Austin Improv

I'd really enjoy playing in Maestro this weekend! I haven't played in a while. I'm sorry I don't know how to do tech, so I probably can't do that.

Heidi Rogers
Level 1-5 at The Hideout Theatre
Level 3-5 at The Institution Theatre
Improv Shows: The Next Chapter, Strange Worlds, This American Live,
Pulp Friction, Only Three Will Survive, After School Improv
Troupes: Taxi Cab Confessions, Apocalypse, EPIC

I would also like to play in this weekend's Maestro, if there is availability. I just finished level 3 at the Hideout. I have been improvising for more than four years!

I would be delighted to play on stage or in the booth.

Heidi.N.Rogers wrote:I'm sorry I don't know how to do tech, so I probably can't do that.

The best way to learn is by teching some shows. The first time I was in the booth was for Maestro.

I would me more than happy to run tech with you and show you the ropes.

Having more folks comfortable in the booth helps prevent tech burnout and is good for the community.

thedward wrote:

Heidi.N.Rogers wrote:I'm sorry I don't know how to do tech, so I probably can't do that.

The best way to learn is by teching some shows. The first time I was in the booth was for Maestro.

I would me more than happy to run tech with you and show you the ropes.

Having more folks comfortable in the booth helps prevent tech burnout and is good for the community.

YES! Thank you for this post, Thedward. This is a great way to explain the reason to learn and volunteer for tech positions. David Ronn and I just did tech last week for a Fakespeare show because they founds themselves last minute without a tech person. I hadn't even planned on doing tech but was just going to watch! Stuff like that happens all the time and it's important to learn so that you can be ready to jump in when the community needs you.

awesome post Thedward!

I learned to do tech by teching Maestro consistently for 2 months or more. Not only did it teach me to do tech, but (as a young improviser) it taught me a lot about feeling beats and knowing how, or at least when, to end a scene. Maestro tech is the easiest tech to start with because at the bare minimum, you wait for the director to wave you down and as you get more confident, you can start to play around with lighting and sound and call scenes yourself.

I'm down to play!

Ryan Austin
Hideout Grad

I would like to play to please!

(though I might late to warm up)

Ah!!! I just had something come up and I can't do the show any more!

Kierstin

Your Maestro Cast! PM me with questions or concerns.


Jon Bolden
Ruby Willmann
Kaci Beeler
Chris Sebilia
Dean Palm
Dana
Thedward
Christopher Albano
Brad Hawkins
Quinn
Ryan Austin
Matthew Arisheh

Tech: Heather

To be honest, doing tech really freaks me out. I've never been good with technical stuff, especially doing it quickly. However, just because it scares me doesn't mean I shouldn't try it out! Would anyone mind if I sat in the booth for Maestro this week to observe and/or be taught? Or is it a thing where I should come another time to learn how to work in the booth?

Heidi.N.Rogers wrote:To be honest, doing tech really freaks me out. I've never been good with technical stuff, especially doing it quickly. However, just because it scares me doesn't mean I shouldn't try it out! Would anyone mind if I sat in the booth for Maestro this week to observe and/or be taught? Or is it a thing where I should come another time to learn how to work in the booth?

Heidi, if you want to come to the booth for Fakespeare tonight or tomorrow, I can show you the setup. Fakespeare's short-form segment is very similar to Maestro.

I said this on a "What kind of improv class would you like to see?" thread a little while ago, but I'll paste it in here, cause I think it's all relevant and topical and stuff. I think even just a one hour, once-a-month "come learn the tech booth" event/class would do wonders for increasing the supply of people who feel comfortable volunteering to do tech. As would a more explicit mechanism for pairing experienced techfolk with those who want to learn. Anyways here's what I said back at the beginning of August:

http://forum.austinimprov.com/viewtopic ... 15#p132714

I think it would be great to have an "Intro to Tech" class, maybe on a recurring basis. I'm often willing and available to help with tech, but have zero background in it, so what little I know I've had to pick up on the fly in the rushed time between shows. It's not exactly an ideal learning environment.

It would be great to have a chance to play around with and really get to know the equipment without the risk of f&#king up a show in front of a live audience. I've seen badly-done tech really detract from a show, so in the two or three maestros I've teched I always feel really inhibited up in the booth and wish I knew more.

And it seems like having to scramble for a tech person is a relatively frequent occurence, so increasing the supply of people with at least a rudimentary knowledge of how to work the booth would be a good thing for the community. I've heard lots of improvisers express a willingness to do tech, but they're reluctant because they've never done it before, plus I imagine directors aren't exactly eager to have a complete newbie up in the booth for a show.

If not classes (or in addition to them), maybe there could be a system where experienced tech people indicate a willingness to work with a novice on a particular show, and novices sign up to be considered for sitting in with an experienced tech person. Kind of like OKCupid for Techs Seeking Newbies and Newbies Seeking Techs.

Maybe this could done be through a dedicated "Who Wants to Tech?" category on the forum? I'd be willing to help set that up and/or moderate it if needed.

Heidi.N.Rogers wrote:To be honest, doing tech really freaks me out. I've never been good with technical stuff, especially doing it quickly. However, just because it scares me doesn't mean I shouldn't try it out! Would anyone mind if I sat in the booth for Maestro this week to observe and/or be taught? Or is it a thing where I should come another time to learn how to work in the booth?

A few examples on how low-pressure Maestro tech is.
I learned how to tech about 5 seconds before a maestro when I was a level two.
Heather has never teched before and I expect to teach her in about five minutes this Saturday.

Especially with a musical pianist, Maestro is literally lights up, lights down. Which means you move a slider up, then down. The hardest part is watching the Directors and not getting distracted by the show itself.

When I directed for the first time, Aden would literally have to stand up, jump up and down, and dramatically wave the lights down 2-3 times before I realized she was calling lights. And the Maestro was still fine. Also Aden is awesome.

Whenever you do tech (next week???) you will be 100% supported. Also, people who do tech are able to play more often FYI.
Ruby

Wow! Thank you all for sharing your experiences with tech and giving me opportunities to learn how to do it! I'm feeling less anxious about it already! And yes Brad, I'd love to sit in the booth tonight during Fakespear and watch you do your magic!