Felix warned me about this. He said, “You’ll have to get used to various different and strange things being a Technical Director.” I believe I had plenty of both working at Hoyt Sherman Place for this year’s dance recital season.
This season began with Charlee’s Dance Studio, if memory serves correctly. I worked with Rob, Felix’s usual flyman, for this particular show. I didn’t join Felix and Rob at HSP until the dress rehearsal time, so I didn’t get the joy of hanging all of the drops that were used. And there were plenty. Apparently there were so many drops, that were coming in and going out at often the same time, that Charlee required two flymen. Luckily, the drops were all balanced and weighted by the time I got there.
Basically when I showed up, Felix had me tighten up the marley, tidy up the back room/ now dressing room, and meet Charlee and her stage crew, and meet and work with Rob.
Rob worked with me on tying the ropes and securing them so that the very heavy drops or props don’t come crashing down on some dancers’ head. I wasn’t very proficient at the rope tying or securing as of yet, but I was improving. After being um… shown the ropes… (sorry) I caught up with Felix to find out what to do next. He pointed out that Charlee has taken over the rehearsal and now if she calls for something, that’s when we bring it in. Then he pointed out that he has a computer game to distract him until he’s called upon. I remembered that I had a book in my car and I go to get it. And so begins a waiting portion of this adventure.
It wasn’t until the late evening that she actually called for something to be dropped in…
Nothing much was ultimately dropped in or flown out, in point of fact. That dress rehearsal night was not very active to say the least.
The next day was the day of performances, both of them. Nothing like a very early morning to get into the stage handing mood. Which went off without a hitch, now that I mention it. At least on my end. In between the two performances that day, the light board shorted out and made it an interesting second performance. Interesting in that Felix and Sarah were running the shows’ lights for the second show, live. A scary notion for any lighting designer.
Now, while my own involvement went off without a hitch, it is here that I should mention my aversion to glitter. I’ll use it, mind, but when I do, I do so knowingly, at my own risk. I hate glitter. Only because it finds its way everywhere. And I do mean everywhere.
For Charlee’s Dance Studio, there was no glitter on any of the drops. There was no glitter in the fly loft. I thought I was safe. I was wrong. I was as far as I could be from any dancer and anything shining over abundantly with glitter. And yet, at the end of the shows, I, in my stagehanding blacks, was covered in glitter. Take it from me, Faithful Readers, glitter is not a force to be trifled with. It will find you.
Until next time, Friends. Beware the shiny.
-ACS
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