Today we had Dry Tech for The Hobbit. I know many of my readers have not been in Dry Tech before, so here's pretty much how it goes.
DIALOGUE A
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Okay, I have a light cue on his exit. So that's cue twenty-eight.
SOUND DESIGNER: I have a sound cue there, too. So that's sound cue...'G'? 'G', yeah.
STAGE MANAGER: Ok.
DIRECTOR: *snickers at funny text message he just received and then gets another cup of coffee*
(Repeat for two hours)
Occasionally....
DIALOGUE B
SOUND DESIGNER: Hey, did you want that fade up on this line, on this line, or after that line?
DIRECTOR: Huh? Where are we?
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: The scene where the thing happens.
DIRECTOR: Oh, yeah. Right. Yes, right there.
STAGE MANAGER: Where?
DIRECTOR: After that line.
STAGE MANAGER and SOUND DESIGNER: Okay.
LIGHT DESIGNER: Do I have a cue there, too?
STAGE MANAGER: Do you?
LIGHT DESIGNER: Yes, I do. Cue forty-seven.
STAGE MANAGER: Ok.
DIRECTOR: *gets up to use the restroom after his third cup of coffee*
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Wait, do we need him to go on?
STAGE MANAGER: No.
(Return to DIALOGUE A)
Man. Live theatre is exciting!
(Editor's note: This is a slight exaggeration. But really, it's pretty much the SM/Designer show. The director's only needed about eight percent of the time during dry tech. Otherwise it's pretty boring. Unless everybody is already sleep deprived and a little loopy. At least, that's my experience, anyway)
