Do you trust your tech?
Discussion of the art and craft of improvisation.
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- jillybee72 Offline
- Posts: 649
- Joined: November 16th, 2009, 1:20 pm
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- Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell Offline
- Posts: 4215
- Joined: March 17th, 2006, 5:50 pm
- Location: Austin, TX
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What a great thread!
Firth&Arjet like to ask the booth to call the scene - letting them know that we prefer to end on a resolution rather than a "button" and then we have the hand gesture as a back up. Once we had a really new, hesitant person in the booth. After a few obvious endings we walked off stage, the lights still didn't go down. Hand wave, it still didn't go down. I came out and said "lights down." I don't think that ruined the show - but it wasn't a great ending.
Also, we've tried to give workshops on tech before and we mostly don't fill them. We use a lot of interns at the hideout, what I like to do is pair a new person with someone that has been around for a bit - we always have 2-3 interns around. I think working with someone else is actually a better way to learn, and if someone is interested then I will ask them to work a Maestro with one of our more experienced imps.
Also, our dedicated tech people are awesome. I love them and they do great work. I feel like our shows wouldn't be nearly as spectacular if there was not the awesome support from the booth.
Firth&Arjet like to ask the booth to call the scene - letting them know that we prefer to end on a resolution rather than a "button" and then we have the hand gesture as a back up. Once we had a really new, hesitant person in the booth. After a few obvious endings we walked off stage, the lights still didn't go down. Hand wave, it still didn't go down. I came out and said "lights down." I don't think that ruined the show - but it wasn't a great ending.
Also, we've tried to give workshops on tech before and we mostly don't fill them. We use a lot of interns at the hideout, what I like to do is pair a new person with someone that has been around for a bit - we always have 2-3 interns around. I think working with someone else is actually a better way to learn, and if someone is interested then I will ask them to work a Maestro with one of our more experienced imps.
Also, our dedicated tech people are awesome. I love them and they do great work. I feel like our shows wouldn't be nearly as spectacular if there was not the awesome support from the booth.
What a great thread!
Firth&Arjet like to ask the booth to call the scene - letting them know that we prefer to end on a resolution rather than a "button" and then we have the hand gesture as a back up. Once we had a really new, hesitant person in the booth. After a few obvious endings we walked off stage, the lights still didn't go down. Hand wave, it still didn't go down. I came out and said "lights down." I don't think that ruined the show - but it wasn't a great ending.
Also, we've tried to give workshops on tech before and we mostly don't fill them. We use a lot of interns at the hideout, what I like to do is pair a new person with someone that has been around for a bit - we always have 2-3 interns around. I think working with someone else is actually a better way to learn, and if someone is interested then I will ask them to work a Maestro with one of our more experienced imps.
Also, our dedicated tech people are awesome. I love them and they do great work. I feel like our shows wouldn't be nearly as spectacular if there was not the awesome support from the booth.
Firth&Arjet like to ask the booth to call the scene - letting them know that we prefer to end on a resolution rather than a "button" and then we have the hand gesture as a back up. Once we had a really new, hesitant person in the booth. After a few obvious endings we walked off stage, the lights still didn't go down. Hand wave, it still didn't go down. I came out and said "lights down." I don't think that ruined the show - but it wasn't a great ending.
Also, we've tried to give workshops on tech before and we mostly don't fill them. We use a lot of interns at the hideout, what I like to do is pair a new person with someone that has been around for a bit - we always have 2-3 interns around. I think working with someone else is actually a better way to learn, and if someone is interested then I will ask them to work a Maestro with one of our more experienced imps.
Also, our dedicated tech people are awesome. I love them and they do great work. I feel like our shows wouldn't be nearly as spectacular if there was not the awesome support from the booth.
What a great thread!
Firth&Arjet like to ask the booth to call the scene - letting them know that we prefer to end on a resolution rather than a "button" and then we have the hand gesture as a back up. Once we had a really new, hesitant person in the booth. After a few obvious endings we walked off stage, the lights still didn't go down. Hand wave, it still didn't go down. I came out and said "lights down." I don't think that ruined the show - but it wasn't a great ending.
Also, we've tried to give workshops on tech before and we mostly don't fill them. We use a lot of interns at the hideout, what I like to do is pair a new person with someone that has been around for a bit - we always have 2-3 interns around. I think working with someone else is actually a better way to learn, and if someone is interested then I will ask them to work a Maestro with one of our more experienced imps.
Also, our dedicated tech people are awesome. I love them and they do great work. I feel like our shows wouldn't be nearly as spectacular if there was not the awesome support from the booth.
Firth&Arjet like to ask the booth to call the scene - letting them know that we prefer to end on a resolution rather than a "button" and then we have the hand gesture as a back up. Once we had a really new, hesitant person in the booth. After a few obvious endings we walked off stage, the lights still didn't go down. Hand wave, it still didn't go down. I came out and said "lights down." I don't think that ruined the show - but it wasn't a great ending.
Also, we've tried to give workshops on tech before and we mostly don't fill them. We use a lot of interns at the hideout, what I like to do is pair a new person with someone that has been around for a bit - we always have 2-3 interns around. I think working with someone else is actually a better way to learn, and if someone is interested then I will ask them to work a Maestro with one of our more experienced imps.
Also, our dedicated tech people are awesome. I love them and they do great work. I feel like our shows wouldn't be nearly as spectacular if there was not the awesome support from the booth.
- jillybee72 Offline
- Posts: 649
- Joined: November 16th, 2009, 1:20 pm
- jillybee72 Offline
- Posts: 649
- Joined: November 16th, 2009, 1:20 pm
Play like there's no blackout.
Play like we are going to live in this world until we die.
Stories end but unless it's Hamlet, the lives go on.
Live in this moment, and this and this and this
What happens next?
Turn the corner.
When a door closes there is still a room beyond.
There is no blackout, there is only now.
When the lights dim is inconsequential.
Play like we are going to live in this world until we die.
Stories end but unless it's Hamlet, the lives go on.
Live in this moment, and this and this and this
What happens next?
Turn the corner.
When a door closes there is still a room beyond.
There is no blackout, there is only now.
When the lights dim is inconsequential.
-
- Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell Offline
- Posts: 4215
- Joined: March 17th, 2006, 5:50 pm
- Location: Austin, TX
- Contact:
- jillybee72 Offline
- Posts: 649
- Joined: November 16th, 2009, 1:20 pm
I'll go ahead and toss in my two cents here.
I feel like trusting your tech is just the same as trusting the people you’re on stage with. You behave differently when playing with total strangers than you do playing with that troupe that’s been together for five years. You also behave differently with brand-new improvisers than you do with veterans. A good improviser should know how to communicate with their fellow players, and that extends to technical improvisers.
My first rule in the booth is do what the players ask for. Before every show, I check in with the performers and ask what they want. Some want lights up at the start, lights down at their signal, and nothing else. Some want blackouts between scenes. Some want to leave the lights on for organic edits. Some want rocking intro music. Some want to run on stage in the dark. Some want sound effects. Some want music. Some want a particular kind of music. Some want one particular song to play at one particular part of the show. Some want a five minute light bump. Some want a two minute light bump. Some want a five minute horn blat. Some want to cut their own show. Some want me to cut the show. Some will ask for some random-ass tech cue in the middle of a show. I am totally cool with that. I'm never offended when someone gives me excruciatingly detailed instructions or insists on calling everything themselves. It's all part of the format. If that's the way those players are used to running their shows, it's not my place to get creative with their tech any more than it would be my place to jump up on stage and start playing uninvited.
Now, I love it when players just give me free reign to go nuts and make sound and light offers, and accept my contributions to the show, but I always make a point of establishing boundaries first.
My primary advice to players when dealing with tech is to communicate before the show. Sometimes this means rehearsing with us, like the main stage shows do, and sometimes it's as simple as running through your opening and demonstrating the particular "out" signal you want to use. It's better to be safe than sorry, and there is a wide variety of experience among technical improvisers out there. I have seen several shows where a brand-new level 1 student intern got tossed behind an unfamiliar light board at a show they'd never seen, and had no idea what the improvisers meant by "When the lights come up" or totally missed the wiping motion. I have also seen marginally-experienced tech people go overboard playing with the color washes or sound effects because someone just told them to “Do whatever” before the show started, and then the players or audience get distracted by the tech, and people get unhappy. Not every person in the booth is as experienced and awesome as Neal and Spaz, so don’t make assumptions. I'm not saying expect your tech to be inept, just be sure everyone is on the same page before your show starts.
And if someone does do something you particularly like or dislike, let them know. We take notes and learn too.
tl;dr:
Treat your tech like improvisers, because that's what we are.
I feel like trusting your tech is just the same as trusting the people you’re on stage with. You behave differently when playing with total strangers than you do playing with that troupe that’s been together for five years. You also behave differently with brand-new improvisers than you do with veterans. A good improviser should know how to communicate with their fellow players, and that extends to technical improvisers.
My first rule in the booth is do what the players ask for. Before every show, I check in with the performers and ask what they want. Some want lights up at the start, lights down at their signal, and nothing else. Some want blackouts between scenes. Some want to leave the lights on for organic edits. Some want rocking intro music. Some want to run on stage in the dark. Some want sound effects. Some want music. Some want a particular kind of music. Some want one particular song to play at one particular part of the show. Some want a five minute light bump. Some want a two minute light bump. Some want a five minute horn blat. Some want to cut their own show. Some want me to cut the show. Some will ask for some random-ass tech cue in the middle of a show. I am totally cool with that. I'm never offended when someone gives me excruciatingly detailed instructions or insists on calling everything themselves. It's all part of the format. If that's the way those players are used to running their shows, it's not my place to get creative with their tech any more than it would be my place to jump up on stage and start playing uninvited.
Now, I love it when players just give me free reign to go nuts and make sound and light offers, and accept my contributions to the show, but I always make a point of establishing boundaries first.
My primary advice to players when dealing with tech is to communicate before the show. Sometimes this means rehearsing with us, like the main stage shows do, and sometimes it's as simple as running through your opening and demonstrating the particular "out" signal you want to use. It's better to be safe than sorry, and there is a wide variety of experience among technical improvisers out there. I have seen several shows where a brand-new level 1 student intern got tossed behind an unfamiliar light board at a show they'd never seen, and had no idea what the improvisers meant by "When the lights come up" or totally missed the wiping motion. I have also seen marginally-experienced tech people go overboard playing with the color washes or sound effects because someone just told them to “Do whatever” before the show started, and then the players or audience get distracted by the tech, and people get unhappy. Not every person in the booth is as experienced and awesome as Neal and Spaz, so don’t make assumptions. I'm not saying expect your tech to be inept, just be sure everyone is on the same page before your show starts.
And if someone does do something you particularly like or dislike, let them know. We take notes and learn too.
tl;dr:
Treat your tech like improvisers, because that's what we are.