well, 70 seat but shhh)
our stage is literally 8x12 but we just did a production of Clue and had a cast of 11 up there. it's all in the blocking.
i'm the light director/electrician/rigger/door/maid/toilet scrubber to name a few.

we puttin up a production of princess bride this dec. that's going to be heavy on the rigging. with 10 foot ceilings i'm gonna have to get creative.

keep posting updates doctor. i love to hear about your roller coaster rides.

ty

posted in Backstage - 5 replies

hahaha a compliment

Doctor_Who — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:24:07 GMT

Ok so I've been doing production work for a while. I wont date myself but lets just say a while. In my entire career I can probably count the amount of genuine compliments (read non after closing night BS stuff that you get from ppl) that I have ever recieved on one hand....

But I didnt start doing this job because I was a glory hound. I mean if that was the case I would be an "actor".

Some of the best compliments I get are the unspoken ones. Which usually result in a "perfect" show. I mean if someone is not complaining then I must be doing something right.

Well I've been doing a little contract work on the side for this mulimillion dollar theatre at UMCP (U of MD College Park) at there pratically new Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

Just think what kind of theatres you could make if you had $150 some odd million dollars to play with.

Well tonight I was working in the KOGOD theatre which is little more than a fancy lab or black box type theatre. Really out of all the formats I really love doing stuff in lab theatre.

It really takes the fluff of the proscenium and usually the amount of techs needed down, and makes it more raw performance and less stupid tech stuff. Which really lets me concentrate on my performance without a whole bunch of ppl in the way.

Tonights show was "Embedded" by Tim Robbins, presented by The Actors Gang and Maryland Presents. http://www.theactorsgang.com/shows.htm
A political play and commentary about this whole war in Iraq. It didnt really touch on a whole lot of topics but it really focused on the Bush regimes antics and the soldiers perspective.

Anyways i'm not going to write a review about the show, because it was good and there are ppl out their that get paid for that kind of stuff. I'm gonna tell you about my experience.

I'm not normally one to brag too often, but I've got easily a few thousand shows under my belt. As such it takes alot to normally get me stressed out...especially when you are talking just 6 mics and two cd decks. Really its what I call a sleeper.

So I arrived at the gig this morning expecting the worse (as usual) and I find this woman who is suppossed to be their SBO (Sound Board Operator) sitting in my booth stressing about the show.

Honestly maybe an 2 hour long setup, and that includes the time I spent smoking and running back to the shop to pick up extra gear.
well I dont know if I mentioned this before but I'm a real perfectionist when it comes to working.

Also at this point in my career I'm pretty set in my methods for setting up and testing sound. Mainly you'll see me walk out of a show if I dont get some damned respect and ppl deal with the 30 mins or so it takes me to go through my mental checklist.

At this point you give me 30 mins and I'll give you a perfect show with no bugs....which is what wound up happening....eventually like 2 hours later. I had to butt some heads with my 100% female production crew. But it eventually got done.

The way I am when I am working out of house is very focused. i dont spend alot of time being social. Mainly its a waste of time that I could be smoking cig and chilling b4 showtime. I'm also not big on ppl wasting my time, by taking alot of time to do setups.

I'm a master technician. Meaning I do it all, and faster. Long story short I wound up doing and troubleshooting both the sound and video issues simaltaneoulsy all night long. The show went great and everyone was shits and giggles at the end. Which is fine by me.

What i didnt expect is that at the end of the night that I would get an indirect compliment. See I have mics all over the place in a theatre. Especially when I am doing sound in a glass enclosed booth.

At the end of the night I had gotten a complaint about the video quality (not noticeable to the common man) so I was rearranging wires in the booth to interface in the equipment differently. Well I still had my mic stage monitors on in the booth. So as the local crew and touring crew where standing around feeling good on the stage I decided to fix the systemn for tommorrows show....well I dont mind easedropping especially when it's so easy.

I got the biggest compliment ever. someone called me a supertech....you know like superman. Hahahaha. "Who was that man" well I guess they realized that I could still be around somewhere so they look up to the booth and their I am repatching cables, and I smile and wave...

i'm all about compliments, and the indirect ones are the best. but I'm hardly a supertech. My mentor, the man I apprenticed under, he was a super tech/engineer extradinaire. I can only hope to half as smart as my mentor one day.

I couldnt help but smile on the way home tonight. Although I probably would have been smiling bigger if they had said something dirty about me and then suddenly realized that not only did i hear them, but I was right above them when they said it. hehehe I guess I'm just a jaded tech at this point, but like I said some of the best compliments in the world are when ppl dont realize they are doing it.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

bad theatre

Doctor_Who — Sat, 18 Sep 2004 06:00:18 GMT

well I dont know if I've said this before, but you know there is a such thing as bad theatre. Usually it comes in the way of ppl who rent out our facilities to produce "their show".

This type of person usually is one who has seen a couple shows and really enjoyed themselves and thought "hey well this looks easy enough, why dont I rent a theatre and put on a show".

I can usually spot these ppl within 30 secs. of talking to them because they have this very vivid image of how they want their show to look, but they just cant tell me or anyone else in a manner that makes sense.

This kind of person also is pretty easy to spot because they have some strange ideas about how you can bend light and their "lighting designer" uses every working instrument that you have and the stage is still dark.

From an audio perspective, nothing livens up a boring evening of just hitting the play button on a cd player than a director who comes in with a shoe box full of VHF mics that they bought at radio shack and another shoe box full of Cassette tapes with levels that go across the spectrum and dont have even spaces between cues.

I love the perplexed look I get from these folks when I ask them for their audio and lighting cue sheets and they look at me like an innocent puppy and say "whats that?"

Tonight was a prime example of what I call "Experimental Morality Play" (aka what the hell is this doing out of black box theatre). It has been 2 days of "tech" which turned out to be 1 day of load in and another day of unplanned rehearsals while i'm trying to hang and gel lights.

Tonight before the the show was suppossed to be a rehearsal. heh I love having a plan and then just totally ignoring it. Exactly 2 scenes or 3 pages of a 57 page script got rehearsed, meaning that large portions of the show [including "hey when the stage goes dark and the house lights come on, that means its intermission"] went unrehearsed.

Nothing sayins loving life while sitting through 3 hours of the most confusing drivvle of a morality play that I have ever seen.

I have a sign posted in the audio booth that says "take that suspension of disbelief". I really felt it tonight.

I guess what really kills me is that we had more cast than audience on the opening night....I mean historically it's usually opening and closing nights that the largest audiences are. Usually family on opening night and family and friends and ppl you guilt tripped into showing up on closing night.

And the audience got smaller after one of the dancers who didnt have a part in the second act family left.

For shame, certainly if their was a such thing as theatrical licence, ours would have been revoked tonight. I certainly hope that this was not any of the audience members first time coming to Theatre. We dont normally suck this bad.....well except for these stupid rentals....I guess we gotta pay the bills, even if its not worth it.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

New Theatre Season

Doctor_Who — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 06:38:33 GMT

Well folks aside from some really crappy summertime rentals and a miserable attendance for these shows we are now getting back into the swing of regular season.

As such I am putting up New Events to this tribe and The Maryland Exchange tribe. Really if your looking for good live entertainment for a date, yourself or your family on the cheap, you couldnt ask for a better lineup than this years. We have something for every interest, so please check out my event listings.

We book a similar lineup of shows that play in much bigger venues (ie the kennedy center). This doesnt mean they give us a discount becuase we are community theatre, but it doest mean you get to see the exact same shows as the big boys, without paying ridiculous ticket prices. We are here for you please come out and support us and get entertained all at once.

posted in Backstage - 1 reply

23 Palm

Doctor_Who — Mon, 02 Aug 2004 08:29:50 GMT

DISCLAIMER: The following excerpt is from the Backstage Bible a compilation of humour that I have either authored or collected from other stage technicians over the years. The material contained herewithin may be potentially offense or deadly to ppl who lack a sense of humour or take themselves overly serious. Personally nothing is above being made fun of to include myself from time to time, so stop reading now if your going to get upset.

Personally I dont care, I secured my spot in hell when I worked yet another amateur verision 'Little Shop' for the 3rd time in my career.

Now on with the show:
A prayer as told by me through the mind of the director of play that came through on rental time.

The TD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
he makes me forget my stupid ideas;
he leads me beside a better way;
he restores my plan.

he leads me in the safety paths,
Yea though I walk through the darkest valley of the shadow of blue backstage light,
I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your mag[light] and your staff--they comfort me.
You prepare a light table before me
in the presence of my so called actors;
you anoint my head with a cold drink, and slap across the face
my cup overflows and my pants are wet.

Surely goodness and stellar ticket sales shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of bad direction
my whole life long.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

The gospel not Godspell copy?!

Doctor_Who — Mon, 02 Aug 2004 08:11:04 GMT

Revolutions
Chapter 69 verses 4993-5032

Behold my son here is my wisdom. Pay heed to these words, and in the days of thy play. In the hours of thy performing, Thou shalt not be caught short. For truly, it is said, pay heed to the errors of others and you shall not make them yourself, and again, as we have been told from on old, to thine own self be true or square as the situation calls.

Give not unto the actor his props before his time, for as surely as the sun does rise in the east and set in the west, he will lose or break them.

When told thy placement of props by the director, write not these things in ink upon thy script for as surely as the winds blow, so shall he change his mind.

Speak not in large words to actors, for they are slow of thought and easily confused.

Speak not in the language of techie to actors, for they are uninitiated and will not percieve thy meaning.

Tap not the head of the nail to drive it, but strike it firmly with thy strength.

Keep holy the first performance, for afterwards you shall party.

Keep holy the last performance, for afterwards you shall party.

Remember always that the TD is never wrong. If it appears that S/He is then you obviously misunderstood her/him the first time.

Leave not the area of the stage during the play to go and talk with the actors, for as surely as you do, you will be in danger of missing your cue and summarily executed....OR WORSE!

Beware of actors during scene changes, for they are not like unto you and are blind in the dark.

Beware of actors when flying in walls, for they will stand and watch and get crushed.

Take not they cues before their time, but wait for the proper moment to do so.

Take pity on the actors, for in their roles they are as children, and must be led with gentle kindness, thus endeavor to speak softly and not in anger.

Listen carefully to the instructions of the director as to how he wants things done, then do it the right way. In the days of thy work, he will see thy wisdom, give himself the credit and rejoice.

And above all, get carried away not with thy glow-tape, or thy stage will be like unto an airport.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

positiva

Doctor_Who — Mon, 02 Aug 2004 06:45:10 GMT

Today I had the pleasure of working with a technician that I trained while he was in college.

First off let me say I'm not a teacher I'm a technician. I have a love for the technical stuff in life and that drove me to complete my schooling in this area so that I could be highly knoweldgeable and underpaid.

Anyways when I met this kid or now young man. It was on a production of 'that scottish play', he had been cast in the role of McDuff. During rehearsals he was more interested in what I was doing than what was going on the stage. Eventually he worked up the nerve to ask me if he could help me backstage when he wasnt on-stage.

Well from there or limited 3 months together I showed him a few of the things that I know and answered his questions and I guess I sparked his interest.

I left the college a little while after that to pursue money and boredom working for a A/V company. *rolls eyes* and then I finished up school for engineering and moved over to Virginia for a few years doing that job.

I met back up with Ken just a few days ago after not seeing him for 5 years. He's turned into quite the technician, working as overhire for many of the other major houses in the area. I'm really impressed with his knowledge now, and I almost blushed when he told me that I had been an influence in him choosing this as a career.

*Well at least until he finds a better paying gig.*

i dont think of myself as someone who really makes an impact on ppl, but if I do, i hope at least that all of them have been this positive.

One of my other former students landed a TD job up north somewhere. god bless whoever hired that nutcase, he was not my favourite, but I'm happy he's found something that finally makes him happy.

anyways sleepytime. I'm off tommorrow (monday), its the start of my weekend. It's been a hellish weekend, but I'll save those stories for another time.

cheers I'll be sitting in a bar by myself sipping beers on luvly monday night.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

Jazz in July and other stuff.

Doctor_Who — Fri, 30 Jul 2004 00:57:05 GMT

Well normally I've been using this forum to bitch about the lack of quality programming in our schedule. Of course this is pretty normal since I am BOH Master Lead Tech in a community theatre.

I dont normally concern myself with programming suggestions, I just deal with the crap that comes in and hope that their "request" arent too stupid and uninformed.

But over the past 4 weeks every friday we've had some quality programming. We are in our last friday of our "Jazz in July" series. Each week we have had a different local jazz group come in and play for a couple hours. I'm a lover of jazz anyways and to be able to hear some good old fashioned jazz standards(not this contemporary fusion sh*t) has been a cool dream.

Normally when I have "musicians" come it, its usually a bunch of young deaf punks who do nothing but complain about how their monitor isnt loud enough, then during the show they try to turn up the line level sends back to my board so they can get louder. *grimaces* There have been quite a few shows where ALL of the sound was coming from the stage monitors and nothing coming out of the house speakers because it was already tooo loud. Oh and everyone one of them thinks they are doing a solo, even though everyone else is playing at the same time as them.....anyways.

It has been a true pleasure to work with these gentleman. I'm doing 1/3 the setup as some of the other groups that come through and I'm getting excellent dynamic response from all of the artist. you know it is really true that you get better with age.

As an added bonus we are in alignment with a local (free radio) community jazz station that is broadcasting the show live on the air throught the D.C. Metro region and now with all this internet technology we are being broadcast around the internet. Here: http://www.wpfw.org/listenonair.html

I am very happy that we are getting this exposure, and we have had pretty decent attendance, our advertising budget was really small, we wound up printing a couple thousand 2 color, 2 over 2, glossy, postcard sized flyers and passing them out at local music stores and musicians supply stores. No snail mail this time, that coupled with the free community ads from WPFW have made this event a success.

I think we are finally starting to find the niche that we belong in as far as advertising is concerned. Honestly I'm starting to think that direct mail is a real waste of time and money. I think beyond a single seasonal catalog of events mailing its really stupid to mail out individual postcards for events.

As far as faclilty maintenance is concerned. I spent an hour crawling around on I beams, up in the catwalk area. I was trying to change bulbs out in the light pots, we have quite a few that I believed where burned out, but appear to have other electrical problems.

I got my customary four letter word shock from some bare wires that where suppossed to be off. It kind of disheartning to try to figure this stuff out. I have 40 years of patchwork quilt wiring to try to figure out. Breaker boxes that go everywhere and my seating area is getting darker everytime another light pot desides to stop working.

As is now 5 of 15 fixtures are out. Some of them are on the old wiring scheme, which is not hooked into our dimmer system, some other ones are specialty projector light of which I cant seem to locate appropiate sized bulbs for and the other systemn which is the primary one is failing. The buildings electricians have condemned it and stated that they will not work on it anymore.
it's a POS strand lighting systemn, i cant even find parts for it anymore.

Great I dont have the budget to replace it, and fixing it is out of the question. Its a mess. I still need to have house lights though, at least until we get the money approved for the massive remodeling that is suppossed to happen sometime in the next decade....I hate govt. politics.

My theatre is my own Millineum Falcon, stuff breaks with no warning but is 'temporarily "fixed" by a quick love tap with the persuader (hammer). I havent really had time to do the serious maintenance that is needed, eveytime I get started on something I have a show that interrupts things, so consequently I have alot of patches on things that need to be fixed correctly.

But we are at the end of the season now. so I'll get enough time to get things back in order, and bench focused and lubed and cleaned just in time for the start of next season....Oy my punch list is long and my time short.

I'm going to be posting some theatre humour shortly so stick around for that.

OH yeah I forgot to mention, we are at the end of our fiscal year and hopefully the new budget monies will be released soon. I'm hoping to bring in my friends from Cyberquest in as soon as that money is released. They do some really cool stuff with stretchy spandex. I've talked with the director of my theatre and we are hoping to hire them in to show us how to decorate with this stuff. to really accent some of the shows that dont really have a set, like dance groups and music performances etc....

anyways I'm going to post that theatre humour and hopefully catch a quick cat nap. I've been going on a sleep deficit for a couple days now.

posted in Backstage - 0 replies

The Ten Tech Commandments

Doctor_Who — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 15:24:19 GMT

I. Love thy gaffa as thou would love thyself.
II. Honor thy Stage Manager and thy Director.
III. Thou shalt not get caught in light
IV. Thou shalt not talk louder than a whisper.
V. Thou shalt not covet another tech's heaset, flashlight or blacks.
VI. Thou shalt not drop things from the fly tower, grid or catwalk.
VII. Thou shalt not crave sustenance other than coffee and cigarette.
VIII. Thou shalt not kill another techie (actors not inclusive).
IX. Thou shalt assist the actor when walking through the wings of darkness.
X. Thou shalt be as godlike as possible, fast, quiet, and efficient.

posted in Backstage - 2 replies