my first foray into this so-called professional realm

so: the show I am assisting on for HTC went into tech today. Focus was yesterday--and I was TOTALLY scared. However, it went really well, and I got complimented on how well it went from the LD so I was happy. He was skeptical of my method of keeping track at first, but it works for me so all was well.

And now we are in tech. a LONG tech. today is very slow--slower than normal. i am doubtful that we will reach the 2nd act by the end of the day. And I started at 7:30. The end of the day is midnight. Yea. Im a wee bit tired. Thank goodness we have tomorrow off.

I dont know what I think of him yet. Ill have to sleep on it.

counting down...

Communication. People--it's that simple! I dont like looking like a flake but its very very hard to not look like a flake when the people who are supposed to tell you the schedule DONT include all the dates that you need to know. It is very important to me that my first professional assist here at the theatre go well, because I want to make a good impression and I want to learn alot--both things one cannot do when one has not been provided with the proper information.

Tomorrow is my first day helping out RR on the show over at the other mainstage. I think its going to be fun. The set it HUGE--but the plot seems pretty normal for the space. Im nervous about running focus on Saturday--I've run focus before but its scary in this case. I really want it to go well. Other than that, my first interaction with the LD will be tomorrow at 2 pm for a walkthru and then a runthru of the show. Oy!

light lab 2.0

When I arrived at BU, I discovered that one of my primary functions was to be responsible for the two student spaces at the theatre: the studio space and the Light Lab. While this sounds like a simple task (everything has a place and people put away tools, etc) is it NOT. and it has taken until NOW for me to get the hang of how to police these spaces accurately. I have discovered that the following (and ONLY the following) technique works.

Assess the space. What is in the space that shouldn't be? What is NOT in the space that should be? The large chalkboard on the wall is EXTREMELY handy for this!

In the case of the former, begin to annoyingly and persistently ask everyone you meet if the item is theirs and if so can they please remove it now. do not take "later" for an answer. In the case of unclaimed items that are clearly not useful to anyone make a big show of throwing it away in front of someone else so that they know you mean business. In the case of something belonging to HTC take extra care to show up in the office, with a concerned story and an incredible sense of urgency. How else do you think I managed to get 10 large tables to disappear in half an hour?

In the case of the latter, begin to constantly ask students "have you seen this?" the only way to find out where something is is to find out from someone else who used it last (the person who actually used it last will never tell you) and then to email and call and stop them in the halls until it is returned. keep in mind the disposition of the person and their schedule--the best is to catch them personally when they are clearly not in a rush and to demand that the item be returned "that day" for a project of some sort.

If these rules are followed, i have a 50/50 chance of being able to put the light lab back in order in about an hour. of course, when i come in the NEXT day it is completely in shambles again....people cant seem to pick up and respect all the equipment but then what did i expect? the worst is the gel, and the focus, and the cable, and the board being left on... sigh :)

at least I know where everything goes! :P

the aftermath

InCite is over. I have come to a conclusion--I do not like being production staff. never again (if i can help it!).

the show was a success--it looked like the pope, and it felt like the pope so I was happy. carmen seemed to go fine as well. and on top of that i got to see HAIR (thanks harvard!), AVENUE Q, and meet Kevin Adams (thanks Jim!). Alex and I had a date to the top of Rockefeller Center, which, after a slight altercation with the security personnel over the presence of 1 wrench and 2 knives and the subsequent burying of said knives in a planter outside of Rockefeller Center to be retrieved later, as thoroughly enjoyable and very beautiful. I said it then and Ill say it now: I love the Chrysler Building. :)

And now Im back (after a brief stint in the UK) and starting my Hunt assist, another design project and lots and lots of design homework. *sigh*

T-Minus 2 days

InCite officially starts for me in, count them, 2 days. That's right--tomorrow night this time I am going to be in New York City, getting my alphabet soup on before a 10 am load in. just kidding Jamie!! (0r am i???)

anyways, truck loads at 4 pm. and id like to say a word about the rep plot we are using.

so: the drafting and LW of the rep plot we were given have the following errors:
-pipes that do not exist
-pipes that DO exist but are not drafted
-lights on pipes that do not exist
-lights on LW but not on drafting
-lights in photographs of space not on LW or drafting
-conflicting dimmer and channel info between drafting and LW--ALL OF IT.
-lack of proscenium in drafting

this combined equals a major headache for ME, which i have now resolved after several hours of "WTF???"

and thus the truck WILL load tomorrow. see you there!