Scene from a theatre, 9:25am

[charloween]

I work at a large regional arts centre that mostly hosts touring events. Two weeks is a long run for us: if a show's booked in for a month that's unusual, more common is a night or two. The techs and we front-of-house staff are the only continuity through a season.

The other day, this happened:

Tech: We’re ready to open doors, any time.
Me: Sure, just as soon as we get an audience [35 minutes to curtain and no sign of any of the eight primary school groups booked in]. Wouldn’t want to harm the fragile actor egos to start without an audience.
Tech: Meh, we don't need them. And frankly, shows would be easier to run without the performers.
Me: So true.

OTOH we don't rate a comedian on their act, but on their being in the building before their support act goes on stage.

For some reason backstage musicals never focus on techs and ushers snarking around, taking the piss. (That's because the drama of efficiently and competently doing your job isn't really drama at all. No one's written Ode to a Human Signpost.)

Comments

[goodbyemyfancy]

HAAHAAHAA OK that was hilarious with the techie!!!

Right now I would be quite happy to teach my lectures to an empty classroom if it meant I could not grade papers or deal with insane student requests.

[charloween]

He's the same tech who's not a fan of digital projection: he says he's "going to press play" rather than "going to start the film." :D

[serrico]

Funny 'cause true. I have *stories* about my cousin, who is in about a zillion bands, and the hi-larious things that happen when people expect him to be able to pay attention to anything beyond actually playing music. (I love him dearly, but he's not the most feet-on-the-ground person ever.)

There is always Slings & Arrows!

[charloween]

Yes, my god yes. When we have one of the venues in use, and the band kids still try to cut through it to get to their practice rooms... augh.

S&A comes close! I keep showing it to people here. <3