King/Queen of the Booth Complex

[Footer]

(Let it be known that dvsDave is the King of Controlbooth.com, and is unrelated to this discussion.)

A person who has the attitude of being the all-encompassing ruler of all things technical theatre, usually found in the High School, and occasionally the College, environment. He/She tends to believe that he is the only person who can correctly perform most tasks. He/She also has a complex for collecting keys, and likes to display them on his belt, as a symbol of his "power."

In reality, Kings/Queens of the Booth can be detrimental to everyone and every show involved. In a misguided sense of self-preservation, they tend not to teach what they have learned to others, therefore they dry up the knowledge base in a theatre.

In the world of professional entertainment, Kings/Queens of the Booth will most often find themselves without a Booth in which to reign.

[icewolf08]

This is also known as "big fish in a small pond" syndrome. Just because you are at the top of the food chain where you happen to be does not mean that you are better than everyone.

[gafftaper]

Listen to Footer my young friends. He speaks the truth. When I was a student teacher there were these two students who called themselves "lighting gods". It turns out the reason they thought they were so "amazing" was they knew the secret of how to record a submaster on an old EDI two scene preset board. They wouldn't tell anyone how to record a sub (hold the record button and press the bump button under the sub you want to use). They were obnoxious. They didn't really know anything. But boy could they talk and intimidate other technicians. The first thing I did was take half a dozen other students in and show them how to do it to. Then I changed the softpatch and the "lighting gods" suddenly had no idea how to do anything and had to come ask me for help.

If you are in high school and you find yourself thinking "I know more about tech than everyone else". STOP! That attitude is guaranteed to bring you to failure later. You pull that type of attitude once in a professional theater setting and you might never get a job again. Pro's will not accept that attitude.

I had the privilege of spending an hour with one of the most respected rigging experts in the world the other day (Jay Glerum). He's the guy who literally wrote THE BOOK on rigging. The man travels all over the world certifying that theater's rigging systems are safe for use. If anyone has a right to be conceited about being the best he does. Instead he's a kind generous man who loves to share a good story, to teach, and inspire others to do better. Or take our own CB member Steve Terry, the man is a Vice President at ETC and an industry legend. Why does he spend his time here sharing information with an obnoxious 18 year old from Melbourne, Australia? Isn't he "too important" to hang out with a bunch of students, community theater, church techs, and teachers like us? Of course he is! However, he does it anyway because it's important to him to pass on the knowledge he has to the next generation of theater technicians coming up. What about Ship? Icewolf? Footer? Derek? Van? Me?... Why did dvsDave start this website in the first place? I could go on a long time with a list of people who hang out here who have careers. Sure we learn things from each other, but we get nothing out of the hours we spend helping young technicians here. The truth is by sharing with you we might someday be out of a job. So why do it?

Truly great technicians lead by example. They inspire by their work ethic. They are calm under under pressure. They take the worst jobs that are dumped on them, eat them for breakfast and can be found sweeping the shop a few minutes later because it needs to be done. Most importantly truly great technicians understand that tech theater is a team sport. When one person learns more and get's better at their job, it makes everyone else on the crew better at their job. Great technicians have no secrets they wouldn't share with someone just coming along trying to learn their job.

So go ahead and be King/Queen of the Booth if it makes you feel special. But trust me it won't lead to anything special in the end. If you want to be a great technician, cut your attitude, and learn to teach and help others.

[Van]

Originally Posted by Footer

.....He/She also has a complex for collecting keys, and likes to display them on his belt, as a symbol of his "power."
......

Ah the "Self Important Key Jingler" complex, I've seen it many a time.


These are good words children Listen well.

[elite1trek]

A person who has the attitude of being the all-encompassing ruler of all things technical theatre, usually found in the High School, and occasionally the College, environment. He/She tends to believe that he is the only person who can correctly perform most tasks. He/She also has a complex for collecting keys, and likes to display them on his belt, as a symbol of his "power."

In reality, Kings/Queens of the Booth can be detrimental to everyone and every show involved. In a misguided sense of self-preservation, they tend not to teach what they have learned to others, therefore they dry up the knowledge base in a theatre

I have worked with people like that, and they are not fun. I try not to be like that, although I do like my keys.

And Gafftaper put it quite well!

[philhaney]

Here's something I heard on the radio this morning:

Everyone you meet today will be better than you at something.

Sorta helps to put things in perspective...

[philhaney]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

If you ... find yourself thinking "I know more about tech than everyone else". STOP! That attitude is guaranteed to bring you to failure later. You pull that type of attitude once in a professional theater setting and you might never get a job again. Pro's will not accept that attitude.

My roommate is fond of saying, "It's a small world. There are only 40 people in theatre and we keep running into each other."

Nothing gets around faster in the theatre industry than your reputation.

[garyvp]

I designed and built our booth, and love it, but I do not nest there. We have nine shows and the director, sound and lighting technician are given the booth when they are in production. At best, it is queen for a day. While they are in prod, I encourage them to own the CB an take care of it. I delight in explaining the metering system ...........boy, do they get bored. I wrote the lighting control board manual and still refuse to set up subs and cues; they have to own it.

I think the point of the original post is germane to a lot technical environments, not just theater - certainly exists in IT. The idea that knowledge is power is BS and for second raters. It is also destructive to the group process. I try to give it away all the time, and that is where the satisfaction is, and that is why I have been successful.

[len]

Originally Posted by Van

Ah the "Self Important Key Jingler" complex, I've seen it many a time.

Also known as the Schneider complex.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by garyvp

I think the point of the original post is germane to a lot technical environments, not just theater - certainly exists in IT.

San Francisco's 'rogue' sysadmin still being paid while in jail ? The Register

Even though I know where this guy is coming from. Also, he was gone for 3 weeks and his network stayed up without being touched, so that does say something.