Sometimes I get a gig that reminds me of why I love my job, and just how good of high I get off it.
I got a last minute call from a friend that I did lighting with a few summers ago, asking if I wanted to come help with lights for a Dita Von Teese show in the city. I had this whole week off, courtesy of my supposedly "almost full time" job here in town. Any way, there was no way I was turning down two days of work in the middle of an empty week, so I took the gig.
There were three shows in two days, plus a load in, and out, and I was commuting from an hour and half a way. (If you don't work in theatre, and that doesn't make you cringe, let me explain... Three shows in two days, meant that I worked two 14 hours shifts with six hours in between, shortened by the three and half hour commute. It's almost 28 hours straight through.) It was brutal! It was grueling! It was fantastic!
The crew was fantastic. hilarious, and probably a little of all the other things that come with being on tour. (Like tired, and stressed, and dealing with untold amounts of drama) Seeing them work together though, made me want to go on tour. I was called in to be the assistant to the lighting director, and help with load out. I ended up being a stage hand backstage too, and it was by far one of the funnest shows I have ever worked! I felt like I used to when I worked backstage in high school. I solved problems, lots of problems. I fixed things like I had magical powers. And at the finale for the final show, I got to cover for someone, and sneak on stage to shoot off a hand held confetti canon! Not to mention some of the scenes I got to sneak out and watch a fantastic burlesque show! It made me want to work at that theatre, or go out on tour with an awesome show.... Maybe I DO need to find work in the city... I could still live here in town if I did it right.
I got a last minute call from a friend that I did lighting with a few summers ago, asking if I wanted to come help with lights for a Dita Von Teese show in the city. I had this whole week off, courtesy of my supposedly "almost full time" job here in town. Any way, there was no way I was turning down two days of work in the middle of an empty week, so I took the gig.
There were three shows in two days, plus a load in, and out, and I was commuting from an hour and half a way. (If you don't work in theatre, and that doesn't make you cringe, let me explain... Three shows in two days, meant that I worked two 14 hours shifts with six hours in between, shortened by the three and half hour commute. It's almost 28 hours straight through.) It was brutal! It was grueling! It was fantastic!
The crew was fantastic. hilarious, and probably a little of all the other things that come with being on tour. (Like tired, and stressed, and dealing with untold amounts of drama) Seeing them work together though, made me want to go on tour. I was called in to be the assistant to the lighting director, and help with load out. I ended up being a stage hand backstage too, and it was by far one of the funnest shows I have ever worked! I felt like I used to when I worked backstage in high school. I solved problems, lots of problems. I fixed things like I had magical powers. And at the finale for the final show, I got to cover for someone, and sneak on stage to shoot off a hand held confetti canon! Not to mention some of the scenes I got to sneak out and watch a fantastic burlesque show! It made me want to work at that theatre, or go out on tour with an awesome show.... Maybe I DO need to find work in the city... I could still live here in town if I did it right.