USITTTT: Day Four

Success!

Stage Expo: There was a continental breakfast at the stage expo, then I decided to tie up some loose ends. One of these ends happened to be me introducing myself to a man I had met briefly when he visited my SM for Christmas Carol who referred me to a different theatre in California who decided to interview me later in the day. The interview went well, one of the best I've ever had, but I was afraid they may not have what I wanted since they were interviewing for internships. However, they have a opportunity for a tour stage manager at a level I would feel comfortable taking on. No promises yet from them or from me, but it's wonderful to have options again.

Session One: Interviewing. Something I'm not that great at, something I don't have a lot of experience with, something I certainly want to improve upon. This session though? Fail. It was poorly organized and became almost entirely question/answer. The questions mostly related to portfolios and resumes which I have a good handle on both. Any interview-related questions were barely answered. For example, one girl asked for go-to questions that the hirers on the panel liked to used. One person gave us a question, then they moved on. Not helpful. There were tiny nuggets of information in the session, but it was far from a gold-mine.

Session Two: Stage Combat. My first major experience with stage combat was over the summer at Shakespeare New Jersey and the fight director was excellent. He trained the actors well and I took copious notes throughout to prepare myself for the show and for future engagements. This session expanded on what he did in practice and showed me just how excellent his direction was. The three panelists were extremely knowledgeable on the subject of stage combat and how it related to us as stage managers. It was almost impossibly well-organized, absolutely informative, and intelligent. Unfortunately, I had to duck out early to make it to the airport on time, but I left feeling good about the new information I had and my understanding of the subject from my previous experience.

Overall, this was a fantastic year to be at USITT. The two best sessions were the very first one and the very last one I attended, which gave a great bookend to the conference. I am so so grateful that I was able to come.

The bus trip to the airport was relatively painless, as was getting to the gate. My flight was flooded with conference people, which was not all that surprising. I am currently in Atlanta (may I mention how absurdly short the flight between Charlotte and Atlanta is?) and in about an hour I will be on my way back to Cali. For now, I am going to land the plane, so to speak, on this blog post so that I can enjoy some overpriced Chick-fil-A before I go. All the best!

USITTTT: Day Three

Moderate success.

Both Lisa and I struggled with getting out of bed and out of the room today, so we had a bit of late start. We ran into our LD prof right inside the door which was a plus, but I did not have time to buy a delectable lightly toasted asiago bagel with butter. A not-as-good way to start your day. But we were awake and on time, so it was no rush for Lisa and I to go to our sessions -- separate from each other for the first time.

Session One: Are Students Prepared? I wanted to go to this one because I wanted to know if I had been taught everything I needed to know. And if not, what are the gaps in my education that I need to find a way to fill in? I was expecting there to be a significant number of educators and virtually no students, but the room seemed to be about a 50/50 mix. Also, the discussions were surprisingly more tailored toward the student than the educator which was nice for me. The information was rather straightforward, but as with everything else it was good to hear again and see what emerged as the most important thing to each of the presenters. The over arching theme was simply have the right attitude and find that delicate balance between confidence and humility. Basic principles, but tough stuff and a very fascinating session.

Stage Expo: By this point it became apparent that I was more than just tired, but that I was feeling sickly (still am feeling sickly). I ran into Lisa and we sat for a while exchanging notes on our individual sessions. I think it was a time when it was beneficial for us to be at separate events. I felt a little better after talking to her, but I knew my body was fighting hard against me and I probably had a very narrow window of clarity. I found the NETworks booth (major touring company) and managed to ask intelligent questions and get good information from the people there. I tried talking to some other booths, but I was feeling worse and worse so I found Lisa and took her over the Shakespeare New Jersey booth to introduce her to the people I worked with last summer. She filled out an application and had a very unannounced interview (seemed to go well, especially considering it was so unexpected), then we went to lunch.

Session Two: Management Commission. This is not a learning session, but a what-do-you-want-to-learn-next-year session. They read through a list of proposed topics, got feedback on each of them, and asked for other ideas. Listening to the topics that were brought, it looks like a very good line-up, although I did wonder if there will be enough time for all the awesome ideas that are out there. At any rate, it seems very much like next year will be a good year. Next year, USITT is in Long Beach (oh, just 20 miles from my workplace), so maybe staying put for another year isn't a bad plan... But why, oh why couldn't it have been in Long Beach this year?

Session Two and a Half: Young Technicians Forum. This was a come and go, theatre style science fair of designs and technical displays. But a friend who graduated two years ahead of us had a table, so we dropped by to see his work and congratulate him. Seriously, Carl Booker is a phenomenal costume technician and deserves all the recognition. We even learned about some skills we didn't know he had, like silk painting. Very impressive.

Session Three: Gee, I Wish I Hadn't Done That. Old pros telling the rookies what mistakes to avoid. Alas, I did not attend this session. I had been hoping the jarring stomach pain with every step would decrease throughout the day and that if I just pushed through I would feel better. Instead, I felt worse and worse. After stopping by Carl's table, there was about an hour before the next session and I didn't feel well enough to wander the expo or wait around for it, so I went back to the hotel to rest up. I figured I could count on Lisa to take good notes and share them with me. Still, the title alone certainly caught my interest.

Back at the hotel, I made myself immobile, bumming around on the computer, then flipping through channels. What should I find on the television? Doctor Who, of course! And that was the turning point in my day.

The rest at the hotel did me a world of good, so I went back to the conference center to meet up with my people. A I'll-go-out-for-a-little-while meal and hang out suddenly became 11:45 pm. Well. The good news is, my sickliness was steadily decreasing throughout this time, so I was able to enjoy my last night with my Baylor crowd and every minute we have together is so precious these days.

Tomorrow, I fly back to Cali and arrive super late, so I cannot guarantee the timeliness of the last day post. But my overall impression of this year's conference is that it was a very valuable experience and I am so grateful for the time I spent here.

USITTTT: Day Two

Success!

Earlier start the day than maybe I wanted, but I had slept well so I got over it pretty quickly. It was cold and rainy, so we opted to take the shuttle to the convention center which allowed us plenty of time to purchase an extremely overpriced (but super delicious) breakfast. Not a bad way to begin a day.

Session One: Managing Your Boss. When I met up with my college SM mentor later in the day I joked that the session came four years too late. I actually had flashbacks to our relationship throughout the session and felt validated in how I handled the important matters, but I could see places where I things might have gone smoother if I had known. The session was taught by a production manager and his assistant -- they had a good relationship with each other which was interesting to watch and validated the whole session.

Stage Expo: I've decided I'm not very good at the expo style of approaching people. Granted, most of the booths are about lighting instruments or stage floors or automation rigs, things I have no interest in, resources or need to buy, or reason to deal with. Still, I spend most of my time wandering aimlessly and not interacting which isn't exactly productive. I was however surprised to find a sound company that gives seminars and webinars in many aspects of sound design which I am thoroughly looking forward to taking advantage of since they seem to be right up my alley.

Session Two: Conflict. Pretty basic stuff mostly revolving around Be Reasonable, but it's still good to hear experienced people discuss this issue concisely and with a theatrical and specifically managerial viewpoint. The panel again consisted of skilled and dynamic speakers that made the session easy to asorb. Also, they gave us the name of a book to look into -- very helpful.

Session Three: Resumes. Again, fairly straightforward, but still good things to hear. For example, they said you must always send your resume in PDF format over email. Well, duh. But for some reason I had never thought to do so; therefore, I am grateful that it was said. Small things, but they add up and are good to hear again. At the end of that session, there was a chance to meet with a production manager one-on-one to get personal feedback. This is why I went since I have gotten feedback from the same people over and over I felt it was time to discuss my resume with a stranger. The man I talked to really liked my format which was encouraging and was able to give me some advice on content. I still want to get some more opinions, but I am pleased with how the session went.

The last sessions of the day were very uninteresting to us, so we were planning to aimlessly wander around the expo. Since Lisa and I had gotten separated I went down on my own, not sure what I was going to do. By a stroke of luck, I caught both Lisa and our former lighting design professor in the same general area and only a few minutes later our former SM professor happen to come our way. We all agreed that the rest of the day had no value for us and went out on what turned into a quest for dinner.

The first place we went was closed because someone had knocked into a fire sprinkler head which of course caused all the others to go off. We went to a second place arbitrarily and found it was pretty mainstream food so decided to get appetizers then eat somewhere else. An old friend of our SM prof joined up with us and we decided it would be safe to go back to the first place, but the problems were bigger than we thought and while it was open, the kitchen was not operating. We ordered drinks to pass the time and finally realized we weren't going to get any food. So, it was onto a third and final restaurant for the meal. So, it was a bit of an adventure getting our food, but it was an absolute blast to catch up.

Overall, a very awesome day with very awesome companions.

USITTTT: Day One

Success!

This day actually began a long time ago for me. Tuesday was a pretty normal day off, sleeping late but punctuated with extra tidiness and packing. Nine-thirty in the P.M. I leave my apartment for the airport. The usual L.A. drive -- dense traffic, construction in inconvenient places, and a little misdirection from Google at the end of my directions -- and to the airport in plenty of time for my minutes-before-midnight flight where the plane would take off then I would sleep. Right? No. I read for a while, tried to sleep, read some more, tried again, read another chapter, laid my head down on the tray table, almost drifted off then a super trumpety song came to my headphones and it was all over. (Note to self: remove ALL songs with trumpets from phone.) I read until we landed then it was just enough to transfer to the new terminal, grab a small bite to eat, and board again. The second flight gave me a row to myself to stretch out, but two minutes after the captain made his "we have reached cruising altitude" speech, the plane started to descend. All right. It is now 10:00 am in North Carolina (7:00am back home), I have not slept, and I have a full day of conference events to attend.

Got myself to the hotel and met up with my former cohort and conference roommate, Lisa. Both of us half-starved we went on the prowl for food. Came upon a Jason's Deli (there is only one in the entire state of California and while it is within driving distance, I have yet to go), the perfect fix and just as we were settled met up with another Baylor alum who graduated two years before ourselves. Lunch with an unexpected old friend=best way to start a day. We made our way to the conference center for a painless registration and had plenty of time to chill and meet new people before session one.

Session One: Paperwork. Something I do very well. Still, despite my previous successes this was perhaps one of the best sessions I'll attend here. The lecture was concise and thorough, informative and helpful; coincidentally just how you want your paperwork to be.

Session Two: Tech riders. Sounds incredibly boring, but something I have absolutely no prior experience with. Fortunately, the presenters were well-informed and personable. They came from different positions which together formed a very holistic picture of the topic. Altogether, a very good session.

Session Three: Dance Management. Particularly interesting because I just finished a show in which I did all the choreography notation (my first attempt). This session was a great deal more involved than just notation, and as such very informative. Both of the presenters were given the session rather last minute so they didn't have any fancy slide shows or anything, but I think it was better that way. From what I could tell, they covered all the bases which I scribbled down furiously so that next time I do a dance show I have a starting point at least. Another useful and enjoyable session.

Session Four: Food Props. Somewhat less interesting than expected given that it was props-oriented and less stage management-oriented. A lot of SMs were there and we were able to glean some useful information so it wasn't a complete dud, but it wasn't the most insightful session for me.

This was the end of the USITT day for us. We ran through the rain to a pizza place across the street that was out of basically everything, but we were able to get a simple pizza before returning to the hotel. Both of us were exhausted so we hit the sack pretty early (although I did write the first half of this last night -- can you tell?) and after 30 hours of waking, I slept good.

Touristing

Today I was finally a tourist. I have spent over six months in the L.A. area, but I had not been to any of the sights. But this week a group of Baylor friends are in town for their Spring Break so I traveled with them to Hollywood. I have to admit, I found it dirty and with very few attractions, but I had a great time with the ladies and now I can say I have been. After Hollywood, Anna and I met up with some other Baylor girls in Santa Monica. We walked along the promenade and down the pier. I imagine it can get pretty crowded during the day, but it's certainly a place to revisit, a very comfortable place to walk with plenty to keep your attention.

Tuesday night I fly to Charlotte, NC for USITT. Hopefully it will be another good conference and a good vacation. I leave you with pictures from today:

Crazy hats cannot be ignored!

He's just super awesome.

Chia pet fountains in Santa Monica.

'Curse your sudden, but inevitable betrayal!'

Christmas

Home again from a three week tour of Texas -- without a car. As most of my readers participated in the trip, this post will be less a description of events and more a list of thank yous.

Thank you for...

...opening your homes and cars to me.
...driving far out of your way, twice.
...going back to Target for a jacket.
...teaching David cribbage while I was there.
...sharing the pilot of Bones.
...Season 2 of Fringe.
...pastistio.
...your generosity....Lego Star Wars.
...hugs.
...getting me into the zoo.
...a post-season sweet potato casserole.
...Pride and Prejudice....Disney Princess card games
...teaching me to aim and making me use the .38.
...Chick fil A milkshakes.
...big Christmas surprises.
...the flights....reading the book first.
...sharing French fries at Five Guys.

Thank you for being a great big loving family!

Thank you for a Christmas worth waiting for!

Let Me Entertain You

Hello.  I know it's been forever since I updated, so I want to check in.  This last weekend I was blessed with a visit from my mother as she was making her way to Texas.  She was able to see one of my shows for the first time since early sophomore year and I was able to entertain my second guest in my new place.  

My explorations of this place have been pitifully few (hence the lack of posts), but we achieved a fair amount of Christmas shopping, spent some time dressing up my place for Christmas, went on a few outings, and wandered through a few antique shops in downtown Pomona to find a surprising number of treasures.  One of the best features of California is that you can visit the beach and the mountains on the same day if you wish.  We decided to break it into two days and went to the mountains first.  We drove for a while enjoying the scenery and jumping out at various scenic outlooks.  The sun was shining and the weather was perfectly not-cold and not-hot.  I've been looking at these mountains every day since I moved here, so it was a wonderful thing to go into them.  The next day, we planned to go to the beach.  Unbeknown to us, winter arrived over night.  We went down the water, took a couple photographs, and ran back to the car.  But, we still got to wander along the coast and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of beach towns.

It was a short visit, but really great to show off this wonderful city and the amazing job that I get to do out here.  And the good news is, I'll get to see her along with the rest of the family ten days from now.  Who could ask for anything more?

Mountains!  A very new experience.

My Christmas decorations.  This is how I get away with not having a tree.