Tuesday, January 11, 2011

v2, d254: Dry Tech

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)