STRESS! and a shrinking crew
The last week has been highly stressful for me. We had our 1st major changeover in our larger space, the Mainstage, with 220+ lights and DMX controlled equipment. The previous show had to be struck and the new show had to be loaded-in overnight in 8.5 hours. ARRRGH!
Add to that 1 intern who's developed a limp but, insists, and INSISTS she's fine to go up into the grid; and another intern whose right shoulder keeps giving him more and more pain. Add 6 acting apprentices who are given to me to be my additional crew, my third intern whose's just run a double show day, an Assistant who will push to finish the job to the point of exhaustion, a swing crew person who works at a slower pace than everyone else, and a light plot that needs such attention to detail.
We managed to reach the primary goal of hanging all the lights over where the set was to be installed but the circuiting was not complete. We finished most of the hang and circuiting and patching the next afternoon, but found lots of problems during the focus that was connected to bad tracking in the paperwork by the intern who led the circuiting. So Focus Night was a fustrating expereince.
The next day was the first day of tech. My entrire crew and myself was burnt but still pushed onward. But when time came for my intern for the show to start programming at the light board, that intern threw up and looked terrible, but she insisted on continuing to work. That's when I put my foot down and demanded she see a doctor, and I sent her away with my assistant to get proper care. That action snowballed into a HUGE reaction by the company about this poor intern. The rumor mill went flying and every small action taken by the staff just snowballed in effect. There was major spin control that day. The next day, she was essentially asked to leave. I was down a necessary body for two days without being consulted or informed about her condition. The following day, during all that was happening, my intern with the aching shoulder quietly asked me about a doctor, but I could see he was scared of the reaction. I sent him along to see a doctor too.
So now I'm down two electrics interns, and have to take every portion of the day at a time. I solicit help from the Carpenter crew, because they have the most folks available. I have to write up a plan in case I lose an intern or two. And I get really pissed off about the company reaction to everything and to being left out of the loop. But the work gets done and the show comes out amazing. At the expense of sleep of I and my assistant and intern who is serving as ALD.
GRRR, It all was very fustrating and exhausting.
So I finally got tonight off completely while my assistant runs the show in place of the intern with the rumors following her.
And I go lose myself in the excitement of seeing the premire of Project Runway 3 with a bunch of great girls in stage management, costumes, and paints. And we're planning a Pirate-themed opening night party that everyone will be shit-faced at. And I'm considering ways to reenergize my department and detox from all the stress.
Wow, I'm bushed. And it's only Wednesday. Wish me luck, patience, and a clear head to deal with it all!
Add to that 1 intern who's developed a limp but, insists, and INSISTS she's fine to go up into the grid; and another intern whose right shoulder keeps giving him more and more pain. Add 6 acting apprentices who are given to me to be my additional crew, my third intern whose's just run a double show day, an Assistant who will push to finish the job to the point of exhaustion, a swing crew person who works at a slower pace than everyone else, and a light plot that needs such attention to detail.
We managed to reach the primary goal of hanging all the lights over where the set was to be installed but the circuiting was not complete. We finished most of the hang and circuiting and patching the next afternoon, but found lots of problems during the focus that was connected to bad tracking in the paperwork by the intern who led the circuiting. So Focus Night was a fustrating expereince.
The next day was the first day of tech. My entrire crew and myself was burnt but still pushed onward. But when time came for my intern for the show to start programming at the light board, that intern threw up and looked terrible, but she insisted on continuing to work. That's when I put my foot down and demanded she see a doctor, and I sent her away with my assistant to get proper care. That action snowballed into a HUGE reaction by the company about this poor intern. The rumor mill went flying and every small action taken by the staff just snowballed in effect. There was major spin control that day. The next day, she was essentially asked to leave. I was down a necessary body for two days without being consulted or informed about her condition. The following day, during all that was happening, my intern with the aching shoulder quietly asked me about a doctor, but I could see he was scared of the reaction. I sent him along to see a doctor too.
So now I'm down two electrics interns, and have to take every portion of the day at a time. I solicit help from the Carpenter crew, because they have the most folks available. I have to write up a plan in case I lose an intern or two. And I get really pissed off about the company reaction to everything and to being left out of the loop. But the work gets done and the show comes out amazing. At the expense of sleep of I and my assistant and intern who is serving as ALD.
GRRR, It all was very fustrating and exhausting.
So I finally got tonight off completely while my assistant runs the show in place of the intern with the rumors following her.
And I go lose myself in the excitement of seeing the premire of Project Runway 3 with a bunch of great girls in stage management, costumes, and paints. And we're planning a Pirate-themed opening night party that everyone will be shit-faced at. And I'm considering ways to reenergize my department and detox from all the stress.
Wow, I'm bushed. And it's only Wednesday. Wish me luck, patience, and a clear head to deal with it all!
posted by Resident Squint at 12:31 AM
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