See For Yourself
May 12, 2008 comments
Okay, so I haven't blogged all week. Let me explain myself.
So my "day job" as you may already know, is being a theater technician. This used to mean load ins (putting up the set for a show) or load outs (taking down a set) and the occasional show to run. In the last two years I have been lucky enough to work for a venue rather than as a freelancer. This means that they keep me around as their "Deck Carpenter" to run shows backstage. I am ever so grateful because one of the hardest parts to being a theater tech are those weeks or months of no work at all. Now I'm fairly confident that every few months I'll be on a new show.
There is a lot to getting a show viewable for an audience, and this is by far the hardest part of any technicians job. Of course, the very first step doesn't involve me (unless I'm a stage manager which I do as well at times) which is the rehearsal process. This usually means the cast, director and stage managers are in a rehearsal hall somewhere, learning the script, blocking and choreographing while the set is being loaded into the theater. The next step to any show's life is the hardest, whether it lasts a day or a week. It's called "tech". Often referred to as hell week.
When running a regular, equity show, we can have up to 5 "10 out of 12s). Well, the 10 really only applies to the actors because they are under a certain contract where their time is limited. However, the techies often come in hours in advance to take care of notes and cleaning before the tech rehearsal begins.
What is technical rehearsal? It's when all the actors, designers, directors, stage managers and technicians join together for the first time and start to add all the technical elements to the show. What are the technical elements? Lights, sound, props, set pieces, costumes and sometimes pyrotechnics, sfx and a band. We pick up from the top of the show and usually hold every new pose the actors make for what seems like ages while the designers get all the lights right, sounds right, etc.
As an example, this current show I'm working on, Act I took 4 days and Act II took 2. We had 5 days of 10 out of 12s which meant we left at 1130. Then after that, we worked mostly the same hours but had to be released at 10pm
So as you can see....long days. From May 1st to today, we worked every day (except Monday) all day. I left my apartment around 10 every morning and got home around 1230am. It is truly exhausting and all we can do is hope and pray that audiences actually appreciate and enjoy the show we put so much time, love and drama into. Yeah, drama, I won't even bother getting into that now.
Just don't forget that all of us are in pretty tight quarters and forced to be around each other all day, every day except when we're home sleeping. Naturally there will always be someone who doesn't get along with someone else, then add the exhaustion/stress factor.
So anyhow, this is why every now and then, for about a week or maybe more, I completely fall of the radar. I do bring my computer with me to work which does allow me to do things like flickr, blog, etc, however, we all often find ourselves either waiting for a cue all day which means you can't get distracted, or so tired that doing something like typing up a blog entry sounds like climbing Mt. Everest.
So please forgive me every few months when I have to disappear like this. Granted, not every show is as difficult as this one, but most techs are just a pain in the ass, no matter how simple the show.
We're done with tech rehearsals now and had our first audiences this weekend for previews. BUT... until we open the show in June, we still have rehearsal every single day. So I'll still be at work every day, however it should be far less hectic.
Whew.
Oh, and check out the photo above to learn more!
Barenaked Ladies Snack Time Review
May 11, 2008 comments
Okay, so every now and then, my brother and I get together and review something togther over IMs. We have decided to make this a more regular thing and this is our first official review together! Just so you know, I'm "Docta" and he's "Gypsy".
The jist of it? Snack Time by the Barenake Ladies is fantastic! We give it 4 elbows up out of 4 (it's a family thing)! The review is actually a pretty fun and informative read so check it out! And definitely get the album! Even if you don't have kids! Oh, and be sure to check out the website here!
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All Caught Up
May 4, 2008 comments
FINALLY! I have caught myself up on all my doodle scans. This relieves me more than you know. It proves to me that after the last weeks insanity, I am finally getting my brain back. I absolutely hate leaving days between blogs and being behind on my doodle scanning and for the love of everything....not posting any photographs! It's time to get my poo together, if ya read me.
I lucked out with a morning off from tech today so it allowed me to get all this stuff in order. I am forever grateful for these few hours off. However, when I think about how far along with tech we are, I'm thinking we could have probably used these few hours.
The show is looking absolutely amazing so far, but it's a slow process getting there. Every tech is slow but this one feels particularly sluggish. The automation (that's what I do) was being extremely finicky the first day so I fell behind in that area for a day or two, however, it's up and running now so no worries. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Okay, time to get my act in gear for whatever else the day has in store for me.
Oh, and that's my coworker over there. He's a doodler too and sometimes we have doodle offs. How ridiculous can we make each other look. However, mine is not too far off from the truth.
Longest Week Ever
May 2, 2008 comments
I know I haven't been very active lately but it's been a very long week. Seriously, one of the longest weeks ever.
First of all, that job I was worrying about? I got it! So for once I can rest a little easier when it comes to my income for the summer. The pay isn't amazing but it's more about the freedom of the job. I can basically do it while I blog, draw, flickr...whatever! I'll tell you more about that some other time.
Other big news this week, my fella (seen above) left for 4 months today. Loooong time. It sucks but at the same time, it's really just part of our lives. We both work in theater and know that sometimes that means we have to go wherever the job takes us. In this case, it's down south to the Lost Colony where he's worked 22 seasons. He grew up down there so he's been in the show off and on since he was 11 years old.
Good news is, he finally got a cell phone. In past years where he's gone down there, I had to wait for him to call me from his office, which meant scheduled phone calls basically. I hate the phone and the only thing I hate more than the phone is scheduling a conversation on one. Just ew.
AND in other news, the tech rehearsal portion of my next show has begun. I am currently working on Saved the Musical. It's based off the film Saved and so far, from what I've seen of it, it's going to be a blast. I think it's a definite hit!
Back to work! More later when my brain has rolled back into normal land.
Meerkat Says Relax
April 28, 2008 comments
I'm going though one of those obsessed phases I seem to go through every few weeks or so and man it's driving me nuts. Never have I been more aware of myself.
Here I am, trying to take photographs, blog and get drawings done, but instead my brain is completely preoccupied with a potential job opportunity. Before you get all crazy, it's really not that major but the job fits me so perfectly that I will surely overreact if I don't get it. Said job will give me more freedom to do what I'm doing now by providing a second income AND it's super relaxed and done right here from home. So I won't have to take any hours away from my....photographs, blogging and drawing. You know, like I have in the last two days while I wait for a response.
So, as much patience I have learned in the last few years of my life, it's not kicking in right now and I really need it to. Every time I start to distract myself with my work here, I think 'Well, maybe I should check my email for the millionth time to see if I got a response in the last second."
I am fully aware of how ridiculous I am being, and yet I can't help myself! I guess no matter how hard you try, there are always going to be parts of yourself that you just can't make go away.
If only I would take a hint from the meerkat.
Featured Again!
April 25, 2008 comments
Just wanted to take a moment to share with everyone that I was featured on Gothamist.com again! It's always a treat to know someone is looking and appreciating what I'm doing. Especially in this time of creative growth for me.
Did I just say creative growth? Creative gross! How smarmy could I get? Did I just get to use the word smarmy? Man! This is a great night!
Oh and incase the shot is no longer on the front page at Gothamist, you can see it here!
What a World
April 24, 2008 comments
You should know, along with not being fair, life is bizarre as well.
First point of business, my water was out when I woke up this morning. Thanks be to brita and it's lovely ability to hold enough water to make my coffee in the a.m., no one lost their lives. Called landlord. Landlord was frazzled but friendly. Water main out. Down the street. Whole block without water. End scene.
Then it came back on and we raced (and by raced I mean I called dibs on the bathroom because I was the first one awake this morning and I'm the girl and all this means "back off punks") to use the, um, potty.
The boy and I decided to head into town for lunch together. On the way in, we heard a little yelling going on in the subway car. This is pretty normal so we completely ignored it...until I looked up and a bunch of people were kind of giggling and looking oddly worried, etc.
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Earth Day!
April 22, 2008 comments
Happy Earth Day everyone! Did you do anything special? I did!
Well to be honest, I had every intention of going to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens today regardless of what holiday it was, just happened to be extra special! Tuesdays are free too by the way. (It just took all my power not to type BTW there. This proves to me I have too much chat speak in my life these days).
So anyhow, earth day. What a beautiful day. It was 70 degrees, clear as a bell and breezy. I mean seriously, perfect conditions for wandering around the gardens. And to be honest with you, I am a terrible Brooklynite, this is the first time I have ever been. I have no excuse other than pure laziness but this new project I've been working on (this thing where I'm being all creative and finding my inner self and all that...stuff) has genuinely motivated me and opened up my eyes to all the things I could be missing out on.
You know why I hate sleeping? Of course you don't, you didn't know that. It's because ever since I can remember, I always felt like I was missing out on something. I mean, I don't really HATE sleeping, but when I first lay my head down on the pillow, I think about every single thing I could be doing, should have done that day, need to do tomorrow...anything other than actually falling asleep. For awhile there (the last 5 years or so?) I was just worrying about bills and all that boring adult crap that no one should ever worry about. Now I'm excited again and can't sleep because I can't wait for tomorrow and what I might get myself into...and I smack myself on the forehead for the things i missed out on (Silent Rave? Damn it!)
Right.
Anyhow, I was really proud of myself for getting off my ass, walking out the door and enjoying the gardens for a few hours today. It was a mad house to be perfectly honest, people everywhere. However, this actually really touched me. It's wonderful to see so many people gathering together to do one thing....view nature and all it's beauty. I mean, there's nothing else to do there. How often do you see a bunch of hoodlums hanging out in the Botanical Gardens? It is truly one of the few places to actually get away from the city and all it's muck.
I charged my camera, slipped on my headphones, put on my walkin' shoes and had a wonderful afternoon. If you want to see some of what I saw, check out my flickr page. I posted a few shots today and will put up some more tomorrow.
Definitely Doodling
April 21, 2008 comments
112 doodles later and still going strong. Well,maybe not strong. But definitely still doodling. I'm pretty shocked I've made it this far actually. They've definitely become a little faster and less defined in the later days but I don't mind. I'm still trying to find my style. This is, to me, a nearly impossible feat. I am one of those people who doesn't use the same hand writing every day. Sure, I have a few that I fall back on more than others but I have days where I say "Hey, maybe today I'll change it up a notch" and next thing I know, I have those obnoxious little circles over my 'i's for a day.
Yeah..not so much. Never been a fan of the circles over the 'i's. But you get my meaning.
Sinuses, Comics and Show Closings...Oh My!
April 20, 2008 comments
Yeah, that's me up there with Chewie. Chewbacca to you! This weekend was the NYC Comic Con, a gigantic convention for....comics. I love this stuff. So many photo ops, so many strange things to see. I even managed to sneak into the main floor itself. I would have happily bought a ticket if weekends weren't my busiest time of the week (damn you theatre!) but I only had about a 2.5 hour time slot where I could walk down and check out the goings on. My friend/coworker came along with me and we pulled the old walk in with a large crowd trick. It was a total blast.
I haven't been around much in the last few days mainly because of a nasty sinus infection I've had. I just can't think straight when I have them and my ear gets all plugged and I just want to bleh. Y'know? Thankfully, it's almost gone now.
Tonight we close the show I'm currently working on which leads me into a nice week off before I start the next one. I can't wait to get some much needed rest and also have plenty of time to sort of set up a schedule for this blogging thing. I hate missing more than a day or two between posts. It really weighs on me.
So, starting tomorrow, I'll get all my drawings scanned, get some more posts up, work on the group and generally just feel better about myself. Word is, it's supposed to rain. This is very good news.