theater blog post

Experience in shop This week the class worked in the scene shop in preparation for the performance, Noises Off. Although I did not actually work in the shop with the class, I still have plenty of experience with working on Noises off. I work as a general electrician for the theater as well as the sound board operator for the show. With that experience, I can honestly say that I love working in the theater; all aspects, not just sound and electrics (although those are my preference). My preference toward those to areas are nothing against the other two, I just don’t have the attention for detail required by Props/Costuming, and I take issue with carpentry. My issue with carpentry is quite simple: spinning blades and I don’t get along. It’s not the blade part that gets me, because I’ve trained with sharp blades in my martial arts, it’s the spinning part. Imagine this, if you will: you are cutting some wood, say… a two by four… when suddenly the axle snaps and the blade catches on the table. The saw blade is then propelled out, toward you. Now because you do not possess super powers you are unable to get out of the way of the blade, which is then lodged in your chest. You stagger, two cut pieces of 2-4 in your hands and a saw in your chest cavity. Statistics say there is little chance you can survive this event. the end..... Now I take no issue with screwing, bolting, hammering, or holding. It’s just the spinning blade part that is of distaste. Also, it’s not like a can’t operate these machines --I can-- I just greatly prefer electrics.